New video game against extremism

A new video game aims to educate children and young people about extremist influences on the internet and strengthen their media skills: Interior Minister Herbert Reul, the head of the State Chancellery and State Secretary responsible for media, Nathanael Liminski, and Martin Borchers, producer of the company bildundtonfabrik (btf), presented the game "Leon's Identity" on Friday (August 21). The NRW Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the State Chancellery jointly commissioned and supported the project.

"The internet is the darkroom of an extremist world view and the radicalization machine of the 21st century. It is therefore important that the state provides tailor-made offers here. Young people's convictions must not be shaped by populists and radicals; we must and want to be involved," said Reul. The North Rhine-Westphalian Office for the Protection of the Constitution sees the digitalization of extremism as the greatest challenge for all security authorities.

Nathanael Liminski said: "North Rhine-Westphalia is breaking new ground in the prevention of extremism. With 'Leon's Identity', we want to prevent young people from slipping into the right-wing scene. By strengthening their media skills, we are making them immune to agitation and hatred. Our prevention activities are tailored to the target group and go where radicalization usually takes place."

Leon's Identity is a detective adventure game. The player takes on the role of Jonas, who sets off in search of his missing brother. Jonas searches for clues in Leon's teenage room and gets to the bottom of the circumstances of his mysterious disappearance, tracing Leon's slow drift into the far-right scene.

The North Rhine-Westphalian Office for the Protection of the Constitution has been present at the "Gamescom" games fair for four years now. The positive experiences there are the background for the development of the game. The game has been officially tested and is rated USK 12 and is also suitable for use in schools. The game is accompanied by a website that builds a bridge to the real world. Here players can find out more and view valid sources.

The game was developed in collaboration with bildundtonfabrik (btf), a multiple winner of the Grimme Prize and the German Video Game Award 2019. "We can educate people about extremism and radicalization, but what we can't do is develop a video game," said Interior Minister Reul. The total budget for the development of the game amounted to around 220,000 euros.

More information on "Leon's Identity" can be found at http://www.leon.nrw.de .