13 Minutes Ago
A downloadable game for Windows and Android
DISCLAIMER: This game features content that may be sensitive to some players.
THE CONTROVERSY
This game was originally released on Android but was later taken down after facing a heavy controversy, being featured on numerous Spanish media, including major newspapers, radio and television.
The game generated a great divide between those in favor of it, who believed the game was as valuable as any book or film on the genre, and those feverishly against, deeming games an inappropriate platform to experiment with serious issues such as terrorism.
It was soon after awarded Silver Medal at Serious Play Conference.
You can watch the designer's talk during GameDev Days Graz on YouTube, where he goes into further detail:
THE GAME
One of the highlighted features in the game is the complex story structure, which forces you to replay the game through different characters in order to properly understand the full story. The numerous endings are due to the fact that, depending on the combination of characters you choose to play as during every minute, and their individual choices, not only are you able to unlock their memories, but also change their fate.
The game is only available in its original language, English.
The game has always been, and will always be, free.
THE HISTORY
As you may understand, the Basque Country has a very deep and complex history, but I'll try to summarize it as best as possible for those unacquaintanced with it.
The Basque Country is a region in Spain with a unique culture and a historically strong secessionist movement. During to Franco's dictatorship, Basque culture was heavily oppressed, which led to the terrorist movement under the name "ETA", with the intent to achieve full independence from Spain. Even after democracy was instated in Spain, ETA continued its activity, killing 864 people until their definitive cessation of its armed activity in 2011.
The wounds are still very fresh on many sides of the conflict. There has been no 'winners' in this history. Everyone's a loser. Whether they've lost people during Franco's regime, or under ETA's terrorist attacks, or due to police brutality, or countless other reasons. Not mentioning decades of repressed freedom of speech.
It is therefore no surprise that this game caused such a controversy on its release.
THE DESIGNER
As I said during my interview on TV, "you don't watch Schindler's List because it's a fun move, and you don't play 13 Minutes Ago because it's a fun game".
It's not a fun game. In fact, it's very small and experimental. It's far from a 'great game'.
However, I do hope games continue to push the boundaries of art, so that one day, games like "13 Minutes Ago", are not vilified, silenced and banned.
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Dear Alain,
I hope this message finds you well! I wanted to follow up on my previous email regarding SnackR and the opportunity to showcase your creative projects on our growing platform.
SnackR is rapidly evolving into a go-to destination for games, comics, and animations, designed specifically for creators like you to connect with a mobile-first audience. Our platform empowers creators with features like visibility tools, engagement analytics, and monetization options to truly amplify their reach.
If my earlier email didn’t reach you or if you’d like more details, I’d love to schedule a quick chat to walk you through how SnackR can benefit you.
Here’s a quick recap and some helpful links:
Please let me know if there’s a good time for us to connect. Your work has the potential to thrive on SnackR, and we’re excited about the possibilities of collaborating with you!
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards, Ren Banzan Studios
Dear Alain,
I hope you’re doing well! My name is Ren, and I’m reaching out from Banzan Studios, the team behind SnackR—an exciting new platform that combines the best of TikTok, YouTube, and Patreon, specifically designed for creators like you.
We’ve been following your work, and we’re particularly impressed by your project, "13 Minutes Ago" The creativity behind it caught our attention, and we believe it would resonate well with our growing audience on SnackR.
SnackR is an all-in-one platform where creators can share games, animations, and comics, and engage with a dedicated mobile-first audience. This is built by a team of folks who have been creators themselves and have faced the same problems that young creators like you do. Each feature and functionality is built while keeping the ‘Creator’ in mind. We're focused on giving creators control over their content and its reach, and we'd love for you to be part of this journey.
While "13 Minutes Ago" truly stood out to us, you’re not limited to submitting just that—we’d be thrilled to explore any other game or project you think might be a great fit for SnackR as well.
If you're interested in learning more about how SnackR could benefit you and help you reach new audiences, I’d love to discuss this further. Please let me know if you’re available for a quick chat. Feel free to check us out in the meantime: Website: https://banzan.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/banzanstudios/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/banzanstudios/
I’ll also share a short video showcasing what SnackR is all about—this will give you a better sense of how we’re creating a platform tailored for creators like you: ~ https://www.instagram.com/p/DCVjW1LIM07/
Here's the actual app on Google Play. Let me know what you think! ~ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.web.banzan_snackr.twa&hl=en
Looking forward to hearing from you! :)
Best regards,
Ren
Banzan Studios