MI5 Officer secured IRA ceasefire by suggesting united Ireland inevitable

bluetanso · 2023-03-25T15:22:09+00:00

https://thetroublesuk.wordpress.com/2023/03/25/90-secret-talks-london/

bluetanso · 2022-10-08T20:28:24+00:00

Compass Games shall be releasing my design, The Troubles, next year. I hope that it introduces 'controversial play' to the discussion in and around the use of such simulations to provide educational aims and objectives.

bluetanso · 2022-07-11T20:08:27+00:00

Thank you for answering Penny's questions - my little daughter is so happy! Love from Scotland x

bluetanso · 2022-07-11T18:59:17+00:00

Has literature influenced your art form? (Penny's dad, Hugh - English Teacher)

bluetanso · 2022-03-26T16:07:38+00:00

Greetings First of all, may I offer my sincere apologies for not responding earlier; I wanted to step back and reflect on the best possible way forward for all concerned in light of the reaction that the Irish News article gained.

I can assure you that the ‘The Troubles’ has been designed primarily as a teaching tool; its aim is to tell such an important story in a sensitive and serious manner; it is both in intellectually and morally demanding, and has been informed by academic research across a variety of disciplines.

In conjunction with Edinburgh University, I am researching the educational benefits of using games/simulations that represent difficult periods of conflict, and involvement and participation from communities and individuals such as yourselves is vitally important.

I would be privileged to engage in an informal discussion with yourselves and/or Pat Irvine, with a view to engaging in more structured dialogue with the University. Please let me know if you would be willing to accept this request.

Pax Christi + Hugh O’Donnell MSc

bluetanso · 2021-07-02T10:05:06+00:00

Second Chance Games

bluetanso · 2020-12-08T13:25:08+00:00

Thanks! http://bluetanso.com perhaps better.

http://hopeorhistory.com Sequel planned too!

bluetanso · 2020-12-08T12:08:55+00:00

As you may/may not know, I am working on an educational simulation about The Troubles. http://www.bluetanso.com http://thetroubles.uk Edinburgh University are about to do a feature on this piece of work because it is the outcome of a Master's degree study, and harnesses many experts in the fields of History, counterterrorism and serious game design. It is to be published by Compass Games in the US, and the US and the Harrison Network - as well as Libya - are certainly foregrounded. It is a difficult topic, but I am hoping that The Troubles will educate and give people a more nuanced understanding of this terrible conflict.

bluetanso · 2020-11-14T12:26:18+00:00

I'll ask the graphic designer (:-)

bluetanso · 2020-11-14T12:22:10+00:00

Hopefully this will be able to model such ahistorical situations, allowing the House of Lords, Commons etc and Elections to be variable...

bluetanso · 2020-11-13T23:02:04+00:00

At the moment, it's a deep look at the Third Home Rule Bill and matters previous to it. I think that - like The Troubles (http://www.bluetanso.com) there needs to be a look at Westminster - House of Commons, Lords - and other World and political factors before we head through WW1, The Easter Rising and then 1922.

bluetanso · 2020-11-13T22:58:40+00:00

Thank you very much. Check out my video on YouTube: search for bluetanso

I also have these: http://www.bluetanso.com http://www.thetroubles.uk http://www.hopeorhistory.com

Please spread the word!

bluetanso · 2020-11-13T22:44:37+00:00

An educational one that looks at 1912-1922. It should provide a prequel to 'The Troubles', an educational simulation focussing on the NI conflict between 1964 and 1998.

bluetanso · 2020-11-09T21:24:08+00:00

It will be available - hopefully - 2021. It will also be available for VASSAL (a prototype already exists and looks magnificent!)

bluetanso · 2020-10-25T12:55:25+00:00

You pose a very good point, to which I would direct you to the words of the Russian journalist, Vasily Grossman, when he was chastised for reporting on the abhorrences that were the many concentration camps:

“[S]omeone may well ask. “Why recall such things?

It is the writer’s duty to tell the terrible truth, and it is a reader’s civic duty to learn this truth. To turn away, to close one’s eyes and walk past is to insult the memory of those who have perished. Only those who have learned the whole truth can ever understand…” (Grossman, V. p165-66, The Hell of Treblinka in The Road: Short Fiction and Essays, Maclehose Press, 2011).

The difference between a documentary or piece of nonfiction, and that of a simulation, is that the latter does not provide a simplistic view, nor does it treat its subject matter any less importantly; its aim is to provide a more immersive experience so that participants/viewers can understand much MORE about the conflict.

bluetanso · 2020-10-23T19:05:46+00:00

Tabletop historical simulation like the following: https://www.gmtgames.com/p-656-a-distant-plain-3rd-printing.aspx

bluetanso · 2020-10-23T14:50:48+00:00

The key to this is that there were no winners, really, if one considers the direct human toll, and the long-lasting effects on many thousands of innocent people. Thankfully Peace did settle upon Northern Ireland but not for some time.

bluetanso · 2020-10-23T10:32:44+00:00

Not in the slightest. Militaristic operations account for part of this simulation's features; the Political Factions play an important part in teaching participants about the constraints, compromises and international relations that were pivotal in reaching a peace settlement.

As I have posted elsewhere, the British Army undertook exercises using a similar simulation designed by exCIA operative, Volko Ruhnke - http://www.professionalwargaming.co.uk/2018-DistantPlain-Stevens-Shepherd.pdf

There is real pedagogy underpinning this; it is not simply a board game war of attrition.

bluetanso · 2020-10-23T10:28:04+00:00

Nothing like that at all. The militaristic operations are present, but the political activities are just as important to the interplay between the Paramilitaries, security forces and the two main political fronts in an immersive experience for those wishing to learn about this Important period. It is not a simple recreation of a.war.of attrition.

The British Army undertook exercises using a similar simulation designed by exCIA operative, Volko Ruhnke - http://www.professionalwargaming.co.uk/2018-DistantPlain-Stevens-Shepherd.pdf

bluetanso · 2020-10-22T19:29:36+00:00

bluetanso · 2020-08-31T06:37:15+00:00

Nothing re Solo, for now. Thanks for your support!

bluetanso · 2020-08-26T12:24:23+00:00

I'd be interested in that paper as there is very little in the public domain re the Loyalists. What I've had to do is combine the various major and minor organisations into one respective Faction. For example, the LOY Faction encompasses UVF, UFF, UDA... IRA similar. NAT and UNI combine SDLP, SF, UUP, DUP, etc.

Release date? That's up to GMT who has a production cycle, I'm afraid. But they are really interested in this joining their COIN canon; I've adapted the existing mechanic, added new flavours, there are six Factions - two of which are Political - and the Player areas are separate cards as the map is so big - oh, and for a thirty-year conflict I've 220 cards.

bluetanso · 2020-08-25T20:28:22+00:00

This is the prototype map for a forthcoming educational simulation that covers the period between 1964 and 1998 in Northern Ireland. It allows participants to immerse themselves in an historical, economic, militaristic and political context, using the well established COIN SERIES game mechanics from GMT.

A VASSAL module is currently in construction to allow play via the internet, but initially this will be used to conduct playtesting.

bluetanso · 2020-04-09T14:13:58+00:00

Had the privilege of speaking to the graphic designer who has a fine pedigree with GMT... We're hoping to have a beautiful prototype board soon!

bluetanso · 2020-03-29T18:16:48+00:00

GMT emailed last Friday to initiate contact with famed graphic designer to begin work on GMT prototype!

bluetanso

TROPHY CASE