Play as the cat belonging to Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh, Iran's first democratically elected Prime Minister. Guide him back through key life events from the 1953 CIA-engineered coup by knocking items off shelves, scattering papers, and scratching him. This indie adventure draws from Persian miniature art traditions and Cold War foreign policy to explore ties between Western players, Mossadegh, and U.S.-Iran relations.
The game prompts reflection on threats to democracy. Players engage in a unique coaxing loop tied to historical moments. It suits those drawn to thoughtful indie adventures blending history and subtle interaction.
LINK TO THE ORIGINAL HERE:
New art, new music, and in French and Spanish.
In The Cat and the Coup, you play the cat of Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran. During the summer of 1953, the CIA engineered a coup to bring about his downfall. As a player, you coax Mossadegh back through significant events of his life by knocking objects off shelves, scattering his papers, and scratching him.
The game, situated within the traditions of Persian miniature art form and cold war foreign policy, asks players to consider their connection to Iranian history. The Cat and the Coup is both about the relationship between the Western video game player and Mossadegh and, by extension, the United States and Iran. It lays a foundation for today’s critical question -- how do the people know when their democracy is threatened?
