Can video games make you feel the weight of history? That's the main goal of a new pseudo-3D stealth game called “Dreams on a Pillow”, launched by Palestinian game developers.
The game is inspired by the events of the 1948 Nakba or “catastrophe”, referring to the cleansing of 750,000 Palestinian tribes from their homes in what is now Israel.
It is expected to be released in 2026.
So what do we know about the games that have been set up during this week's Palestinian hope? an armistice agreement between Hamas and Israel in Gaza, where more than 46,000 people have been killed in Israel's 15-month bombardment, will it really happen?
Who is behind this game and what is its purpose?
The game is the brainchild of Rasheed Abueideh, a developer living in the West Bank that was occupied by Israel.
“We are trying to make the game more creative,” Abueideh, the game's director and producer, told Al Jazeera. His last game, Liyla and Shadows of War, based on Israel's 2014 attack on Gaza, was a huge hit.
“It is a difficult issue. And we want to put all this information through a game that connects with the players,” he said.
Abueideh, who lives in Nablus in the West Bank, says he wants the world to understand that Israel's war on Gaza is a direct result of past events and the decisions made on October 7, 2023.
The game, he says, is also an attempt to highlight and share the history of Palestine.
Although successful in the past, he struggled to raise money from private equity. So they came together on LaunchGood, a global fundraising platform focused on helping Muslims around the world. Dreams on a Pillow reached its funding goal of $194,800 on January 7. At the time of writing, the video game project has raised $218,272.
The amount of money available for the game is enough to start the development and they have to cover the first year's expenses including salaries, production and production of goods.
According to Abueideh, LaunchGood was seen as one of the few things that could help with fundraising, as many crowdfunding platforms refused to help.
Issues related to Palestine are often heavily scrutinized and, in some cases, banned. Censorship or even photo bans of Palestinian material are well documented.
In May 2023, a YouTube video made by Palestinian officials, which was supposed to be presented at a meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council, was removed from the platform. the tower has been accused of violation of Palestinian digital rights.
Investigations by human rights organizations and the media have revealed the removal and suppression of Palestinian content on social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook.
Netflix removed nearly all 32 films about Palestine from its platform. The expert said the removal of the films was due to the expiry of the three-year license agreements. However, this sudden removal caused an outcry from human rights groups and people on social media, according to a TRT World reporter.
Why? @Netflix Clean up his many films and content related to Palestine and Palestine?
Take a look at all the stories about Palestinians who are “leaving soon.”
Israel is already trying to expel Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank. Why? @Netflix getting rid of Palestine… pic.twitter.com/rXEmcVqvJ8
— Sunjeev Berry (@Sunjeev_Berry) October 13, 2024
What is the story of Dreams on a Pillow?
The central theme of the play is derived from Palestinian mythology surrounding the legend of Omm, a young woman who is on the run. the massacre of Israel in 1948 in Tanturaa Palestinian town that is now in Israel.
When he fled through some Palestinian villages and refugee camps on his way to Lebanon, he saw the events that were happening in these areas and cities.
According to Abueideh, the tour serves as a lens through which we look at history and the human experience of migration during this crisis.
Omm's husband was captured by Israeli enemies. Desperately, she rushes home to save her newborn child. Fast and furious, she flees the town, but then realizes that she mistakenly grabbed a pillow instead of her baby.
The end of the story varies greatly depending on the speaker and the audience. In many versions, the mother descends into madness. Other versions show his killing or successful escape from Israel's guards and military forces, causing him to flee his homeland – a place he may never see again.
Recent Ask Me Anything (AMA) life on Reddit, Abueideh explains why Omm was chosen:
“The young woman's experience shows how the Nakba hurt, especially how it affected her. This adds depth to the understanding of what happened, and highlights the psychological and emotional stress that is often overlooked when discussing the crimes committed,” explained Abueideh.
Zionist forces killed more than 70 people who killed more than 15,000 Palestinians until the establishment of Israel in 1948.
What was the theme of Liyla and the Shadows of War?
In 2016, Abueideh's small group of Palestinian producers was released Liyla and Shadows of War for PC and mobile platforms, which was launched by Israel in 2014 Gaza.
The Israeli military operation, known as Operation Protective Edge, killed 2,300 Palestinians and 73 Israelis.
According to Abueideh, Liyla and the Shadow Warriors were achieved millions of downloads and was awarded first place for Excellence in Storyboarding at the International Mobile Gaming Awards in the Middle East North Africa.
The game is built around a Palestinian family during Israel's war in Gaza, as they fight to survive amid conflict and destruction.
“We followed the story of a girl who lives in Gaza. For these reasons, we try to create a story of concern. We connect people with what is happening in Gaza, and we show them the decisions you have to make as a Palestinian during the war, and no matter what decision you make, it is difficult for you to live,” says Abueideh.
apple At first he refused the Games but he later changed his decision after public pressure. Abueideh says Liyla and Shadows of War were rejected because of its political influence.
“Players have to deal with real life challenges in the midst of conflicts, challenging them to go through constant bombings and gunfights in search of sanctuary. The mechanics of this game work differently from other games, even though it is set in the Gaza Strip,” he says.
How is Dreams on a Pillow different from his previous games?
Although Dreams on a Pillow is set in Palestine like Liyla and Shadows of War, the energy of the play is different.
“In the game you are playing, this person (Omm) is carrying a pillow that prevents him from doing natural things, but the pillow gives him protection,” said Abueideh.
The psychological effects of the Nakba are clearly shown through the game's narrative construction and mechanics.
Omm finds comfort and security when she carries a pillow, which represents her childhood. However, when he puts it down, his thoughts sink into the ground quickly. They may suffer from nightmares and apparitions, which reflect the dangers they face on a regular basis.
His mental anguish is revealed through the game mechanics. At each level, based on the Nakba, they enter the dream. In this dream, which is also a play, we witness Omm's life before the Nakba, which provides a stark contrast to her current experience.
“This is our opportunity to show the Palestinian culture, the Palestinian culture. The habits of the people before the Nakba, and how beautiful the environment was. There is a lie about Palestine that is told in the Western press, 'a place without people, for a people without a place'”. Abueideh says.
“We need to show that Palestine was rich in history and culture, full of its people and their customs before 1948.”
According to Abueideh, the game will need two years of development and release planned for 2026. Due to the complexity of the matter, it is not clear from the development team which planets will accept the game.
What happened during the Nakba and the creation of Israel?
On May 14, 1948, shortly after the end of the British Mandate, Zionist leaders announced the establishment of the State of Israel. The declaration triggered the first Arab-Israeli war, after that the Zionist forces conquered 78 percent of the historical Palestine.
The remaining 22 percent is divided into two areas: the West Bank, which is now occupied, and the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by more than 15 months of nonstop Israeli bombardment.
About 750,000 Palestinians were displaced from their homes and communities following the violence initiated by the Zionist army.
The continued occupation of the Palestinian territories by Israeli forces for many years has a negative impact on the daily lives of Palestinians. The long-term occupation and expansion of Israeli settlements on Palestinian land has threatened the existence of bilateral relations – the Israeli and Palestinian states living together.