Daily: Out of tragedy, a video game against extremism

When digital artist Dan Hett tragically lost his brother Martin in the 2017 Manchester bombings, he turned to the world of interactive fiction to help him understand what had happened – and ultimately he produced the game ‘Closed Hands’, which examines the causes and effects of a terrorist attack in a fictional UK city.

Dan talks to Arthur Snell about the fascinating world of interactive fiction novels, how he turned his painful experience into a piece of art, and the role it could play in tackling extremism.

• “There is a route through the game that reflects my reality, but I’m the only one who knows what it is”
• “This game is me questioning society and us as a population, rather than my individual experience”
• “Closed Hands was difficult to write, difficult to research, and for some people it’s difficult to play”
• “Sometimes the decisions you make during the game are not black and white, and there isn’t a correct way of doing things”
• “If can reach one person through games, who hadn’t thought about this, then I’ve succeeded”

Presented by Arthur Snell. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production

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