Gun Control, Censorship, and War Crimes: The Video Game Culture Wars Live On
Earlier today, Rob Long shared a post discussing news that Microsoft has decided to remove the sale of guns for use on their user's Avatars (aka digital paper dolls). In responding to GeekWire, Microsoft clarified the decision and pointed out that the primary motivation behind this choice is that Avatars are designed to be an "All Ages" interface.
There are those who are concerned by the PC nature of this decision. I personally think the decision is silly, but it is Microsoft's decision to make. Their bottom line will be affected one way or another by the decision, and they will make future decisions in reaction to response. My guess is that they will incorporate their internal parental controls into the Avatar subsystem, in a way that lets gamers purchase guns if they meet certain requirements.
The reason I am not concerned at all about this decision is that it is a corporation making a corporate decision for which it will be held accountable financially. The decision will affect their bottom line, one way or the other. It's their right to make a decision that angers gamers, they will have to deal with the consequences.
Far more concerning are two things. The first is that the Red Cross is looking into engaging in a culture war on violent video games -- more on that in a second. Second is that Rob Long stated that "Violence and shooting things seem to me to be the only reasons to play video games at all." I have rarely seen such foolishness on Ricochet -- more on that after the Red Cross.
According to news.com.au, it seems that the International Red Cross is "investigating whether 600 million gamers are violating the Hague and Geneva conventions when they kill and blow stuff up for fun"
Think about that for a second. An international body is examining whether to consider video game play. According to the article, the "investigation" was only a discussion and they have no intentions to go further at this time, but they are open to working with gaming companies to create guidelines which ensure that games adhere to the current rules of war.
Huh?!
It is this kind of "academic" discussion that I find truly disconcerting. One of the reasons it took me a while to shift to the Right politically was the Right's investment in the regulation of entertainment media. I can understand criticizing a rock musician, TV show, video game because it offends you personally. I can understand recommending that people not listen, watch, or buy such material. What I have never understood is the desire to create laws attempting to prevent the publication of offensive material. There is nothing conservative, in the American preservation of Liberty sense, about attempting to use the state to prevent the publication and distribution of offensive content.
There are two things that I am extremely passionate about. Copyright protection and tolerance for artistic expression. Stealing content is stealing content, I don't care if you call it "sharing." I also understand that when the Founder's added the 1st Amendment they were intending only to protect political speech, but then again Rights don't come from the Constitution -- it merely secures some of them. Societies that limit artistic expression tend to not be very desirable places to live for those who love Liberty in general. I'd rather tolerate offensive material, and talk about how offensive it is and why, than live in a society that tries to "control" such content.
As for Rob's comment on the "purpose" of video games...let me say these two things.
First, Rob should read Raph Koster's (yes...Raph) excellent book "A Theory of Fun" which examines why people enjoy games. I also recommend reading Jordan Mechner's blog. Mechner was one of the pioneers of narrative game play. His "Karateka" and "Prince of Persia" games were truly innovative and industry changing. Video games are a threat to traditional Hollywood because of people like Mechner and Chris Roberts.
Second, I would recommend that Long read some books on game design, both digital and analog, and look at how those who make games think about them. Let me take a page out of the current (4th) edition Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master's Guide -- pages 8 to 10 actually. In the book, it stresses the importance of understanding the reasons the players play, and the reasons that DMs run games. In understanding the dynamics of your particular group, the authors hope that DMs will run more interesting games. The book compares the role of the DM to that of a screenwriter of a movie or TV series, and that players tend to fall into one of eight categories: Actor, Explorer, Instigator, Power Gamer, Slayer, Storyteller, Thinker, and Watcher. These categories are a modified version of Robin Law's gamer types, which is a modified version of Aaron Allston's work in Strike Force (a campaign guide for a super hero game), which was an extension on Glen Blacow and Greg Costikyan's earlier writings (you can read an excellent book on game design by Costikyan here).
Needless to say, there are many reasons people play games, just as there are many reasons people watch TV and movies. Some of those motivations even overlap. One doesn't play Zak McCracken and the Alien Mindbenders because one wants to experience violence.
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Dec '11
Re: Gun Control, Censorship, and War Crimes: The Video Game Culture Wars Live On
My favorite video game, (after Madden and baseball games) is The Sims 2. I'd probably get into the Sims 3 if I didn't have so many other more important and enjoyable demands on my time (like family, work, reading, television etc.). Never was a fan of the violent video games.
Jul '11
Re: Gun Control, Censorship, and War Crimes: The Video Game Culture Wars Live On
"There are two things that I am extremely passionate about. Copyright protection and tolerance for artistic expression. Stealing content is stealing content, I don't care if you call it "sharing." I also understand that when the Founder's added the 1st Amendment they were intending only to protect political speech, but then again Rights don't come from the Constitution -- it merely secures some of them. Societies that limit artistic expression tend to not be very desirable places to live for those who love Liberty in general. I'd rather tolerate offensive material, and talk about how offensive it is and why, than live in a society that tries to "control" such content. "
I'm with you here. If a museum chooses to display Mapplethorpe well they just don't get my patronage.
There are games I refuse my kids to get because of sexuality issues but then again, it's my choice.
My entire family is part of the gun culture and quite frankly the shooter video games are relatively tame. Then again, it's my choice.
Edited on Dec 28, 2011 at 12:18pmSep '10
Re: Gun Control, Censorship, and War Crimes: The Video Game Culture Wars Live On
Ever hear of the concept "tongue in cheek?" I think that was what Rob Long was doing when he made his "offensive" utterance. I would think, based on his background and profession as a comedy writer, he was being just a little ironic or "tongue in cheek" there. I doubt he really thinks video games are just for shooting and killing.
Aug '11
Re: Gun Control, Censorship, and War Crimes: The Video Game Culture Wars Live On
I'll make another post later when I have time. I'm not at all concerned about MS removing guns from their avatars. My understanding is that if you had a gun for your avatar you can keep it. As far as the Res Cross. I saw that earlier. I never said anything to my friends cause it seemed silly and I really doubt anything will come of it. It's part of general "mission creep" but it's ultimately harmless I think.
Aug '10
Re: Gun Control, Censorship, and War Crimes: The Video Game Culture Wars Live On
I definitely think that Rob was kidding when he wrote that violence and killing were the "only" reason to play video games. I also think that the statement holds -- as most good comedy -- a bit of what the author believes to be the truth. Irony may be the root of all comedy, but that includes ironic and true.
I think Rob, like many people, has a limited view of what gaming is. He is certainly open to discussion and to learning, that's one of the things I love about Rob, but he isn't a gamer. I believe that to Rob gamers are a little bit like Gorillas in the Mists. He sees them. He knows they exist, but he doesn't quite understand why they do what they do.
This is probably more true of games like Magic the Gathering, D&D, and Ticket to Ride than Modern Warfare. I think Rob understands the need for visceral violent video action. I don't think he understands the desire to nurture an avatar to eat a healthy lunch or to build the longest train route.
May '10
Re: Gun Control, Censorship, and War Crimes: The Video Game Culture Wars Live On
Rob was obviously not being entirely serious when he made that remark. Even so, like most stereotypes, there's some truth to it. Most video games involve some form of violence — be it cartoonish, realistic, exaggerated or otherwise — because (1) most game designers are male, (2) war games are popular, and (3) violence is the easiest kind of interaction to represent.
It's ironic that you mention DMs, because they are evidence of my third point. A human guide / storyteller can provide all sorts of content which cannot be provided cost-efficiently, if at all, by software. Many game designers enjoy tabletop (non-software) games, but DMs are generally irrelevant to video games.
That said, an associate of mine is involved in a project intended to better integrate human intelligence into video game storytelling.
Jun '11
Re: Gun Control, Censorship, and War Crimes: The Video Game Culture Wars Live On
Violence only pwns harder in the service of a good narrative. ;)
Aug '10
Re: Gun Control, Censorship, and War Crimes: The Video Game Culture Wars Live On
@AaronMiller,
If it wasn't clear, tone being a difficult thing on teh intarnetz, I was exaggerating when I wrote "I have rarely seen such foolishness on Ricochet." I agree Rob was kidding, but kidding within stereotypes.
I love my table-top gaming experiences due to the interactions that DMs can bring, but I believe that good storytelling and focus on narrative and player agency can create meaningful game experiences. In effect, the game designers are the DMs of any game and the programmers are attempting to quantify that DMs running of the game as well as the game's mechanics. If they aren't then they aren't doing their job. The challenge that designers face is how to create interactive and meaningful narrative interactions.
Right now the fetch/kill and comeback missions so prevalent in MMOs is a rut. It is not a rut of efficiency or challenge. It is a rut of laziness and comfort. Gamers are used to looking for the glowing exclamation point in MMOs, and used to the simple missions issued. I would recommend VG designers look at the Fabled Lands books to see how even a book can be an okay DM.
Re: Gun Control, Censorship, and War Crimes: The Video Game Culture Wars Live On
True enough. But, honestly, Nathaniel, I am not going to read a book about the "theory" of gaming, and I'm 100% sure I won't be reading a book with the title "Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Master's Guide."
Part of getting older is knowing intuitively when something just isn't your thing.
But there are lots and lots of people for whom the key appeal to mass-market (and probably unsophisticated, to more serious and thoughtful gamers like you) video games is: you get to shoot stuff and blow stuff up and crash into stuff.
And I'm ashamed to say that that's what I'd find most appealing, too.
Aug '10
Re: Gun Control, Censorship, and War Crimes: The Video Game Culture Wars Live On
That's too bad Rob. There is some great use of Psychology and Sociology in books on game theory, and Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan is a variation on Sim City's ideal tax rate.
That said, I don't have any more time for this discussion. It's time for some Space Marine.
Re: Gun Control, Censorship, and War Crimes: The Video Game Culture Wars Live On
Nathaniel Wright: That's too bad Rob. There is some great use of Psychology and Sociology in books on game theory, and Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan is a variation on Sim City's ideal tax rate.
That said, I don't have any more time for this discussion. It's time for some Space Marine. · Dec 28 at 3:14pm
Hahaha! Okay, I surrender. I'll investigate. Anyone that can link 9-9-9 to Sim City deserves that much.
So do me a favor: post on that subject. I think it's a post that will go far and wide....
Dec '10
Re: Gun Control, Censorship, and War Crimes: The Video Game Culture Wars Live On
I'll let my geek flag fly a little here. I wrote a paper a couple of years ago for school that detailed the extremely strong social interaction that make gaming popular. I've uploaded it here for your entertainment (.doc file). There are some good references to research in the field in the bib. I find that the very same social aspects that drew me into gaming are very much at play in why I camp Ricochet all day. Ken, Larry, and Susan aren't just virtual friends any more. I've dined with them and interacted with them outside of Ricochet. Gaming and online communities may seem imaginary, but the relationships they create can't help but spill over into the real lives of those who inhabit the virtual worlds. I'd be willing to bet that more than a few real friendships have been spawned in this online community.
Mar '11
Re: Gun Control, Censorship, and War Crimes: The Video Game Culture Wars Live On
Two comments. First, so-called 'Stealing' content is not really 'stealing content'. It may be objectionable, but it is not stealing. In common law in the UK and Australian system, there are eight essential elements to the crime of larceny (aka stealing). One of these is 'with intent to deprive the owner [of the stolen property] of the use therein'.
If I steal your money, you don't have the money any more. If I copy your game or music, then you have lost nothing. If I redistribute, that's a different matter, of course.
Anti-piracy industry organisations like to take an estimate of the number of illegal copies of content, multiply them by the retail price, and say that's the cost of piracy. Wrong. It assumes that those who took would have purchased if they couldn't have taken.
Second: I only play one game on my PS3: Gran Turismo 5. No shooting there, and the only violence is when I mess up.
Dec '11
Re: Gun Control, Censorship, and War Crimes: The Video Game Culture Wars Live On
Rob Long
Nathaniel Wright: That's too bad Rob. There is some great use of Psychology and Sociology in books on game theory, and Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan is a variation on Sim City's ideal tax rate.
That said, I don't have any more time for this discussion. It's time for some Space Marine. · Dec 28 at 3:14pm
Hahaha! Okay, I surrender. I'll investigate. Anyone that can link 9-9-9 to Sim City deserves that much.
So do me a favor: post on that subject. I think it's a post that will go far and wide.... · Dec 28 at 7:32pm
Rob,
It has been done, hat tip, Drew in Wisconsin:
http://ricochet.com/main-feed/9-9-9-The-Tax-Plan-for-Sim-City
Edited on Dec 29, 2011 at 8:50amJun '11
Re: Gun Control, Censorship, and War Crimes: The Video Game Culture Wars Live On
Hey how does space marine compare to gears?