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A post from Wookie Monster and the ongoing thread about games influencing behaviour got me thinking about the genre of “Survival Horror”.
I for one am a huge fan of these games and feel that they are an often overlooked entry into video gaming.
I started on these games with Resident Evil for the PSX, never played anything like it before and loved it.
It wasn’t really a scary game, there were odd moments that made you jump (the hands through the windows anyone?) but it was more gore than nerves.
And Res Evil 2 came out, a vast improvement on the 1st if nothing else in terms of voice acting.
I can remember laughing myself into a headache at the awful, awful acting in the 1st one, “Barry?….where’s Barry?…..(10 second pauses) He must be in trouble”. Imagine a group of drama students on valium and you might be approaching the level of suckage this had, it almost ruined the game for me.
The 2nd was an improvement, moments that made you jump (the big thing smashing through the wall and chasing you stands out), the graphics improved and the acting wasn’t straight from kung-fu dubbed movie-hell.
Then Dino Crisis. Same game engine but with Dinosaurs.
Hmmm…it was ok but the odd not-very-fast-asorous lumbering behind you didn’t give you a sense of urgency.
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis.
Once more, little improvement, better acting but still “Run about, get ammo, solve puzzle, shoot undead” grew wearying.
And then was Silent Hill.
This, for me, stands as the definitive gaming exercise in terror. Still does, after a repeated playing.
Yes this is gory, yes there are “things” that chase you.
But Silent Hill concentrates on mood, atmosphere and moments that made two 27 year olds turn the light on and wipe sweaty palms on the dog, swear at the cat for leaping onto the couch behind us and take pauses to reassure ourselves that nothing was hanging outside the door.
I’ve never experienced anything like this game, and I don’t think you can match it.
Gruesome, but genuinely disturbing in most places.
The school, evil imps burst out at you, children crying, locker doors SMASHING open as you walk past…so many moments to make you cry like a big girl (not me obviously…er…guns and war and other manly things).
And soon we have Silent Hill 2 on PS2.
I’m anticipating it greatly, yet fearing it immensely because I’m not sure nerves can handle an improved, even more adult excursion through some twisted Japanese mind.
The developers admitted “We toned the 1st one down, but we gave them free reign with this one”
Christ…do I want this or not?
Yes and no.
I for one am a huge fan of these games and feel that they are an often overlooked entry into video gaming.
I started on these games with Resident Evil for the PSX, never played anything like it before and loved it.
It wasn’t really a scary game, there were odd moments that made you jump (the hands through the windows anyone?) but it was more gore than nerves.
And Res Evil 2 came out, a vast improvement on the 1st if nothing else in terms of voice acting.
I can remember laughing myself into a headache at the awful, awful acting in the 1st one, “Barry?….where’s Barry?…..(10 second pauses) He must be in trouble”. Imagine a group of drama students on valium and you might be approaching the level of suckage this had, it almost ruined the game for me.
The 2nd was an improvement, moments that made you jump (the big thing smashing through the wall and chasing you stands out), the graphics improved and the acting wasn’t straight from kung-fu dubbed movie-hell.
Then Dino Crisis. Same game engine but with Dinosaurs.
Hmmm…it was ok but the odd not-very-fast-asorous lumbering behind you didn’t give you a sense of urgency.
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis.
Once more, little improvement, better acting but still “Run about, get ammo, solve puzzle, shoot undead” grew wearying.
And then was Silent Hill.
This, for me, stands as the definitive gaming exercise in terror. Still does, after a repeated playing.
Yes this is gory, yes there are “things” that chase you.
But Silent Hill concentrates on mood, atmosphere and moments that made two 27 year olds turn the light on and wipe sweaty palms on the dog, swear at the cat for leaping onto the couch behind us and take pauses to reassure ourselves that nothing was hanging outside the door.
I’ve never experienced anything like this game, and I don’t think you can match it.
Gruesome, but genuinely disturbing in most places.
The school, evil imps burst out at you, children crying, locker doors SMASHING open as you walk past…so many moments to make you cry like a big girl (not me obviously…er…guns and war and other manly things).
And soon we have Silent Hill 2 on PS2.
I’m anticipating it greatly, yet fearing it immensely because I’m not sure nerves can handle an improved, even more adult excursion through some twisted Japanese mind.
The developers admitted “We toned the 1st one down, but we gave them free reign with this one”
Christ…do I want this or not?
Yes and no.
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The Game
I can quite happily discuss this whilst we're being civilised and accepting that we all have differing viewpoints on gaming and religion.
That's what makes the world go round and round.
And I can appreciate that you feel very strongly about this matter, and like I said, you are taking the most sensible and adult option when it comes to censorship: You choose not to partake in the offending subject.
If everyone just did that, then there would be no problems at all.
Bill Hicks had a line that I live by
"What business is it of yours what I read,see,hear think or do as long as it doesn't harm another human being on this planet?....And for those of you having a little moral dilemna on this issue, I'll tell you...NONE of your business. I'm an adult, don't protect me"
As for the issue of Christians speaking out and taking action, that can lead to a difficult and dangerous idealism.
The central motif of Christianity is forgiveness, tolerance, compassion and unconditional love for each and every person.
But I think when you start to take "affirmative action", the rule of any religion is open to individual interpretation - and there is where the problems start.
I don't want to get into an argument on religion, because wars have been fought and centuries spent on this.
I think you are taking the best course of action:
You dont like something, therefore you choose to not take part.
I applaud you for being such an adult in this matter.
But to impose your viewpoint on the world is not being compassionate and tolerant, but that's just my opinion.
I can quite happily discuss this whilst we're being civilised and accepting that we all have differing viewpoints on gaming and religion.
That's what makes the world go round and round.
And I can appreciate that you feel very strongly about this matter, and like I said, you are taking the most sensible and adult option when it comes to censorship: You choose not to partake in the offending subject.
If everyone just did that, then there would be no problems at all.
Bill Hicks had a line that I live by
"What business is it of yours what I read,see,hear think or do as long as it doesn't harm another human being on this planet?....And for those of you having a little moral dilemna on this issue, I'll tell you...NONE of your business. I'm an adult, don't protect me"
As for the issue of Christians speaking out and taking action, that can lead to a difficult and dangerous idealism.
The central motif of Christianity is forgiveness, tolerance, compassion and unconditional love for each and every person.
But I think when you start to take "affirmative action", the rule of any religion is open to individual interpretation - and there is where the problems start.
I don't want to get into an argument on religion, because wars have been fought and centuries spent on this.
I think you are taking the best course of action:
You dont like something, therefore you choose to not take part.
I applaud you for being such an adult in this matter.
But to impose your viewpoint on the world is not being compassionate and tolerant, but that's just my opinion.
I think that there is no problem with survival horror for mature children who can cope properly with them. I am not a fan of gore in games, and generally don't play survival horror style games, but some games I like.
Half Life is one such game, that seems to fit into the catergory, with some gore, but not the extremes in some games. I think mature people should have the choice in this. Perhaps more enforced ratings for computer games are the way to go on this.
Blanket censorship of a genre like this is dangerous. Some things should not be seen, but to bad a genre is not justified.
Half Life is one such game, that seems to fit into the catergory, with some gore, but not the extremes in some games. I think mature people should have the choice in this. Perhaps more enforced ratings for computer games are the way to go on this.
Blanket censorship of a genre like this is dangerous. Some things should not be seen, but to bad a genre is not justified.
I believe he is.
Oh, never mind then. How about Ali? Also, is No10 one of the special reserve guys?
ssxpro wrote:
> Ire Tony and Webm@ster Gods? Or are we in danger of worshipping
> False Idols?
no... and no... :)
> Ire Tony and Webm@ster Gods? Or are we in danger of worshipping
> False Idols?
no... and no... :)
The first word should have been Are, not Ire. Sorry.
Ire Tony and Webm@ster Gods? Or are we in danger of worshipping False Idols?
The Game wrote:
> If a man or woman can be seduced into having an affair with another man
> or woman because of subtle hints what makes you think that these
> teenagers who you say 'knew *exactly* what they were doing' couldn't
> have been influenced by computer games?!
With respect, that is not an argument. Even a man or woman entering into an affair knows exactly what they are doing. We all know it is 'wrong', but people do it anyway; they always have and they always will.
For what it's worth - I do not believe in "God" in any form. My dad comes from a C of E family, my mum is of Jewish descent - neither of them follow religion. I went to C of E schools when we lived in London, and when we moved to Northampton I went to a Roman Catholic school. I am not ignorant of religion, and I did actually pass my Religious Studies exam.
However I do believe that religion creates many more problems than it solves - just look at practically any war going on around the world at the moment. If you could just snap your fingers and make it so that religion had never existed, the world would immediately become a much more peaceful place.
> It is time that christians stood out and voiced a better opinion
Now you really are bordering on Fascism! What makes a Christian opinion any better or more qualified than any other?
> If a man or woman can be seduced into having an affair with another man
> or woman because of subtle hints what makes you think that these
> teenagers who you say 'knew *exactly* what they were doing' couldn't
> have been influenced by computer games?!
With respect, that is not an argument. Even a man or woman entering into an affair knows exactly what they are doing. We all know it is 'wrong', but people do it anyway; they always have and they always will.
For what it's worth - I do not believe in "God" in any form. My dad comes from a C of E family, my mum is of Jewish descent - neither of them follow religion. I went to C of E schools when we lived in London, and when we moved to Northampton I went to a Roman Catholic school. I am not ignorant of religion, and I did actually pass my Religious Studies exam.
However I do believe that religion creates many more problems than it solves - just look at practically any war going on around the world at the moment. If you could just snap your fingers and make it so that religion had never existed, the world would immediately become a much more peaceful place.
> It is time that christians stood out and voiced a better opinion
Now you really are bordering on Fascism! What makes a Christian opinion any better or more qualified than any other?
I believe in God, and know a lot of the bible, I don't go to church though. I don't know, am I a Christian?
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