Gaming Blog Network

Here is an excellent piece on Ars Technica which shows how gamers as a whole can work to improve the industry. Reading this piece gave me a renewed sense of pride and it should provide gamers (of all stripes) renewed ammunition against naysayers and ill-wishers for our industry. Whether they want to admit it or not, gaming is here to stay, and will only mature as we do.

The piece can be read here.

As the presidential election heats up, video games are finding themselves in the crosshairs once again, as our elected officials are apparently scared of the power of media when it is not paid for and in their back pockets.

Scenes in Fallout 3 where Washington D.C. is turned into ash is simply a media image, not any sort of political statement, as Fallout 3 developers had to reiterate in this MTV Multiplayer interview. Gamepolitics has the excerpt of this report here. Personally, with the way that our country is going, I wouldn’t be surprised if parts of our nation were ruined, considering how we are harming our environment and thinking we can use our ‘military might’ to influence nations.

Continuing on the politics tip, Gamepolitics has a report concerning new video game legislation by the U.S. Senate here, the report also allows a look at the bill in its entirety. I get tired of these anti-video game bills; like Gamepolitics says, when gamers grow up to be politicians themselves, hopefully these bills will cease to exist.

Speaking of anti-video game views, former presidential candidate Mitt Romney made it clear that he was against video game culture, as this video shows below:

I ask the following question: would you want this guy as your VP?

McCain is at least considering the possiblity, based on this report by Gamepolitics. Ostensibly, Romney could help McCain in terms of economics and in repairing his ‘conservative’ image. Romney is also young enough to take McCain’s place should he keel over.

However, I STILL wouldn’t want him in office, as I think he comes across as an elitist and a perfectionist. To me, he is almost too slick and likes to potray himself as a moralist.

It doesn’t matter anyway, Obama still has a better chance to win this election than McCain does. By the way, does this contest remind anyone of the election between Kennedy and Nixon?

Finally, here is another piece about a video game being used to aid autistic children; more proof that games CAN be used to do good.

Not me, nor do any other members of my class. In fact, the entire youth and 20-something demographic is by no means stupid or ignorant. If we are, blame could arguably be place on society, as it really gives us no reason to feel ‘involved’ in its affairs.

However, one author, Mark Bauerlein, feels that the above mentioned demographics deserve membership into that group, and details his rationale in his book: The Dumbest Generation - How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future. Having had the chance to take a look, I found what was said…interesting, more or less.

Bauerlein spends the majority of the book arguing that due to today’s youth and 20-somethings of the world choosing to surf the internet, play video games or watch television, they have become ‘dumber’ and are thus unable to obtain the basic levels of intelligence necessary for survival. Essentially, he believes that by today’s youth centering their lives around technology, they lack the ‘critical thinking’ skills necessary for success, skills that can only be achieved, according to the author, through reading ‘heavy’ literature or studying. He continues by citing facts and figures that reiterate this point. As I was reading this book, I actually wondered if this author would be happy if technology never existed. Maybe to him, our world would be perfect if that happened.

On a serious note, the rapid rise of technology, in all forms, whether it be applied to video games, the internet, etc, has always led some to wonder what will happen to ‘old’ forms of media like books and newspapers. Thus far, it appears that technology has been leading the orchestra, with books and other ‘printed’ forms struggling to catch up. What is interesting about these new forms of technology, and what I have been (trying) to report on my blog is how it can be used for positive means as well as for pure entertainment. I have mentioned many times about Nintendo’s Brain Training games, along with other technological advances that can both inform and entertain as well.

The author does acknowledge that balance needs to be achieved between technology and the written word; however, it comes at a point when most readers would stop digesting the novel altogether.  I know I did.

While this individual may be more qualified to whine on a soapbox than give his views on the world, the truth remains that other individuals will argue about the legitimacy of technological media versus the ‘printed word.’ A much more detailed argument is presented on the New York Times here.

So, to close my thoughts on this book, I would compare it to something that I read by Ann Coulter; good ideas that are regrettably bathed in acidic vitriol.

Jack Thompson, known for saying some rather….unusual things, brings his ‘brand’ of words to the Jace Hall show. The video is below:

The title of this post may sound a bit backhanded, but I just wanted to quickly reflect on NY governor Paterson’s decision to sign that video game provision into law. More information can be found on Gamepolitics’s latest report here.

In short, what is ironic about this law is that most of the actions that ‘must be done’ are already occuring. Parental controls in consoles? (done), games must have ratings? (done). What I found interesting was the mention that even though a council would be established to investigate media violence, members of that council would not be compensated for their efforts. It amounts to being used in many ways; the ‘experts’ have their knowledge taken from them for no compensation in return.

Women certainly have it rough in video games.

While there are some exceptions to the rule, most notably here, the majority of women in games are represented by images such as this, this, and this.

With these negative images in mind, the concept behind Sony’s new PSN game “Fat Princess” sounds refreshing; rather than watch a disproportionatly structured woman galavant around the screen, you can watch a woman get fat.

However, though I may think that the concept is creative, others disagree, according to this article on Joystiq.com.

While I can sort of see their point; it kind of makes me wonder just how women should be portrayed in games…after all, it is obvious that if the game were called “fat prince,” no one would care otherwise.

The above video is an example of Jack Thompson’s “solution” to the violent video games problem as outlined on the Jace Hall show. More information about it and the interview can be found here.

In watching this interview, I have to admit that I was impressed how it was conducted; Jace Hall was calm and composed throughout and refused to allow Thompson to affect his composure. I found it odd that Thompson referred to Jace as ‘evil’ simply due to his programming games that have violence in them. It shows Thompson’s inability to embrace popular media. If that is the case, why is he not condeming Fox News or other news networks? They show more violence in five minutes than most games do in 5 hours.

Speaking of senseless video game opinions, this report by Gamepolitics here is a real winner, since it requires actions that have already been undertaken; study about real world violence in correlation to video game violence? (done), consoles must have parental lock features? (also done).

While it is true that this new governor is legally blind; it is a shame that he is also ignorant to the stupidity of his approved provision.

How much do you dislike President George W. Bush?

Odd question, I know, but one that bears asking due to this report uncovered by Gamepolitics. It details one designer’s game which is about the assassination of our current president.

A video report that goes into more detail can be seen below:

The military has always had a positive relationship with the gaming industry; after all, military-themed experiences such as Tom Clancy’s GRAW (Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter) games, the Call of Duty series and the America’s Army series have proven effective recruiting tools for army officials looking to boost the number of soliders serving. How they manage to do this considering the relative unpopularity of this war is beyond me…but when you consider the perks of joining the army, I can see why the process is necessary.

Of course, while games may be used as recruitment tools, I was surprised to learn the other roles that they play. According to a Wired blog, video game controllers are being used to control drones and nukes. The full report is here, and to see an example of it in action, check out the video below:

Chalk this up as another victory for games and society intersecting!

That slogan up there is the summary of a speech given by the governor of Texas at this year’s E3 Media & Business summit. San Antonio Express-News has his full commentary here, with Gamepolitics providing their opinion here.

Personally, it is nice to hear a politician speak for the benefits of the gaming industry; though I wish he would focus a bit more on how gaming benefits society at large rather than mention its economic aspects.

Speaking of games’ positive aspects, the Associated Press has a report about how games are used as medicine in certain cases. The full report is here, while Gamepolitics has their analysis here. I believe that if games can be used in this way, it will go a long way towards removing their negative perception. However, like Gamepolitics notes, this practice has already been done; despite this, it is good that it finally recieves recognition in the mainstream press.

Finally, our current ESA president thinks that the gaming industry is entering a golden age. While I agree with his assessment; he has a long to go to convince me that he is as capable a president as Doug Lowrenstein was.