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Another year, another knee-jerk reaction from the media. "Evil Game", and "Murder By Playstation" are two of the headlines I've seen this morning, on TV and in a paper (can you guess which one?) - both have given inaccurate descriptions of the plot and manner of the game. For crying out loud, when are these people going to realise that violence in computer games is nothing in comparison to the realistic violence we see portrayed on TV? Whilst you're banning violent games, you'll have to ban films, books, the Internet, television, news, the Armed Forces, etc. The psychologist ITV interviewed even said it takes someone who is already mentally unstable to react to these images. In the same newspaper were images of a burnt-out car used to kill 70+ Iraqis - can I acuse the Daily Mail of inciting someone to use a car bomb the next time it happens?
Ironically, it sickens and outrages me that we have to defend the industry we love, and part our culture, for no reason other than there are a few parents ignorantly lashing out at something they don't understand, and allowing themselves to be stage-managed by elements of the media who can turn it into an attention-grabbing money-spinner. Maybe it's the parents that should be persecuted for allowing their child access to material unsuitable for his age range? I'm sure they wouldn't buy him hardcore Dutch porn, so how does that differ to a computer game? Of course he nearly 18, and may have looked old enough to buy the game from a shop, but stay up after 9 and you're exposed to the same level of violence and swearing on TV, so the rating system is practically useless in this case.
One of the examples of hypocrisy being touted around today is that New Zealand banned the game. The same New Zealand that happily promotes itself as a tourist destination on the back of the violent hack 'n' slash Lord of the Rings movies. Enjoyable films, no doubt, but the amount of gruesome death on screen was surprising and graphic for the ratings they received.
But the most worrying aspect of this whole debacle, is how much control the media do have over the public. Not once in the Daily Mail article were there any official Police statements - it was all quotes from the parents, who are understandably upset and feel the urge to find someone, or something to blame for the loss of their son. Now in the next few days we're going to experience the fallout from a lazy example of sensationalist journalism. The fact that it took two people to write an article that covered less than a page, once pieced together from an overlap and a huge picture, shows just how little effort went into it.
Expect to see more of the outraged parents, outraged Government representatives, and celebrity TV-psychcologists, giving a one-sided view of this isolated incident in the next few weeks, until David Beckham get a new haircut. Rockstar have already expressed sadness and offered their condolences to the family, but removal of the game (or games of this nature - there are far worse games out there) should never be considered. They say we live in a 'nanny state', but maybe it's just us being a 'pushover nation'?
Ironically, it sickens and outrages me that we have to defend the industry we love, and part our culture, for no reason other than there are a few parents ignorantly lashing out at something they don't understand, and allowing themselves to be stage-managed by elements of the media who can turn it into an attention-grabbing money-spinner. Maybe it's the parents that should be persecuted for allowing their child access to material unsuitable for his age range? I'm sure they wouldn't buy him hardcore Dutch porn, so how does that differ to a computer game? Of course he nearly 18, and may have looked old enough to buy the game from a shop, but stay up after 9 and you're exposed to the same level of violence and swearing on TV, so the rating system is practically useless in this case.
One of the examples of hypocrisy being touted around today is that New Zealand banned the game. The same New Zealand that happily promotes itself as a tourist destination on the back of the violent hack 'n' slash Lord of the Rings movies. Enjoyable films, no doubt, but the amount of gruesome death on screen was surprising and graphic for the ratings they received.
But the most worrying aspect of this whole debacle, is how much control the media do have over the public. Not once in the Daily Mail article were there any official Police statements - it was all quotes from the parents, who are understandably upset and feel the urge to find someone, or something to blame for the loss of their son. Now in the next few days we're going to experience the fallout from a lazy example of sensationalist journalism. The fact that it took two people to write an article that covered less than a page, once pieced together from an overlap and a huge picture, shows just how little effort went into it.
Expect to see more of the outraged parents, outraged Government representatives, and celebrity TV-psychcologists, giving a one-sided view of this isolated incident in the next few weeks, until David Beckham get a new haircut. Rockstar have already expressed sadness and offered their condolences to the family, but removal of the game (or games of this nature - there are far worse games out there) should never be considered. They say we live in a 'nanny state', but maybe it's just us being a 'pushover nation'?
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Is the News Monkey going to chuck poo in the Mail's eyes?
There's a quote in the Mail (paper, not online) that likened the game to 'the kind of child pornography that paedophiles use' - so he's basically saying that Manhunt is to murderers what child porn is to kiddie fiddlers.
How can you print stuff like that?
How can you print stuff like that?
The same goes to all satan loving music/films/books etc
I just love the fact that the game is being blamed rather than the fact he took drugs.
Fecking lunacy.
Oh, and I somewhat frequently get sent off for crazy double-footed-from-behind slide tackles on Pro Evo after injuring them.
Does this mean I'll end up breaking someone's legs during my next game of footie?
Fecking lunacy.
Oh, and I somewhat frequently get sent off for crazy double-footed-from-behind slide tackles on Pro Evo after injuring them.
Does this mean I'll end up breaking someone's legs during my next game of footie?
I think we should ban all computer games and it will stop this 0.001% of the words gaming population commiting murders... really honest you know. They'd be fine citizens otherwise.
Bad, bad games.
Bad, bad games.
monkey_man wrote:
> However, it can't have been premeditated, because
> if I were to murder someone with a console I'd choose an Xbox -
> they're much bigger.
Haha. I remember those threads.
> However, it can't have been premeditated, because
> if I were to murder someone with a console I'd choose an Xbox -
> they're much bigger.
Haha. I remember those threads.
Forest Fan wrote:
> Dixons has removed it too. I've heard Wakka plays Manhunt, he's only
> 12.
He's obviously a future-criminal then, let's lock him up for his future-crimes and the benefit of future-England.
And the headline on the Daily Mail was "Murder by Playstation". However, it can't have been premeditated, because if I were to murder someone with a console I'd choose an Xbox - they're much bigger.
> Dixons has removed it too. I've heard Wakka plays Manhunt, he's only
> 12.
He's obviously a future-criminal then, let's lock him up for his future-crimes and the benefit of future-England.
And the headline on the Daily Mail was "Murder by Playstation". However, it can't have been premeditated, because if I were to murder someone with a console I'd choose an Xbox - they're much bigger.
Hey, this GAD winning review from Dead Metal for the game Manhunt really sums up well:
Overall, it's a very impressive title. It's not gonna be as popular as GTA, but what can be? If you got the guts (and mental stability), get this game. You won't be disappointed.
Mental stability - well put.
Overall, it's a very impressive title. It's not gonna be as popular as GTA, but what can be? If you got the guts (and mental stability), get this game. You won't be disappointed.
Mental stability - well put.
Mr Snuggly wrote:
> Edit: Daily Mail 'website' article
> [URL]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=312008&in_page_id=1770[/URL]
Is it me, or is that page full of low-quality horses? They were all the way down the page. What the hell was that advertising?
> Edit: Daily Mail 'website' article
> [URL]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=312008&in_page_id=1770[/URL]
Is it me, or is that page full of low-quality horses? They were all the way down the page. What the hell was that advertising?
Dixons has removed it too. I've heard Wakka plays Manhunt, he's only 12.
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