Watching you

Everyone knows about 2014, yeah? That's when the terrorists tried to set off a bloody atom bomb in the middle of London, and it was a close run thing that the cops managed to stop them. That's why we need the cameras and the curfew, innit? We can't risk it happening again and it's a good job that that the Shepherd party are looking out for us. You can't expect things to be like they were at the start of the century - you just can't, OK? Things have changed - it's a different world now, and you've got to accept it, for a quiet life.

That's what they always say.

So, what do you do when you find yourself out after curfew and somebody you've never seen before gives you some data that could change things forever? Who do you trust? The boy? The immigrant girl? The dissident? The ex-cop? What questions do you need to ask?

The Curfew, the latest educational game from Channel Four puts you in the middle of such a dilemma with each of the characters receiving an episode in which to explore their lives and back story. The game uses a mix of video, adventure game style exploration for clues using augmented reality on your mobile and a variety of mini-games to advance the plot.

The first episode is on line now (in beta form but pretty complete as far as I could tell) and it certainly doesn't pull any punches in its examination of a totalitarian surveillance state reinforced by a brutal police force.

Highly recommended!