The junta is worried that the strategy game might affect the stability of the region

Aug 5, 2014 07:35 GMT  ·  By

Tropico 5, Kalypso Media's latest entry in the popular economic sim franchise, was banned in Thailand over worries that it might affect the stability of the region and "hurt the country's security."

The irreverent strategy game puts you in the shoes of a dictator that has to fend off military coups, rig elections, deal with dissenters and generally rule with an iron fist, and it apparently doesn't fly well with Thailand's new military government.

The Associated Press, citing a local game distributor, reports that censors operating on behalf of Thailand's military leaders have suspended sales of Haemimont Games' city-builder out of fear that it might put the country's stability in danger.

Thailand's military staged a coup against the civilian government earlier this year in May, and a group titled the National Council for Peace and Order is currently running things. One of the group's duties is to crack down on perceived radical elements in the media, and the film and video censorship board has decided to block sales of Tropico 5, concerned that it might affect the order in the country.

Tropico 5 is a game that has you running a Caribbean island paradise in the role of El Presidente, the supreme leader, using the military to enforce your rule and making those who oppose you mysteriously disappear, forcing media to put a favorable spin on stories concerning you and rigging elections.

You also have to pay mind to the bigger powers around you, and attempt to please them as much as you are able in order to keep on their good side and secure your rule. Tropico 5 is generally less concerned with the welfare of your citizens, and more with what abusive maneuvers you must employ in order to stay in power, and this is a red flag for the Thai junta.

It's not clear what exactly about Tropico 5 has made the censors ban its distribution in Thailand, but it appears that previous installments in the series were given the go-ahead for distribution and sale.

In any case, the country has a long standing tradition of "sanitizing" books, television and media stories before releasing them to the public, but this newer measure seems to be indicative of a much harsher stance that the new government has toward freedom of speech.

The junta has already issued several edicts that are critiqued for infringing on media freedom and on the populace's freedom of speech.

"We are disappointed to hear that Tropico 5 will not be released in Thailand. Tropico 3 and 4 both enjoyed successful releases in the country and although the Tropico brand does have a realistic political element to it, the scenarios and content are all delivered with a certain trademark tongue in cheek humour," Kalypso's Global Managing Director Simon Hellwig commented on the matter.

Tropico 5 screenshots (9 Images)

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