1. So in bid to try and gain some momentum in the lead up top to 2019 federal election @CliveFPalmer and the @UnitedAusParty have released a mobile game. It's full of far-right memes. A Thread:
#auspol

2. Available through the Apple Store and Google Play, 'Clive Palmer, Humble Meme Merchant' follows the familiar platforming format of Super Mario Bros, with players trying to collect Tim-Tam biscuits as Clive Palmer.

3. The game is full of nods to the far right. Enemies in the game, which the players can stomp goomba-style, include the far-right NPC meme, Opposition leader @billshortenmp rendered as a cockroach, Greens leader @RichardDiNatale a marijuana t-shit and rastacap...

4. ...as well as Queensland Labor premier @AnnastaciaMP, 2GB shock-jock Ray Hadley and some guy wearing a Karl Marx t-shit (presumably a nod to university 'cultural Marxists'?)

5. These are important signals. Dehumanising their political enemies (i.e. depicting them as literal cockroaches) has long been a part of far-right, especially fascistic discourses.

6. The game also rails the 'fake news', a trope originating in the 2016 Trump campaign that has remained popular with the far right, who see the supposed 'liberal' media as an enemy of 'the people'.

7. Even the choice of font and text colour for the biscuit counter at the top of players screens, as well as for the game logo appear to be influenced by the 'Fashwave' aesthetic.

mic.com/articles/18737…

8. While it might be "just a game", it's part forms part of a broader trend in Palmer's attempt at a political comeback trying to appeal to a 'fashy' audience. He's regularly shared memes informed by far-right and specifically alt-right digital culture on his verified...

9. ... Facebook and Twitter accounts, as I've talked about elsewhere. See:

poppoliticsaus.wordpress.com/2018/09/27/alt…

10. Overall, I think this largely comparable to the case of 'Bolsomito' in 2018. In the lead up to the Brazilian Presidential Election, which saw far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro elected, indie developer BS games released the 8-bit brawler 'Bolsomito'...

11. ... on Steam, to some significant controversy, with the Brazilian Public Ministry of the Federal District and Territories launching an investigation.

12. In the game, players guide a pixel-art likeness of President Bolsonaro as he beats up foes representing Afro-Brazilian protestors, LGBTQ+ people and leftist political rivals in order to "defeat the communistic evils".

13. All up, while I hardly think Palmer or his party have a chance at an electoral breakthrough, it's a worrying sight to see this sort of stuff marked to 'the kids'. Despite generating a bit of media attention (as intended), reportage has thus fair failed to...

14. ... pick up on the far-right undertones. SHOCK!

Anyway there's a bit more to say but I its after 5pm so time to call it a day!

*marketed
**far

Oops!

*oops! shouldn't be a 'top' there... this is what happens when I tweet from my phone!