'If you go into a bookshop there are a wide array of books about everything. Are video-games coming dangerously close to becoming synonymous with violence? The best chance of avoiding ghettoizing games is surely through games like SpyParty, Flower, Journey, Fez, Braid and so on? Comics are synonymous with superheroes so I don't expect them to address other issues or genres. I'd never really thought about comics all that much, but I think Hecker is onto something here. There was just too much superheroes, right? There are great comic books but they are kind of in a cultural ghetto now.' Some of us believe that games could be that if we don't screw it up like comic books got screwed up. Kind of like film was in the 20th century.

'Games have the potential to be the preeminent arts and entertainment form of the 21st century. Continuing this line of thinking with Hecker starts bringing up all sorts of fascinating insight into the future of video-games. But also it is about more than just identifying who is the spy – it's about the human condition. It's a game that is about more than shooting, that much is clear. It's here that we start to get to the heart of what makes SpyParty tick. We have a pretty good idea and have to make consequential decisions about the economy and society.' So much of modern life is about not actually knowing 100%, global warming and so on. 'One of the goals of the game is for the sniper to make consequential decisions based on partial information. Hecker expands a little on the thinking behind all this.

SpyParty then turns up the tension by forcing the sniper to act before they are ready and make the spy attempt their missions with half an eye on the ticking clock. What results is a game that is more of a psychological cat and mouse experience than one about quick reaction times. It's the threat of violence that makes it intense.' 'It's a filmic use of violence, as soon as the violence happens the game is over. SpyParty is still a shooting game, but as soon as things become violent the game finishes.

Spyparty list of characters