Speaking at the Games Convention Developers Conference in Germany, Factor 5 president Julian Eggebrecht (a name that makes me want eggy bread) has stated that games are not being taken seriously enough, even by their very own ratings board. Blasting the fact that social issues and satirical content aren't allowed in games, Eggebrecht accused the industry of "approaching the realm of McCarthyism," and indicated that this was indicative of a wider problem with ratings overall.
"I would be happy if in games we could talk about homosexuality, but we're not even at the point where we can admit that humans have heterosexual relationships, and that is a real problem - and it tends to show that games are not being seen, even by our own ratings boards, as an artform,"
Eggebrecht is, of course, right. Until a videogame can have sexual content in it without people being pathetically immature about the whole thing, videogames can never have the equal footing they deserve. Indeed, what about homosexuality in videogames? Can we not move away from homosexuals being used as nothing more than pitiful, stereotypical comic relief like in that piece of crap Enchanted Arms? Can we not use videogames to make some actual intellectual satirical jokes for once and move away from the fart gag mentality and 'zany' approach to humor that infests most so-called 'funny' games?
Maybe one day, but until that time, it seems that a consistent level of social maturity in videogames is still a long way off. Major kudos to Julian Eggebrecht for his sensible and intelligent thoughts on the subject, however. Now get me some bread and some eggs, I'm hungry.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
9:48 AM on 08.20.2007
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I think it's almost time for some sleezy mac.
I'm not getting into this.
That's a good find Jim. Thanks for sharing. The ESRB needs to be either revamped or shut down, because it is no longer doing it's job effectively.
Props for the McCarthyism remark though!
I wouldn't say that the Rogue Squadron games were a very large step into the directions of serious satire/social commentary.
Plus, Lair hasn't proven to me that its full of the Win that everyone thinks it is. All the social broadening in the world won't help a fantasy re-skin of 5 year old Rogue Squadron mechanics, plus Kratos-did-it dragon hoping sequences.