If you've been online for any decent amount of time, you surely will have heard about Moral Kombat, Spencer Halpin's documentary on videogames ... or rather, cultural assassination of videogames. With such unbiased and well-informed men as Jack Thompson under the spotlight, how can this be anything but a fair, balanced look at violence in videogames?
Oh, wait, they compare flight simulators used by the 9/11 terrorists to videogames. They claim that there WILL be another Columbine to the scale of ten. They skip out that part about violence in the movies and on the news being far more realistic and graphic than anything in a game. They pass off lies and wild conjecture as fact. There are claims that you are who you pretend to be ... which means David Prowse has tried to force choke people before? Yeah, this documentary is going to be one for the mouthbreather hall of fame.
I could take this trailer apart, piece by piece, and point out where it's wrong, but it'd take too long and it doesn't even need to be done. Just watch it for yourselves and try to laugh about how melodramatic is. Laugh ... because otherwise you'll want to bloody cry.
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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Dang, ticked off today already. Thanks, Jim. After seeing the 9/11 scene, yeah, the government caused 9/11 anyway. They need to look into what the FBI discovered 2 years ago... violence in schools has overall decreased with MORE violent video games coming out.
Ugh. What total garbage. The thing that always gets me about Thompson and pieces like this is - what kind of benefit will they get if, say, they get their wish and videogames are banned everywhere? How will their lives be better when games are gone? It seems to me they are fighting very hard towards a goal, and have no idea why.
I'm writing this post before watching the vid.. the state of my mind is normal (well... as normal as usuall) will see how much that shit will depress me.. :/
Looks about as fair-minded and unbiased as a typical Michael Moore documentary. Sounds like there needs to be a Shitty Documentary Night in the future.
If videogames were banned, my theory would be that violence would see a small increase. Many people use games to channel aggression, not encourage it. I use games as stress relief. If I have a bad night at work, I'll put in a game with lots of fighting and feel better.
But these people are like the villagers of Salem. Anything they don't understand is a witch that needs to be burned. It's pathetic that no matter how far we come as a species, most of us still haven't evolved past the dark ages.
First off, like someone in the comments section remarked, a parent wouldn't let their kids watch violent, gory R-rated movies, so they shouldn't let them play violent M-rated games. Parents failing to educate themselves on what their kids are doing before caving to their cries for a copy of Bioshock is a parent problem, not a video games industry problem.
But second, it's a cop-out. There are a few who can't seem to handle the fact that there are just some shithead, sociopathic fucks out in the world. Whether it's a product of bad parenting or just something gone wrong in the chromosomes, some people are murdering dicks. Yes, murder is TOTALLY something new, we NEVER had that before fucking Street Fighter.
They blamed promiscuity, drug use and Satanic conversion on rock and roll once and violence on violent movies. I suppose games being blamed for the same things is a sign that it has truly arrived as a mainstream medium.
ok it really made me feel sad..... freedom of choice?? well how about you keep talking about whatever you want to talk about and let others make/play games... ?
Damn, just submitted this link tip a few minutes ago. Ima too slow.
Good old scare mongering. I reckon you could put that tense sounding music behind anything and it would get people worried. I find it funny though that this whole movie can be upturned by saying "Proof?". Oh snap.
I didn't know about this before I saw the arricle. That said, I care about this as much as I did when I didn't even know it existed. So I'll just be playing games instead of caring how the rest of the world perceives them.
Wow, there was literally nothing in that trailer I haven't heard before. Flying planes into the WTC in Flight Simulator? Wow. Except y'know, that isn't the goal of the game.
"We are what we pretend to be?" Um, isn't that the whole point of pretending: That we AREN'T what we're pretending to be? Because it's PRETEND?
HAHAHA! Good way to shift the blame assholes. As soon as all these stupid old fucks die and replaced by video game players, video games will be treated with respect.
how about inventing some kind of age card which allows you to buy games
only when you're old enough so you can keep track of what kind of games are sold to whom??? how about that?? will that makes those ...... stop saying all the crap about violence, kids and videogames in one sentence??? hmm how about that invent? cause I'm getting tired of all that crap.. seriously parents blame everything else but themselves for their kids being loose. The real education which makes a kid in to a responsible grown up is at home, there for if your kid happens to be a fuck up it's YOUR wrong education that made him that way... no violence in video games... no rock and roll.... just you the one that instead of blaming those things should keep them away from your kid untill he/she is old enough to decide for him/herself .... hmm??
Honestly, I'm sick of seeing this. Passing the blame is never going to end. It's obviously your fault or the governments fault or gods fault or anyone that isn't me. We all know that violence has been around for centuries before us. Animals are violent and they run on instinct.
Honestly, I'm sick of seeing these headlines, so could we go... like a week without them? Please?
Funny thing is I now after watching that video have a sudden urge to become violent. I would now like to seek gov't funding to see if demonizing documentaries bolster violent rage. My guess is yes..... cuase.....damnit, did I see Abe in there? Munch's are you fucking serios. Wow I really do feel like being violent. these thoughts are justified, as I have strong predjudice for those who9 are stoopid.
We can't sit back and just allow people like Thompson and the videogame opponents to just keep on doing this crap and spouting there ideology of fear and non-acceptance. It's our duty to never forget these things. If we don't, we will be the ones that will be saying in 10-20 years: "Yeah, it's a shame they started to ban those games so long ago, but how were we supposed to know where it would end up?"
Although it gets tiresome, getting tired of it now is like rolling over and letting these kinds of people cash in on our apathy. They expect us to get tired of it. They expect resistance to slowly wither away under the banner of "can we just talk about Galaxy now?". The games industry as an entertainment industry has grown large enough to fall victim of the same kinds of attacks that all media in general have been enduring ever since they existed, and this industry will grow ever larger.
How can we expect to keep enjoying our luxury of playing these kinds of games when one side is always attacking them, and the other side only gives up more and more?
But yes, I'm tired of this crap too... Yet we must keep on fighting the good fight! To the barricades, my brothers!
Oh wait, this wasn't about the media rolling over and selling the war in Iraq back in 2003?
One thing I noticed from all those video clips: why the hell is Oddworld: Abe's Odysee on there? What are they trying to say? Oddworld is on the same violence level as Hitman (they game they showed before) or Manhunt (a game they showed after)? Further more, the shot they used (of Abe being electrocuted) is not some gruesome torture scene, but a plot development scene that explains Abe's origin. FURTHER MORE, because I am so pissed right now, Oddworld is the worst example of video games turning kids violent. Even though you can kill your fellow Murdockians in the game, if you do you are PUNISHED for it in the end. So remind me again, Jack Thompson, how is this bad for our children? How is negative reinforcement bad?
I would laugh at the melodrama and dismiss this for what it is
Right-Wing-Propaganda but this is getting ridiculous. It wont be long before Jacky and his pals start really campaining and some Big Shit Politician who's running for office will want to tack on some bill to restrict the videogames industry. Or worse invade our privacy by profiling online videogames player that like a particular genre of games too much.
I mean the goverment is already scanning our Phones, What we look at in our search engine and libraries. Seems the net logical state. I know I sound like a nutjob and this is way over the top. But look at that Trailer Brothers and ask yourselves isn't THAT shit over the top and they sound like nutjobs?
Typical garbage from the anti game crowd, I see they have adopted the Michael Moore film style. I'll heartily agree with Pew's comments. These people aren't going to go away until they are thrashed soundly on each of their idiotic arguments. If we chose to ignore them eventually they will get the government to step in and you can bet they will start banning games and soon you be left with the choice of computer monopoly or computer boggle.
There ARE no SIDES to this. There is only one side, and that side is that videogames have nothing to do with any illegal actions whatsoever.
Guns don't kill people, people kill people.
Film doesn't kill people, people kill people.
Video games don't kill people, people kill people.
And what makes people kill people? Bad parents that fail to teach children that murder is wrong. Everything else is premeditation, and therefore the murderer's blame alone.
I know nobody is going to read this, just like nobody has responded to the previous two comments on the topic, but it still is worth pointing out. While the trailer is sensationalist, the movie is, apparently, quite balanced and represents both sides well. The trailer seems to be made to draw in people who are already anti-videogame and then surprise them by actually giving them a balanced documentary.
Henry Jenkins is a far more wordy and informed man on the topic than I am so I'll just link to his two posts about the movie. http://www.henryjenkins.org/2007/11/moral_kombat.html and http://www.henryjenkins.org/2007/11/why_you_should_see_spencer_hal.html
It all goes back to the debate over whether your environment or your free will shapes your actions. Proponents of this video and the idea that games (or any other form of entertainment) cause violence are ones who beleive humans have no free will. Seems to me this sort of debate has no end, but maybe a lesson in existentialism will help people like Jack Thompson realize that people may in fact be solely responsible for their lives.
I'm too disgusted to come up with any comment of substance. I too threw up in Chad Concelmo's mouth.
@Dryvby
lol. wut? What FBI "discovery" are you talking about? Don't tell me you believe that Loose Change nonsense, because I think it's quite obvious at this point that no aspect of the U.S. government can be that hyper-competent.
Action Bastard: My point stands. The trailer is disgusting and bad, and makes the whole thing look like assassination. If they'd have cut a trailer that actually presents another argument, I'd have said so. But ... whoops ... they didn't.
Action Bastard: It's a shame that the trailer was cut this way in that case, because the tone it takes is going to repel more viewers than it will draw in. The only exposure most people are going to get to this film is that trailer, and they instantly alienated a huge segment of their audience by making it look like a propaganda piece.
Action: I'm definitely going to watch the whole thing and maybe even do a review. But that trailer does nothing but make me think the pro-side is going to be woefully under-represented. The thing looks like an attack, and that trailer literally does nothing but shit on games.
I look forward to seeing is Spencer Halpin can do more than present the easy, biased side.
I gotta agree with Jim here, in that he can only bring us what's out there. This trailer exists to promote the piece, and while it may not be representative of the film's true intentions, it's not Jim's fault that whoever threw it together screwed the pooch in that respect.
Think about the potential damage this trailer could do if shown to people who don't know too much about gaming and don't care to educate themselves. They're going to see the hobby portrayed in a negative light, and like any mindless asshat, won't care to follow up to see if the information they've been given has any real merit.
And even if the film itself treats both sides of the argument fairly, giving them both equal time and attention, those who's impressions of the topic have been colored by this trailer are going to go into the film with a negative mindset, and are less likely to view it objectively than if they had viewed a trailer that didn't sensationalize things so terribly. They're likely to go into it thinking that games are bad, focus on the parts that reinforce the trailer's message, and probably won't bother to pay the other side of the topic all that much attention.
That's not fair, that's plain bullshit, and that's why this trailer is damaging and wrong. Hope that clears it up for you.
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Contest:
9:22 AM on 12.01.2007
| 
If you're going to show violence make it good damnit!
But these people are like the villagers of Salem. Anything they don't understand is a witch that needs to be burned. It's pathetic that no matter how far we come as a species, most of us still haven't evolved past the dark ages.
But second, it's a cop-out. There are a few who can't seem to handle the fact that there are just some shithead, sociopathic fucks out in the world. Whether it's a product of bad parenting or just something gone wrong in the chromosomes, some people are murdering dicks. Yes, murder is TOTALLY something new, we NEVER had that before fucking Street Fighter.
They blamed promiscuity, drug use and Satanic conversion on rock and roll once and violence on violent movies. I suppose games being blamed for the same things is a sign that it has truly arrived as a mainstream medium.
Good old scare mongering. I reckon you could put that tense sounding music behind anything and it would get people worried. I find it funny though that this whole movie can be upturned by saying "Proof?". Oh snap.
"We are what we pretend to be?" Um, isn't that the whole point of pretending: That we AREN'T what we're pretending to be? Because it's PRETEND?
only when you're old enough so you can keep track of what kind of games are sold to whom??? how about that?? will that makes those ...... stop saying all the crap about violence, kids and videogames in one sentence??? hmm how about that invent? cause I'm getting tired of all that crap.. seriously parents blame everything else but themselves for their kids being loose. The real education which makes a kid in to a responsible grown up is at home, there for if your kid happens to be a fuck up it's YOUR wrong education that made him that way... no violence in video games... no rock and roll.... just you the one that instead of blaming those things should keep them away from your kid untill he/she is old enough to decide for him/herself .... hmm??
You allways have to screw my day up with your stories :P ??
so sad... sooo sadd.. need a pill, yes!
also, cashwh0re.
Honestly, I'm sick of seeing this. Passing the blame is never going to end. It's obviously your fault or the governments fault or gods fault or anyone that isn't me. We all know that violence has been around for centuries before us. Animals are violent and they run on instinct.
Honestly, I'm sick of seeing these headlines, so could we go... like a week without them? Please?
Also, Pong killed my grandmother.
We can't sit back and just allow people like Thompson and the videogame opponents to just keep on doing this crap and spouting there ideology of fear and non-acceptance. It's our duty to never forget these things. If we don't, we will be the ones that will be saying in 10-20 years: "Yeah, it's a shame they started to ban those games so long ago, but how were we supposed to know where it would end up?"
Although it gets tiresome, getting tired of it now is like rolling over and letting these kinds of people cash in on our apathy. They expect us to get tired of it. They expect resistance to slowly wither away under the banner of "can we just talk about Galaxy now?". The games industry as an entertainment industry has grown large enough to fall victim of the same kinds of attacks that all media in general have been enduring ever since they existed, and this industry will grow ever larger.
How can we expect to keep enjoying our luxury of playing these kinds of games when one side is always attacking them, and the other side only gives up more and more?
But yes, I'm tired of this crap too... Yet we must keep on fighting the good fight! To the barricades, my brothers!
Oh wait, this wasn't about the media rolling over and selling the war in Iraq back in 2003?
While the trailer may be horribly sensationalist, the documentary itself isn't.
I also like how no one seems to remember, or fully understand the relevance of "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
Spread the good stuff around, that's all we can do!
Right-Wing-Propaganda but this is getting ridiculous. It wont be long before Jacky and his pals start really campaining and some Big Shit Politician who's running for office will want to tack on some bill to restrict the videogames industry. Or worse invade our privacy by profiling online videogames player that like a particular genre of games too much.
I mean the goverment is already scanning our Phones, What we look at in our search engine and libraries. Seems the net logical state. I know I sound like a nutjob and this is way over the top. But look at that Trailer Brothers and ask yourselves isn't THAT shit over the top and they sound like nutjobs?
Ignorance unattented spreads.
There ARE no SIDES to this. There is only one side, and that side is that videogames have nothing to do with any illegal actions whatsoever.
Guns don't kill people, people kill people.
Film doesn't kill people, people kill people.
Video games don't kill people, people kill people.
And what makes people kill people? Bad parents that fail to teach children that murder is wrong. Everything else is premeditation, and therefore the murderer's blame alone.
Henry Jenkins is a far more wordy and informed man on the topic than I am so I'll just link to his two posts about the movie. http://www.henryjenkins.org/2007/11/moral_kombat.html and http://www.henryjenkins.org/2007/11/why_you_should_see_spencer_hal.html
@Dryvby
lol. wut? What FBI "discovery" are you talking about? Don't tell me you believe that Loose Change nonsense, because I think it's quite obvious at this point that no aspect of the U.S. government can be that hyper-competent.
@Electrolemon
Fuck Joe Lieberman btw
No, you weren't too late, I just failed. Balance has been restored.
AHAHAHAHHAHAAHAH, honestly the dumbest thing ive ever heard!
But honestly, the lady pretty must just admitted how sleazy they are, "This is a win win political issue," so of course everyone is jumping on board.
I look forward to seeing is Spencer Halpin can do more than present the easy, biased side.
Think about the potential damage this trailer could do if shown to people who don't know too much about gaming and don't care to educate themselves. They're going to see the hobby portrayed in a negative light, and like any mindless asshat, won't care to follow up to see if the information they've been given has any real merit.
And even if the film itself treats both sides of the argument fairly, giving them both equal time and attention, those who's impressions of the topic have been colored by this trailer are going to go into the film with a negative mindset, and are less likely to view it objectively than if they had viewed a trailer that didn't sensationalize things so terribly. They're likely to go into it thinking that games are bad, focus on the parts that reinforce the trailer's message, and probably won't bother to pay the other side of the topic all that much attention.
That's not fair, that's plain bullshit, and that's why this trailer is damaging and wrong. Hope that clears it up for you.
I did lol when they cut in a clip from tron. Damn, Now I just have to ride a bike round inside a computer.