Most people play video games to be taken to a magical land, where the only goal is to save the princess or keep the aliens from invading.

But here are two video games that don’t take place in a magical world. Rather, they emulate real life situations.

Rafael Fajardo, Assistant Professor at the School of Art and Art History, has created two video games that are on display at the Myhren Gallery in the Schwayder Art Building.

The first game puts the player in the shoes of a Mexican trying to cross the Rio Grande and get past U.S. border patrol into El Paso, Texas, while the other puts the player in the shoes of the border patrol.

“Players have to deal with issues of ‘il’legal border entry/elicit human traffic,” said Fajardo.

Fajardo lived in El Paso for several years while teaching at the university there. El Paso is the largest bi-national metropolitan area and most densely trafficked border area, and that is just legal border traffic. Fajardo observed day-to-day life since his office was only 100 yards from the border and came to the conclusion that “it is very game like.”

Fajardo is a rare breed in the video game industry. He is using video games as a cultural commentary. He is interested in what video games can do and wants to put serious content into them while finding a way to have people get more out of games than simply saving the princess.

The first game is a bit like Frogger. The player starts on the south side of the Rio and, using the arrow keys, tries to move across the river, get past the border patrol, evade the helicopter and run into America. If anything hits the contestant the game is over. Thanks to interviews with people who have crossed the river and explained the difficulties, Fajardo has included cadavers, logs, tires and cats in the river, which all drift.

If the player makes it through the river, he/she must sneak around the border patrol and the helicopter, which can result in chase at any time. If the player makes it across, he receives a green card in front of the Statue of Liberty and the golden arches.

If the player loses, he goes back to the start/other side of the river to try again. Very realistic according to Fajardo.

The second game is inspired by Space Invaders and puts the player in the shoes of the border patrol. The player sits in his SUV and drives up and down a quarter-mile strip of road while trying to throw handcuffs on anyone trying to cross the river. If four people slip in, the agent receives a pink slip.

For Fajardo, it is a way “to be an artist, look for beauty and have something to say.” It is the funny and sharp way Fajardo chooses to express himself. For Fajardo, it is a way to help him understand the region of El Paso as well as analyze and critique the problem.

“I wanted to make something with an edge so people would pay attention,” said Fajardo.

Currently, Fajardo is selling the games for $10 each. You can play for free online at www.du.edu/~rfajardo/juego.