Games aren't everything, Vince know this. But I'm starting to think there should be a legal disclaimer on videogames.
something like "by playing this game, you, your friends, and any family members agree to waive your right to sue in case you do something stupid like killing people and begining controversy with videogames again"
User agreements on games are like warnings on most products in the market. There would never be a "For external use only" warning on the bottle of Preparation H unless someone tried to ingest it.
"If games turned players into murderers we'd be up to our necks in corpses."
That's the point we keep coming back to. If violent video games train people to be murderers and such, why aren't the courts completely inundated with angry, homicidal teens?
The Postal 2 game has a non escapable statement before the game starts anyway saying not re-enact any game elements in real life. So anyone trying to pin the arguement on the Postal game is either stupid or narrow minded.
Rambling on the response and Life In General.
anonymous
January 18 2006, 13:46:35 UTC
Nice statement, accurate in the "if it makes people killers, we'd all be dead" concept. People need to be unbalanced BEFORE they're exposed to, well, anything. Be it a fantasy world via videogames, via movies, or via books. Or a desire for fame via media, a common connection in a non fiction book, or just a random social trigger that really bothers them
( ... )
Re: Rambling on the response and Life In General.
anonymous
January 18 2006, 19:39:23 UTC
I can see how you would say that, but personal experiences of mine have proven differently.
When I was in high school I would go to the arcade and play Area 51 religiously. If it only took me one dollar to beat the game, I wouldn't be happy until I beat it with 75 cents and so forth.
After high school I joined the military. I had never in my life shot a real handgun before yet somehow I walk away with a 37/40.
Area 51 taught me how to shoot. It's what you do with that knowlege that sets you aside from everyone else.
Re: Rambling on the response and Life In General.
anonymous
January 18 2006, 20:32:44 UTC
What's interesting however, is that I have never once heard anyone point the finger at those games that do actually teach someone shooting skills as a problem. Hell if certain so called individuals who I shall not name were to say that Silent Scope taught the Beltway Sniper instead of blaming Halo somehow, I might be inclined to give some benefit of the doubt (of course I wouldn't, I don't think any game has had anything to do with these crimes). It's always the game with violent content, and not the ones that might actually teach someone shooting skills (Police simulator anyone?) that get blamed. Quite possibly because pretty much all of these shooting games involve some hero-esque character (military man, cop, secret agent, SWAT team, etc.). I bet if they made one where you played a gang member shooting other gang members, rather than a cop shooting gang members, you'd have a massive blow up.
I exactly wonder how the Postal games actually cause people to kill. I play Scorched Earth and it doesn't make me want to blow up other people in tanks, nor does the game Painkiller make me want to run around shooting stakes through cars for money.
This is like comic books and rock music all over again, but it is good that some of the companies are speaking out against the bias and the ignorance in the media and defending themselves.
Although I am kind of confused with Mr. Desi's wording of his press release, I am glad he took the time to speak out against the senseless scapegoatism.
Also, people will find new ways to get pissed off. It's the cycle of life, and maybe at least a couple of us will fall suspectible to being offended by something exciting and new.
Life goes on, but I think I may just check out Postal ($10, wheee) just for kicks.
Also, I recommend Postal 2. The original really was about a guy who goes 'postal'. The second just presented you with lots of situations where YOU as a player could 'go postal' if you really wanted to...
Also, I recommend Postal 2. The original really was about a guy who goes 'postal'. The second just presented you with lots of situations where YOU as a player could 'go postal' if you really wanted to...
I agree. Postal 2 is much better.
I found that the original Postal's controls were clunky and unresponsive.
Comments 535
But I'm starting to think there should be a legal disclaimer on videogames.
something like "by playing this game, you, your friends, and any family members agree to waive your right to sue in case you do something stupid like killing people and begining controversy with videogames again"
~Ben McDowell
Canadian
Reply
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
Reply
That's the point we keep coming back to. If violent video games train people to be murderers and such, why aren't the courts completely inundated with angry, homicidal teens?
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
Reply
Reply
When I was in high school I would go to the arcade and play Area 51 religiously. If it only took me one dollar to beat the game, I wouldn't be happy until I beat it with 75 cents and so forth.
After high school I joined the military. I had never in my life shot a real handgun before yet somehow I walk away with a 37/40.
Area 51 taught me how to shoot. It's what you do with that knowlege that sets you aside from everyone else.
Reply
Reply
Reply
This is like comic books and rock music all over again, but it is good that some of the companies are speaking out against the bias and the ignorance in the media and defending themselves.
Although I am kind of confused with Mr. Desi's wording of his press release, I am glad he took the time to speak out against the senseless scapegoatism.
Reply
Life goes on, but I think I may just check out Postal ($10, wheee) just for kicks.
Reply
Also, I recommend Postal 2. The original really was about a guy who goes 'postal'. The second just presented you with lots of situations where YOU as a player could 'go postal' if you really wanted to...
Reply
I agree. Postal 2 is much better.
I found that the original Postal's controls were clunky and unresponsive.
Reply
Leave a comment