The Migrant Trail: crossing the US-Mexico border in a game inspired by The Oregon Trail

While it may not have won the top prize at Games for Change, one of my favorite games from this year's showcase is The Migrant Trail.

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While it may not have won the top prize at Games for Change, one of my favorite games from this year's showcase is The Migrant Trail. Inspired by The Oregon Trail, players choose to play as either migrants or the Border Patrol agents patrolling the desert. Migrants must stock up on gear and try to survive the harrowing journey, while managing their hunger, thirst, and health.

The Border Patrol isn't evil, either. The game aims to show how the job goes beyond just capturing migrants, but also trying to help save lives. There are probably no easy answers with this sensitive topic, but this free game gives players another perspective.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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  • reply
    April 24, 2014 2:00 PM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, The Migrant Trail: crossing the US-Mexico border in a game inspired by The Oregon Trail.

    While it may not have won the top prize at Games for Change, one of my favorite games from this year's showcase is The Migrant Trail.

    • reply
      April 24, 2014 2:27 PM

      Poorly named. "Migrants" and immigrants cross legal borders all the time. This is "The illegal border-crosser trail."

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        April 24, 2014 3:04 PM

        The Freedom Trail

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        April 24, 2014 3:21 PM

        i want my money back

        • reply
          April 24, 2014 4:44 PM

          A migrant is someone who travels from one country or to another or who travels within their country to a different region either temporarily, like a migrant farm worker, or someone who does so permanently whether legally or illegally.

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            April 25, 2014 8:08 AM

            And the game only simulates one migrant path--the illegal one. Hence my objection to the name.

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              April 25, 2014 2:43 PM

              Missing the point much?

              The point is to better understand why a person would leave his family and country behind, to risk their life in order to cross over the border.

      • reply
        April 24, 2014 4:55 PM

        Thanks Obama!

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