Morality in Videogames
One day, I will write an essay about this. However, for now, I will just say. There is a lot of kvetching about the possibility that video games make us bad people through simulation, that Grand Theft Auto-style games are soul-deadening and shooters make us violent. However, what parents really have to worry about are scenarios like the following one from the seemingly innocuous Neverwinter Nights 2:
[You have challenged a local bard to the duel of the lutes. This is an intensely difficult 'duel' that requires the player to have a remarkable memory, so most players don't really bother. You then get the 'end quest' choice sequence.
You're about to lose! You're screwed! What do you do?]
A. Do a little dance to please the audience.
B. Graciously accede your defeat.
C. Try the stupid song one more stupid time.
D. Light the bard on fire and steal his lute.
I think we know there's only one option here. This is the real reason why video games make you a bad person. You have no choice! None!
(By the by, The Curse of Monkey Island has a similar scenario, and the wicked, bad, cheating option is the absolute only way to win. Thus does Guybrush Threepwood make villains of us all. Parents! Last warning. Turn your eyes from Mass Effect and Bioshock and look to these so-called mild E and T games.)
[You have challenged a local bard to the duel of the lutes. This is an intensely difficult 'duel' that requires the player to have a remarkable memory, so most players don't really bother. You then get the 'end quest' choice sequence.
You're about to lose! You're screwed! What do you do?]
A. Do a little dance to please the audience.
B. Graciously accede your defeat.
C. Try the stupid song one more stupid time.
D. Light the bard on fire and steal his lute.
I think we know there's only one option here. This is the real reason why video games make you a bad person. You have no choice! None!
(By the by, The Curse of Monkey Island has a similar scenario, and the wicked, bad, cheating option is the absolute only way to win. Thus does Guybrush Threepwood make villains of us all. Parents! Last warning. Turn your eyes from Mass Effect and Bioshock and look to these so-called mild E and T games.)