(no subject)

[egypturnash]

As a side note, since some people seem to want to convince me that Bioshock is actually a really good game - an opinion you're welcome to have; it's clearly a finely-crafted instance of an experience I simply don't care to have - I would like to note that so far, the only FPS I've actually enjoyed as a game is Thief, which I've been playing on and off the past week via Rik's machine. I had fun with System Shock 2 a couple years back but by the end, I was sick and tired of the basic game mechanics and just wanted to find out what happened to SHODAN. I really don't like FPSs.

As I've gotten older, I've slowly learnt how to see people as, well, people. I'm not very good at it; I never was. As video-game technology marches on, the creatures the games pit you against have gotten more like people. When I play some games made in the last decade or so, I can feel them training me to see people as just things. I'm still working out what factors make this happen; it's only a handful of games that do this so far.

I really think that the increasing drive for 'realism' in video games means that the game industry has a big moral quandry coming up. The forty-year-long focus on the hurt button as the core mechanic becomes creepier as the things you hurt become more and more like people. What happens when the project lead on a game focused on killing and blood plays his game and feels that weird sense that it's gnawing away at something in his soul? What happens when this is a regular occurrence?

A few major choice-points over, there's another me who went into video games. Is she (or he; I might never have transitioned in that life-path) getting ever more uncomfortable with these themes, or has it been completely burnt out of her by this point?

Comments

(frozen)

[turbinerocks.livejournal.com]

I KNOW what it takes to develop a game. I've read about video game development, so I know the subject. A WHAT IF tree does not BREAK GAMES. This game only follows one switch. Kill_Little_Sister? It's a Y or N statement. It has the sophistication of a LOGO program.

I'm going to repeat this for emphasis.

I KNOW what it takes to develop a game. I've read about video game development, so I know the subject.

You hear that, everyone? He KNOWS THE SUBJECT! He read about it once! Perhaps in Electronic Gaming Monthly! Do you watch G4 as well?

Once more...

I KNOW what it takes to develop a game. I've read about video game development, so I know the subject.

Wow.


Yes, truly next-gen games are just that easy to build. It's just a bunch of if-then statements in BASIC. That's how those software engineers earn their six-figure salaries. I read a lot about World War 2, I guess that makes me a soldier! I read a whole bunch about Bruce Lee, so now I'm a kung-fu master.

I'm going to end this conversation, and then marvel at your ignorance. Another game developer on this thread has already explained to you how it actually is, in very patient and polite detail, I'm not going to repeat what he said. I will, however, take a long hot shower tonight to attempt to scrub all your WRONG away. Cheers!

(frozen)

[circuit-four.livejournal.com]

Grr. I'm sorry. I'm going to retract that, because I really am not interested in reopening hostilities -- or contact -- with you and Andy. I'm going to keep my opinion of this sort of debate off the public record, and we can live out our lives peacefully under our own respective delusions, okay?