Bringing it Full Circle: Games with a Message as Translated Spaces

As has been shown throughout the semester, the 4 topics often intersect. So, I thought for my last post, I'd touch on translated games with political messages. A lot of people seem to be under the fully justified idea that the best way to portray a message is to allow the player to play it. This is met with varied results. These range from...

Games based on the Bible:

http://www.n-lightning.com/ominoushorizons.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkNvQYiM6bw

Games used to Educate about Historical Events:

http://www.socialimpactgames.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=206&mode=thread&order=1&thold=0

Games based on Political Events and Ideals:

http://www.socialimpactgames.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=index&catid=10&topic=&allstories=1

http://www.socialimpactgames.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=155&mode=thread&order=1&thold=0

http://www.socialimpactgames.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=238&mode=thread&order=1&thold=0

Games that pass a message about Corporations and Business Practices:

http://www.mcvideogame.com/index-eng.html

In reality, none of these games have been particularly successful in reaching their audience. Is this because the simulation idea doesn't work or because people don't want to hear it? Do people not like these messages or are the spaces poorly translated? Are some things not meant to be translated into an interactive media? Is it inappropriate? 

Oh, and for future research and semesters, here's a website full of these kinds of games:

http://www.socialimpactgames.com/index.php