Gaming: GTA4

[Mirdath]

So, in other words, if the entire premise of the game under discussion were different, what I said would be right. Well…no kidding.

If you’d care to pay attention, I was simply raising the point that ‘saving the galaxy’ or ‘defeating the evil empire’ isn’t always the simple we’re-good-they’re-bad thing it’s cracked up to be. The same point can and will be raised with regard to the law enforcement of San Andreas or wherever: you can’t do one at a time here.

I can distinguish them perfectly. I just really play, rather than only playing with half my mind. It’s disrespectful to do anything half-heartedly, and it’s also not as fun.

‘I’m serious about my lighthearted entertainment’. Is there some underlying reason you can’t bring yourself to play an evil character just to see what happens? If so, how can you claim to play with full regard and respect for the content created for such characters?

By the way, Yakuza is indeed great fun.

 

[Hastrman]

‘I’m serious about my lighthearted entertainment’. Is there some underlying reason you can’t bring yourself to play an evil character just to see what happens? If so, how can you claim to play with full regard and respect for the content created for such characters?

Because I identify too strongly with the character–it feels like I really did it (firebombing a city full of innocent people, in my Steambot Chronicle example), solely on an emotional level. Rather than drug myself with sophistry into wanting to do something I wouldn’t like, I simply don’t.

I even have a hard time letting Meryl die in the first Metal Gear Solid, even though it gives you the stealth camo–and I don’t like her.

The explanation for this attitude is very nicely explained, by the way, in Tolkien’s famous essay on fairy stories (I think it’s called “on fairy stories,” too), where he replaces the idea of “suspension of disbelief” with the idea of “secondary belief.”

I recommend the essay for a billion other reasons, too, of course.

By the way, Yakuza is indeed great fun.

So I suspected, although I hear you have to play it dubbed on the US release–which is awful (half the fun of yakuza movies is the snarling at each other, to say nothing of the quality of most game dubs).

 

[Mirdath]

Because I identify too strongly with the character–it feels like I really did it (firebombing a city full of innocent people, in my Steambot Chronicle example), solely on an emotional level. Rather than drug myself with sophistry into wanting to do something I wouldn’t like, I simply don’t.

I even have a hard time letting Meryl die in the first Metal Gear Solid, even though it gives you the stealth camo–and I don’t like her.

Then take your great art and your character identification and let us play Space Invaders with better graphics and more plot, okay?

The explanation for this attitude is very nicely explained, by the way, in Tolkien’s famous essay on fairy stories (I think it’s called “on fairy stories,” too), where he replaces the idea of “suspension of disbelief” with the idea of “secondary belief.”

I’ve read it, though it’s been a while.

So I suspected, although I hear you have to play it dubbed on the US release–which is awful (half the fun of yakuza movies is the snarling at each other, to say nothing of the quality of most game dubs).

I’m a subtitle fiend, but the dub on that game is quite good. Haruka’s kind of annoying, but other than that I honestly can’t find much of anything to fault.

 

[Ne_OrangeKnight]

Because I identify too strongly with the character–it feels like I really did it (firebombing a city full of innocent people, in my Steambot Chronicle example), solely on an emotional level. Rather than drug myself with sophistry into wanting to do something I wouldn’t like, I simply don’t.

I even have a hard time letting Meryl die in the first Metal Gear Solid, even though it gives you the stealth camo–and I don’t like her.

The explanation for this attitude is very nicely explained, by the way, in Tolkien’s famous essay on fairy stories (I think it’s called “on fairy stories,” too), where he replaces the idea of “suspension of disbelief” with the idea of “secondary belief.”

I recommend the essay for a billion other reasons, too, of course.

That’s my rationale, exactly. In games that give you a choice, I always play Light Side, no exception. I wouldn’t want to murder/lie to/steal from innocent people in real life, so why should I do so in my virtual persona?

Also, I’m interested in that Tolkein essay, now.

Sam, the Neon Orange Knight

 

[lubczyk]

There’s nothing wrong in playing “The Bad Guy” in a videogame. If you’re going to stoop that low, you might as well label every movie, book, et cetera told from the villian’s perspective sinful.

They’re just games people. And there’s nothing wrong for us adults wanting adult games. it’s the same with music, movies and books.

The game is rated M for Mature. That means 17 and up. It’s suitable for adults.

Don’t play it if you don’t want to, but give me this “holier than thou” **, because if I looked into your life I could find a guilty pleasure or a dozen that some priest,somewhere would label sinful.

I sometimes think these forums are populated by undercover Quakers, Puritans, and the Almish.

 

[lubczyk]

Hey, everyone interested, check out this video review I found of Grand Theft Auto IV:

gametrailers.com/player/33327.html

Can’t wait to pick my preordered copy up Tuesday!!!

I’ll give everyone my impressions of the game once I play it.

 

[Abbadon]

Hey, everyone interested, check out this video review I found of Grand Theft Auto IV:

gametrailers.com/player/33327.html

Can’t wait to pick my preordered copy up Tuesday!!!

I’ll give everyone my impressions of the game once I play it.

Mmmmmm looks so minty, I saw another add on TV it looks so real, but just not real enough, perfect… Looks just like a movie

Drool, I can’t wait for it to come out on PC… =.=

 

[Oscarthecat]

I played GTAIII back when it first came out. The actual game plot and main action were not very interesting to me-I think I finished it, but barely remember. I had heard about the moral controversy regarding the game, but at the time I figured “its just a game” and didn’t give it much thought. Now, I have a better understanding of the fact that my purchasing the game contributes financially to a company that uses moral compromise as marketing leverage.

Even so, I’m really disappointed because what I enjoyed most about GTA III was driving around the city and doing the mini-games w/ jumps, races, etc. It may be a little corny, but I really liked that you could listen to talk radio in the cars-some of that stuff was pretty funny. I’ve heard that GTAIV has put a lot of work into their car radio voice overs. One of the voice actors is even a writer/contribtor on the Glenn Beck show.

Still, the fact remains that I know I shouldn’t contribute to a company that puts so much emphasis on how distinctively immoral its product is. Its almost as if they’re saying “Hey, those other games have killing-but why stop there? In our game you can mug people, carjack, hire prostitutes, and sell drugs!”

I think that the makers of the game are selling themselves a little bit short by incorporating so much negativity intotheir product. I would be more likely to buy this game if it didn’t force so many moral questions.

 

[ArchRemmy]

I can relate. I played a lot of GTA III before the controversy hit and I knew any better. I ended up stopping the story mode as it didn’t feel right dropping off hookers to their customers or torching dozens of people with a flame thrower. I occasionally played afterwards and roamed about putting out fires and hitting ramps at full speed.

The appeal of GTA IV though is in the game engine - and I am frustratingly itching to experience the technical greatness of the game - physics, graphics, voice work, audio, attention to detail, etc. I am standing fast against the game though for several reasons. 1) not interested in being subjected to profanity 2) almost guaranteed to run into scantily-clad women and not sure but suspect the character would need to enter a strip club to advance in the game - these would upset the wife for sure 3) I like to have a complete gamercard so wouldn’t stop playing until I had all of the achievements and I’m sure some achievements require immoral actions.

As a side note, I am just now playing Oblivion and was asked today to join the Dark Brotherhood. It looks like I must kill an innocent old man to be accepted and then will have the blessings of some goddess who I will be serving by killing more innocent people. I normally would avoid this (naturally), but since there are achievements involved for climbing the ranks of the Dark Brotherhood, I will remind myself it’s not real and get it over with quickly.

 

[ribozyme]

I’m not planning to buy GTA4, just because I don’t feel like upgrading yet. I’m still happy with my PS2, and I’ve barely started San Andreas anyway.

I haven’t even finished GTA:SA and I had the game for a 20 months.

 

[Abbadon]

That’s my rationale, exactly. In games that give you a choice, I always play Light Side, no exception. I wouldn’t want to murder/lie to/steal from innocent people in real life, so why should I do so in my virtual persona?

Also, I’m interested in that Tolkein essay, now.

Sam, the Neon Orange Knight

But in the game do you want to kill lie murder or steal? would you take pleasure from doing these things in a virtual environment.

For me for example i always play the thief, I do whats beneficial for me as a character. But I feel the only good capture of morality has been nwn or mass effect. Morality is to difficult to put into black and white, good and evil, light and dark. It’s alot more complicated than that.

 

[Ne_OrangeKnight]

But in the game do you want to kill lie murder or steal? would you take pleasure from doing these things in a virtual environment.

No, I wouldn’t. I’ve tried playing evil characters before, but it just leaves me feeling…it may sound strange, but it leaves me feeling like my soul is kind of greasy, oily, gross. That’s the best way I can think to describe it.

For me for example i always play the thief, I do whats beneficial for me as a character. But I feel the only good capture of morality has been nwn or mass effect. Morality is to difficult to put into black and white, good and evil, light and dark. It’s alot more complicated than that.

No, actually, it isn’t. There are plenty of things that are objectively, always and everywhere wrong. Now, not everything is a matter of morality, but when it is, there is a right and a wrong answer.

Sam, the Neon Orange Knight

 

[lubczyk]

I’ve been playing Grand Theft Auto IV since Tuesday, and I’ve got to say, it’s amazing - The best game I’ve played in the last ten years.

If you’re a pure-blooded gamer that are over the age of 17 or have a older brother or sister that owns a Playstation 3 or Xbox 360, you owe it to yourself to own this game. You won’t regret it.

My PSN ID is Lubczyk just in case you want to go have a deathmatch in LIberty City online.

Prepare to have the time of your life and remember, it’s only a game.

 

[lotusblossom]

Nope, DH will not be purchasing or playing GTA4. We actually had just talked about it the other day and he was telling me all the stuff that is in previous GTAs. It sounds like a well-made game, but there’s just too much junk and inappropriate stuff (esp. after watching the trailer for this one) in it to make it worthwhile. Plus, DH has plenty of other great games that are not so objectionable that he loves to play, so he really doesn’t mind at all .

 

[duskyjewel]

Glad you like it. It’ll never see the inside of my house, even if the gamers living here are 35!

 

[ArchRemmy]

I just watched the 10+ minute video review from GameTrailers and now I wish this game were banned.

 

[lubczyk]

I just watched the 10+ minute video review from GameTrailers and now I wish this game were banned.

Fascist!!! I had enough of things being banned in Communist Poland. I’ll never let the likes of you take other people’s freedoms away.

 

[Bresinain]

Sounds like the person who started this thread was looking for a fight from the word go.

I wouldnt ban the video game but I lived with a guy who played Grand theft Auto, amongst many other video games. He wasted 20 hours a day playing these games. To each his own. When I was young I felt guilty if I spent an afternoon in the video arcade, and by an afternoon I meant like 1:00 to 6:00 before going home to dinner.

I say if you want to waste your life playing video games, go ahead. But like the one poster said, it would never see the inside of my home either.

 

[lubczyk]

Sounds like the person who started this thread was looking for a fight from the word go.

I wouldnt ban the video game but I lived with a guy who played Grand theft Auto, amongst many other video games. He wasted 20 hours a day playing these games. To each his own. When I was young I felt guilty if I spent an afternoon in the video arcade, and by an afternoon I meant like 1:00 to 6:00 before going home to dinner.

I say if you want to waste your life playing video games, go ahead. But like the one poster said, it would never see the inside of my home either.

20 hours a day? That’s absurd!!! I haven’t put in more than 6 hours into the game and I bought it on Tuesday.

You could waste your life reading books, watching tv, playing videogames, on CAF, and inumerial number of tasks. Moderation is the key. There will always be people that abuse their free time unwisely.

I’m just saying that it’s a real good game. I thought that there were some Catholic gamers on this forums as well. Just wanted to start a conversation. I didn’t mean to offend anyone.

 

[Newbie2]

Sure, it’s only a game. And Pornstars are only actors…

A game that’ll never see my house either.