So Very Amused
by andres on Jan.14, 2008, under Headline News
Apparently, Mass Effect (which is an M-rated Star-Wars-like RPG shooter game where you basically race across the galaxy in order to stop the destruction of all universal life as we know it) has now been compared to a virtual sex game (totally NSFW). While I understand the shock upon learning that there is sex in an M-rated video game (God forbid, since we all know R-rated movies don’t have any sex in them and kids can totally watch them) I’m a little unconvinced as to the validity of the analysis of the situation. I mean, I’ve been playing Mass Effect for over 10 hours now starting Sunday night, and I haven’t run into any sex whatsoever…
And it’s not like this article is all wrong. See, I agree perfectly with the idea that parents should be focused on what their kids are doing. Absolutely. My parents didn’t let me watch Titanic, and I’m glad–I didn’t even like the movie when I watched it once I was “old enough.” Same goes for video games–you think something in the home is any less dangerous than outside? Just because your kid can’t get into a movie theater to see an R-rated movie doesn’t mean he can’t just pop in your Tarantino DVDs back at home. Do you want your kid watching Tarantino?
That’s why game companies have added things like Parental Control on their consoles. You can actually set up a console so M rated games and T rated games won’t play without your consent.
The thing that bothers me is 1) how incorrect, and disgustingly warped the review of Mass Effect is and how misinformed it leaves the reader and 2) why are people pointing the fingers at game companies and the game industry in general? I mean, we don’t make games like Mass Effect for kids, any more than Tarantino makes Reservoir Dogs for kids.
I’m going to go ahead and apply for an interview with the writers, though I know I probably won’t get it. It’s just… it blows my mind to see how people come to such extremist conclusions on the most basic and tentative steps. Maybe we really need to listen to the critics and ask them what exactly is the reason they’re so adamant. Maybe they need to listen to us. I don’t know. It’s a really messed up world out there.
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On Idiotic Journalists Who Write About Video Games « It May Even Be In Our Time
January 15th, 2008 on 9:18 pm[...] scapegoats, sex, stupidity | Kevin McCullough, columnist behind the Mass Effect article I last posted about, somewhat recanted today by making himself look even more like an [...]
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January 15th, 2008 on 8:53 pm
Unfortunately, the problem is that we still have the “reckless rebel kid” image going for us in society in some respects. I mean, as far as the Game Design major goes at my school, we’re considered the “loud group.” So if we’re a loud set, what do we do? Attract attention from people who don’t like noise.
And as far as Kevin McCullough is concerned, I honestly think this guy was just trolling for free publicity. Or we have a brand new grade of awesomely painful people to ridicule our passion.
January 15th, 2008 on 10:33 pm
I rather agree. Kevin McCullough has nothing worthwhile to say. He ceased to be funny the moment he began sneering.
And as for games being disrespected in society, it’s odd–while I know and expect that to be the case, it’s been time and time again that I’ve introduced myself as a game design student to some stranger, and their eyes light up with interest. “You make games?” they ask, looking amazed. “That pays really well, doesn’t it? And they’re getting bigger all the time!”
I think it’s actually less than 25% of society that sincerely believes video games are a waste or bad for you. A great deal more of the world now plays games for recreation, whether it be casual games like Tetris or hardcore gamers who compete at Halo 3 and UTIII tourneys.
It’s just that trolls are the ones who try to get noticed, because they’re retarded.
January 15th, 2008 on 11:28 pm
You’re definitely right about the general positive response.
Sometimes you just get caught up in all the crazies and surrounded by people just as disgruntled about their actions, that you forget the whole world isn’t out to get you. In fact, it’s willing to give its’ money to you for your ideas.
January 15th, 2008 on 11:29 pm
And I’m fine with that. I love money.
*Laughs.*
January 15th, 2008 on 11:58 pm
Don’t we all, hah.