Glory to Arstotzka!

Armed with merely a regulations handbook and a rubber stamp (and the occasional tranquilizer gun), Papers, Please easily became one of my most memorable games of 2013. I took the role of an immigration inspector for the glorious country of Arstotzka and quickly found myself in the middle of several conflicts and conspiracies, whether I wanted to or not.

After completing the game, I began thinking about how awesome it would be to show off Arstotzkan pride for others to see. One day I figured, “Why not try?” This then became a personal project of mine that I worked on when I had some free time here and there. With custom, one-off designs made by hand, each of the designs were done for the love of the game and a passion for creation.

What kind of homage to Papers, Please would I be creating if there wasn’t a t-shirt for the great country of Arstotzka. As the setting for the game, this fictional Eastern-block country sets the stage for conspiracies, corruption, and a bit of comedy. Staying away from the iconic red, white, and black typically found in the historic Russian propaganda posters of World War II, I decided to take a queue from the game’s collection of passports. By using darker green ink on an older screen, and a “Russian” inspired font, I was able to give the t-shirt a unique, vintage look.

Found in East Grestin, The Pink Vice is the renowned gentleman’s club of Papers, Please. You soon find out, however, the scary truths that keep this establishment running. I chose to reverse the colors found on the business card of The Pink Vice, and used a purple ink on a pink t-shirt. I also took a little liberty in the logo, using a script-like font and a “V” in the shape of a heart, reminiscent of the heart found on the business card.

The last design here is merely a concept of a hoodie that I came up with. Inspired by the mysterious messenger representing The Order of the EZIC Star, the hoodie would have the symbol of The Order on the hood of the sweater, with the organization’s motto, “The Order Awaits” just over the left shoulder. Whether you sneak around as a notorious traitor or a freedom fighter, who care as long as you can do it in style.

I just want to reiterate that this was a personal project of mine. I have no intention of profiting off these designs. This is merely a small tribute to game that I enjoyed playing, and a small token of appreciation to the designer of the game, Lucas Pope, for creating such a memorable experience. GLHF