Author Topic: Should videogames have political/social messages in their gameplay? (Read 10635 times)

vudu · « **Reply #25 on:** January 03, 2008, 06:31:45 AM »

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Originally posted by: pap64
The whole thing is basically a political commentary on how the scarcity of oil will drive the whole world into a war over the last oil resource. The game even goes as far as to predict how the lack of oil will drive half of the world into poverty, violence and the alliance of enemy countries (During the narration they say the whole thing started in 2008, and the game is scheduled to be released in February 2008. Coincidence or cleverly placed shock factor? You decide...).

Ironically enough, oil just hit $100 a barrel for the first time.

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Originally posted by: ShyGuy
I played that game Kairon, It was starving villagers in Haiti, I played it about a dozen times. If the mortality rate was really how it was in that game, Haiti would be a ghost island.

You mean like this?

DAaaMan64 · « **Reply #26 on:** January 03, 2008, 07:01:37 AM »

For the sake of protecting capitalism and keeping the government from regulating video games via our tax dollars(video games tax anyone? Hell entertainment tax even.), I say we bunker down, be men, and use self control. Don't buy what bothers you, and don't be offended if it isn't what you want to hear. If it is simply too offensive to handle, make your point known and the consumers will take action. Whether it is pro your agenda or not. Protecting individuals right to disagree is the top priority.

I want to apologize for that speech. I'm sorry.

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #27 on:** January 03, 2008, 07:48:08 AM »

Sifu Pai Mei wouldn't apologize.

DAaaMan64 · « **Reply #28 on:** January 03, 2008, 07:51:03 AM »

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Originally posted by: Professional 666
Sifu Pai Mei wouldn't apologize.

Oh your right.

5-Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique, your dead.

Smash_Brother · « **Reply #29 on:** January 03, 2008, 11:38:03 AM »

Heart-SPLOSION!

I think games should have commentary because, FFS, it's probably one of the only ways they'll ever be taken seriously as a medium. Not that games don't also need someone to point out the commentary when it happens, though.

Right now, when Jack Thompson goes after games, he conveniently ignores all of the games which lack any redeeming social value because they'd weaken his argument. It doesn't matter how much games try to become something more if the public will continue to condemn them all the same.

Plugabugz · « **Reply #30 on:** January 03, 2008, 08:08:13 PM »

Games in itself is a controversial medium in itself because given the development process you're only likely to find out about the messages a game implies when you're playing it from a read only disc (or card).

By that time all the controversy in the world won't do much.

Kairon · « **Reply #31 on:** January 03, 2008, 08:15:02 PM »

Whaqt do you mean? You can't change the content of a book or change the content of a music record can you?

Plugabugz · « **Reply #32 on:** January 03, 2008, 08:33:52 PM »

No, but you can choose to skip it. You can't change either, but gaming (until recently) has been a niche medium and could get away with it.

Social messages, for instance, in music and films is commonplace but games allows to make that a more interactive experience and when that hits the wider populace (Manhunt 2) everyone frowns upon the industry for allowing that to happen in the first place.

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #33 on:** January 03, 2008, 08:36:44 PM »

Manhunt 2 social commentary? Actually when I think about it maybe it is, it is commentary on how gullible people are when something gets hyped for its "gruesome" nature, and buy it without regard for the quality of the game they are buying.

Smash_Brother · « **Reply #34 on:** January 04, 2008, 05:09:09 AM »

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Originally posted by: Plugabugz...hits the wider populace (Manhunt 2) everyone frowns upon the industry for allowing that to happen in the first place.

And this is where gaming is being held to an unfair double standard.

Did people frown upon the movie industry when porno DVDs started being produced? Did they frown upon the book and print industry because of "romance" novels or graphic novels which are incredibly violent?

I've seen stuff in movies which is 10x worse than what I've seen in games, and yet people don't chastise movies for it because the rating system is understood and works well.

Manhunt doesn't make Deus Ex any less of a relevant piece of art simply because they loosely share the medium of "interactive entertainment" just as "Casa Blanca" isn't any less relevant because it's available on the same media format (DVD) as "Super Anal Sluts 5" or something.

DAaaMan64 · « **Reply #35 on:** January 04, 2008, 05:24:16 AM »

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Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
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"Back Door Sluts 9"

Fixxd

Smash_Brother · « **Reply #36 on:** January 04, 2008, 06:29:40 AM »

Ah, that's what it was from South Park...

King of Twitch · « **Reply #37 on:** January 06, 2008, 05:22:26 PM »

If I want messages I'll check my mail

Galford · « **Reply #38 on:** January 08, 2008, 07:48:00 PM »

Here's another interesting point...

A lot of eastern RPGS have Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, and other various eastern religions in them.
Also how many JRPGS have you played were God was the bad guy?

Religion and politcs have been in games for a long time, most people never paid attention.

ReverendNoahWhateley · « **Reply #39 on:** January 08, 2008, 09:31:34 PM »

I recall that Actraiser's overall theme was that people didn't need God's involvement in their lives. That is the ending you get after several levels of having him protect civilization from possessed flycatchers and evil desert dragons.

Maybe that particular message is going right over my head. Or something. I dunno, I don't get these "message" thingies that the kids are all talking about these days.

Kairon · « **Reply #40 on:** January 08, 2008, 09:41:11 PM »

The lesson in E.V.O. Project Eden is that the earth is a hot chick and evolution is something you have to do in order to impress her.

ReverendNoahWhateley · « **Reply #41 on:** January 08, 2008, 09:59:39 PM »

Pokemon totally ripped off E.V.O.

IceCold · « **Reply #42 on:** January 09, 2008, 12:20:04 PM »

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Maybe that particular message is going right over my head. Or something. I dunno, I don't get these "message" thingies that the kids are all talking about these days.

Some Reverend

ReverendNoahWhateley · « **Reply #43 on:** January 09, 2008, 09:56:42 PM »

Back in MY day, we didn't have "messages." We were too busy being told by Capcom arcade games that, "Winners don't use drugs!" And then BAM! Stars 'n stripes shield to the face. That's not a "message," that's a wake-up call, America! Nothing subtle there, it's the Guys 'n Dolls of morality. Makes friggin' Metal Gear Solid look like Tolstoy or somethin'! So you can hardly blame me for being slow.

Turns out that lots of the people I found winning at Super Street Fighter II were, in fact, using drugs. So Capcom lied.

Kairon · « **Reply #44 on:** January 10, 2008, 05:14:09 AM »

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Originally posted by: ReverendNoahWhateley
Back in MY day, we didn't have "messages." We were too busy being told by Capcom arcade games that, "Winners don't use drugs!" And then BAM! Stars 'n stripes shield to the face. That's not a "message," that's a wake-up call, America! Nothing subtle there, it's the Guys 'n Dolls of morality. Makes friggin' Metal Gear Solid look like Tolstoy or somethin'! So you can hardly blame me for being slow.

Turns out that lots of the people I found winning at Super Street Fighter II were, in fact, using drugs. So Capcom lied.

LOL!

DAaaMan64 · « **Reply #45 on:** January 10, 2008, 05:35:14 AM »

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Originally posted by: Galford
Here's another interesting point...

A lot of eastern RPGS have Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, and other various eastern religions in them.

Please may the world never be offended by culture.

Galford · « **Reply #46 on:** January 10, 2008, 05:31:55 PM »

Yes I know eastern religion in games from Japan has to do a lot with their culture.

I'm surprised no has brought Deus Ex yet.
There is a reason why the main character is called "JC".

KDR_11k · « **Reply #47 on:** January 16, 2008, 07:18:39 PM »

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Originally posted by: Galford
Also how many JRPGS have you played were God was the bad guy?

To be fair, if a competent government or an omnipotent entity was actually fighting for the good cause there wouldn't be much need for a spiky-haired youth with an oversized sword.

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Author Topic: Should videogames have political/social messages in their gameplay? (Read 10635 times)