SEGA designer and Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi has spoken out on a Japanese forum about the dangers of computer games - referencing the sandbox, violent nature of Grand Theft Auto to make his point. Yes, it is somewhat ironic.
Nagoshi mused about the consequences of making a game that can let players do whatever they want. About GTA, “I thought one day someone is going to have to make something like this. Personally, because I think you must think about the influence games have on people, I would never think about wanting to make a game like this.”
Well, there is Yakuza, Nagoshi-san... It could be argued that Yakuza doesn't really let you do whatever you want, within the confines of gambling and beating up thugs (and said thugs always have bad motives, thus creating a good-guy, bad-guy scenario), but surely violence is violence, however wrapped up it is? Or perhaps, the issue Nagoshi is debating isn't about violence at all, but the concept of true freedom to “kill people or do whatever”?
Either way, the SEGA R&D head reckons a 'healthy debate' is better than skirting the issue, and believes that “In gaming, if you make a decision, there is a reaction, and it's the most stimulating form of media, I think. And thus, it can asked if it's the most dangerous media... Depending on what you make, perhaps”.
We can certainly say that violence and freedom in computer games have no adverse effects on us whatsoever. Now, bring Yakuza 3 to the West, SEGA, or else we'll beat you up!
Nagoshi mused about the consequences of making a game that can let players do whatever they want. About GTA, “I thought one day someone is going to have to make something like this. Personally, because I think you must think about the influence games have on people, I would never think about wanting to make a game like this.”
Well, there is Yakuza, Nagoshi-san... It could be argued that Yakuza doesn't really let you do whatever you want, within the confines of gambling and beating up thugs (and said thugs always have bad motives, thus creating a good-guy, bad-guy scenario), but surely violence is violence, however wrapped up it is? Or perhaps, the issue Nagoshi is debating isn't about violence at all, but the concept of true freedom to “kill people or do whatever”?
Either way, the SEGA R&D head reckons a 'healthy debate' is better than skirting the issue, and believes that “In gaming, if you make a decision, there is a reaction, and it's the most stimulating form of media, I think. And thus, it can asked if it's the most dangerous media... Depending on what you make, perhaps”.
We can certainly say that violence and freedom in computer games have no adverse effects on us whatsoever. Now, bring Yakuza 3 to the West, SEGA, or else we'll beat you up!
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