An indie video game based on molecular chemistry has become an unlikely viral sensation following the arrest of its creator for a botched assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.Cole Tomas Allen, 31, was apprehended on Saturday night after allegedly attempting to storm theWhite House Correspondents' Dinnerat the Washington Hilton, armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and an array of knives.
As news of the attack broke, internet sleuths quickly unearthed Allen's digital footprint, centreing on his 2018 Steam release, 'Bohrdom.' The game, described by Allen as a 'non-violent asymmetrical fighting game', has seen a massive spike in visibility, though not for its gameplay. Instead, the title has taken on a grim irony, with social media users repeating the phrase, 'This game is a miss', in reference to the failed attack.
On 25 April, an attempt was made to assassinate high-ranking members of the Trump administration, including the US President himself. The incident occurred at approximately 8:34 pm at the Washington Hilton, where over 2,500 guests, including President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, were gathered as the annual media gala was underway.
According to federal prosecutors, Allen charged a security magnetometer checkpoint outside the main ballroom. Secret Service agents engaged the suspect after he fired at least one shot, striking an officer in his bullet-resistant vest.
Allen was taken into custody at the scene and is charged with the attempted assassination of the President of the United States, along with the interstate transportation of firearms with intent to commit a felony.
Minutes before the shooting, Allen reportedly sent a 1,000-wordmanifestoto family members, signing it as 'Cole "coldForce" "Friendly Federal Assassin" Allen'. The document, which is now a central piece of evidence for the FBI, detailed a plan to target administration officials.
In a chilling assessment of his surroundings, Allen wrote that he found security at the Washington Hilton to be 'notably lax'. He described himself as a 'lone wolf' and expressed a belief that his actions were a necessary response to the current political climate. 'I am no longer willing to permit a traitor to coat my hands with his crimes,' Allen reportedly wrote in the document.
Following his failed assassination plot, Allen's indie game, which was a 2018 Steam release, 'Bohrdom' has gone viral. The game was described as a 'skill-based, non-violent asymmetrical fighting game loosely derived from a chemistry model that is itself loosely based on reality.'
According toHindustan Times, the game primarily serves as a teaching tool, tasking players with either helping an electron escape an atom or acting as the nucleus to prevent it. It was intended to be a peaceful, educational experience—a stark contrast to the violence Allen is accused of perpetrating in the capital.
TheSteam page for 'Bohrdom'has been flooded with reviews reflecting the failed assassination attempt, as users repurpose the platform to comment on the breaking news.
Source: International Business Times UK
