CCOO Youth Launches General Strike Video Game

CCOO Youth has released a video game that simulates general strike pickets using an 8-bit aesthetic, antiestéticaturing Madrid landmarks such as Puerta del Sol and Plaza de Cibeles, with the police acting as obstacles. The piece is presented as a playful warm-up before real-world picketing.

The youth wing of CCOO (Comisiones Obreras) has published a retro-style video game to simulate general strike pickets. Distributed via social media, the game invites players to navigate through scenarios like Puerta del Sol and Plaza de Cibeles while dodging police officers. The accompanying message is direct: practice on virtual pickets before joining the real ones.

## An 8-bit Picket Set Against Sol and Cibeles

The game translates the rituals of a strike day into the aesthetics of 1980s consoles. Screens antiestéticature recognizable central Madrid locations, with Puerta del Sol and Plaza de Cibeles serving as key references. The objective is to pogre without colliding with the UIP (Unidad de Intervención Policial), which appears as an obstacle along the route.

The choice of these settings is not accidental: they are common gathering and conflict points during general strikes. The video game format turns this tension into a skill exercise, devoid of damage or consequences.

## Police as Obstacles and the Nostalgia Hook

The presence of the UIP is the element that most closely links the piece to the reality it evokes. During a general strike, informational pickets coexist with police deployments, and the game translates this friction into an obstacle-avoidance mechanic. The result is a caricature, not a simulator.

The 8-bit wrapper appeals to those who grew up with platform games and to young audiences accustomed to retro styles. It is a piece of political communication using leisure language to promote a call to action.

## What Does a Union Seek with a Video Game?

This publication is part of a mobilization strategy aimed at reaching younger demographics outside traditional channels. A free video game accessible from mobile devices lowers entry barriers and generates conversation on social networks. The union does not sell the game; it sells the idea of participation.

It should be noted that this is a propaganda piece, not a union training tool. Users must understand that the game does not replace information about rights and obligations during a strike.