Gaming the News: How ‘News Tower’ and Other Titles Explore Journalism’s Ethical Tightrope
In an era defined by a fraught media landscape and declining public trust, a new wave of video games is turning a critical eye toward the world of journalism. Titles like News Tower, Times & Galaxy, and The New York Times Simulator aren’t simply using news as a backdrop; they’re actively gamifying the complex ethical and economic pressures faced by modern news organizations.
News Tower, developed by Sparrow Night, immerses players in the role of a 1930s New York newspaper publisher. The game challenges players to navigate real historical events – from the arrest of Al Capone to the rise of Hitler – while simultaneously managing the financial realities of running a media empire. As one player described, the game immediately acknowledges the struggles of the industry, noting a publication is grappling with “dwindling readerships and mounting debts.” This resonates deeply with the current state of affairs, yet the game maintains a playful tone, set during what many consider the “golden age” of journalism.
The core gameplay loop revolves around a weekly publishing cycle. From Monday to Saturday, players receive news leads and dispatch reporters specializing in areas like economics or entertainment. The historical accuracy is a key component of the game’s appeal, allowing players to cover significant events like the Lindbergh baby kidnapping and the Wall Street crash. However, the real challenge comes on Sunday, when players must lay out the paper, balancing reader demand, revenue streams, and their own editorial vision.
But reporting is only half the battle. News Tower also functions as a management simulator, requiring players to expand their building, manage budgets, hire staff, and maintain employee morale. The pursuit of a well-appointed newsroom – complete with plush offices and ample plants – can even lead to a bit of competitive one-upmanship, as players compare their setups on platforms like Reddit.
Beyond News Tower, other games are exploring similar themes. Times & Galaxy (2023) offers a sci-fi twist, casting players as a robot reporter interviewing witnesses across various planets. The New York Times Simulator (2024), created by Paolo Pedercini, takes a more satirical approach, forcing players to edit coverage to appease powerful backers – the police, the wealthy, and the state of Israel.
News Tower’s approach is less overtly political, but it still highlights the ethical dilemmas inherent in publishing. Players constantly face difficult choices: Do they invest in additional editors to ensure accuracy, even if it impacts profits? How much should they cater to sensationalism to boost sales? Should they rely on advertising or subscriptions for revenue? The game effectively demonstrates how challenging it is to operate an honest news organization.
The game’s design further emphasizes these pressures through the inclusion of four in-game factions – the mayor, the police, high society, and the mafia – each offering money and favors in exchange for favorable coverage. One player recounted a descent into compromise, initially accepting minor requests from the mafia before being asked to promote a boxing match tied to a gambling racket. “Was that a step too far? I had to decide what kind of publisher I wanted to be,” they reflected. Ultimately, the player found no in-game incentive to prioritize integrity over profit, ultimately aligning with the mafia and achieving financial success at the cost of journalistic principles.
As the player surveyed New York from the roof of their newly constructed news tower, they acknowledged that The Lantern – the name of their publication – no longer embodied the values its name suggested. But, having amassed considerable wealth, they no longer seemed to care. This outcome, the player noted, may be a deliberate critique by the developers, highlighting the corrosive influence of power and money on the media.
News Tower is currently available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
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