Videogames For World Peace
Really, though? Could games save the world? You really think?
Right on, brothers! This weekend in New York City, the second annual Videogames for Social Change conference will be held. The event is organised by Games for Change, a group that works to encourage social change by the subtle medium of videogames. At present, such games already exist – some with such modest aims as helping asthmatics to understand their condition, and others with loftier aspirations, such as the UN aid delivery sim. Non-profit organisations and socially conscious developers are invited to attend to discuss how best to go about using the influence of games to make the world a better place.
The very existence of this event raises some interesting issues. The idea that you can positively educate with games where you do nice things pre-supposes that games where you do ‘bad’ things might make the player nastier. As you’ll know, this issue has been vigorously debated for many years – let’s not get into that right now. We’re a little unsure how much you can change a person depending on the games you give them to play, though it’s undoubtedly true you could make them aware of issues they didn’t know about, just as you can with a book, film or song.
It would be interesting to see a game that combined ‘good’ and ‘evil’ genres. Imagine a MMORPG where some players participated in a war whilst others ran round clearing up the collateral damage. But we can’t help but think that while videogames have been linked to small scale acts of shocking violence, we haven't yet heard of a gamer who ended up starting a war. Did too much Command and Conquer or HALO influence the warmongering of Tony Blair and George Bush? Would a game that illustrated the effects of their decisions on the world’s poor make them less likely to re-offend? Actually, now we come to think of it, Bush Junior sitting cross-legged on the floor playing games isn’t too hard an image to conjure. Nor should we forget that of the world's 7 billion+ people, it is only a small and spoilt minority that has much time to sit around playing games.
A Games for Change conference must be a good thing, mustn’t it? Unless it's a secret fascist plot to control our brains. We’re confused. Help clear our minds, if you fancy, in the forum.
The very existence of this event raises some interesting issues. The idea that you can positively educate with games where you do nice things pre-supposes that games where you do ‘bad’ things might make the player nastier. As you’ll know, this issue has been vigorously debated for many years – let’s not get into that right now. We’re a little unsure how much you can change a person depending on the games you give them to play, though it’s undoubtedly true you could make them aware of issues they didn’t know about, just as you can with a book, film or song.
It would be interesting to see a game that combined ‘good’ and ‘evil’ genres. Imagine a MMORPG where some players participated in a war whilst others ran round clearing up the collateral damage. But we can’t help but think that while videogames have been linked to small scale acts of shocking violence, we haven't yet heard of a gamer who ended up starting a war. Did too much Command and Conquer or HALO influence the warmongering of Tony Blair and George Bush? Would a game that illustrated the effects of their decisions on the world’s poor make them less likely to re-offend? Actually, now we come to think of it, Bush Junior sitting cross-legged on the floor playing games isn’t too hard an image to conjure. Nor should we forget that of the world's 7 billion+ people, it is only a small and spoilt minority that has much time to sit around playing games.
A Games for Change conference must be a good thing, mustn’t it? Unless it's a secret fascist plot to control our brains. We’re confused. Help clear our minds, if you fancy, in the forum.
Companies:
Games For Change
Comments
Greg2k 18 Oct 2005 14:27
1/5
There's just one problem: games aren't mainstream. Unless games become an all-ages medium such as film and literature, there's no way that message will ever get across. Because the current demographic has no vested interest in games that include 'happy' themes, or themes that would induce charitable activities.
All you have to do is look at the most common thing in all games: darkness. All games except some made by Sega and Nintendo (Super Monkey Ball, Sonic, Mario, Animal Crossing...) and a few other notable exceptions tend to have a heavy dose of darkness, both in overall aesthetics and in plotlines. There's hardly ever something nice going on; no open areas, no green hills, no kids running around...just rusty machinery, dark skies and someone dealing drugs somewhere in a cutscene.
I honestly doubt anyone can feel cheerier after playing Halo 2, Doom 3, Max Payne or San Andreas, whilst I'm pretty sure people playing Katamari or Kirby will. If someone doesn't feel positive after playing a game, there's not much you can do to instill some positive thinking.
All you have to do is look at the most common thing in all games: darkness. All games except some made by Sega and Nintendo (Super Monkey Ball, Sonic, Mario, Animal Crossing...) and a few other notable exceptions tend to have a heavy dose of darkness, both in overall aesthetics and in plotlines. There's hardly ever something nice going on; no open areas, no green hills, no kids running around...just rusty machinery, dark skies and someone dealing drugs somewhere in a cutscene.
I honestly doubt anyone can feel cheerier after playing Halo 2, Doom 3, Max Payne or San Andreas, whilst I'm pretty sure people playing Katamari or Kirby will. If someone doesn't feel positive after playing a game, there's not much you can do to instill some positive thinking.
Pilot13 18 Oct 2005 18:47
2/5
People get a positive buzz off of Halo. It's all that darned murder simulating.
Seriously though, I played a priest in wow, and working hard to make sure everyone in my group (any group) was always alive had a positive effect on me. I think.
Seriously though, I played a priest in wow, and working hard to make sure everyone in my group (any group) was always alive had a positive effect on me. I think.
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LUPOS 18 Oct 2005 23:10
3/5
i have played video games my whole life... starting as far back as my mums favorite story about me kicking ass at centeped at a restaurant when i was about 3-4. and yet when i play games like fabel i cant bring myself to be the bad guy... i want to be strong and nobel and heroic. to counter that i am more than willign to wack anybody in gta because its such a lifeless game full of repetitive characters...yes i know there is a story but the peopel on the street look liek they are made up of about 12 different models... its liek playing space invaders... there is no sympathy for those things... perhaps the only crime rockstar is commiting is portraing humans as mindless unimportant drones in a realistic seting. or perhpas im just a pussy, draw your own conclusions.
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Pilot13 19 Oct 2005 00:44
4/5
Yeah, your a pussy ;)
LUPOS 19 Oct 2005 01:03
5/5
Pilot13 wrote:
Yeah, your a pussy ;)
*whew* for a second i was worried i was soem kind of over analytical video game elitest.... close one!