Bold RTS Riot: Civil Unrest explores the politics and humanity behind real-world protests
Five years ago, Leonard Menchiari found himself facing a line of heavily armoured police. The encounter took place at the NO-TAV riots in Val Susa, Italy, where Menchiari - formerly an editor and cinematographer at Valve - stood alongside fellow environmentalists and other upset locals to protest against the construction of a high-speed railway line in the area. As the standoff became more aggressive, the casually dressed gathering clashed with the riot police who responded with tear gas and water cannons.
During the confrontation, a number of people were injured on both sides. But it wasn't projectiles or jets of high-pressure water that struck Menchiari that day, rather the realisation that the police, while certainly better organised, were just as afraid as he was.
Riot: Civil Unrest is out now on Steam.