Crisis in the Kremlin - Our 1988 USSR

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seraphim74

Cato_Sicarius said:
Comrades! I have come to a realisation regarding Greece. Even assuming no major Western interference in the coming EEC referendum, future elections or even a coup to forcefully impose NATO membership. All threats Union agents and networks in Greece should keep on the lookout for.

How would Greece becoming neutral and outside any major defensive alliance, impact their pre-existing tensions with Turkey? Even during the period of NATO membership, war almost broke out more than once from overlapping island and EEZ claims, with incidents ramping up in recent years in severity and numbers. And Turkey has already demonstrated a willingness to act against NATO wishes, considering the intervention in Cyprus for example. So it wouldn't even necessarily have to be a Western-Bloc sanctioned punitive invasion.

Regardless of what perils our hopefully soon to be newest Fraternal Republic will face, it will be a victory for world socialism.

No overt aggression from the West, means socialism, communism, even Marxism Leninism, can be established democratically, while proclaiming their indipendent neutral and native character, and said results officially respected by both Moscow and Washington Blocs. This will increase the legitimacy and prestige of socialism worldwide, embolden many socialists or symphatizers critical to us but previously anyway strangled by fear of Washington counterrevolutionary retribution, to emerge as major players worldwide.

And with each success, even the expansion of the Neutral Bloc makes our Union of Soviet Socialist Republics position safer. It will be problematic to fold once the Counterrevolutionaries have been eclipsed by the Socialist Bloc, but for now, with us unfortunately on the backfoot, the West loses more from it.

If instead, Greece were to face naked aggression, it will push the Hellas but in general the left straight into our arms. And gift us a dagger and warm water port, aimed straight between the Central and East Mediterranean.
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If Greece leaves NATO I think we should offer them a guarantee of neutrality for as long as they want. Something similar to what Belgium had before WW1. If anyone attacks Greece, the whole power of the Warsaw Pact will stand with our Greek comrades. Because, honestly, a Turkish aggression would be just a NATO intervention in disguise.
We would not attack Turkey itself to avoid WW3, but we would defend every piece of Greek territory. Planes from our bases in Bulgaria would protect Greek cities from barbaric bombardments. The Soviet Navy would come all the way from Murmansk to defend Greek islands. And logistic help would come too. Both Turkey and NATO must be made aware of that.
And our Greek comrades do not need to do nothing in return of our guarantees. Just remain neutral. No payment, no WP or COMECON membership. Of course if the WANT to join, we shall welcome them with open arms, but our guarantees are completly unconditional. And any European country leaving the aggressive pact of NATO will be offered the same.
 
Matador de Lagartos

Matador de Lagartos

Banned
seraphim74 said:
If Greece leaves NATO I think we should offer them a guarantee of neutrality for as long as they want. Something similar to what Belgium had before WW1. If anyone attacks Greece, the whole power of the Warsaw Pact will stand with our Greek comrades. Because, honestly, a Turkish aggression would be just a NATO intervention in disguise.
We would not attack Turkey itself to avoid WW3, but we would defend every piece of Greek territory. Planes from our bases in Bulgaria would protect Greek cities from barbaric bombardments. The Soviet Navy would come all the way from Murmansk to defend Greek islands. And logistic help would come too. Both Turkey and NATO must be made aware of that.
And our Greek comrades do not need to do nothing in return of our guarantees. Just remain neutral. No payment, no WP or COMECON membership. Of course if the WANT to join, we shall welcome them with open arms, but our guarantees are completly unconditional. And any European country leaving the aggressive pact of NATO will be offered the same.
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Yes, absolutely.
 

Cato_Sicarius

Comrades! Sorry if my message after so long without a report disturbs or is against the rules of this Politburo.

However, I have spied an intriguing opportunity to act proactively, and wanted to share it before the next report by Comrade Altlov: what is the state of environmental movements worldwide? What is their focus? Soon enough, the threat posed by climate change will become known, despite the current political tensions or the attempts to keep it under wraps. Perhaps, the World Socialist Movement could proactively attempt to expose the western fossil fuel companies disinformation and sabotage campaigns, and to ensure environmentalism and socialism become intrinsically linked. Ecosocialism could in the future, become a potent asset, both to ensure a better life for the workers, and to spread socialism deep in the very imperialist core. Unlike welfare concessions to quell class struggle and create a labour aristocracy, appeasement of this movement would be much more difficult to swallow for the bourgeoisie, damaging its members far more unequally. It could very well pressure them into infighting, between those of fossil fuel wealth threatened with class decline and those who would benefit from the former misfortunes.
 

Dom Dom

Red Angel said:
Thinking about it, how's the gaming industry in the Soviet Union (if there is any)...?
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So from what I've understand about the Soviet/Russian gaming industry at this point in time it basically bare bones at this point with vast majority of industry being compose of outdated rudimentary arcade cabinets , with many of those arcade cabinets being more as training modules/simulation than anything resembling western arcade cabinets . Other being computer games and while currently in its infancy with the Soviet in TTL heavily investing in computer technologies , their probably an emergence of niche though growing computer games scene in Soviet Union with many independent or armature developer from university/laboratories all over Union and potentially Warsaw Pact developing and distributing computer games . Their probably in possession of couple of Western computer games with East Germany bordering it western counterpart it possible some Stasi agent or most likely some East German visitor grab a copy of some western game from West Berlin and somehow managing to safely return back to East Berlin .

As for console gaming it basically non-existent as I've imagine a vast majority of Soviet citizen probably see a video game console as some weird novelty gadget used in West and while going to be a subset of Soviet gamer using primarily console it probably relegated as a niche similar to South Korea or China console scene . while portable console gaming probably would catch on in Soviet Union as their probably a used for such device when you need something to entertain yourself while on brake or commute so their utility their.

Don't know what current position the Politburo has on video games specifically, but probably it mostly considered a non-issue at moment though some ultra-conservative/orthodox member probably oppose to such development as some kind of western/capitalist degeneracy sipping through Union though it probably in tiny minority. Still if government is interested in gaming industry for some reason they probably wanted industry to initially pivot toward primarily development of computer game or portables focusing in improving cognitive ability of player so basically many puzzle and skill games, chess probably being pre-install in all Soviet computer so chess also being dominant in the space . Probably management simulator or city builders being dominant as game design of entire genre suit well with Communist Ideology and perfect fit for Politburo to invest .

Eventually other genre such as platformer, rpg, and shooter would start gaining traction in Soviet Union around mid 90s or so but that probably outside the scope of my post.
 
Red Angel

Red Angel

Dom Dom said:
So from what I've understand about the Soviet/Russian gaming industry at this point in time it basically bare bones at this point with vast majority of industry being compose of outdated rudimentary arcade cabinets , with many of those arcade cabinets being more as training modules/simulation than anything resembling western arcade cabinets . Other being computer games and while currently in its infancy with the Soviet in TTL heavily investing in computer technologies , their probably an emergence of niche though growing computer games scene in Soviet Union with many independent or armature developer from university/laboratories all over Union and potentially Warsaw Pact developing and distributing computer games . Their probably in possession of couple of Western computer games with East Germany bordering it western counterpart it possible some Stasi agent or most likely some East German visitor grab a copy of some western game from West Berlin and somehow managing to safely return back to East Berlin .

As for console gaming it basically non-existent as I've imagine a vast majority of Soviet citizen probably see a video game console as some weird novelty gadget used in West and while going to be a subset of Soviet gamer using primarily console it probably relegated as a niche similar to South Korea or China console scene . while portable console gaming probably would catch on in Soviet Union as their probably a used for such device when you need something to entertain yourself while on brake or commute so their utility their.

Don't know what current position the Politburo has on video games specifically, but probably it mostly considered a non-issue at moment though some ultra-conservative/orthodox member probably oppose to such development as some kind of western/capitalist degeneracy sipping through Union though it probably in tiny minority. Still if government is interested in gaming industry for some reason they probably wanted industry to initially pivot toward primarily development of computer game or portables focusing in improving cognitive ability of player so basically many puzzle and skill games, chess probably being pre-install in all Soviet computer so chess also being dominant in the space . Probably management simulator or city builders being dominant as game design of entire genre suit well with Communist Ideology and perfect fit for Politburo to invest .

Eventually other genre such as platformer, rpg, and shooter would start gaining traction in Soviet Union around mid 90s or so but that probably outside the scope of my post.
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Honestly, I think the Gameboy and other handheld from Japan will be very popular, if it's allowed, while the console wouldn't since, as you mentioned, they'll be viewed as a niche but I do hope of keeping arcades thought.

I think the Politburo would just let it continue but makes sure there's no Western propaganda within the games, I wouldn't be surprised of the very conservative/religious members would oppose the gaming industry since that's already happening in the West but hopefully they remain a minority though.
 
WotanArgead

WotanArgead

midnight77 said:
the real question is, what is the state of TTRPGs in the Soviet Union? Is D&D a thing now?
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OTL - the first tabletop role-playing game (Enchanted Land) was released in 1990. And then, it was in the spirit of the earliest editions of D&D.
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Red Angel

Red Angel

Thinking back on Japan's economic bubble bursting, I believe there will be a rise of the leftist/left-leaning parties from the burst since the USSR is still around after all...
 
Indefinite Hiatus
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    • Altlov

    Comrades i have very unfortunate news.

    When i accepted @panpiotr's offer to continue this TL i had only just started college, had plenty of free time and ample financial support which meant my work hours didn't get in the way of writing. Over the past few months this has turned on it's head, i've been overloaded with schoolwork, exams are just around the corner, my living costs have increased and the price of my commute has tripled. I also lost a good friend of mine in December, which has affected my motivation to work severely, after coming home from work i barely feel like cooking, nevermind writing. I'm truly sorry to say this, but i don't think i can continue making updates to this story weekly anymore, and i'm putting it on an indefinite hiatus. This doesn't mean i'm abandoning it, i still have plenty of plans for this TL and i want to see it through, but i want to do it when i'm in a better fianancial and mental state, right now i want to focus on my studies, and hopefully i'll be able to return to writing after my exams, but right now i need to stop. Thank you for understanding, and i really am sorry, i haven't been happy with the pace of my updates since the beginning and this feels like an additional failure.

    Until i see you again : )

    Altlov
     
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