Tag Archives: imagination is the only escape

Below, taken from here. The Wii game’s being developed by Luc Bernard, the British developer behind controversial WWII DS “concept” Imagination is the Only Escape. No date for this yet.

Speaking here, Luc Bernard, developer of DS title Imagination is the Only Escape, has defended the game’s setting saying its aim to to educate children about the Holocaust.

“It’s to educate children about awareness and racism,” he said. “There won’t be any violent scenes, the bottom screen just displays the reality of what happened – you can find that information in books.

“I hate World War II shooters. I think they are sick and disgusting. The war is not a game. That is why I did this title, to show kids what really happened during the war.”

News emerged this morning that Nintendo has no plans to publish the game in either the US or Europe, although Bernard is hopeful of an eventual release.

“Why can a game like Manhunt go on sale when it’s a murdering simulation, and a game like Imagination is the Only Escape – which has no violence and is about a young child trying to escape the horrors of war with his imagination – be banned? Tell me isn’t that messed up,” he said.

Speaking here, Imagination is the Only Escape creator Luc Bernard has said that he’s heard Nintendo Europe is “scared” of the Holocaust-based game, but that he doesn’t think the company is trying to stop the game’s release despite this morning’s “no plans” comment.

“Well from what I was told, Nintendo Europe is also scared of it, but again I don’t think they are trying to block the game,” he said. “I think they are just scared that it has bad taste. That is why… I don’t think the game will be banned. Once I have time to talk to Nintendo myself and show them the game they will change their mind.

“Alten8 talks to [Nintendo] for me, however I will try and find a way to talk to Nintendo USA myself. I mean, I doubt they would want to ban a educational game that is non-violent, where to profits are going to help stop another genocide. This isn’t just about the war; this game [is] to try and teach children something so they don’t end up racist.

“I seriously don’t think Nintendo will ban the game once I get to show it to them. I think also the reason they were shocked is because Alten8 deals with Nintendo Europe and… they haven’t even talked to Nintendo Europe yet… I am currently developing the game no matter what people say, and I will let a lot of people test the game before I even consider it finished, it needs to be PERFECT or I won’t release it.”

Imagination is the Only Escape is based on the life of a young boy living in Eastern France at the time of the German occupation in WWII, who uses a fantasy world to escape the reality of the War.

Nintendo Europe has confirmed it has the same stance on releasing Holocaust-based DS game Imagination is the Only Escape as Nintendo US, telling videogaming247 that you’re unlikely to be playing it any time soon.

“There are no plans to bring this to Europe or the UK,” said a Nintendo spokesperson this morning.

The title is based on a the life of a boy living in Eastern France at the time of German occupation in WWII, who uses a fantasy world to escape the horrors of the War.

Nintendo US said overnight that “there are no plans for this game to be released for any Nintendo platforms in North America.”

Imagination is the Only Escape is being developed by Luc Bernard, the creator of upcoming hand drawn, fairy tale adventure Eternity’s Child for Wii and DS, which focuses on a world destroyed by global warming.

According to this, Nintendo has confirmed that Imagination Is the Only Escape will not be released in America.

“At this time, there are no plans for this game to be released for any Nintendo platforms in North America,” the company said in a statement.

The game, created by 21-year-old Brit Luc Bernard and published by Alten8, is the story of a boy living in Eastern France at the time of German occupation during WWII, who seeks to escape the horrors of war through his fantasy world.

“There will be no on-screen violence in this product,” said Bernard. “I don’t see war as a game. I don’t find that amusing.”

Bernard’s mother was Jewish, and his maternal grandmother looked after orphaned Jewish children after WWII.

While Nintendo may not approve of the game, US-based Anti-Defamation League has welcomed the concept of the title, although it hasn’t seen the title as yet.

“We certainly believe that we have to find new ways of teaching lessons of the Holocaust as new technologies are being developed,” said a spokesperson for the society.

Bernard is also developing Eternity’s Child for Wii and DS, again published by Alten8, which focuses on a world destroyed by global warming.