Smuggle Truck Press Q&A

We received a lot of important questions regarding Smuggle Truck. In order to answer them, here’s some Q&A with the press:

Question 1.) Why was this game made?
The idea for the game was a reaction to the frustrations we felt as our friends struggled through a long and winding immigration process. We understood that creating a satire would be the best way to bring the issue to light and kickstart the process of getting people discussing immigration reform.

Question 2.) If you wanted to start a meaningful discussion, why not make a serious game instead of a satire? It could be a game about the paperwork maze the player has to go through to to get a visa.
This was our first thought, but elected to go with satire instead. We predicted that by approaching the issue from the complete opposite side, we would be able to reach many more people and make a bigger impact. There are lots of dry campaigns for immigration reform, but you don’t really hear about them. In fact, you wouldn’t be reading this if we had gone that route.

Question 3.) What points, politically, are you trying to make? Are you pro/anti-immigration? Are you pro/anti illegal immigration?
There are major issues with the current system in place for legal immigration. It requires reform, at the very least. We feel that with reform, the pressures that drive illegal immigration can be lessened, and more people will have a legal choice when it comes to immigration. As for the details and specifics of the reform process, we’re currently working with multiple immigration reform groups in Massachusetts to figure out how to best focus the discussions toward relevant reform topics.

Question 4.) What do you have to say to those who believe this is in poor taste? Don’t you care about those who died trying to cross the border illegally?
If we didn’t care about those who lost their lives struggling to immigrate, we wouldn’t have created this game. “Smuggle Truck” has sparked a debate, and this discussion wouldn’t be happening right now if some feathers weren’t ruffled.

Question 5.) Do you think this game will be approved by Apple?
As always, Apple makes the final call because it’s their own closed platform. However, we’re confident that our final presentation of the game will properly reflect the satire and that it will be judged as such.

Question 6.) The game has started some serious discussion regarding immigration, but has also provoked some racist and negative comments. How are you dealing with these comments?
“Smuggle Truck” has indeed encouraged quite a bit of thoughtful discussion, and has also (not unexpectedly) brought about some less-than-useful discussion. We’re currently working with a local immigration reform group in Mass to discuss how best to drive the discussions toward a focus of relevant reform topics. Stay tuned for more information regarding that initiative.