Paranoia: Happiness is Mandatory - isometric RPG based on the tabletop game

[Theldaran]

I believe the new Soviet Union will comprise USA and Europe, whereas the new capitalist bloc and Free World will be Russia and then some...

Can be called "reversal of fate"

Also quite so many people seem to think that communism was OK, "if only it worked better economically". Some old cucks envisioned a future where there was no scarcity (thanks to technology, for example robots toiling for us etc) but the societal norm was some kind of socialism.

Imagine how bad the pressure was, that when the SSR crumbled in 1991 I literally *cried* (I was 8). The fall of the Wall was presented as joyous (it well damned would be), but to me the fall of the SSR seemed like a disaster, I almost thought the world was ending or something. Back then we had the final stages of some socialdemocrat government here, of course... add 2 and 2.

 

[Zombra]

Anticommunism wasn't serious political commentary in Paranoia. IT WAS A FUCKING JOKE. You know, as in, things you can't take? Jesus christ.

 

[Theldaran]

Anticommunism wasn't serious political commentary in Paranoia. IT WAS A FUCKING JOKE. You know, as in, things you can't take? Jesus christ.

Hey tone it down a bit, mate.

Not "things I can't take", more "things you can't find on this game" amirite?

Also, I wonder, even if it was a joke, what was the actual commentary. For what I know about Cold War, the game's authors wouldn't be leaning even a little towards communism.

 

[Zombra]

Also, I wonder, even if it was a joke, what was the actual commentary.

There was no commentary about communism. Anticommunism was a joke. In Paranoia, communism was shorthand for "completely manufactured enemy that the government made up as a lightning rod for the citizenry to direct their hostility against so they don't pay attention to how that same government is cruelly exploiting them", like Emmanuel Goldstein and the Two Minutes Hate in 1984. If anything, it was commentary against totalitarianism, not communism.

For what I know about Cold War, the game's authors wouldn't be leaning even a little towards communism.

And if the bad guys were "baby eating puppy kickers", you wouldn't expect the authors to eat babies or kick puppies either, but it would still be a joke.

 

[Nutria]

It was commentary on totalitarianism, not communism.

So those are two different concepts for you.

 

[Theldaran]

Look, I don't know Paranoia that well, that's why my arguments are clunky.

But the point about this game being a very faded form of the PNP game still stands, besides, everyone is saying the game isn't meaningful in any way, combat, missions or dialogue, so why would I get invested on it.

For all I know about the original Paranoia, a game of it was wanton fun, with lots of player casualties. It was different from your usual party co-op RPG experience (I know that in D&D, players can get wild too, but only if they're goofing). It seems that this formula wasn't conveyed well to the videogame. The critic says that the jokes don't work. And yes, Paranoia was primarily a humour game.

Also the fact that there's no mention of "evil communist empire" (even if in the original it was used in a different context) is pretty alarming, it's just another form of censure like it or not.

 

[Tweed]

McCarthyism as a comedic trope really has fallen by the wayside. It's only brought up in serious discussions now to sympathize with commie bastards.

 

[Zombra]

Also the fact that there's no mention of "evil communist empire" (even if in the original it was used in a different context) is pretty alarming, it's just another form of censure like it or not.

It really, really, really isn't.
You apparently weren't around during the Cold War and you aren't familiar with the original Paranoia. By your own admission, you're speaking from a perspective of near-total ignorance. Stop pretending to be an authority.

 

[Theldaran]

I'm not "being an authority", I'm just commenting freely, which apparently is a "thoughtcrime".

During the Cold War, I was in my childhood, so of course it's vague. If you read it right, I kept my comments deliberately vague.

Also, really waiting on your review of this game, Zombra. No hard feelings.

 

[Zombra]

Hey man, you asked for it

Well, correct me if you will

As for my upcoming review, based on everything I've read, it doesn't look like this is worth playing and certainly not worth paying for. Maybe in a year or two when I get a giftstravaganza copy and assuming that good games stop being made.
I will give you a preview spoiler, though; there's a 0% chance I will say anything about "Sadly, the new game fails to preserve the non-ironic anticommunist message of the original, because that was definitely the point of the original, yessiree."

 

[Theldaran]

Alright?

So, in the end, setting that faux pas aside, we agree about the game not being worth it? You know, that's all that matters here, we're not really discussing actual communism or anything (I hope).

 

[Optimist]

Also the fact that there's no mention of "evil communist empire" (even if in the original it was used in a different context) is pretty alarming, it's just another form of censure like it or not.

I don't think this one thing is the game's fault.

Paranoia went through a number of versions and revisions during its existence. Its first edition was published in 1984 (heh), and had 'traitorous mutant commies' as the antagonists, with the obvious joke being that Alpha Complex was a communist dystopia, with players being both mutants and members of secret societies bent on upturning and destroying the Alpha Complex. It was partially a commentary on tabletop RPGs as well (although not as much as the fifth (as in third)) edition, focusing on zany, frantic intra-party conflict.

These 'traitorous mutant commies' were a trademark of Paranoia across its second, third fifth, XP and 25th-anniversary editions. But then the sixth, uh, rebooted version was released. As the name suggests, it is actually a bit of a soft reboot, which decided that it would be a good idea to 'modernize' the game universe. One of those changes was axing most mentions of communism, and replacing it with, I think, terrorism. From what I've heard the game is based on this new version of Paranoia, and so we're unlikely to see any traitorous mutant commies in it, no matter how hard we search for them.

Shame about the game, though. Guess I'll wait for a big discount or something.

 

[Theldaran]

Also the fact that there's no mention of "evil communist empire" (even if in the original it was used in a different context) is pretty alarming, it's just another form of censure like it or not.

I don't think this one thing is the game's fault.

Paranoia went through a number of versions and revisions during its existence. Its first edition was published in 1984 (heh), and had 'traitorous mutant commies' as the antagonists, with the obvious joke being that Alpha Complex was a communist dystopia, with players being both mutants and members of secret societies bent on upturning and destroying the Alpha Complex. It was partially a commentary on tabletop RPGs as well (although not as much as the fifth (as in third)) edition, focusing on zany, frantic intra-party conflict.

These 'traitorous mutant commies' were a trademark of Paranoia across its second, third fifth, XP and 25th-anniversary editions. But then the sixth, uh, rebooted version was released. As the name suggests, it is actually a bit of a soft reboot, which decided that it would be a good idea to 'modernize' the game universe. One of those changes was axing most mentions of communism, and replacing it with, I think, terrorism. From what I've heard the game is based on this new version of Paranoia, and so we're unlikely to see any traitorous mutant commies in it, no matter how hard we search for them.

Shame about the game, though. Guess I'll wait for a big discount or something.

So, in the end, it's all the fault of the tremendous decline we're experiencing, and postmodernism. I get it!

Like, this videogame should have been based off the older versions of the PNP, and instead picked up the dumbed-down version (I didn't play that version but well, I can kinda picture it).

 

[Zombra]

Like, this videogame should have been based off the older versions of the PNP, and instead picked up the dumbed-down version (I didn't play that version but well, I can kinda picture it).

I didn't play later versions of Paranoia either, but to me it makes perfect sense to change commies to terrorists. For Friend Computer to exaggeratedly demonize whatever boogeyman is currently hot in the real life news is the truest way to preserve the intent of the original joke.

 

[Prime Junta]

I didn't play later versions of Paranoia either, but to me it makes perfect sense to change commies to terrorists. For Friend Computer to exaggeratedly demonize whatever boogeyman is currently hot in the real life news is the truest way to preserve the intent of the original joke.

They're LTTP though. It ought to be the Russians now, it seems they're behind every single bad thing that goes down anywhere in the world.

To make it even better, put three stripes on the sides of the overalls, and have lots of illustrations with Troubleshooters squatting and snacking on pumpkin seeds.

 

[Optimist]

To make it even better, put three stripes on the sides of the overalls, and have lots of illustrations with Troubleshooters squatting and snacking on pumpkin seeds.

Wouldn't work out, Troubleshooters usually start RED and pumpkins require ORANGE security clearance.

Spoiler

Not to mention that the seeds tend to have green-ish colour.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

LTTP

Lithuanian text transfer protocol?

 

[Prime Junta]

LTTP

Lithuanian text transfer protocol?

Late to the party.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

LTTP

Lithuanian text transfer protocol?

Late to the party.

Bah, my expansion is better.

 

[Raghar]

I didn't play later versions of Paranoia either, but to me it makes perfect sense to change commies to terrorists. For Friend Computer to exaggeratedly demonize whatever boogeyman is currently hot in the real life news is the truest way to preserve the intent of the original joke.

They're LTTP though. It ought to be the Russians now, it seems they're behind every single bad thing that goes down anywhere in the world.

To make it even better, put three stripes on the sides of the overalls, and have lots of illustrations with Troubleshooters squatting and snacking on pumpkin seeds.

Does Russia even exist in world of Alpha Complex? Also commies were nation free group. Terrorists are nation free group. Russians are Russians. People can easily prove they are not Russians, but they can't prove they are not commies or terrorists.

 

[Prime Junta]

People can easily prove they are not Russians

NO THEY CAN NOT

You can't even trust black people not to be Russian. Pushkin was black and he's their national author. Sneaky Russians, pretending to be completely inoffensive Anglo-Germanics and BAM before you know it, they'll break out the vodka and gherkins and burst into song. All together now: ka-LINka, ka-LINka, ka-LINka mo-ya...

 

[V_K]

People can easily prove they are not Russians

I'd like to see you try

 

[Zombra]

It ought to be the Russians now, it seems they're behind every single bad thing that goes down anywhere in the world.

Russians might be a little too up-to-the-minute. Although they're certainly in the news, anti-Russian hysteria hasn't permeated enough of the global consciousness yet, or perhaps sunk in deep enough. With terrorists, everyone is aware of it. 100% of people here might have an impressionable relative say, "Watch our for those terrorists on your way to work! They're out there!" and we go To me, that's the niche commies filled in the original Paranoia.

 

[baud]

Like, this videogame should have been based off the older versions of the PNP, and instead picked up the dumbed-down version (I didn't play that version but well, I can kinda picture it).

I didn't play later versions of Paranoia either, but to me it makes perfect sense to change commies to terrorists. For Friend Computer to exaggeratedly demonize whatever boogeyman is currently hot in the real life news is the truest way to preserve the intent of the original joke.

I think the previous boogeymen carried more weight since they could end the world in a nuclear apocalypse, compared to whatever shit current day terrorists can do. Though as we get farther from the end of the Cold War, Commies get less and less relevant, so they're right to update the joke.

 

[Zombra]

I think the previous boogeymen carried more weight since they could end the world in a nuclear apocalypse, compared to whatever shit current day terrorists can do. Though as we get farther from the end of the Cold War, Commies get less and less relevant, so they're right to update the joke.

I'll admit that terrorists were pretty horrifying in the 9/11 era, but that was a while back. Who are we supposed to be scared of today? CNN I guess.