Non-Violent digital Jihad?
September 8th 2006 02:00
The blame lies therein
How about blaming this or that for whatever the hell. Its particularly prevalent nowadays with parents blaming TV for their kid’s behavior, fat people blaming McDonalds for their weight, and don’t get me started on politicians blaming head injuries for their chosen profession (late Australian democrat Don Chipp reference intended).
Right now it seems criminal violence throughout the world is caused by videogames, oh sure, blames it on videogames. It’s an interesting theory, but one that should not be targeted specifically at videogames, what about TV? Violent movies are excessively more violent than even the most violent videogames. A game rated T for teen (or M 15 I assume) in the game world is sometimes no more than simply a PG in the movie world, literally.
Yet it’s the interactivity that seems to be the selling point of it all when it comes
down to accusing games for peoples behavior. So studies show that people who play violent videogames are more likely to get aggressive soon after, so what? Wouldn’t they feel just as aggressive after seeing a violent movie? Getting tailgated by some old Chinese driver (no offense to the Chinese, just seems to be the norm, I don’t hold a drivers license but I hear it all the time, Chinese guy this, Chinese guy that)? I bet that makes people far angrier than some random videogame where they are to shoot a bunch of people. Yet it doesn’t mean they are going to get a gun and go crazy, or wield a crowbar and knock people with it…
While I believe violent videogames, or more accurately, violence, sex and profanity in general may in fact affect the mental growth of children I doubt it can affect that of mature minded adults very much. When I say it might affect the mental growth of children, I don’t mean they will necessarily become violent at an older age, there has been no long term research done on it so nobody really knows. Perhaps it changes their learning habits, or desensitizes them to actual violence, who knows? We’ll never know until we get some proper scientific research done, not some half-arsed laboratory experiment which consists of a tick or cross next to one word answer questions.
If it’s the violence then ‘The Godfather’ sucks
Some people say it’s the violence that is what sells these games to many an impressionable teen. But its not just the violence in these games that may make the game so popular, in reality isn’t ‘The Godfather’ both violent and the highest rated movie on IMDB? I don’t know about many teens who like that movie for its violence. What about ‘Kill Bill’, god knows computers don’t even exist at the time of writing that can process the sheer amount of blood that is spilled in that movie. So some 16 year old teen is going to go and spill that much blood because she saw the movie and liked it? Hell no.
So what sells these games? Believe it or not it can be the way the game is played (gameplay) and storylines. There are some excessively violent games out there, and granted they profit in part (and some wholly) because of this violence it is no more than if a gory film profits because of its raw gore (‘Hostel’ anyone?).
Now let’s look at a very, very successful game that revolves around criminal violence. I suspect you know this game is called ‘Grand Theft Auto’, or more specifically ‘Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas ’. Oh boy, a whole city to explore, kill people, have sex with prostitutes and do whatever else takes your fancy. So sure thing kids who play this game will do drugs, take up street racing and murder people? Why not? Perfectly logical, wouldn’t the next level of interactivity be to take it to reality? Well, yes, it would. But would people do it? Would you? No you wouldn’t. You’re not crazy, maybe if you were, but just as well if you saw ‘Reservoir Dogs’ (movie not game) it would turn you into a killer.
What’s interesting about ‘San Andreas’ is that the main character does not do drugs, in fact early on in the game it shows drug users in a heavily negative light. It will sooner put off impressionable young teens from drugs than put them behind an Uzi.
‘San Andreas’ has an amazingly well developed storyline, amazing voice acting and of course as all good games has very good gameplay. It’s the gameplay that sells games first and foremost. The story and voice acting back it up. Well it’s a game, what did you expect? Granted, it can be violent at times, and there is a lot of profanities (never have I heard mutha***** repeated so many times) it is all there as part of the game. What would ‘The Godfather’ be without the sheer mature themed cold murders that you see happening? Its part of the world that is ‘The Godfather’, in the same way that prostitutes, murderers and gangsters is part of the world that is ‘San Andreas’. It doesn’t mean it sold the game, what it did was contribute to its overall reality and helped sell it. People need to understand it’s not the gore or violence that sells these games and makes them so popular and it can be compared directly with movies and other such media.
No Jihad? Religion has lost its touch.
What upsets me is the lack of understanding in the general community, particularly, and I am sad to say this, in the religious community. There’s a Christian themed game in development called ‘Eternal Forces’ which revolves around the apocalyptic battles against the anti-Christ (pending your beliefs). The idea is that it’s a strategy game of good verse evil, and, quite literally, the good get points through prayer, scrolls etc while the evil gets points from cursing and sinning, with maybe a little bit of sex thrown into the mix… or not. Actually not, it’s aiming to be as non-violent and non-sexual as possible, hardly fitting for the ultimate show-down of good verses evil.
‘Left Behind Games’ (developers of ‘Eternal Forces’) chief executive Troy Lyndon says "Eternal Forces has no blood, no gore, no call to jihad and no gratuitous sex or violence of any kind."
"We really are the alternative to a Grand Theft Auto," says Dereck Wong who is part of ‘Left Behind Games’, and he backs it up with the lack of violence and gore in the game compared to games like ‘Grand Theft Auto’, it seems like he thinks it is the violence and gore that sells these games and ‘Left Behind Games’ is on a mission to prove that the games don’t have to be violent to sell. Oh brilliant, considering the highest selling games of all time, ‘The Sims’, has no violence in it what to speak of. Another (second highest selling game of all time) game ‘Myst’ also has no violence, it is purely based on puzzle solving.
‘Eternal Forces’ is actually a watered down ‘Grand Theft Auto’ not in terms of the game mind you but in terms of the idea. The idea behind ‘Grand Theft Auto’ is that you are a criminal working to accomplish either good or bad depending on your cause, and from ‘San Andreas’ it actually is good, yet ‘Grand Theft Auto’ does not go out of its way to sugar coat the reality of the fact. That people die, that blood is spilled when people are shot at. In essence ‘Eternal Forces’ is no more than a sugar coated reality. No gore? No violence? This is about an apocalyptic battle for crying out loud! Not some children’s fable. Heck, maybe ‘Eternal Darkness’ will come out and will hit the sweet spots in terms of gameplay and storyline but in the end, if it does turn out like that, with a lack of violence, blood and gore, it will be nothing more than a sugar coated reality. As such the gameplay and storyline will suffer as a result.
I’d go as far as to say ‘Eternal Forces’ will instigate violence among the youth, why would it you ask? Because it hides the truth. It says that there is no violence or suffering in war since it goes out of its way to be all sappy. ‘Eternal Forces’ is supposed to be about the greatest (coming) war of all time and impressionable youths are going to play this and think ‘Gee, how wonderful, I can kill the bad guys through prayer, and best of all there is no blood or gore. It’s so wonderful that there is no violence in war’, is that the whole point of ‘Eternal Forces’? To in a very literal sense brainwash the youth about violence and war? This game would be a far more effective way to desensitize young people from violence, sex and drugs than other games like ‘San Andreas’ wouldn’t it?
Even from a Christian standpoint its wrong, plain wrong to hide the truth isn’t it? Isn’t that why ‘Passion of the Christ’ was so successful? Hell yes it was, because it didn’t go out of its way to hide the truth, or be non-controversial, Mel Gibson had the guts (something the people at ‘Left Behind Games’ seems to lack) to show what he envisioned and his beliefs without hiding anything or pretending this or that didn’t happen.
I think we should be glad, that in this day and age we have the technology to move interactive entertainment to a whole new level and maturity. While I’m not saying it all has to be like that, some of my most favourite games have barely any violence (Super Mario, Sim City etc) however what I am trying to say is that its amazing that games have reached such a level of maturity (in no small part to the power of modern computers) that you can compare their stories to movies and other media in a mature and thoughtful way. I know how hard it is to program these games. Why don’t people for just one second try and look beyond the ‘interactive violence’ these games have and see what’s hiding behind the cover?
-References
*First picture is copyright 20th Century Fox Image was taken as fair policy.
**statistical bar graph taken from Video Game Violence and Public Policy by David Walsh of National Institute on Media and the Family.
***'The Godfather' is a registered trademark of Paramount Pictures Image was taken as fair use.
****'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' is a game by Rockstar Games Image was taken as fair use.
*****'Myst' is a game by Cyan Worlds Image taken as fair use
******'Passion of the Christ' is a copyright of New Market Films
How about blaming this or that for whatever the hell. Its particularly prevalent nowadays with parents blaming TV for their kid’s behavior, fat people blaming McDonalds for their weight, and don’t get me started on politicians blaming head injuries for their chosen profession (late Australian democrat Don Chipp reference intended).
Right now it seems criminal violence throughout the world is caused by videogames, oh sure, blames it on videogames. It’s an interesting theory, but one that should not be targeted specifically at videogames, what about TV? Violent movies are excessively more violent than even the most violent videogames. A game rated T for teen (or M 15 I assume) in the game world is sometimes no more than simply a PG in the movie world, literally.
Now a crazy as driver like him is sure to piss you off on the roads...
down to accusing games for peoples behavior. So studies show that people who play violent videogames are more likely to get aggressive soon after, so what? Wouldn’t they feel just as aggressive after seeing a violent movie? Getting tailgated by some old Chinese driver (no offense to the Chinese, just seems to be the norm, I don’t hold a drivers license but I hear it all the time, Chinese guy this, Chinese guy that)? I bet that makes people far angrier than some random videogame where they are to shoot a bunch of people. Yet it doesn’t mean they are going to get a gun and go crazy, or wield a crowbar and knock people with it…
While I believe violent videogames, or more accurately, violence, sex and profanity in general may in fact affect the mental growth of children I doubt it can affect that of mature minded adults very much. When I say it might affect the mental growth of children, I don’t mean they will necessarily become violent at an older age, there has been no long term research done on it so nobody really knows. Perhaps it changes their learning habits, or desensitizes them to actual violence, who knows? We’ll never know until we get some proper scientific research done, not some half-arsed laboratory experiment which consists of a tick or cross next to one word answer questions.
These statistics don't prove anything useful but rather simply furthers the political agenda's of certain people.
If it’s the violence then ‘The Godfather’ sucks
Some people say it’s the violence that is what sells these games to many an impressionable teen. But its not just the violence in these games that may make the game so popular, in reality isn’t ‘The Godfather’ both violent and the highest rated movie on IMDB? I don’t know about many teens who like that movie for its violence. What about ‘Kill Bill’, god knows computers don’t even exist at the time of writing that can process the sheer amount of blood that is spilled in that movie. So some 16 year old teen is going to go and spill that much blood because she saw the movie and liked it? Hell no.
So what sells these games? Believe it or not it can be the way the game is played (gameplay) and storylines. There are some excessively violent games out there, and granted they profit in part (and some wholly) because of this violence it is no more than if a gory film profits because of its raw gore (‘Hostel’ anyone?).
'Did you hear? Some folks think I suck. Send them to sleep with the fishes.'
Now let’s look at a very, very successful game that revolves around criminal violence. I suspect you know this game is called ‘Grand Theft Auto’, or more specifically ‘Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas ’. Oh boy, a whole city to explore, kill people, have sex with prostitutes and do whatever else takes your fancy. So sure thing kids who play this game will do drugs, take up street racing and murder people? Why not? Perfectly logical, wouldn’t the next level of interactivity be to take it to reality? Well, yes, it would. But would people do it? Would you? No you wouldn’t. You’re not crazy, maybe if you were, but just as well if you saw ‘Reservoir Dogs’ (movie not game) it would turn you into a killer.
What’s interesting about ‘San Andreas’ is that the main character does not do drugs, in fact early on in the game it shows drug users in a heavily negative light. It will sooner put off impressionable young teens from drugs than put them behind an Uzi.
CJ from 'San Andreas' is probably the most well known gangsta on the planet, He don't do drugs or n e thin like that. Why not lay off his back?
No Jihad? Religion has lost its touch.
What upsets me is the lack of understanding in the general community, particularly, and I am sad to say this, in the religious community. There’s a Christian themed game in development called ‘Eternal Forces’ which revolves around the apocalyptic battles against the anti-Christ (pending your beliefs). The idea is that it’s a strategy game of good verse evil, and, quite literally, the good get points through prayer, scrolls etc while the evil gets points from cursing and sinning, with maybe a little bit of sex thrown into the mix… or not. Actually not, it’s aiming to be as non-violent and non-sexual as possible, hardly fitting for the ultimate show-down of good verses evil.
‘Left Behind Games’ (developers of ‘Eternal Forces’) chief executive Troy Lyndon says "Eternal Forces has no blood, no gore, no call to jihad and no gratuitous sex or violence of any kind."
One of the best selling games of all time, it has no violence or gore, or even anything even remotely close to it.
‘Eternal Forces’ is actually a watered down ‘Grand Theft Auto’ not in terms of the game mind you but in terms of the idea. The idea behind ‘Grand Theft Auto’ is that you are a criminal working to accomplish either good or bad depending on your cause, and from ‘San Andreas’ it actually is good, yet ‘Grand Theft Auto’ does not go out of its way to sugar coat the reality of the fact. That people die, that blood is spilled when people are shot at. In essence ‘Eternal Forces’ is no more than a sugar coated reality. No gore? No violence? This is about an apocalyptic battle for crying out loud! Not some children’s fable. Heck, maybe ‘Eternal Darkness’ will come out and will hit the sweet spots in terms of gameplay and storyline but in the end, if it does turn out like that, with a lack of violence, blood and gore, it will be nothing more than a sugar coated reality. As such the gameplay and storyline will suffer as a result.
I’d go as far as to say ‘Eternal Forces’ will instigate violence among the youth, why would it you ask? Because it hides the truth. It says that there is no violence or suffering in war since it goes out of its way to be all sappy. ‘Eternal Forces’ is supposed to be about the greatest (coming) war of all time and impressionable youths are going to play this and think ‘Gee, how wonderful, I can kill the bad guys through prayer, and best of all there is no blood or gore. It’s so wonderful that there is no violence in war’, is that the whole point of ‘Eternal Forces’? To in a very literal sense brainwash the youth about violence and war? This game would be a far more effective way to desensitize young people from violence, sex and drugs than other games like ‘San Andreas’ wouldn’t it?
Just because the truth may be brutal, it doesn't mean we should hide it.
I think we should be glad, that in this day and age we have the technology to move interactive entertainment to a whole new level and maturity. While I’m not saying it all has to be like that, some of my most favourite games have barely any violence (Super Mario, Sim City etc) however what I am trying to say is that its amazing that games have reached such a level of maturity (in no small part to the power of modern computers) that you can compare their stories to movies and other media in a mature and thoughtful way. I know how hard it is to program these games. Why don’t people for just one second try and look beyond the ‘interactive violence’ these games have and see what’s hiding behind the cover?
-References
*First picture is copyright 20th Century Fox Image was taken as fair policy.
**statistical bar graph taken from Video Game Violence and Public Policy by David Walsh of National Institute on Media and the Family.
***'The Godfather' is a registered trademark of Paramount Pictures Image was taken as fair use.
****'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' is a game by Rockstar Games Image was taken as fair use.
*****'Myst' is a game by Cyan Worlds Image taken as fair use
******'Passion of the Christ' is a copyright of New Market Films
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Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Qwerk
Cinema Three
Comment by Joy
Non-violent video games. Huh. "Monkey Island" maybe. My personal favorite game. And I don't think playing the game makes me want to put odd things in my pants and attempt to place Insult Sword Fighting.
I think maybe small children shouldn't be exposed to such games as Grand Theft Auto for the mere fact that they may become desensitized and believe the content of the game is okay in real life. It's the fantasy vs. reality argument.
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Qwerk
Cinema Three
But yeah, we can't help it sometimes, they make these games and people play them. They aren't too bad, but they are saturating the market.
Comment by Anonymous
Chrildren really can't play those kind of games,
also they don't like the look of them. (Kids don't like the look of the game, is too "dark"....)
Also, is better someone unleash they anger on virtual characters, kill virtual people than get mad and unleash they anger on REAL people... what do you prefer?
GTA: San Andreas for me, is somewhat a way to people distract from the problems of the real world. they are not harming anyone, and it's not because thay played it that they gonna take innocent people life...
People who do it, must have severe mental problems, like these people who pick a gun and shot random people on the street. (not on videogame)
I for instance, don't play, and i not tinking about playing GTA, i perfer alot more J-RPGs and "J-Games"
(J-* : Japanese Games)
Well, people play games for fun, because the storyline, a way to escape from the problems of the "reality", and even for orther odd reasons that i don't like to think about...
If somebody became an assasin because of a game, he probably would became an assasin later, people with this kind of mentality probably will became it sooner or later. (there is no way to tell if someone has this kind of mentality, but, if they have "tendencies" the should NOT play games...)
Comment by Anonymous