August 26, 2019, 05:25 PM
A mobile game featuring Hong Kong's protesters being beaten Whack-A-Mole style has been slammed online for further stirring tensions in the city that is gripped by an ongoing political crisis.
Allegedly made in Singapore
Called "Tees Battle", the game was seen on the Google Play store on Aug. 25, accessible at a price of US$0.99.
It had supposedly been made in Singapore by a company called "decaffee", given that its address was listed at 12 Marina View Asia.
#Singaporean created pro-#China Android game “Tees Battle”, in which players will get points for “hitting little boys in black T-shirt” inside #Hongkong MTR. The instruction also says “do not hit the good boy (white tees)”. #Singapore https://t.co/bEsvIbXHuQ pic.twitter.com/eOVkazucmV
— Badcanto (@Badcanto) August 24, 2019
Source: Screenshot from Google Play
However, no unit number was given for the company's office in the address.
Additionally, the game does not appear to be available for download in Singapore.
Screenshot from Google Play
Hit the "boys in black" to score points
Gameplay-wise, players are encouraged to hit the "Little boys in black T-shirts" to score a point, likely in reference to the black-clad protesters.
Hitting the black figures will also elicit a certain response from them.
The aim is to unlock all possible responses from the black figures before the timer ends.
Meanwhile, hitting an animated mahjong tile, or "good boys" in "White Tees", results in a loss of a point.
Given that screenshots of the game show it is set at a MTR station, it is very likely that the mahjong tile appears to be referring to the white-clad triad-linked mob that recently attacked commuters and protesters alike on July 22 at Yuen Long station.
Screenshot from Google Play
Here is the game's description, as seen on the page cache:
"A very funny game to spread Love and Hope for Everyone!
Little boys in black T-shirt will randomly say something to you everything you hit him.
This will definitely brighten your day! Try it!
Game Feature: Every round has a time limit. Try to unlock all speeches before the round end for surprise bonus
Hitting the Boys in Black T-shirt will add 1 point, Do not hit the good boys (white Tees Minus 1 point)!"
Game criticised, compare to anti-Semitic board game released in Nazi Germany
The game has been heavily criticised online, with several netizens comparing the game with "Juden Raus", a board game released in 1936 in Nazi Germany that featured the deportation of Jews and the confiscation of their property.
Nazi spread racial hatred using board games such as "Juden Raus/Out with the Jews" encouraging forced deportations, and confiscation of Jewish property.#chinazi uses the same tactic with the App "Tees Battle" advocating hatred towards people in black.#StandwithHK pic.twitter.com/d49OAXeek7
— 8964 😷 (@HKer00033168) August 25, 2019
A game named “Tees Battle” on Google Play advertised as “to spread love and hope”, asked players to beat the little boy in black T-shirt, representing HK’s protestors. It reminds us of the game created by the nazi, “Juden Raus”. pic.twitter.com/LBqAqyMTVN
— Hong Kong fighter🐸 (@JuneSayno) August 25, 2019
Google Play “Tees Battle”
— 白玉樓の羊 (@fatsheep0050) August 25, 2019
Can't you believe someone actually develop a game to brainwash people by punching protesters in the MTR station? These are exactly the similar thing as how Nazi brainwash their children to hate jews. pic.twitter.com/RUb0hW2BG0
There were also calls for the mobile game to be reported.
This is the link to report the fucking “game”https://t.co/QVcyceaDZT
— konger_alexa (@AlexaKonger) August 26, 2019
— EJ Tech (@ejzllanes) August 24, 2019
The game appears to have since been removed given as the URL can no longer be found.
Top image collage from Badcanto Twitter and Google Play
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