Ode to NGD, Argentina...

[Hell_bound]

Some here are too young to understand the concepts that I have been and will be talking about, others know (for they feel it deep down inside), but choose to ignore...



However, even though this be true I feel compelled to share with you all the reasons I like NGD so much.

You see NGD is a company that comes from a very poor Nation-State, relative to Western nations, known as Argentina.


For an example of just how poor lets look at some facts (it should be noted that all numbers are taken from Wiki):

In 2007 Argentina's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is a measure of a nation's economy based on what they produce and what that production is worth in the Global economy, was ~523.7 billion (US) dollars. Now Argentina has roughly ~40.31 million people, so per person Argentina's GDP works out to be ~13.3 thousand (US) dollars per person.

In contrast the US GDP, in 2007, was ~13.5 trillion dollars, which works out to be ~43.4 thousand dollars per person (total population of the US is ~ 304.2 million).



Now most of you are probably thinking "so what"... But these numbers, if you understand political economic theory, relate to the political influence a Nation-State has in the world. This translates into three things (though you should know this is just my own list):

(1) How much influence Argentina can sway the political agendas of other nations through trade, service agreements (that is through what they can offer other nations).

(2) How much global resources Argentina can secure for themselves (that other nations make) like machinery, vehicles or steel (to name a few).

And (3) how the combination of both (1) and (2) in turn help to increase (or decrease if Argentina, or any nation, fails to achieve optimum results in points one and two) the standard living of the average Argentinian (such as increased chances for education, more opportunities for work and more technological goods).


Now to truly understand how NGD is special, at least in my eyes, we have to understand the historical relationship the West (and by West I mean the US) has had with Argentina.


You see in 1970's American leaders started to worry about the socialist political movements that that were occurring in South America, namely Chile and later Argentina. See back then America was still trying to suppress the global movement of Communism. However, in it's frenzy to rid the world of Communism it neglected to realize that there was a fundamental difference between Socialism and Communism. Not really though, for America knew the difference but Socialism was just as dangerous, if not more then Communism, because Nation-States which turned Socialist meant that America could not secure cheep resources, nor cheep labor forces. And this meant that the economic and global political power of America would decline, if unable to have access to cheep resources or labor.

Thus, in the 1970's America conducted a botched coup in Chile to rid the Socialist President Salvador Allende, because at that time America wanted cheep copper from Chile (*Allende wanted to socialize Chile's copper mines and give the profit made to Chileans). However, this coup led to Allende's death, which ironically occurred on 9/11/73 (get it 9/11, and no there is no connection to this and the Al Qaeda attacks that occurred on 9/11/01 in New York, but it's still ironic).

After Salvador Allende was killed America, through corrosion of the corporate and political elite (by letting them think they would profit *from the coup on Allende), was able to institute a pro-capitalist President in Chile. From that point on the people of Chile, its resources and environment were enslaved for the benefit of their own power-elite and America.



Unfortunately, because of proximity and a belief in socialism, Argentina became the next target in America's so called war on Communism. So in 1973-76 America backed Jorge Rafael Videla's military government. Under Videla, the Argentinian government, started to kill its own people (about ~30,000 people died) under a movement called the Argentine Anti-Communist Alliance or the "Dirty War". As a matter of fact Jorge Rafael Videla, during this time, is quoted to say, "As many people as necessary must die in Argentina so that the country will again be secure.." Sadly this government sponsored war, which was backed by America, lasted until 1983 and left Argentina in economic ruins. And once again America profited, because it found another Nation-State willing to sell both its resources and labor for cheep.


Now given this history one might ask, "What is the significance of NGD?" Good question and here is the answer...


NGD represents a symbol (anyone who has read my posts knows how much I love symbols), in my mind, of a Nation-State that is starting to come out from under the economic and political oppression that was forced on it by the Western world because it dared to believe in an economic, governmental system which put its people before profits.

And although Argentina had to adapt to a capitalist economic system, its people still believe is socialist concepts and evidence of this NGD's decision to put in the fatigue system within their game. And bless you NGD!

Yet the fact that a corporation, such as NGD, can exist within Argentina shows that quality of life for Argentinians is starting to increase...



And in light of this NGD, people of Argentina I leave you with this one thought...

Know that America sits in the twilight of its hegemonic power over the world, for soon there shall came a great readjustment in world power...
These signs are everywhere and are hard to escape...
But know as one Nation decreases, others increase...


However, for Nations such as England, Australia and Japan...
I would be afraid, very afraid...
For your ties to the American dollar shall in turn cause your collapse!


Therefore, NGD my hats off to you!
And to Argentina god bless you!


On a side note, however, Argentinians you have one hot looking President. Yes, I like very much!




*And yes, other then wiki numbers, this was penned by me with the knowledge I, believe I have, in Global Economic Theories and US relations with other Nation-States

Edits denoted by *'s

[gamemod]

Argentina is a country that you should live in to fully understand how things work (or they seem to do it) and how you have to be truly wise and smart to get what you want done. However, game development needs an extra effort, as there isn't proper sponsoring or subsidy for this kind of projects. But we love what we do, and so, we will keep on struggling for what we want.

Thanks for your words, and don't start me about our president!

Regards.

[Hell_bound]

Originally Posted by gamemod

Argentina is a country that you should live...

You have no idea how much I'd love to...

Originally Posted by gamemod

... to fully understand how things work (or they seem to do it) and how you have to be truly wise and smart to get what you want done...

I'm sure there is still large disparities that exist between "old" way and "new" way?

However, the fact that Argentina is starting to grow economically and produce corporations (if even one) like NGD, while still holding onto the core beliefs of what made Argentina a counter movement to profiteering capitalism shows that there is indeed very wise and smart people in Argentina.

Originally Posted by gamemod

... However, game development needs an extra effort, as there isn't proper sponsoring or subsidy for this kind of projects...

Personally I think NGD should be subsidized and touted as ushering Argentina into a brave new world where opportunities could be endless... Just think this is only the beginning .

Originally Posted by gamemod

... But we love what we do, and so, we will keep on struggling for what we want...

Yes you guys sure do love what you do and it shows and I for one thank you for your struggles to produce such a game and supporting the community that has evolved around it.

Originally Posted by gamemod

... Thanks for your words, and don't start me about our president!

Heheh, at least I'm not the only one...

[gamemod]

Originally Posted by Hell_bound

Heheh, at least I'm not the only one...

Actually, I meant the other way round. But don't make me talk about her.

[ArcticWolf]

Originally Posted by gamemod

Actually, I meant the other way round. But don't make me talk about her.

Same as you. Too bad my university is two blocks away from the pink house, everytime people gather to strike it takes me an hour to get to the bus stop

[Dividido]

Like xeph and gamemod said, it turns very difficult to explain how our country really works. I think the main reason that Argentina act different than US is becouse we don't have the resources (economical, strategic): in another parallel universe I believe we are the Super World Power (with all the negative things this attach) :P

Our problem is that we have the theory, but we fail in the practice. For more information about some of our thoughts, you can search some info about Peron's third position theory.

[ArcticWolf]

Originally Posted by Hell_bound

However, the fact that Argentina is starting to grow economically and produce corporations (if even one) like NGD, while still holding onto the core beliefs of what made Argentina a counter movement to profiteering capitalism shows that there is indeed very wise and smart people in Argentina.

Brief comment about the economical history in Argentina*:

In 1880's we used to be the main producer (and hence, seller) of grains in the world, altogether with bovine products.

We got struck in the 80's, 90's, the 1914 and the 1929 by economical crisis and stock crashes. Argentina could never sell as much grain as before this crisis.

Then the WWII came. As you may notice, all grain producer countries depend on Europe since was (and it still is) the primary seed buyer around the world. By the time we had some industries, but they weren't enough to get by.

After the WWII ended, Argentina saw with big eyes the starving and destroyed Europe, so we wanted to sell food and lend money to help with the reconstruction of the continent. Oh, and we wanted to clean up our name, because our country held a quite good relationship with the nazi regime. So... what was the problem with this? The Marshal Plan forbid the countries to buy any product that didn't come from the USA, leaving us with a handful of countries to sell to.

When we could finally get out of the crisis, the new model that we called "sustitución de importaciones" (which can be roughly translated as replacing the industrialized or end products with the ones produced here) collapsed due to the limitations that the economical model had. Maybe Torg can explain it better, but the market got over-saturated with products. In order to keep the demand high the corporations tried to bring prices down, leaving the workers (which were at the time the consumers of the products) with less money.

Ten years passed by where the guilds vs the companies were in a tie. The economical situation of the country was "stable", but the struggling groups and the constant fight frightened a lot of investors which could have saved the country.

From now on my memory gets hazy. I should have taken down notes on the History lessons.

During the de facto governments most of the country's companies were sold to international cartels and multinational groups. To fight inflation a guy called Martinez de Hoz (that's the surename) thought it would be a good idea to use a simple recipe the International Monetary Fund gave him: "buy dollars, depreciate the national currency in favour of the dollar, repeat". This so stupid process was the final shot Argentina needed to become a third world country.

Inflationary process occur because of the ratio that products and the acquisitive power the people have. Depreciating the currency just resets the "inflationary counter" to zero, but it doesn't stop the process.



*: Maybe Torg Snowflake can help me with this, he's the expert regarding to economy, and my memory stinks.

[ArcticWolf]

You can't measure everything just with numbers, as gamemod said you need to live here to get it. Some of us get enough money to go to a nice university and have 3 computers at home, but some others simply can't eat twice a day. This disparity is common here, and it's like playing dice: you never know what will happen to you in the years to come.

I won't start with politics (though, I have my own opinions), I don't want to have a fight here...

Thanks for worrying, Hell_bound

[Hell_bound]

Originally Posted by Xephandor

... Thanks for worrying, Hell_bound...

Thing is, it's hard to feel proud in one's own nation after you know what it has done to other nations to try and secure it's power in the world...

This subject runs very deep with me and I have spent many years trying to understand the reasons why America did these things, and how it will lead to America's eventual decline.

So it makes me happy, and I mean really happy to see a corporation like NGD become successful...

Because to me I see my love for history, global politics and technology colliding together... Truly a beauty to behold!

Originally Posted by gamemod

Actually, I meant the other way round. But don't make me talk about her...

Ah, I see...

However, it should be noted that when I see a dark skinned, dark haired, full bodied woman I lose all sense of realty....

Yes, Hell_bound has his weakness too you know...

[Angel_de_Combate]

Originally Posted by Hell_bound

Thing is, it's hard to feel proud in one's own nation after you know what it has done to other nations to try and secure it's power in the world...

This subject runs very deep with me and I have spent many years trying to understand the reasons why America did these things, and how it will lead to America's eventual decline.

So it makes me happy, and I mean really happy to see a corporation like NGD become successful...

Because to me I see my love for history, global politics and technology colliding together... Truly a beauty to behold!

Its nice when the little guys are winning for a change..i agree about America...makes me glad im British to be honest...although we still played our part in the Iraq War..

Originally Posted by Hell_Bound

Ah, I see...

However, it should be noted that when I see a dark skinned, dark haired, full bodied woman I lose all sense of realty....

Yes, Hell_bound has his weakness too you know...

LOL didnt really think you had any of those...my my..wonders will never cease...