We watched The History of Video games last night and it was actually very interesting. The first hour told of how games were born, first on a $100,000 computer, on up to what we have today.
The second hour focused on video games in the media, graphics and sound, and so on. It was brought up that violence in video games could be possible for the shootings at columbine and a shooting at a police station where the assailant admitted to playing Grand Theft Auto for three months straight.
The game made me do it. Listen, if you do anything for three months straight and are an unstable person in society, yeah, you're likely to go a little nuts. Put me in a room and play Elton John music for three months straight and you might find me on the news as well.
I don't advocate violence in video games. I want to play the hero, not the anti-hero. However, I do not seem it fair to place a scapegoat when these individuals are seriously messed up in the head to begin with.
Monday, October 29, 2007
The People vs Video Games
Second Life is a virtual online game, similar to The Sims. It's basically a second world where a person can be anything or anyone they want to be. And they spend a whopping $5 million per month doing so.
Upon learning this, I was completely floored. There are real estate agents for properties that exist only in a digital form. Art galleries that sell "art" for real US dollars! The program talked to a woman who opened a virtual dress shop to pay her real bills.
My first thought was, "People are out there starving to death!" I too am guilty of purchasing things I do not need while people are dying of starvation. However, at least I can touch and feel and hold the item I purchase. I can resell it if need be and should I ever be that desperate, pass it off as a Christmas gift.
HA HA! No, of course I wouldn't do that. But I also couldn't give my mother a deed to a property that doesn't even exist.
In short, spend time with your kids. Make sure they are developing as sane peoples within a civilized society, no matter what they're doing in their free time. That's your job as a parent. Not the video gaming industry--your job.
Create a savings account so you may purchase REAL property to benefit the local and national economy. Go outside. Meet people. Make friends you can smell.
And for Pete's sake, shut off the computer and TV once in a while!
I wonder what the taxes are on a virtual property?
Posted by whatagem at 5:18 AM
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4 comments:
I would totally agree with you if I was around and not gone into some bounty hunting mission with my pal Samus Aran in Metroid Prime 3 for the Wii...
Wait a minute, delivery of the game will be a bit delayed... ok then, back to the real world:)
There is a fine line between pure entertainment and all out addiction and some people tend to cross the line more often than not which kind of astounds me to be honest. I had my spells with games when I was younger but apart from bashing some neighbours' skulls I had no lasting side-effects. Oops, I think I shared more information than necessary...LOL!
Seriously though, I totally agree with you (DP crossing fingers behind his back...)
Now where are those pesky Space Pirates let me at them I say!
DP out!
Dwight plays this. I must try it.
For those of you who are non-nerds, Matt is referring to an episode of The Office. I saw it too, Matt and I LOVED that episode.
I am still trying to get a handle on my first life.
I skipped the tutorial and it's been all downhill from there.
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