My first post at Blogspot. So exciting, I can barely contain myself. Anyway, some ground rules. This particular post was actually a note on Facebook earlier, so there's that. Also, if you're reading my work for the first time, I use lots of asides and footnotes, plus I curse whenever the fuck I please. Those of you with sensitive eyes should turn back now. For the rest of you, please to enjoy. Follow if you like what you read, I try to keep a steady stream of text coming and please comment, good or bad. I like discussion. Anyway...
I'm a life long gamer, unless you want to get really technical. I've been playing video games since I was 3 years old. In that time I've watched video games grow from dots on a screen to near photo realistic interactive stories. They're, arguably, at the level of most action movies and even surpass them on occasion because it puts you right in the action playing a part in the telling of the tale. Most interestingly, games are getting to the point where they are actually dramatic fiction, rather than a game of Tetris while you're bored.* Yet it seems that lawmakers the world over and "concerned parent groups" still haven't gotten that through their heads. And with what's been going on lately, it's kind of hard to blame them.
Back in Ought 5,** California governator Arnold Schwarzeneggar signed a California law restricting the sale of violent video games to people under the age of 18 (Pause for irony while you realize the Terminator is trying to restrict violence, carry on), and allowing federal fines to be levied against retailers who did so. This is effectively government censorship, something the first amendment is fairly clear about, ie, "Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech..." This law was challenged and managed to make it to the Supreme Court at the end of last year, decision pending sometime in June of this year.***
Now, I don't WANT children playing violent video games, but if their parents decide to let them that is their affair, not the government's. More importantly, most retailers already adhere to the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) rating system, which gives parents more than enough information printed on the box of EVERY video game sold in this country about the content of the game. Stores who want to stay in business require anyone buying a game rated M for Mature to be carded, only someone 17 or older can buy it. Beyond that, it is still a parent's responsibility to monitor what their children do, not to just leave them to their video games for days on end.
For example, Sony released a video game last year called Heavy Rain for the Playstation 3 that is effectively an interactive R rated movie. You control 4 characters trying to uncover a serial killer who preys on young boys before he strikes again. I can honestly say it was a gripping tale, one of the most suspenseful "games" I've ever played and really disturbing at points. It deals with a subject often left to speculative fiction or suspense films of how far a person is willing to go to save someone in their family, in this case, your son.
Note the wording, YOUR son. Not a character you passively watch, YOUR character, the man you are playing. Content like this serves a different audience than kids who play Disney games or kick shells around in Super Mario. It is this very important distinction that lawmakers and "concerned parent's groups" seem to be missing. Games are not just toys, they are a piece of media akin to movies and books that can deliver deep narratives and touchy subjects.
Then again, for every art house story you get, you get a lot of slasher horror flicks. Dead Space 2, an upcoming game from EA, is one of those slasher horror games. I have no inherent problem with someone making a slasher horror game, I honestly couldn't get very far through the original Dead Space before I was jumping at real world shadows. My problem is with the marketing campaign they went with to promote it...
Give it a watch, it shows mothers reacting to footage from the game. The telling line is "It's revolting, it's violent, it's everything you love in a game... and your mom is going to HATE IT." Ok... it's rated M for Mature. This kind of message is in the, "If your parents hate it, it MUST be cool category." However, if you're young enough that your mother's reaction to this game matters in the slightest... (inhales deeply) YOU SHOULDN'T BE PLAYING THE FUCKING GAME!!!*** Sorry to bold, italic AND underline that, just trying to make a point. This is EA setting the industry back a few notches, marketing something like this to kids. This is a game made solely for the purchase and play by adults, why would you even contemplate this kind of marketing scheme?
Remember when Hostel II came out and there were ads for it during Dora the Explorer? Or when Saw V was coming to theaters and posters went up all over McDonald's Playland? Or that porno that always has a spot during Sesame Street? Oh, those things didn't happen? Right, because THAT would be stupid. It's a blunder on that level and I am so very disappointed in the marketing team for this... Anyway, argue, discuss, comment below, catch you later.
*Tetris is still amazing though. I am the man who arranges the blocks...
**2005, for those of you who don't speak old coot.
***Because, you see, the Supreme Court is composed entirely of turtles, three toed sloths and a species of snail that can read. I just hope they never read this... glances around furtively
****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Full text of the first amendment available here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution#Text
And the full text of the Supreme Court hearing is here: http://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/08-1448.pdf
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