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I was thinking earlier on about the so called Morals that appear in games. I have kind of mixed views on this so I may as well just go on about them.
We all have morals, most are probably different from each other but the majority of us will all agree on certain things being wrong. So what does this mean for us gamers and how does any of this tie in or affect gaming in any way?
As you all know games are not real, never have and never will be. As technology improves we may well reach the standard of realistic graphics at the standard where it is difficult to determine what is real and what is a game. But why should that matter? If you know it is a game then surely it is alright whatever you do, surely anything should be in a game as long as the certificate rating of the game is chosen correctly.
Take films, anything can really be done in an 18 certificate movie with the exception of some. This mean if you are 18 you can watch it and most of us have probably seen some awful things in films. So why do games get slated so much?
Games haven't yet reached the photo-realistic graphics so it is easy for an adult to tell the difference. As an adult we all know right from wrong, well most do anyway.
I think a big problem lies with those who still give gaming the kiddie image and therefore it should be suitable for anyone, then when they realise it isn't instead of realising they were wrong for buying or allowing for it to be bought they blame the developer and publishers for making and allowing such a game to be made.
There are certain things I see as being wrong, killing children, abusing children, really anything horrible that is done to children in my opinion shouldn't be in a game, there was an issue before about killing a pregnant lady in a game and I disagree with this too. But not for the reasons that it is plainly wrong but because games are supposed to be fun and a form of entertainment and I don't see how killing a pregnant lady or abusing a child can make a game fun and in my view anyone who does is a little sick.
I think developers should be allowed to include whatever they like in a game as long as it is given the appropriate rating, but developers should only include things if they create fun in the game.
In real life would you shoot back if someone was shooting at you? Probably, it is ok in games to shoot armed guards who shoot at you but what if it was a child shooting at you? Now this is where it all comes down to the person. Some would be outraged by a developer including such a thing, others would just treat it as a game and think nothing off it.
I get a bit annoyed when you see the likes of national papers and people going on about how games make people violent and dangerous and how some games should be banned. Ok they are entitled to their opinion and I am entitled to mine, such people are fools. If this was the case then films, newspapers, conversations, television would all have the same effect. Adults can tell the difference and children shouldn't be playing such games so it is up to the parents - as parents to ensure that their children aren't doing things they shouldn't be.
I know this is a slight aside from the post but I think that more should be done to warn people if a game contains such scenes that maybe are unsuitable and only for a certain age group. That way parents won't complain and the industry will stop getting negative press and attention and maybe some developers won't be so picky when it comes to including certain things, who knows some developers may be holding out on certain games as the press would slate them for releasing them, we could be missing out on some good games due to the negative press.
We all have morals, most are probably different from each other but the majority of us will all agree on certain things being wrong. So what does this mean for us gamers and how does any of this tie in or affect gaming in any way?
As you all know games are not real, never have and never will be. As technology improves we may well reach the standard of realistic graphics at the standard where it is difficult to determine what is real and what is a game. But why should that matter? If you know it is a game then surely it is alright whatever you do, surely anything should be in a game as long as the certificate rating of the game is chosen correctly.
Take films, anything can really be done in an 18 certificate movie with the exception of some. This mean if you are 18 you can watch it and most of us have probably seen some awful things in films. So why do games get slated so much?
Games haven't yet reached the photo-realistic graphics so it is easy for an adult to tell the difference. As an adult we all know right from wrong, well most do anyway.
I think a big problem lies with those who still give gaming the kiddie image and therefore it should be suitable for anyone, then when they realise it isn't instead of realising they were wrong for buying or allowing for it to be bought they blame the developer and publishers for making and allowing such a game to be made.
There are certain things I see as being wrong, killing children, abusing children, really anything horrible that is done to children in my opinion shouldn't be in a game, there was an issue before about killing a pregnant lady in a game and I disagree with this too. But not for the reasons that it is plainly wrong but because games are supposed to be fun and a form of entertainment and I don't see how killing a pregnant lady or abusing a child can make a game fun and in my view anyone who does is a little sick.
I think developers should be allowed to include whatever they like in a game as long as it is given the appropriate rating, but developers should only include things if they create fun in the game.
In real life would you shoot back if someone was shooting at you? Probably, it is ok in games to shoot armed guards who shoot at you but what if it was a child shooting at you? Now this is where it all comes down to the person. Some would be outraged by a developer including such a thing, others would just treat it as a game and think nothing off it.
I get a bit annoyed when you see the likes of national papers and people going on about how games make people violent and dangerous and how some games should be banned. Ok they are entitled to their opinion and I am entitled to mine, such people are fools. If this was the case then films, newspapers, conversations, television would all have the same effect. Adults can tell the difference and children shouldn't be playing such games so it is up to the parents - as parents to ensure that their children aren't doing things they shouldn't be.
I know this is a slight aside from the post but I think that more should be done to warn people if a game contains such scenes that maybe are unsuitable and only for a certain age group. That way parents won't complain and the industry will stop getting negative press and attention and maybe some developers won't be so picky when it comes to including certain things, who knows some developers may be holding out on certain games as the press would slate them for releasing them, we could be missing out on some good games due to the negative press.
I think the publishers would expect to get payed for displaying moral pointers in their games. Using games as a way of putting a point across would be brilliant, but it depends on what kind of game it is.
You can't expect messages like "don't do crime" in a game like Quake or SOF!?
Most games in the market are just intended for pure fun, but if a more serious side for games gradually developed then morals in games would be less of a problem for some people.
You can't expect messages like "don't do crime" in a game like Quake or SOF!?
Most games in the market are just intended for pure fun, but if a more serious side for games gradually developed then morals in games would be less of a problem for some people.
But it is a way to get a message across.
I've played games since I was about 6-7 thats about 13-14 years and I remember the "winners don't do drugs" messages at the end of some games.
I think it could be a good idea to include more of these, but who would do it? Would the government or charities etc pay to have them included or would the publishers do it for nothing?
I've played games since I was about 6-7 thats about 13-14 years and I remember the "winners don't do drugs" messages at the end of some games.
I think it could be a good idea to include more of these, but who would do it? Would the government or charities etc pay to have them included or would the publishers do it for nothing?
Sounds a bit cheesy, games giving out morals. Wasn't the whole idea of games not to take it as seriously as life; visiting another world where moral values aren't expected?
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I was thinking about doing a similar post one day about games teaching us morals :)
The idea about giving out moral messages is a good one, in the same way that old tv programmes like He-Man gave moral messages at the end of episodes such as sharing, revenge is a game no one wins etc, it would be good if video game characters, and therefore the player, learnt some kind of message at the end of an adventure.
It seems these days that so few kids have decent morals that maybe giving out such things in games might teach them some much needed lessons ;)
The idea about giving out moral messages is a good one, in the same way that old tv programmes like He-Man gave moral messages at the end of episodes such as sharing, revenge is a game no one wins etc, it would be good if video game characters, and therefore the player, learnt some kind of message at the end of an adventure.
It seems these days that so few kids have decent morals that maybe giving out such things in games might teach them some much needed lessons ;)
I was thinking earlier on about the so called Morals that appear in games. I have kind of mixed views on this so I may as well just go on about them.
We all have morals, most are probably different from each other but the majority of us will all agree on certain things being wrong. So what does this mean for us gamers and how does any of this tie in or affect gaming in any way?
As you all know games are not real, never have and never will be. As technology improves we may well reach the standard of realistic graphics at the standard where it is difficult to determine what is real and what is a game. But why should that matter? If you know it is a game then surely it is alright whatever you do, surely anything should be in a game as long as the certificate rating of the game is chosen correctly.
Take films, anything can really be done in an 18 certificate movie with the exception of some. This mean if you are 18 you can watch it and most of us have probably seen some awful things in films. So why do games get slated so much?
Games haven't yet reached the photo-realistic graphics so it is easy for an adult to tell the difference. As an adult we all know right from wrong, well most do anyway.
I think a big problem lies with those who still give gaming the kiddie image and therefore it should be suitable for anyone, then when they realise it isn't instead of realising they were wrong for buying or allowing for it to be bought they blame the developer and publishers for making and allowing such a game to be made.
There are certain things I see as being wrong, killing children, abusing children, really anything horrible that is done to children in my opinion shouldn't be in a game, there was an issue before about killing a pregnant lady in a game and I disagree with this too. But not for the reasons that it is plainly wrong but because games are supposed to be fun and a form of entertainment and I don't see how killing a pregnant lady or abusing a child can make a game fun and in my view anyone who does is a little sick.
I think developers should be allowed to include whatever they like in a game as long as it is given the appropriate rating, but developers should only include things if they create fun in the game.
In real life would you shoot back if someone was shooting at you? Probably, it is ok in games to shoot armed guards who shoot at you but what if it was a child shooting at you? Now this is where it all comes down to the person. Some would be outraged by a developer including such a thing, others would just treat it as a game and think nothing off it.
I get a bit annoyed when you see the likes of national papers and people going on about how games make people violent and dangerous and how some games should be banned. Ok they are entitled to their opinion and I am entitled to mine, such people are fools. If this was the case then films, newspapers, conversations, television would all have the same effect. Adults can tell the difference and children shouldn't be playing such games so it is up to the parents - as parents to ensure that their children aren't doing things they shouldn't be.
I know this is a slight aside from the post but I think that more should be done to warn people if a game contains such scenes that maybe are unsuitable and only for a certain age group. That way parents won't complain and the industry will stop getting negative press and attention and maybe some developers won't be so picky when it comes to including certain things, who knows some developers may be holding out on certain games as the press would slate them for releasing them, we could be missing out on some good games due to the negative press.
We all have morals, most are probably different from each other but the majority of us will all agree on certain things being wrong. So what does this mean for us gamers and how does any of this tie in or affect gaming in any way?
As you all know games are not real, never have and never will be. As technology improves we may well reach the standard of realistic graphics at the standard where it is difficult to determine what is real and what is a game. But why should that matter? If you know it is a game then surely it is alright whatever you do, surely anything should be in a game as long as the certificate rating of the game is chosen correctly.
Take films, anything can really be done in an 18 certificate movie with the exception of some. This mean if you are 18 you can watch it and most of us have probably seen some awful things in films. So why do games get slated so much?
Games haven't yet reached the photo-realistic graphics so it is easy for an adult to tell the difference. As an adult we all know right from wrong, well most do anyway.
I think a big problem lies with those who still give gaming the kiddie image and therefore it should be suitable for anyone, then when they realise it isn't instead of realising they were wrong for buying or allowing for it to be bought they blame the developer and publishers for making and allowing such a game to be made.
There are certain things I see as being wrong, killing children, abusing children, really anything horrible that is done to children in my opinion shouldn't be in a game, there was an issue before about killing a pregnant lady in a game and I disagree with this too. But not for the reasons that it is plainly wrong but because games are supposed to be fun and a form of entertainment and I don't see how killing a pregnant lady or abusing a child can make a game fun and in my view anyone who does is a little sick.
I think developers should be allowed to include whatever they like in a game as long as it is given the appropriate rating, but developers should only include things if they create fun in the game.
In real life would you shoot back if someone was shooting at you? Probably, it is ok in games to shoot armed guards who shoot at you but what if it was a child shooting at you? Now this is where it all comes down to the person. Some would be outraged by a developer including such a thing, others would just treat it as a game and think nothing off it.
I get a bit annoyed when you see the likes of national papers and people going on about how games make people violent and dangerous and how some games should be banned. Ok they are entitled to their opinion and I am entitled to mine, such people are fools. If this was the case then films, newspapers, conversations, television would all have the same effect. Adults can tell the difference and children shouldn't be playing such games so it is up to the parents - as parents to ensure that their children aren't doing things they shouldn't be.
I know this is a slight aside from the post but I think that more should be done to warn people if a game contains such scenes that maybe are unsuitable and only for a certain age group. That way parents won't complain and the industry will stop getting negative press and attention and maybe some developers won't be so picky when it comes to including certain things, who knows some developers may be holding out on certain games as the press would slate them for releasing them, we could be missing out on some good games due to the negative press.