New video game will be an ‘anti-capitalist Grand Theft Auto' ride through the Docklands
According to game-makers, players will be able to 'smash through Dublin and its all-American politics, two-tiered employment and skyrocketing homelessness'
A screengrab from the new game
A new video game set in Dublin's Docklands promises gamers an 'anti-capitalist Grand Theft Auto' experience.
Grand Canal Demolition Derby (GCDD) is a PS1-style game with the action taking place between Dublin's Grand Canal Dock and Saol Eile 'a spectral otherworld'.
According to game-makers NAMACO, players will be able to 'smash through Dublin and its all-American politics, two-tiered employment and skyrocketing homelessness'.
They will learn about the Free State's over-reliance on America, 'from centuries of colonial limitations imposed by Britain, to the substitution of indigenous industry with US investment from the 1950s onwards'.
It also features the 'buyout of Irish housing by investment funds from 2008'.
The game's various missions include 'thrashing the Teslas, smashing the servers and maiming the mainframes of American tech companies'.
These all server as metaphors 'for the shift from US tech dominance to a socialised economy, where industries and housing are publicly owned and the beneficiaries are ordinary people, not billionaires'.
The game was created by NAMACO, which is headed by Donal Fullam, Assistant Professor in Creative and Cultural Industries at UCD's School of Art History, and artist Hannah Hogan, in collaboration with 3D artist Peter Jessiman.
It will be launched next week at the 2025 Connolly Festival starting on Monday, May 6.
Connolly Festival coordinator, Aaron Nolan, said the new game will allow players to 'rampage through the so-called Glittering Silicon Docks and take on our Tech Overlords Google, X, Meta, Amazon and Apple'.
'The aim is to fight those who thrive on profit hyper-exploitation and seek the total obliteration of our communities,' Nolan said.
A screengrab from the new game
Today's News in 90 seconds - Thursday, May 1
'Players explore the historical roots of Ireland's lack of state and indigenous industry, and confront the modern fallout of over-reliance on US capital.'
He added: 'It also features a guest appearance from Joe Duffy's Liveline, as callers discuss the Ireland's artificially inflated GDP which obscures deep social inequalities, it's political landscape which is shaped to appease American interests and the precarity of having an economy that is acutely vulnerable to downturns in global markets.'
Last year, Fullam and Hogan created Mega Dreoilín, an art project in the form of a 16-bit video game.
It was shown as part of an exhibition in Pallas Projects/Studios in The Liberties, Dublin in May 2024.
In the game, the player navigates the Irish housing crisis, encountering characters including James Connolly, Manchán Magan, Ian Lynch and Rory Hearne, and locations such as The Cobblestone and Guineys.
The Connolly Festival is a celebration of trade union leader James Connolly, who was executed on May 12, 1916 for his part in leading the Easter Rising.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
10 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
I'm a Brit who went to summer camp in America – it was like living a 1990's Hollywood film and you can do it too
STICKY hands from melted s'mores, handmade friendship bracelets stacked up your arms and the California heat beating down on your back as you throw an American football. This was my summer as a Camp Counsellor in the U.S.A. 20 I spent two months looking after kids at camp before road-tripping California Credit: Jenna Stevens 20 My camp was Cloverleaf Ranch in California Credit: Jenna Stevens 20 Camp counsellors lead activities for kids spending their summer away from home Credit: Getty For generations, thousands of Americans have spent their childhood summer holidays at a traditional Designed to keep kids entertained over the summer vacation (and to give their parents a break) they've become a huge part of American culture. And as a Brit brought up on a diet of American moviews and TV shows, I've always longed to be a part of it too. Thankfully, I could. As summer camps often look for international staff to bring their skills across the pond. Read More On US holidays Through companies like You get to live the summer camp dream, make friends from all over the world, plus when it's over you get 30 extra days to travel across the States. But is it actually like Is it all singing, dancing and talent shows like in Camp Rock ? To be honest? Yes. It was everything you see in the movies and more. Campfire songs, telling ghost stories under torchlight and creating Cotton Eye Joe . Most read in Travel My days started at 6:30am - going from snoozing my alarm at home, to getting kids' teeth brushed, boots on and out the door before 7am was quite the change from my routine as a 21 year old back in England. Each morning we'd gather on the sports field to raise the American flag, a key part of camp culture us Brits soon had to get used to. After knocking back blueberry Ivanka Trump's incredible holiday in California 20 Bonding over the campfire was a key part of summer camp life Credit: Getty 20 A typical summer camp schedule - campfires, dances, and real-life Cluedo! Credit: Jenna Stevens 20 French toast drenched in maple syrup was my favourite way to start the day Credit: Jenna Stevens 20 'Colour War' saw the camp divided into two teams - let's go White Team! Credit: Jenna Stevens 20 Team sports are a huge part of summer camp culture Credit: Getty 20 Miniature corn dogs with ranch sauce - does it really get any more American than that? Credit: Jenna Stevens The days were filled with everything from archery to animal care, ziplining to basketball. My group of girls and I would sit under a tree and make friendship bracelets, as they requested song after song by Taylor Swift on my Walmart speaker. Our lunches were traditionally American: sloppy joes (bolognese in a burger bun with cheese), hot dogs and chicken tacos. Afternoons were spent cooling off in the pool followed by chill time in our cabins. Whilst some kids took the time to lay in their bunk and write letters home, others would come and point at my The kids were super curious about life outside of the States, but didn't seem to know all too much. My Kiwi co-worker convinced our bunk that New Zealand didn't have wi-fi or technology, and feigned amazement as they explained to her what a mobile phone was. The kids were always at the ready to jokingly mock my accent. They particularly loved making us British staff say 'bottle of water', as they tried through stifled laughter to mimic 'bott-ul' and 'wart-ur'. I'll also never forget hosting a camp 20 Summer camp was everything I thought it would be from watching teen movies like Camp Rock Credit: Getty 20 The nights spent around the campfire are my most cherished memories Credit: Jenna Stevens 20 Days off were often spent chilling by the nearby lake Credit: Jenna Stevens The kids would stay for one or two weeks at a time, but the camp environment made you grow close - so saying goodbye to them was always the hardest part. We'd end the week with a campfire, roasting I found myself collecting letters and pictures over the summer, and those handwritten messages and drawings are still posted up on my wall today. Although saying bye was tough, what came next was worth it. I'd made friends from all over the world - Australia, New Zealand, Germany as well as with the American staff. After ten weeks of hard work, I spent my earnings exploring California. 20 The hike to the Hollywood sign was tough, but worth it for the photo op! Credit: Jenna Stevens 20 Travelling with my new besties from camp made the hard days worth it Credit: Jenna Stevens 20 San Diego was a Californian paradise - it was all surfing, yoga and tacos Credit: Jenna Stevens 20 We stayed in a hippie hostel in the heart of Ocean Beach, San Diego Credit: Jenna Stevens Whilst some hopped over to Hawaii and others jetted off to JFK, my closest friends and I decided to road-trip the Golden State. We drove from Santa Rosa to Lake Tahoe, and spent a week jet-skiing across deep blue waters. We then headed down to San Francisco for a night, before catching the night bus to L.A. After hiking to the Hollywood sign, skating through Venice Beach and visiting Universal Studios, we headed down to sunny San Diego. We ended our trip meeting sea lions at La Jolla beach and cheering on the San Diego Padres at a home baseball game. If you're looking for a summer in the U.S.A., this is definitely the way to do it. You'll come home sunburnt, sleep-deprived, and with a head full of campfire songs. But the summer camp experience is true movie magic, and the chance to tick off your HOW TO WORK IN A US SUMMER CAMP If you fancy spending a summer in the states, there are three major companies that can sponsor your trip: Camp America, Camp Leaders and BUNAC. Once you set up an account with one of these, they handle all of the paperwork, help you get a Visa, and get you matched up with a summer camp in the U.S. If you pay a bit more, they'll organise your flights too. You don't need any previous camp experience - if you've led a sports club or drama group at a school, volunteered or worked with kids in some way, they'll more than likely be able to find you a placement. Once you're placed, you'll spend 8-10 weeks working with kids, and have 30 days left on your Visa to go wherever you want in the USA. 20 Watching the San Diego Padres in Petco Park made me feel like a true Californian Credit: Jenna Stevens 20 Camp America helped me make friends from all over the world Credit: Jenna Stevens 20 There are thousands of camps across the states that want international staff Credit: Getty 20 Summer Camp will always be my Californian home away from home! Credit: Jenna Stevens
The Irish Sun
10 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Love Island shake up as couple SPLITS, four islanders head to the Hideaway and bombshells cause chaos in villa
LOVE Island is in a big shake up, as a couple splits, four islanders head to the Hideaway and bombshells cause chaos in the villa. It's only the third night, but it seems things are about to heat up even more on the summer series of Love Island. 6 Love Island is in a big shake up, as a couple splits, four islanders head to the Hideaway and bombshells cause chaos in the villa Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 Two new male bombshells enter the villa Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 Four Islanders pop into the Hideaway Credit: Shutterstock Editorial But first, a split hits the villa as Ben and Toni fail to achieve a romantic spark, with him even saying she's 'given him the ick.' It all occurs after Sophie Lee leaves the villa, leading American bombshell Toni to say to the Islanders: 'Boys, it's your turn, just saying - I don't think you're gonna be safe.' Ben, who is coupled up with Toni after she stole him from Shakira , then says: 'Are you saying me in particular?' To which Toni replies: 'No it's about boys, not everything is about you.' Read More on Love Island Ben then storms off, which raises a lot of eyebrows, as Meg later tells him: 'That was a bit much…I don't get what she said that was really offensive?' Ben explains that he 'got the ick,' after Toni told him: 'Not everything is about you.' Toni ends up catching wind of the conversation, and questions Ben, asking: 'I've heard from people you said I'm giving you the ick?' As things cool off between Toni and Ben, it looks like he's still got his mind set on Shakira, as he pulls her for a chat in the 'no invite needed' Hideaway wanting to let her know what he's thinking. Most read in Love Island He ends up admitting to the brunette beauty that he likes her, but she says he 'needs training.' Love Island fans call for boy to be KICKED OFF show after 'disgusting' red flag comment And they're not the only two Islanders who head to the Hideaway in the upcoming episode. Helena and Harry head to Helena tells him the rules of the private area saying: 'At night time you can sleep in the bed with someone you're not in a couple with.' Harry laughs: 'So there might be a bit of corridor creeping tonight.' Love Island 2025 first couples and Ben Meg and and Helena and and and Tommy At risk - Harry and Shakira later debrief about the chat, with the footballer admitting he and Helena like a flirt. He says: 'Yeah, she is…we flirt, I think you know and that's ok.' Shakira replies of Helena's flirting efforts: 'Fair play girl.' And then just to keep viewers on their toes even more, Semi-pro footballer Shea Mannings and fitness influencer Remell Mullins will be seen on screen tonight, and they mean business . They greet the girls by the firepit, as the boys watch on from the terrace. And they girls fill them in on their current couples. Toni asks them: 'So what's your plan coming in here?' Remell teases: 'I'm not gonna say too much about myself because I've got to ease in where I'm at…' Alima jokes: 'We'll see!' Harry notices Remell taking a liking to Alima saying: 'He's on Alima!' They then invite the boys down to meet the new bombshells and it's time for the first game - dares in a box. But while the bombshells cause a stir, something else causes an even bigger one, Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX 6 Th boys watch as the two bombshells enter the villa Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 The bombshells stir up trouble Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 They all play a game, which involves a lot of snogging Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
RTÉ News
15 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Sarah Bolger filming psychological horror in Seoul
Mayans MC 's Sarah Bolger will star opposite Snowpiercer 's Ko Ah-sung and Strong Girl Nam-soon 's Sungsoo Yune in Nervous, a psychological horror currently filming in the South Korean capital, Seoul. US entertainment trade publication Deadline reports that the film reunites Irish star Bolger with A Good Woman Is Hard to Find director Abner Pastoll. Co-written by Pastoll and Richard Hobley (Slumber), Nervous tells the story of a woman "spiralling into a seductive nightmare beyond her control". Rematch.
