Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
If you gave -- or received -- an Xbox for Christmas this year, you should know that in the virtual world of video games, there is no Second Amendment. From The Verge:
If you've had your eyes on a Golden Hammerburst or Lancer (with matching chain) for your Xbox Live Avatar, you've only got about a week to grab it. An official post from community manager Raczilla on the Epic Games forums has told users that, as of the new year, Microsoft is removing all gun-like items from the Marketplace – though you'll still be able to equip anything you've bought in the past. This new restriction is added to the already long list for developers of what avatars can and can't do, including talking, smoking, and violence.
We've not heard anything from Microsoft on this just yet, and we're also struggling to find many other weapon props in the market — a Duke Nukem freeze ray and the Bat Grapple being the closest contenders, but neither of which intimate harm. Rick's Tank (from The Walking Dead) and a miniature tank (from military collection) fire bullets, but they aren't "gun-like." The Rise of Nightmares chainsaw, to go off on a small tangent, is (so far) still ominously cutting down trees.
Violence and shooting things seem to me to be the only reasons to play video games at all. Or am I missing something?
(Although, when I made this statement to a young friend of mine, he rolled his eyes at me and dismissed me with an airy wave of the hand: "You don't know what you're talking about," he said. And he was right, in this case, but the chief and only joy of being older than forty-five is that you don't have to listen to 20 year-olds dismiss you. So I challenged him. And after a spirited debate, it was clear that I did not, in fact, know what I was talking about.)
Still: is violent video game play all that bad? Do we really need gun control in our Xbox?
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Comments :
May '10
Re: Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
In this debate did the knowledgable youth posit that violence was incidental to the games as well? It seems arbitrary to me that they ban shooting weapons but presumably still encourage fisticuffs, knife fights, running drivers off the road etc. It seems nonsensical. Did your debate partner mind that the guns were to be banned?
Oct '10
Re: Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
Really? Have sales skyrocketed in the EU or something? I have a hard time believing this is the product of liberal guilt--not for a gaming platform. There must be some business reason (at least in their minds) for why they're doing this.
Sep '10
Re: Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
I'm shocked at this. I've seen no evidence of dimished violence at all. My little boys have a wii and nestled in the mountain of presents from relatives was a very cool rifle that holds the wii remote and allows you to simulate big game hunting...so far I have not gutted a single elk nor grizzley even though we've bagged as many as Teddy Roosevelt. Mom's happy too because it doesn't have the bad language that has gotten the war games like call of duty banned in our house even though the neighbors kids have it.
Dec '10
Re: Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
Aside re. video games: Pay more attention to them, Rob. The 2020's are going to be to video games what 1935 - 1955 were to film. From a financial perspective, video games are now in the same universe as the music industry.
If someone with your well-trained sense of plot and character could better integrate with a design studio-- and apply that knowledge to game development theory-- well...let's just say games haven't really yet had their D.W. Griffith or Orson Welles, yet. People are trying, and there have been some credible results, but nobody has quite squared the circle.
Feb '11
Re: Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
Please, before I knew anything of video games, one of my favorite toys was a replica of a .30 machine-gun that my father made out of wood for my brother and I.
It's not guns themselves that concern me, but as games become more advanced, images are being foisted upon young imaginations that shouldn't be there. There is a big difference between wholesome, boyish pretend-violence, and adults introducing kids to adult images and concepts of violence that would never naturally occur there.
Edited on Dec 28, 2011 at 7:12amApr '11
Re: Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
To be clear, what is being banned is the use of Avatar Items that are guns. There is only one screen on the Xbox where you can interact or even see your avatar. These cartoon likenesses run a series of set animations while on screen but are in no other way interactive other than being able to change their look and dress. The games themselves will be as gun friendly or unfriendly as they ever have been. Perhaps Microsoft is thinking that because the avatar is intended to be a representation of the player, as opposed to a character in the game, they don't want the association. But still it's lame.
Aug '10
Re: Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
Rob,
I'll have an "extension" post on this in the Member's feed in about an hour and a half. Some people are looking to regulate more than just your "Avatar's" gun toting.
Aug '10
Re: Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
Rob,
You're in the business. So what do you folks think of something that sells $One Billion in one week ? Call to Duty gives very big box office !!
I bought my 15yr old the XBOX Call to Duty Ltd Edition, and to watch her with the headset talking with her teammates or opponents who can be in the next block, city, state, or country as she exclaims "Did you just shoot me, I hate you !" as peals of laughter erupt is more fun that watching her put makeup on. Well, I don't watch her put makeup on, but am usually waiting in the car to take her to the game or something.
Toys these days are incredibly expensive, the cost of the gamebox then the game then the monthly charges ( their charges mirror the cost of a martini at the Peninsula), Microsoft has us by the short hairs. The technology is astounding.
I thought of telling her about these weapons, but the inventory of her armory already includes stinger missiles, flamethrowers, four types of grenades, and more rifles than Chuck Connors' closet.
May '10
Re: Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
Perhaps.
Game / tech companies rely heavily on a vocal minority of customers, represented by internet forums and phone calls, for feedback. As in politics, most people would rather ignore production and simply enjoy the product. So a company's estimation of "what customers want" is often skewed by inconsolable crackpots.
But companies do occasionally make decisions which are not in their own financial interests, particularly in the reliably liberal entertainment industries. EA's marketing campaign for Dante's Inferno comes to mind.
KarlUB:
If someone with your well-trained sense of plot and character could better integrate with a design studio-- and apply that knowledge to game development theory-- well...let's just say games haven't really yet had their D.W. Griffith or Orson Welles, yet. People are trying, and there have been some credible results, but nobody has quite squared the circle.
Here's my theory on storytelling in games; and a method of achieving it.
Edited on Dec 28, 2011 at 10:06amRe: Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
Nathaniel Wright: Rob,
I'll have an "extension" post on this in the Member's feed in about an hour and a half. Some people are looking to regulate more than just your "Avatar's" gun toting. · Dec 28 at 7:50am
Somehow, Nathaniel, I knew you'd have something to add to this!
Re: Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
He thought it was a lame thing to do. But he also thought I was lame for bringing it up. But when I reminded him that Spielberg did basically the same thing with his director's re-release of "ET," he started to get the picture. So, eventually, old age won out. But there were plenty of smirks in my direction, let me tell you.
Jul '11
Re: Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
There's nothing like father son bonding over video games. We got Grand Theft Auto 17 for the 9 year and I must say that it eclipsed GTA 16. So the boy and I snuggle up and he walks in to a virtual bar after killing a gang leader and picks up a prostitute. After consummation of the virtual act I tenderly turn to the boy and say,"You know if you knife that hooker you can get your money back"
This tender moment in parenting has been brought to you by Rockstar games.
Joking aside, I actually play Call of Duty with the 16 and 22 yr old kids. It's amusing but I'd rather be outside in the woods. The gun/avatar issue is utterly pointless considering what the games do anyway.
Aug '10
Re: Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
Guess that the GTA might not be entirely suitable for the daughter ??
Jul '11
Re: Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
flownover
Guess that the GTA might not be entirely suitable for the daughter ?? · Dec 28 at 12:45pm
We all draw our own moral lines in the sand regarding parenting. Somehow avoiding this game was a pretty easy choice.
Rockstar did put out Red Dead Redemption and I found that quite enjoyable given it was a classic western.
Dec '10
Re: Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
Aaron Miller
Here's my theory on storytelling in games; and a method of achieving it. · Dec 28 at 8:21am
Since you include Sid Meier's "Pirates!" in your Top 10, Aaron, I certainly trust your judgement. And after reading your posts I think you sense the same thing I sense.
To look at games as a different version of a movie or TV show does miss the point of gaming. But many games do seem to be developed by shops that don't care about good storytelling at all.
Some shops do have a sense of the right direction. You mentioned "Mass Effect." Excellent franchise, and I can't wait until the next installment. But, as I'm sure you'll agree, not open-world enough.
On the opposite end of the "right direction" spectrum we have Skyrim. Now, I'm only 60 hours in, or so, but that one is plenty open-world, but too cliched, the characters have zero depth, and the structure is too sprawling, I think.
Seems to me with video games the toolset is almost there. And the development talent is there. We just need a genius to put it all together.
Sep '10
Re: Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
No, the best part of being older than forty-five is embarrassing 20 year-olds. When I'm teaching I love to find a young man and young woman sitting next to each other in the classroom and tell them they look cute together and that they should get married. Never fails.
Oct '10
Re: Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
Aaron Miller
Perhaps.
Game / tech companies rely heavily on a vocal minority of customers, represented by internet forums and phone calls, for feedback. As in politics, most people would rather ignore production and simply enjoy the product. So a company's estimation of "what customers want" is often skewed by inconsolable crackpots.
Edited on Dec 28 at 10:06 am
It's not hard to avoid that problem. I've dealt with the exact same dynamic in my work for the blender project (free art software), and we've always managed to find quality artists to provide quality feedback, despite the antics of most of our online user community. No company in its right mind is going to rely on online communities for anything, and is going to take a lot of salt with anything it gets from such people.
Oct '10
Re: Gun Control Comes to the (Virtual) World
dogsbody
No, the best part of being older than forty-five is embarrassing 20 year-olds. When I'm teaching I love to find a young man and young woman sitting next to each other in the classroom and tell them they look cute together and that they should get married. Never fails. · Dec 28 at 8:49pm
Ah come on, that's just mean.