The Aggressor PeaceMaker

The game “PeaceMaker” was developed and published by “Impact Games” in 2006. 

It belongs to the genre of “Local Strategy”. It is a single-player game.

The game is classified by the database as one with a “Dynamic Aggressor,” a “Historical Setting,” and an “Active Player Role."

To the download of the gameTo the publisher's website

Aggressor Type: Dynamic

• This game features the “Dynamic Aggressor.” This means that the game allows for a flexible engagement with the Aggressor role, i.e. that actors within it change whether or not they are perceived as an aggressor. This type of game often features a way in which aggression is measured by a game-internal parameter and makes aggression a conscious decision that players can choose.

Setting Type: Historical

• This game has a historical setting. It is placed here by adhering to a point in time, persons or events of history, or a place recognisable by the player audience. It does not mean that the history simulated works deterministically to play out exactly like its real-life equivalent but that a historical world in the broadest sense is created.

Player Agency: Active

• In this game, the player's agency towards the Aggressor(s) is enabled by the game and they are able to take actions. This can include resisting the Aggressor or acting as one themselves.

  To the Analytical Categories

“PeaceMaker” is a rather old title that, however, sadly has not lost its reference to the state of affairs. Players are put in one of two positions during this scenario - either as the Israeli Prime Minister or the Palestinian Authority President. Their goal is to “make peace," the game trying to show the way towards a true Two-State-Solution. As each side, they have much more options to impact the world, including options for cooperation, economic prosperity, internal safety and aggression. The Palestinian faction has much less options than the Israeli side does, yet this game has been categorised as one with a “dynamic" Aggressor role - simply because even though the scenario is one of conflict, players make conscious decisions whether or not to further or hinder the aggression. The Israeli side has control over their army and whether or not to send it, as well as expand, stop or even take down West Bank settlements. This means that there is a way to peace - and the game wants the players to notice this. As the heads of state, players are in an active position, even though there are sometimes significant constraints towards the Aggressor, specifically on the Palestinian side.

It should be said that the game is free to play and can be downloaded by visiting the website mentioned above. The author of this assessment strongly encourages readers to go and play for themselves to explore and make sense of what the game tries to say.