Comments on: Something smells funny in videogame-land http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/06/21/something-smells-funny-in-videogame-land/ ... at the intersection of media, technology, business and the web Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:25:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Nav http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/06/21/something-smells-funny-in-videogame-land/comment-page-1/#comment-275616 Nav Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:54:26 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/06/21/something-smells-funny-in-videogame-land/#comment-275616 I think the fact they're games is exactly the point. While films are narratives - the placing of events into a structure that is inherently about meaning making - the dominant mode of gaming is simulation, not narrative and, thus, does not demand the same meaning-making strategies that narratives do. This is why both GTA and Tetris are 'games', even though they seem to differ so radically. It's for this reason than Manhunt 2 *should* be banned - it crosses the line from that which can be narratologically positioned into that which simply revels in violence. I think the fact they’re games is exactly the point. While films are narratives – the placing of events into a structure that is inherently about meaning making – the dominant mode of gaming is simulation, not narrative and, thus, does not demand the same meaning-making strategies that narratives do. This is why both GTA and Tetris are ‘games’, even though they seem to differ so radically. It’s for this reason than Manhunt 2 *should* be banned – it crosses the line from that which can be narratologically positioned into that which simply revels in violence.

]]> By: Mathew http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/06/21/something-smells-funny-in-videogame-land/comment-page-1/#comment-275307 Mathew Fri, 22 Jun 2007 04:20:18 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/06/21/something-smells-funny-in-videogame-land/#comment-275307 I think the main reason games are different is because they're games, Kent. I think the main reason games are different is because they’re games, Kent.

]]> By: Kent http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/06/21/something-smells-funny-in-videogame-land/comment-page-1/#comment-275271 Kent Fri, 22 Jun 2007 02:07:59 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/06/21/something-smells-funny-in-videogame-land/#comment-275271 I'd never let my kids watch the Saw movies (though I thought they were reasonably good). The current trend in video games, like the current trend in entertainment generally, is clearly towards more excessive sex, profanity and violence compared to 20 or even 10 years ago. The rating is simply a rating. Anyone who wanted to give that game to their kids could buy it and do it. They couldn't come to my house, but they could do it. Should kids be allowed to buy beer, cigarettes, guns, etc. Of course not. Why are games any different? I’d never let my kids watch the Saw movies (though I thought they were reasonably good).

The current trend in video games, like the current trend in entertainment generally, is clearly towards more excessive sex, profanity and violence compared to 20 or even 10 years ago. The rating is simply a rating. Anyone who wanted to give that game to their kids could buy it and do it. They couldn’t come to my house, but they could do it.

Should kids be allowed to buy beer, cigarettes, guns, etc. Of course not. Why are games any different?

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