Summary
- Release Year: 2012
- Genres: Simulator, Strategy
- Platforms: iOS
- Developers: Littleloud
- Publishers: Channel 4
Sweatshop HD: A Hard-Hitting Game About the Dark Side of the Fashion Industry
Released in 2012, Sweatshop HD is a strategy game that challenges players to manage an off-shore clothing factory, producing the latest in cheap designer fashions for Britain’s high streets. The game was developed by Channel 4, a British public service broadcaster, as a way to raise awareness about the ethical implications of the fashion industry.
Gameplay
In Sweatshop HD, the player takes on the role of a middle manager in a clothing factory in Bangladesh. The player is responsible for hiring and firing workers, ensuring that orders are completed on time, and balancing the needs of demanding clients with worker welfare.
The game is played from a top-down perspective, and the player has a variety of tools at their disposal to manage their factory. These tools include:
- A production line, where workers sew clothes
- A quality control department, where workers check clothes for defects
- A shipping department, where clothes are packed and shipped to customers
- A human resources department, where the player can hire and fire workers
- A finance department, where the player can track the factory’s income and expenses
Challenges
The player faces a number of challenges in Sweatshop HD, including:
- Keeping up with demand: Customers are constantly placing orders for new clothes, and the player must ensure that these orders are completed on time. If the player fails to meet demand, they will lose money.
- Maintaining quality: The player must also ensure that the clothes produced in their factory are of good quality. If the clothes are not of good quality, customers will return them, and the player will lose money.
- Managing worker welfare: The player must balance the needs of their workers with the demands of their customers. If the player overworks their workers, they will become unhappy and may go on strike. If the player does not pay their workers enough, they will quit.
Controversy
Sweatshop HD was originally released on the Appstore for iPad, however the game quickly gathered controversy. Apple pulled the game from the Appstore, stating that it was “uncomfortable selling a game based around the theme of running a sweatshop”.
Some people argued that the game was too realistic and that it glorified the exploitation of workers in the fashion industry. Others argued that the game was an important educational tool that could help people to understand the ethical implications of the clothes they buy.
Legacy
Despite the controversy, Sweatshop HD remains an important game. It is a powerful reminder of the human cost of fast fashion, and it challenges players to think about the ethical implications of their消费习惯.
Discussion
Sweatshop HD is a complex and challenging game that raises important questions about the ethics of the fashion industry. The game is not for everyone, but it is an important game that deserves to be played and discussed.
Here are some questions to discuss:
- What do you think of the game’s premise? Do you think it is a fair and accurate representation of the fashion industry?
- What are the biggest challenges that you faced while playing the game?
- What do you think the game’s message is?
- What do you think can be done to improve the working conditions in the fashion industry?
Conclusion
Sweatshop HD is a powerful and thought-provoking game that challenges players to confront the ethical implications of the fashion industry. The game is not an easy one to play, but it is an important game that deserves to be played and discussed.
Review Score
7/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
