Comments | media_girl18: Video Games: The Good Vs. the Bad

media_girl18

Video Games: The Good Vs. the Bad

Jan 18, 2008 19:22

This entry is in response to an issue I am always hearing about, namely that video gamers have no life or that video-gaming is a negative, non-intelligent activity that not only isolates, it also de-sensitizes ( Read more... )

video games

Comments 5

meatina January 19 2008, 18:43:09 UTC

Hi, I popped over here from zelda_lovers.
I personally get angry when games are blamed for crimes. Manhunt being a case in point- a 15-year old murdered a classmate, and then his parents said he was obsessed with the game. The fact he was also on drugs obviously had nothing to do with it.
My argument, which may sound a bit childish in comparison, is that I played Sonic the Hedgehog for hours on end as a child, yet I never painted myself blue and ran round my back garden befriending mutant foxes.
I think games are evolving, and that games like Buzz! are just updates on Trivial Pursuit. I've had great fun playing games like that (also Guitar Hero, and sports games on the Wii), and they can be part of a social event. A social event that wouldn't be happening if all games were anti-social, surely? My fiance and I are both big gamers, and it's one of our shared interests. We both like Zelda games, for example ( ... )

media_girl18 January 20 2008, 13:43:34 UTC

Wow, well said. I agree that almost always, the argument about people playing video games and then becoming violent always oversimplifies things. I mean, I also remember the whole Columbine thing, when they found copies of Doom in the killers' room or something, and the media was obsessed with that. Of course, the fact that the kids were bullied in high school and probably had mental and anger issues surely had more to do with the killings than a video game. It's ridiculous. I think, most of the times, when a video game is linked to violence, it is more incidental. If a person is violent to begin with or has trouble telling the real world from a video game or have parents who don't teach them right from wrong, then yes, video games are going to effect them negatively ( ... )

meatina January 20 2008, 15:18:11 UTC

*nods*
Yes, I think the media conveniently forget that there are plenty of people who listen to heavy metal, watch violent films and play games that don't go round causing injury or death to others. Myself, for example!
You have to wonder how these children get hold of the games. I really don't think parents can complain too much if they're the ones buying the games. These games are 15/18 rated for a reason. The people who rate the games even say why they've got the ratings. Buying your 7 year old Manhunt or GTA is irresponsible- snd people find it easier to blame a game rather than to say "I admit I was an irresponsible parent".

I agree with the Temple of the Ocean King. The third time I did it I died several times. I'm on the final battle now though :)

media_girl18 January 20 2008, 21:17:45 UTC

Haha, I also love violent films! I guess I'm a weird girl that way..but films like "Sweeney Todd" or "No Country for Old Men"...or even this Korean movie called "Oldboy" (that movie is super, super violent, but very intelligent at the same time) I love them ( ... )

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Re: ho ho! media_girl18 January 22 2008, 16:22:33 UTC

Oh, Portal! Sadly, my computer can't run that game, but I have played it at my friend's, and it is amazing (oh, if only it didn't make me soo nauseous!) Anyway, I love how Portal's biting humor comments on society and even morality. It's a great example of how a game can both entertain and also enlighten ( ... )