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You dismiss the entire video game medium because many games lack value. lord-of-shadow Send a noteboard - 13/12/2011 03:59:11 PM
Which is similar to dismissing the entire medium of books because you see no value in the majority of books.

And obviously that would be ludicrous. Even though you (rightfully) see little redeeming value in the vast majority of books published, you just as obviously see immense value in reading challenging pieces or pieces that otherwise broaden your understanding, or display mastery of the art of writing.

Video games are a medium capable of immense expression of ideas, learning, story, etc. And beyond authorial expression, there is room for interactivity and user-directed exploration of the content - something you simply don't see as an inherent part of any other medium. Sadly, the majority of games do not even attempt to push these boundaries, due to business concerns (societal preconceptions limit audiences, experimentation on multi-million dollar projects is a risk companies simply aren't willing to take, etc.) and ridiculous societal expectations (that games must be fun above all else). In many ways, this mirrors the development of the film medium; for years it failed to really reach beyond base entertainment, but today it has obviously matured into a medium that is used in a broad variety of ways, including many that explore the human condition in much the same way that good literature does.

Your out-right dismissal of the entire medium is simply incorrect. It's understandable, if you haven't been exposed to much beyond the blockbuster games and trash like Call of Duty or your typical first-person-shooter - but it's still erroneous.


On a related note, I also think you are too ready to dismiss immersive gameplay experiences as unhealthy - playing a game for three hours may not be as edifying as reading the sort of books you value, but it is not inherently "damaging" or unhealthy. In much the same way that reading a fantasy novel or watching a movie for the same length of time won't hurt you. Nor is it a "conscious decision to neglect real life" - downtime is part of life, not a neglection of it. And where is the "fake decisions in a game where virtual characters will suffer either way" comment coming from? You can't have been exposed to many games if you think that that is representative of the entire medium. And in the context of the game, decisions you make are real enough - they will have a real impact on the game, assuming you're playing one that is well designed.

Taken to excess, gaming is bad for you in a myriad of ways - but that can be said for anything. Including reading. Or attending college. Or exercising. It's not even a comment worth making.
This message last edited by lord-of-shadow on 13/12/2011 at 04:01:50 PM
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Aren't the Tolkien comparisons getting a little...old? - 09/12/2011 09:51:39 PM 2919 Views
The comparison bothers me, but not because Tolkien isn't relevant. - 09/12/2011 10:05:22 PM 1773 Views
I agree with this. - 09/12/2011 10:21:34 PM 1811 Views
Re: I agree with this. - 10/12/2011 07:09:33 PM 1746 Views
Exactly *NM* - 12/12/2011 12:09:19 PM 885 Views
Only when shit works are being compared to him - 09/12/2011 10:22:26 PM 1669 Views
Larry, - 10/12/2011 01:13:18 AM 1684 Views
Snide dismissal that will be passed off as for his own entertainment. - 10/12/2011 04:55:43 AM 1600 Views
We get a lot of that around here. *NM* - 10/12/2011 05:18:01 AM 666 Views
makes me wonder... - 10/12/2011 04:37:33 PM 1586 Views
Re: makes me wonder... - 11/12/2011 03:03:15 AM 1549 Views
Well-deserved condescension. - 11/12/2011 03:54:27 AM 1729 Views
You're sure about that? - 11/12/2011 04:20:26 AM 1950 Views
Re: You're sure about that? - 11/12/2011 05:25:08 AM 1671 Views
Re: You're sure about that? - 11/12/2011 06:03:02 AM 1544 Views
i think you shouldn't judge a whole world's school programs on your school - 11/12/2011 06:42:30 AM 1577 Views
Yeah, I'm limited in my knowledge, lol - 11/12/2011 08:03:26 AM 1603 Views
My school was...not great. - 11/12/2011 04:02:36 PM 1631 Views
I'm 24. - 11/12/2011 03:49:06 PM 1546 Views
If you're arguing that children should be able to read genre fiction, fine. - 11/12/2011 08:52:27 PM 1473 Views
Well, I suppose it depends on the type of genre being read - 11/12/2011 09:36:16 PM 1707 Views
How often do you hear the challenging writers mentioned at this site? - 12/12/2011 02:03:05 PM 1437 Views
Only when you, me, and a couple others write reviews - 12/12/2011 04:21:14 PM 1850 Views
Oh, it was the same as it always is - 12/12/2011 05:23:56 PM 1531 Views
True - 12/12/2011 06:29:10 PM 1643 Views
One note - 13/12/2011 12:17:48 AM 1649 Views
Perhaps - 13/12/2011 12:49:34 AM 1577 Views
*Sighs* Such is the plight of those shining few intelects... - 23/12/2011 01:15:47 AM 1626 Views
Much of the actual "Classics", that is, Greek and Latin originals, kids would eat up. - 12/12/2011 03:13:03 AM 1446 Views
Try teaching Apuleius in schools... *NM* - 12/12/2011 04:12:49 AM 785 Views
Plato is exciting, brutal and scandalous? - 12/12/2011 09:59:13 PM 1521 Views
You're upfront and honest about it; he isn't. The difference matters to me. *NM* - 11/12/2011 05:18:42 AM 834 Views
Uhh...uh... - 11/12/2011 05:34:23 AM 1558 Views
this is a bit off topic, but out of curiousity... - 11/12/2011 06:28:35 AM 1659 Views
There are no special snowflakes, are there? - 11/12/2011 09:39:21 PM 1470 Views
There are many way of widening one's horizons and broadening one's mind. - 11/12/2011 10:08:24 PM 1227 Views
I said as much in my comment - 11/12/2011 10:20:03 PM 1501 Views
What I don't like- - 12/12/2011 04:28:55 AM 1579 Views
Why don't you name something, then? - 12/12/2011 04:40:29 AM 1537 Views
Sure. - 13/12/2011 07:30:56 AM 1366 Views
Mentioning Ender's Game pretty much shot your argument in the foot. - 13/12/2011 02:02:59 PM 1473 Views
You dismiss the entire video game medium because many games lack value. - 13/12/2011 03:59:11 PM 1619 Views
You're like the McDonald's paid advocate trying to say Big Macs are actually healthy. - 13/12/2011 05:46:37 PM 1426 Views
McDonalds food is inherently unhealthy. - 13/12/2011 06:02:18 PM 1573 Views
For the sake of argument ... - 13/12/2011 04:09:51 PM 1472 Views
Stephenson is not literature, that's for damn sure. - 13/12/2011 05:49:24 PM 1421 Views
Thank you, The Voice of Lews Therin. *NM* - 16/12/2011 05:14:42 AM 846 Views
I'll leave it up to others to define as they wish against their self-conceptions of me - 10/12/2011 10:52:54 AM 1584 Views
that's alright. I really have no desire to stroke your twit-ego. *NM* - 10/12/2011 04:36:56 PM 634 Views
Considering the firestorm I appear to have touched off, that may be best. - 12/12/2011 12:57:49 PM 1563 Views
I know, John - 12/12/2011 04:27:04 PM 1464 Views
Re: I know, John - 12/12/2011 05:06:26 PM 1525 Views
As I've said in the past, I'd be scared if anyone agreed with me anywhere approaching 100% - 12/12/2011 06:33:52 PM 1452 Views
Re: As I've said in the past, I'd be scared if anyone agreed with me anywhere approaching 100% - 12/12/2011 07:13:37 PM 1526 Views
Same guy - 12/12/2011 07:26:13 PM 1592 Views
Ha! Excellent point. *NM* - 11/12/2011 03:44:52 AM 770 Views
I have to agree. - 09/12/2011 10:54:06 PM 1575 Views
They're there for marketing - 10/12/2011 12:20:17 AM 1563 Views
Most of those comparisons are like that anyway - 10/12/2011 05:32:45 PM 1690 Views
Maybe if so much of the genre weren't crap derivative works it wouldn't be so common. *NM* - 11/12/2011 03:44:24 AM 768 Views
To be fair, a lot of it isn't. - 11/12/2011 04:06:07 AM 1502 Views
I suspect that if it really isn't derivative it's not being compared to Tolkien in the first place. - 11/12/2011 04:18:57 AM 1447 Views
That's true. - 11/12/2011 11:08:01 AM 1435 Views
Maybe they mean something else by using his name. - 11/12/2011 03:50:15 AM 1535 Views
When they don't work, yes. - 11/12/2011 03:18:44 PM 1525 Views
The Tolkien fanaticism gets old. And yes, for me it is unreadable. - 11/12/2011 11:37:53 PM 1497 Views
Yes *NM* - 22/12/2011 07:08:38 PM 892 Views

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