In a statement today, game developer Ink Stories has announced it will be donating proceeds from sales of its award-winning title 1979 Revolution: Black Friday to the ACLU from Feb. 1 through 10. The donations will be made to support the ACLU’s fight against Trump’s immigration ban and to make a statement against the Trump administration’s fractious attitude.
“Ink Stories strongly opposes the divisive rhetoric and current immigration ban put in effect by Trump Administration. As an independent development studio, iNK stands firmly in believing that it’s the responsibility of the larger art and entertainment community to unite in solidarity against policies that are inhumane, unjust and un-American.
“Our industry has tremendously benefited from the ability of people to cross borders. Immigration has been a source of creativity and strength for this country throughout its history -- and we oppose the ban and the dangerous precedent it sets,” said the statement.
The statement also makes a point of of both the game and the company’s diverse national, ethnic and religious population, which is directly affected by Trump’s immigration ban.
Creator and developer Navid Khonsari added:
“This is deeply personal, as my family made the hard decision to leave Iran after the revolution, to come to the West, which was the land of inclusion. Today, I feel like I am reliving history. While it's easy to be immobilized by hurt and hopelessness, I believe that now more than ever we are confronted with an obligation, where we must dig in, resist and unite.
“Silence is not an option—so I commend those in our community who are taking action and hope that other game developers and publishers will join in, as we partake in this crucial movement -- coming from all religious, national, ethnic and generational backgrounds to denounce the ban - and stand with humanity, by saying that this is not right, willing to rise up against the injustice.”
1979 Revolution: Black Friday follows the story of Reza Shirazi, a photojournalist who returns to home to Tehran, Iran, to find the country in upheaval. Described as “a new story driven adventure about choices and consequences, chaos and order, where you are dropped into the thrilling world of a real revolution,” players must take photographs and make moral choices with difficult consequences. The game is “based on true stories and historical events.”
To purchase 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, feel free to check out the game’s website here.
