I desperately try to avoid ''the violence discussion'' but I''ll make a rare exception today, because I feel like I might actually contribute something to this.
Firstly, this topic (like so many) falls under the
different people different tastes department. Thankfully, so far, this has been respected.
It is important though, to note that any game, can contain ANY feature you can imagine, if that feature does not detract from fun, challenge, and overall learning experience that the game is intended to offer.
On violence as a feature I say:
Everything in moderation. A game with violent bits must balance with non-violent bits. What''s more, a game with mindless killing sections, must balance with sections that involve many carefully calculated actions (in some games, all combat is carefully calculated, in which case, you should occasionally let the player blow off steam in a mindless killing fashion).
On violence as a hot topic I say: It saddens me to think that the games I am so impressed by are thought to encourage people to carry out actions inspired by these terrible fantasies. Remember that those of us who are left to intellectually atrophy are in an ideal position to absorb ideas from the situations presented by games. Particularly those of us who are adolescent and socially outcast.
As my mother has told me
quote:
If everyone who played games like [Quake/Doom/SOF/Half-Life] turned out like you, I wouldn''t worry, but everyone reacts and absorbs differently in all situations, and people who degenerate as a result of seeing and experiencing violence do exist, and they are a real danger.
My humble, naked opinion is: Violence in games is fun, and it may well be good for some of us, because it allows us to escape from our daily schedule in a way that does not damage our surroundings. It allows us to release pressure, pent-up energy, rage, and a host of other strong internal forces. It is a vent, and violence in games is a safe release of stress and angst, as long as it stays in the games. But imagery, despite what we may think about our incredible self control, is a powerful force. As such, developers who would put excessive amounts of violent content in their games should think twice about such an endeavor. Not because it may damage the quality or reception of their game, but because there is always the possibility that they will touch a person who just needed that little extra push to get where (s)he was already going. If given time, we can save people like in such a situation, but even a lowly game may damage the amount of time we have.
George D. Filiotis
Are you in support of the ban of
Dihydrogen Monoxide? You should be!
