Games - the ethics issue @ bit-tech

Vikingod · Mar 6, 2006, 02:10 PM

With every generation of new graphics card comes a new level of realism, of full immersion into games that are sometimes ethically dubious. Already we spend hours out of every day either killing monsters, killing humans, being drug dealing gangsters or simply living a completely separate existence in our favourite role playing games.

Rather than going to the park kicking a football around, we prefer to manipulate the polygonised versions of Beckham, Shaq or any of the numerous EA sports heroes. We want more than realism, we want reenactment; we crave the chance to play as the sniper in World War 2, or as the lone spy sent in to stop the terrorist masses. Commentators and public figures have criticised the games industry, especially recently, for indulging us in our fantasies.

Today I am going to look at the history behind controversial games, why some are up-in-arms about upcoming games like Bully, how the countries around the world are dealing with the ethics of video games and how the modern gamer should react to such criticisms.
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Read More / Source: bit-tech

Mar 6, 2006, 02:10 PM	#1
Vikingod Int'l Fish Liaison Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: By the light of lamp I sit and type... Posts: 16,197 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	Games - the ethics issue @ bit-tech With every generation of new graphics card comes a new level of realism, of full immersion into games that are sometimes ethically dubious. Already we spend hours out of every day either killing monsters, killing humans, being drug dealing gangsters or simply living a completely separate existence in our favourite role playing games. Rather than going to the park kicking a football around, we prefer to manipulate the polygonised versions of Beckham, Shaq or any of the numerous EA sports heroes. We want more than realism, we want reenactment; we crave the chance to play as the sniper in World War 2, or as the lone spy sent in to stop the terrorist masses. Commentators and public figures have criticised the games industry, especially recently, for indulging us in our fantasies. Today I am going to look at the history behind controversial games, why some are up-in-arms about upcoming games like Bully, how the countries around the world are dealing with the ethics of video games and how the modern gamer should react to such criticisms. __________ Read More / Source: bit-tech