Comments on: Video Games in the Wire http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/ A blog on virtual worlds, games, and digital content, from Matt Mihaly Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:17:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Greg Hovanesian http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-27499 Sun, 12 Aug 2007 20:21:53 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-27499 Hi, I've used your image of The Wire for my blog, gregswords.wordpress.com. If you don't want me to, please let me know. Thanks. Hi, I’ve used your image of The Wire for my blog, gregswords.wordpress.com. If you don’t want me to, please let me know. Thanks.

]]> by: PlayNoEvil http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-1552 Sat, 23 Sep 2006 15:07:41 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-1552 I believe the Romans were the real pioneers here: "Bread and Circuses" - right? 2000 years later... "Welfare and Halo" Apparently, our major achievement is to reduce the cost of providing both to keep the underclass under. Entertainment is cheaper, more varied, and less expensive and ADM has replaced the granaries of Egypt. As you say Matt, I'm not sure if this makes me feel better about our chosen industry. I believe the Romans were the real pioneers here:

“Bread and Circuses” - right?

2000 years later…

“Welfare and Halo”

Apparently, our major achievement is to reduce the cost of providing both to keep the underclass under. Entertainment is cheaper, more varied, and less expensive and ADM has replaced the granaries of Egypt.

As you say Matt, I’m not sure if this makes me feel better about our chosen industry.

]]> by: Mike Rozak http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-1381 Tue, 19 Sep 2006 05:24:52 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-1381 I suppose you could look on the bright side: Sometimes back in 1995 I heard a stock-market analyst quote someone from years before saying, "You know the market it going to crash when comedians start making jokes about it." The reason why is simple: Comedians only make jokes about things that are "common knowledge". Stocks aren't common knowledge until a large percentage of the population has purchased and "undertands" them... and by that point there's no one left to buy, so the market will soon crash. The fact that games are portrayed (negtively) on TV indicates that games are starting to become mainstream... which is good (in a way). Unfortunately, expect lots of negatives for the next 5-10 years, just as: - Don Quixote was a negative critique of people that were "addicted" to new-fangled "novels", went crazy, and thought themselves knights. (Somewhat similar to D&D "addiction" in the Mazes & Monsters TV show.) - Early shortwave radio was "addictive" because people would listen to it hours on end, all excited about hearing news from miles away. - Movies in the 1930's got awfully selacious... which, unfortunately, led to extremely strict codes of conduct for the next 30 years. If it weren't for all the bible stories they probably would have been called satanic too. - TV was addictive. - Rock and roll was satanic in the 50's and 60's, and included a rapid beat akin to an infant's heartbead, designed to infantize listeners. I haven't heard satanism associated with rock for a long time. - D&D, as above. Satanic, addictive, responsible for untold mythical murders/suicides. - Micro-computers were "addictive" in the 1980's. The bad press won't die off until all the baby boomers retire and their computer-game literate children take control of the media. In the mean time, make computer games based on passages from the bible... killing Samaritans, pharisies, Jherico, or something. Instead of magic (which is satanic), call them miracles (god-given). Etc. Killing terrorists is probably okay because the religious right doesn't like them either at the moment. Commies and Nazis are out of fashion. :-P I suppose you could look on the bright side:

Sometimes back in 1995 I heard a stock-market analyst quote someone from years before saying, “You know the market it going to crash when comedians start making jokes about it.”

The reason why is simple: Comedians only make jokes about things that are “common knowledge”. Stocks aren’t common knowledge until a large percentage of the population has purchased and “undertands” them… and by that point there’s no one left to buy, so the market will soon crash.

The fact that games are portrayed (negtively) on TV indicates that games are starting to become mainstream… which is good (in a way).

Unfortunately, expect lots of negatives for the next 5-10 years, just as:

- Don Quixote was a negative critique of people that were “addicted” to new-fangled “novels”, went crazy, and thought themselves knights. (Somewhat similar to D&D “addiction” in the Mazes & Monsters TV show.)

- Early shortwave radio was “addictive” because people would listen to it hours on end, all excited about hearing news from miles away.

- Movies in the 1930’s got awfully selacious… which, unfortunately, led to extremely strict codes of conduct for the next 30 years. If it weren’t for all the bible stories they probably would have been called satanic too.

- TV was addictive.

- Rock and roll was satanic in the 50’s and 60’s, and included a rapid beat akin to an infant’s heartbead, designed to infantize listeners. I haven’t heard satanism associated with rock for a long time.

- D&D, as above. Satanic, addictive, responsible for untold mythical murders/suicides.

- Micro-computers were “addictive” in the 1980’s.

The bad press won’t die off until all the baby boomers retire and their computer-game literate children take control of the media.

In the mean time, make computer games based on passages from the bible… killing Samaritans, pharisies, Jherico, or something. Instead of magic (which is satanic), call them miracles (god-given). Etc. Killing terrorists is probably okay because the religious right doesn’t like them either at the moment. Commies and Nazis are out of fashion. :-P

]]> by: Par Winzell http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-1377 Mon, 18 Sep 2006 22:50:45 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-1377 I didn't miss your point! I just think you're wrong. You don't have to be Hillary to acknowledge that videogames do, in fact, have an impact on reality. :) I didn’t miss your point! I just think you’re wrong. You don’t have to be Hillary to acknowledge that videogames do, in fact, have an impact on reality. :)

]]> by: David Kaye http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-1376 Mon, 18 Sep 2006 22:28:39 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-1376 I wouldn't normally be pedantic enough to comment, but we *are* talking about The Wire here... I wouldn’t normally be pedantic enough to comment, but we *are* talking about The Wire here…

]]> by: Matt http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-1372 Mon, 18 Sep 2006 20:14:20 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-1372 Thanks Dave! Thanks Dave!

]]> by: David Kaye http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-1371 Mon, 18 Sep 2006 19:53:17 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-1371 NB: David Chase created "The Sopranos" - "The Wire" is David Simon ;) NB: David Chase created “The Sopranos” - “The Wire” is David Simon ;)

]]> by: Matt http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-1359 Mon, 18 Sep 2006 15:59:57 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-1359 You guys are missing the point! It's not about whether the kid wants to watch a political debate or not. It was about the fact that David Chase found it appropriate to use switching on a hyper-violent video game as symbolic, instead of the numerous other symbols he could have used. When intelligent, brilliant people like him apparently see video games in that light, it scares me. He's not a Jack Thompson or Hillary Clinton (ie not a jackass). --matt You guys are missing the point! It’s not about whether the kid wants to watch a political debate or not. It was about the fact that David Chase found it appropriate to use switching on a hyper-violent video game as symbolic, instead of the numerous other symbols he could have used. When intelligent, brilliant people like him apparently see video games in that light, it scares me. He’s not a Jack Thompson or Hillary Clinton (ie not a jackass).

–matt

]]> by: Iruen http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-1356 Mon, 18 Sep 2006 14:43:00 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-1356 "I agree with the previous posters that the idea that teenagers ought to feel involved in local politics is a fallacy, and that switching to the Xbox in this situation is not necessarily the triumph of immediate gratification over engagement." there's not much engagement on watching a political debate on TV. Specially if you cannot do anything about the outcome of said debate, you are a teenager and cannot vote and you know that it has little to do with what any party will do after being elected. “I agree with the previous posters that the idea that teenagers ought to feel involved in local politics is a fallacy, and that switching to the Xbox in this situation is not necessarily the triumph of immediate gratification over engagement.”

there’s not much engagement on watching a political debate on TV. Specially if you cannot do anything about the outcome of said debate, you are a teenager and cannot vote and you know that it has little to do with what any party will do after being elected.

]]> by: Par Winzell http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-1355 Mon, 18 Sep 2006 14:23:48 +0000 http://forge.ironrealms.com/2006/09/18/video-games-in-the-wire/#comment-1355 When I get caught up a little too intensely in a game (which has happened a few times in the past 20 years) I can tell you without doubt that it goes above and beyond the call of duty in fulfilling all my escapist urges. Immersive games are superb soporifics and I don't see that there's anything peculiar about the choice of Halo in this situation. You feel a twinge that tells you you should engage and deal with something unpleasant; apathy and avoidance and procastrination looks for an easy outlet. The Xbox is certainly an easy outlet, and it's sufficiently engaging that it can shut out the nagging parts of your brain. I do believe that video games represent an entirely new level of escapism. You can get carried away by books and movies for sure, but their hold on you is less complete. Frankly it sounds like a very perceptive choice of poison on the director's part. I agree with the previous posters that the idea that teenagers ought to feel involved in local politics is a fallacy, and that switching to the Xbox in this situation is not necessarily the triumph of immediate gratification over engagement. When I get caught up a little too intensely in a game (which has happened a few times in the past 20 years) I can tell you without doubt that it goes above and beyond the call of duty in fulfilling all my escapist urges. Immersive games are superb soporifics and I don’t see that there’s anything peculiar about the choice of Halo in this situation. You feel a twinge that tells you you should engage and deal with something unpleasant; apathy and avoidance and procastrination looks for an easy outlet. The Xbox is certainly an easy outlet, and it’s sufficiently engaging that it can shut out the nagging parts of your brain.

I do believe that video games represent an entirely new level of escapism. You can get carried away by books and movies for sure, but their hold on you is less complete. Frankly it sounds like a very perceptive choice of poison on the director’s part.

I agree with the previous posters that the idea that teenagers ought to feel involved in local politics is a fallacy, and that switching to the Xbox in this situation is not necessarily the triumph of immediate gratification over engagement.

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