Thursday, 06 August 2009
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+1 Sanctions
We're probably pretty familiar with the idea of violent video games being banned or strictly controlled. Actually, if you're Singaporean, you've walked the 'banning violent video games' road. (Mass Effect anyone? Oh come on, I'm sure you remember the ridiculous hype over a few seconds of non-explicit lesbian alien sex in a single possible outcome the game offered.)
Whether you think violent video games should be banned, given ratings or tightly controlled might depend on several factors. Such as whether you're actually old enough to legally buy that M17 video game. Or whether you're a parent. Or even on your views on the right to freedom of speech. But all that aside, there's one undeniable fact that film has long known and video games seem to need to get out in to the open: Violence sells. It makes mega bucks. Oh, and so does sex.
Which is partly (or largely...) why after it's automatic reaction to ban 'adult themed' games like Mass Effect, the Singaporean government instated its own video game rating system. This cleared their concience to allow more grown-up games in Singapore which made lots of money while keeping young, impressionable children safe. Which made most of the gamers above the age of 18 very happy because they could stop having to worry about police kicking in the door while they were playing games involving lesbian aliens.(Actually, given how ignorant most parents are of ratings, starting a rating system probably made a lot of gamers under 18 very happy too...)Anyway, now that the worst of our rating wars are behind us, it's interesting to watch them being carried out in other countries. For example Germany which has recently been debating the idea of completely banning violent video games. Unlike Singapore which is a small market with a relatively new gaming industry, Germany is home to some big gaming guns. Crytek, known for its Crysis series, has gone on record stating that is the German government decides to ban violent video games, then they will see it as "...essentially like banning the German artists that create them. If the German creative community can't effectively participate in one of the most important cultural mediums of our future, we will be forced to relocate to other countries.”
Owch.
Germany has had its share of school-shooting disasters and not surprisingly, pushed much of the blame on video games. I guess when there's the threat of real violence and harm, there's a lot more pressure for a government to be seen doing something about it.Though there is the question of whether a more effective course of action would be to exercise stricter gun control laws.
On a completely unrelated note, look! Mass Effect 2 trailer from E3!! (No clearly lesbian aliens. Sorry guys.)
Disclaimer: if you've seen this post before on www.gc-asia-blog.sg, don't freak out. I'm not plagiarising. I'm the same writer on both blogs. I just felt this post was worth tossing onto my Hardest Level blog too.
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