I like the GTA/Red Dead games because of the complete freedom they allow you. Sometimes I will go on rampages but it's not because I like killing things, I like the challenge of evading the police. I hate linear games, where you can't figure out creative ways of doing things. I don't think it's made me more violent. I've always been a non-violent person.
(sorry this post is a little off topic)
IMO, I think Non-Linearity is a field that is the least explored in video games, primarily because it takes too much hard work to program every single scenario. I think its the future of video games really; whether it is a Call of Duty type game or GTA. I think it is doable in the near future!
I just can't wait for a GTA game where EVERYTHING is possible. Like a virtual reality...There are 1000s of storylines but it is entirely up to you to get into any, and as many, of them...that most of the NPCs have different personalities...and you can enter any room in any building, home, etc etc and see people doing things there. Oh and of course, completely destructible environment.
Maybe too much to ask at this point.
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Example: Would people here be interested in playing Special Force 2, the modern warfare FPS financed by Hezbollah? (Assuming the game itself is not bad, which I understand it's not, just a very basic FPS.)
The difference in those examples is that I would consider those to be straight up propaganda.
While the MW series definitely has a pretty big slant towards the US armed forces I don't think they are trying to push American ideals, especially radical ones.
If I was to play a WWII game where I got to be the Nazis I might be fine with it. If I was to play a WWII game where I was the Nazis and the Jews were portrayed a la 1940s German propaganda charicatures I would probably be offended.
At the end of the day it all comes down to context. Is what is being presented intentionally inflammatory? Does the story make sense? Is the story gripping? Are the "offensive" aspects done for a purpose or to try and brainwash me?
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Sounds like he is just jealous of the awesome power of the AC-130 Spectre gunship. Nothing "masturbatory" about realistically showing off the true to life operation of an aircraft such as this.
You think he's jealous of an airplane in a video game? That sure would be weird.
I've played that mission with the AC-130 probably more than the other ones because I it's fun going through that turkey shoot, but he's right, they aren't even firing back at you. I don't know about "masturbatory", but let's not go too far and try to suggest their is anything true to life or "realistic" about these games.
In the mission in question, you are essentially invincible. In the other missions, you can get shot 50 times and still survive, as long as you hide behind a garbage can for a few second when need be.
That's just some dude playing Far Cry 2 with a lame soundtrack and fake subtitles.
Could be, I wouldn't know really. Sort of besides the point I guess.
Would you play a game about learning to fight against US/Canadian soldiers as a member of the Al-Qaida?
Assuming it's not bashing your head with outright propaganda all the time, but your NPC buddies would be having some laughs about killing the Americans?
I mean I could easily see it as a pretty compelling game, considering the technological superiority of the western forces.
I've played that mission with the AC-130 probably more than the other ones because I it's fun going through that turkey shoot, but he's right, they aren't even firing back at you. I don't know about "masturbatory", but let's not go too far and try to suggest their is anything true to life or "realistic" about these games.
In the mission in question, you are essentially invincible. In the other missions, you can get shot 50 times and still survive, as long as you hide behind a garbage can for a few second when need be.
The parts I have highlighted are pretty much true to life for the theatres the AC-130 has been in. Can't recall any reports of them being shot down or fired upon in Afghanistan or Iraq.
So the game was not partaking in any masturbatory fantasy, it was painting a picture of what has really happened in those scenarios.
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Could be, I wouldn't know really. Sort of besides the point I guess.
Would you play a game about learning to fight against US/Canadian soldiers as a member of the Al-Qaida?
Assuming it's not bashing your head with outright propaganda all the time, but your NPC buddies would be having some laughs about killing the Americans?
I mean I could easily see it as a pretty compelling game, considering the technological superiority of the western forces.
I would absolutely play that game if the quality of the game (story included) was up to par.
I mean, I played counter-strike as a "terrorist" before, killing both US and British special forces, bombing supply depots, killing hostages (old white males...gasp...and of course the token asian), using them as human shields, as well as sacrificing myself in a massive explosion of C4 to prevent counter-terrorism efforts.
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Could be, I wouldn't know really. Sort of besides the point I guess.
Would you play a game about learning to fight against US/Canadian soldiers as a member of the Al-Qaida?
Assuming it's not bashing your head with outright propaganda all the time, but your NPC buddies would be having some laughs about killing the Americans?
I mean I could easily see it as a pretty compelling game, considering the technological superiority of the western forces.
Absolutely.
Exposing yourself to different narratives is the most important part of broadening your world perspective.
The problem is with people who would ONLY play that game. That narrows your world perspective just like how only reading one religious text and making that your complete and final authority on your world view may lead you to becoming a narrow minded fundamentalist who is ignorant and blinded to reality.
Thinking about it, I would propably be more comfortable playing an Al-Qaida member than a US special forces man in Afghanistan. And yeah, I would absolutely find that fascinating, if it was well-researched.
I'm not 100% why, but I think it's because the situation would just be so alien. When things get too relatable, I start losing the "just a game" -feeling.
I don't know why it works that way. Maybe it's kind of an Uncanny Valley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_Valley), where I'm cool with stuff that doesn't feel too close, and cool with stuff that's really relatable (like in a very good RPG-style game), but uncomfortable with stuff that's somewhere in between.
The parts I have highlighted are pretty much true to life for the theatres the AC-130 has been in. Can't recall any reports of them being shot down or fired upon in Afghanistan or Iraq.
So the game was not partaking in any masturbatory fantasy, it was painting a picture of what has really happened in those scenarios.
Okay, fair enough. In that one mission, it is closer to reality, but it's only for the purposes of allowing the player to shoot fish in a barrel, which in a video game is a "masturbatory fantasy". It's got nothing to do with "painting a picture" or any sort of accurate representation.
In these games, you can mow down hundreds of enemies while absorbing bullet wounds that heal if you hide behind a garbage can. In this one particular mission, you move a cursor around and shoot targets that can't fire back.
