Nice ideas, Lucifel. I'm starting to get creaped out by this game. The "elite" idea interests me most. What would make the lower class respect the elite enough to willingly accept less resources? Media manipulation is the first idea that comes to mind. The elite could simply be military forces that (as far as the lower class know) regularly repel other violent corporations and secure more resources for the corporation. The added bonus to this is the hero can find out more and more information about this elite class and may choose to seek them out, only to discover that they may not exist at all.
HEF, don't be afraid of the game but afraid of ... well, the various countries and societies and beliefs. Also, I refuse to publicly name my country less someone reads this and something bad happens. ;D
How to brainwash the masses, you mean? Simple, use whatever means possible to hammer in conformity, blind acceptance, extreme conservatism(superficial rights for only 1 gender), etc. It could be religion(in its' extreme forms), moral education, the kinda literature you make the people read or watch, even the culture they have... like what sorta music you have and so forth.
The more you expose someone to various facets of culture(especially when they're young) and religion, the more likely they're able to accept people from other cultures and beliefs. And the less you expose them, the likelier the opposite will happen.
Now imagine if you promoted music, books, certain religious beliefs, etc. which emphasised stereotypes(ethnical, racial, religious, cultural, etc.) repeatedly for a few generations of the population. What do you think would happen to the population?
And well, together with that "physical punishment" part I suggested... trust me, it's not going to be a pretty picture.
Also, throw in tribalism and an "imaginary enemy", in this case, it would be another racial/religious/etc. group and you've got the perfect scenario to keep the citizens busy. ;D
For an example...
Emphasize certain extreme beliefs: like Abstinence, while not teaching about methods of protection or letting certain "groups" teach misinformation about protection(leading to fear, insecurity, etc.). Let the teens and young people get AIDs/HIV/STDs, "stifle/manipulate the statistics" and point the finger at gay people and paint STDs/HIV/AIDs as a "gay problem"(thus leading the "straight" people to believe they're more elite/superior than the gay people even though more of them are dying from it).
Also, if say, plenty of gay people contract STDs/AIDs/HIV, it's all the better if they die, isn't it? While at the same sweeping aside the fact that most closeted gay men tend to be married and have children.
Since AIDS/HIV can be spread through bodily fluids like saliva, blood, etc. most likely the children might get it too.
And make sure to make it difficult for any group/people vulnerable to such issues to gain information on them, so that anyone who's foolish enough to fall into their traps will die along with them. After all, it helps maintain the status quo and does away with the morally corrupted(including their offspring).
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Ahhh and one more method: use fear and control to "tame" and "muffle" the ones who dare to talk. Use lawsuits(drive them all to bankruptcy!), exile(use the police, the military, etc. to go on a hunt for such people... thus forcing their identities to be exposed and forcing them into any country who'll dare to harbour him), defamation(spend time using the media and other sources to spread slander not just on him but his/her close friends, family, relatives, etc.).
The "carrot and stick" method might be quite useful: if someone related to the target refuses to talk, simply offer them about a few million bucks and a nice fat promotion... they're more likely to spill the beans. And once, said person accepts the offer, either let him slide or turn the press on him.
Also, retain a few "official" religions(anything else is banned and thus, illegal) and school of thoughts, everyone is allowed to "practise" this but there will be a line of "acceptability" and what is not. This line is determined by OB markers and anyone who steps out of line will be condemned not just by the government but also by the media, and other groups.
Also, from time to time... throw in entrapment. This will involve say... undercover policemen or women who will say, go around selling "drugs" or even pretending to be "gay people" or "religious members from banned religions", etc. Anyone who falls for the trap... is guilty(innocence doesn't matter). These "sacrificial lambs" will then be placed on the pedestal so the gov can say that "see? We did a good job... now pat us on the back." If the victim's family dares to protest, simply use sweeping statements to prove your stand, evidence and case.
By this time, much of the population has been fully ingrained with your teachings so anyone who dares to speak out in favour of the victims will automatically be turned upon by the rest.
If it were me... I wouldn't use the military alone but instead, have the "elite" defined as "the government" but 'cos "the government" controls much of the business and the jobs available, no one dares to speak up against them:
a) it'd mean criticising the superior of your boss(not good when you're working on a low wage)
b) it'd cause confusion and pit the citizens against one another and they'd be too busy infighting to try and do anything else. As in "who's considered part of the elite? Me, him or her? Or is it the boss I work for? Or Miss A in the HR department?"
c) Also, "elite" btw can simply apply to the ordinary citizens. After all, it usually refers to "the superior ones", right? So make sure to reinforce the beliefs that 1 group must be more superior than the other. I prefer a "blurred" version of who's "the elite" since it will likely make the player be suspicious and question everything.
Also, as a tool for your hero... maybe the internet since it is much safer than say... radio(which can be easily tapped), books(easily discovered). Since the net easily allows for transfer of knowledge into many various forms, you could destroy part of the info but not always all of it. After all, you can hide knowledge by encrypting it or even disguising it as part of something else.
People on the streets could survive in many ways - rat farming, mushroom growing - there's a lot of subsistence level stuff. Insects are big on protein too, don't forget...
Am I the only one who read this and thought "Abe's Oddworld"?
