Many of you know that I'm in college. Many of you may also know that, from time to time, I take classes and even have projects. With that established, I'd like to bring up a current bit of research I'm performing: trying to find out why games are so negatively misrepresented in the media. Having just read Grand Theft Childhood, I noted not only how more current research proved that there are few recordable effects of violent and adult themes in games, but also how prior research is highly questionable based on leaps of logic and jumping to conclusions to satisfy personal agendas. I'm interested in where these biases come from, why they are manifesting, and if there is anything we can do to help games overcome their oftentimes poor image.
Obviously, games are only recently beginning to reach a truly mainstream market, beyond hardcore enthusiasts and people who chose to identify with the "gamer" label. The way development is proceeding, I fully believe there will come a day when such a label disappears, or at the very least becomes redefined along the lines of "movie geek," due to an eventual cultural acceptance. However, if the public perception of video games is continually attacked in false ways and is painted as a negative influence on society, that day will take longer and longer to reach.
I know many of you think that, because similar sentiments have existed in the past with movies and rock music, such protests will easily die off, but in this day of the internet, where every blowhard has the ability to loudly project his voice, I can't help but feel that negative publicity is hurting the game industry. Look no further than the "Hot Coffee" incident and the rerating of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion: when unofficial game mods are treated as legitimate releases due to the masterful words of those with agendas, there are not only industry repercussions, but societal repercussions, as non-gamers incorrectly learn of the situation.
Are these biases coming from any place in particular, beyond the usual complaints from old conservatives and attention-seeking politicians? And if there anything that can be done to better aid the game industry's perception in the public eye? I really question if leaving a notoriously seclusive industry to fend for itself is the best path to take.
Necros's blog
follow this blog
subscribe via RSS
send message
invite to meetup+play
you can blame sony, aiwa, pioneer, and magnavox. this is all based on stereotypes.
It's all about people and their "morals". I mean, wtf is that about? Morals are for losers
EAT A DICK
Necros, I believe that the majority of bias is coming defintely from the older generation. The same people who complained about rap music, who then complained about rock music, who now complain about video games are the ones who I believe are causing the majority of the problems with games and the law at the moment.
But it's not out of genuine hate, I think it's based more out of ignorance of what the intended prupose for some projects (most notbaly anything violent or unrealistic). Insteadof veiwing such games as a satire or an unrealistic idea, or even on which a platform to tell a story, people see these games in the same way as the music legends of yesterday:role models.
In the same way that genres of music, among other thigns, were hated on for no particular basis in fact, attacks on both video games and interactive media will most likely just be a trend. Atleast until something else becomes popular.
Once again, sorry for the syb-par typing. This keyboard=fail.
There's nothing you can really do in this case. People will either accept them or they will not, and the one's who don't will eventually die. Sooner or later, there won't be any more old folks and middle aged people who hate games, and they will be completely accepted.
Nothing else you can do, really. People don't like to change, and most people are completely incapable of changing even if they'd like to.
Either way, who really cares? I certainly don't care what other people think of gaming. I love it, and that's all that matters.
I dunno, this is a tough question.. My college try/idea would be a public education campaign..
At the same time, some advertised games would pretty much undo whatever good (possibly) by again alienating the general populace.. Yes, the general public is part of the problem, and there isn't much way to really affect them unless they are somehow experiencing the good that games have to offer.
Bottom line: a stubborn public is stubborn.
beyond the usual complaints from old conservatives and attention-seeking politicians
Personally I think that's it. There are some people who do it because they genuinely believe that games are evil and such, and there are people who do it because it'll get them attention.
Remember that guy who wrote some article about evil video games on some low-traffic editorial blog? Dtoid and I'm sure other sites linked to the article, and because of it he got more attention and publicity than he ever has and likely ever will. People see gaming as the hot topic at the moment, and will one way or the other write about it. Like terrorists, security and Muslims... stories about that get the most attention these days.
The only thing I can really see us doing about it is just withstanding the assault as best we can. Like you said it won't be easy because of the internet, but I do think that more and more people will just stop caring about it. Gaming is getting more and more mainstream, and more and more people are at least familiar with it. People who know something about gaming and the games industry generally don't buy into the negative publicity, so I believe more and more people will just stop paying attention to these types of things.
People as a group are fickle and idiots, you just need to force the idea that games are not evil down their throat and they'll just accept it. Kinda like how there are still people who are actually republican! They couldn't have gotten to that ideology by rational thought now could they?
I think most of the negative media attention is from politicians or other 'experts' looking to make a name for themselves and jumping on whatever current hot topic is en vogue. Look no further than the Mass Effect incident with that idiot doctor as proof.
Now there is legitimate concerns as far as M rated games getting into the hands of minors, but the sad part is that most kids see much worse from movies or the internet than anything that has been in a game so far. The concept that games are worse than movies or the internet, is simple ignorance by parents that probably never played and video games.
@Professor Pew
You're so offensive, but oh so lovable.
This will change as time goes on. The older generations will fade and the gamer generations will take hold.
Short answer: Nope.
[Insert intelligent and thoughful comment]
I'm an realist optimist, so my automatic answer is: Sure. Eventually. Probably.
I think pointing out problems in other people's lifestyles and demonizing their acts just points to their own inability to accept they are humans themselves, with their own habits, failings, and desires. I understand their intention of letting us know it can influence bad behaviour/thoughts, but most of it is out of hate and self denial. Not cool.
Games aren't good, and games aren't bad. As le Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:23, "'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is constructive."
If they can't admit that everyone is different and therefore do different things... oh well. I guess what we can do is be better examples, and not do the same thing as them.
I don't like to associate myself with those people. Kinda like how I don't associate myself with people who wear crocs. I mean...really? Who cares how comfortable they are, they're soooo ugly!
Wexx did you hear about that kid who shot that other kid? One of them was wearing CROCS :0
The opinion is that of our parent generation telling us that we shouldn't play these vicious things. I disagree. If everyone played video games, everyone would have common sense. We all know how far from realistic that is.