Threefer……
May 1st, 2008 jsullen1
Throughout my blogs I have noticed a common theme: The negatives effects of Money. They weren’t focused on the business of videogames but the messages the game available for free play make about money. For “AntiWarGame” I wrote about how the choices made for spending affect popularity. For “Stop Disasters” the topic was mainly about how monetary goals overpower the importance of loss life. A final example of money is the “McDonald’s Game.” I spoke about how executives focusing on the bottom line make choices that affect their consumers. I believe this theme appears in a lot of my blogs because I personally hate money. It drives people to do things that they would morally despise otherwise. Money causes unnecessary conflict and issues. It can tear apart friends and family. For me it was no surprise to see this reoccurring theme.
Through my posts there is also a trend about the political and social messages the games are implying, and whether or not the message is clearly conveyed. My post about the “McDonald’s Game” addresses how the game portrays the business as disgusting and its practices unethical. I wrote about how “Disaffected!” showed that FedEx Kinkos is a sterile environment, but that the game would make me more likely not play the game again rather than not give business to FedEx Kinkos. My “AntiWarGame” post also falls into this category. The game was pushing the idea that business is driving the war and Presidential popularity is not based on the right merits, but the game was so disrespectful to the soldiers that this factor drew my attention rather than the point it was intended to make. I believe examining whether or not the game gets their point across is important. People are easily influenced by friends, media, and entertainment. If a videogame has the chance to make a political or social statement but fails to do so by poor design or other factors an opportunity is lost.
Through the class I have learned that videogames to have the potential to affect people. Even if they offend people, it is not necessarily a bad thing. Occurrences in society are offensive, so if a game draws attention to them maybe people will start thinking further into the issues themselves.
Entry Filed under: Game Log
