03-31-2005, 07:21 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-31-2005, 08:00 PM by Hammerskjold.)
(edited addition):
>So yes, I would say the games encourage antisocial behavior as a means to win. They don't always encourage *stupid* antisocial behavior, but they are basically non-linear action games where you have fun playing the role of a criminal in a real life setting.
The non linear aspect aside, personally I see something like an illegal street racing game can qualify as well, yet I don't see the same type of GTA furor over it.
http://store.computerandvideogames.com/p...sp?id=4446
Just my own opinion, but I've seen more illegal street racing happening in my neighbourhood than the stuff that's touted in GTA. (I'm not saying it never happens, it's just more likely for me to see 2 buttheads revving their riced up Civics at a stoplight at 2 AM than a carjacking.) So much so that there was a police crackdown on it some time ago. I'm not suggesting there is a direct link or 'Need For Speed' type games are responsible for the dingus who treats public roads as their own personal race tracks.
I'm just somewhat confused over some people's inconsistency over the grading of what is a good\bad influence over players.
>I can see something that parents wouldn't be eager to get their kids.
On this I definitely agree. Though I would imagine it would be quite hard if you have a kid and most of their friends get to play it. (Hey as a kid I tried that line with my parents too.) Not to mention potentially they could always go to their friend's house and play it there instead. Hopefully if I ever have a kid of my own they'll quickly understand between what is acceptable in real life vs fantasy.
>Regarding Boyz in the Hood: The mature themes aren't suitable for youngsters, but to me this movie did not glorify violence or encourage antisocial behavior. It's a pretty somber, pretty down to earth movie.
That was what I was trying to say, with less success I guess. Back when I was in highschool, one of my history teacher was trying to arrange my class to go see it in the theatres. He couldn't do it because either the principal or some of the school board members saw one commercial, saw the name Ice Cube and adamantly said no. (Didn't matter that we were imo, mature enough to handle it. But I guess Cube's 'reputation' still preceeded him at the time. This was obviously before he starred in "Are We There Yet".)
>So yes, I would say the games encourage antisocial behavior as a means to win. They don't always encourage *stupid* antisocial behavior, but they are basically non-linear action games where you have fun playing the role of a criminal in a real life setting.
The non linear aspect aside, personally I see something like an illegal street racing game can qualify as well, yet I don't see the same type of GTA furor over it.
http://store.computerandvideogames.com/p...sp?id=4446
Just my own opinion, but I've seen more illegal street racing happening in my neighbourhood than the stuff that's touted in GTA. (I'm not saying it never happens, it's just more likely for me to see 2 buttheads revving their riced up Civics at a stoplight at 2 AM than a carjacking.) So much so that there was a police crackdown on it some time ago. I'm not suggesting there is a direct link or 'Need For Speed' type games are responsible for the dingus who treats public roads as their own personal race tracks.
I'm just somewhat confused over some people's inconsistency over the grading of what is a good\bad influence over players.
>I can see something that parents wouldn't be eager to get their kids.
On this I definitely agree. Though I would imagine it would be quite hard if you have a kid and most of their friends get to play it. (Hey as a kid I tried that line with my parents too.) Not to mention potentially they could always go to their friend's house and play it there instead. Hopefully if I ever have a kid of my own they'll quickly understand between what is acceptable in real life vs fantasy.
>Regarding Boyz in the Hood: The mature themes aren't suitable for youngsters, but to me this movie did not glorify violence or encourage antisocial behavior. It's a pretty somber, pretty down to earth movie.
That was what I was trying to say, with less success I guess. Back when I was in highschool, one of my history teacher was trying to arrange my class to go see it in the theatres. He couldn't do it because either the principal or some of the school board members saw one commercial, saw the name Ice Cube and adamantly said no. (Didn't matter that we were imo, mature enough to handle it. But I guess Cube's 'reputation' still preceeded him at the time. This was obviously before he starred in "Are We There Yet".)