Video games gone too far?

IGN ^ | September 1, 2005 | Tom McNamara

[JudyChu]

I just found my son viewing a video for a video game that is making light of disasters and even making reference to a "Chocolate Jesus" in its promotion materials. In light of recent events in New Orleans and the world... I am so upset by what I have seen, I simply don't know what to do. This is my first time posting to this forum after being a long time reader. The article about this game can be read here:

http://pc.ign.com/articles/647/647404p1.html

[JudyChu]

This is taken from the interview with the game's designer:

As American McGee told us in a recent interview, what sparked his interest in producing the title was a fear-mongering government billboard overlooking an L.A. freeway. McGee tells us, "…By using humor to illustrate the absurdity of the real threats, it is my hope that Bad Day L.A. will provide a cathartic release from those fears that we're now bombarded with on a daily basis." Although those fears can occasionally be proved true, they are exception, and not the seeming rule that McGee believes we're being beaten over the head with.

[Terpfen]

Comedy relies on exaggeration, which is basically what this game is: an exaggeration. Those are the kinds of games McGee makes: his prior game, Alice (based on Alice in Wonderland), is also pretty damn exaggerated, though he exaggerates Wonderland's creepiness and oddity.

Not seeing a problem here, especially since no one playes McGee's games.

[Americanwolf]

and as a parent it is your responsibility to not let your child play that game if you don't want them to..

not societies...

[ocr1]

"especially since no one playes McGee's games"

LOL, I know what you mean. His games hit the $9.95 bin as soon as they hit the store. My question is how the heck does mcgee keep getting to make more games?

[Terpfen]

My question is how the heck does mcgee keep getting to make more games?

The same way Uwe Boll keeps getting to make more movies.

[bt_dooftlook]

Here's a thought, Tom: turn off the TV, throw out the video games, buy some books, and spend some time with your son - is that so hard?

[HarleyD]

It's a hard decision but you're the parent and it's your call. My wife and I draw the lines at many violent video games but there are some which skirts the edges especially in "Teen" games. We try to preview them by renting them from Blockbuster before allowing our son to buy them.

We're blessed that we have a son with a level head on his shoulders who shy away from the real violent games anyway. He purchased a game that ended up having a few foul words inserted in the game. I used it as an opportunity to talk about how he was moving into an age where not only will he hear such terms more frequently, but his friends will start using similar words. That doesn't mean he has to. I think I made the point. Thankfully he hasn't played the game since.

BTW-My wife and I also try to read every book that he reads which is very difficult. There is one he's reading now that's a good book but the heroes on rare occasions will lie or steal from "the bad guys" or from good people with the intent to pay them back and make it "right". Unfortunately this is the way of the world. I sat down with him last night and in discussing the book (I like it also) we briefly talked about the part of lying and stealing and how it isn't appropriate. I try not to lecture but simply to get my point across in as few words as possible. It's an opportunity to try to teach a life lesson while not going too crazy over it.

[bboop]

Yes, just say NO. He'll hate you, of course. It's the price of being a parent. But you'll be a parent who sleeps at night.

[Rosary]

Try getting into homeschooling- thousands claim its the best way not to have the children follow the crowd...also buy a farm! Get the children interested in it and the work it comes with makes no time for the doomed video games with negative ideas!