Everyone knows that gaming hasn’t always had its high points, particularly when it seems that a larger part of the media wants to smear our favorite hobby whenever they get a chance. What, with things like Mass Effect on Fox News, GTA always being over-scrutinized, etc, it seems that gaming’s got a lot of scandals to sweep under the rug.
To categorize all of these unmentionable moments (some silly, others not so silly), MCV has put together a list of Gaming’s Biggest Controversies. They cover a wide variety of topics from America’s Army to Hot Coffee.
I’m actually surprised at a few that weren’t really mentioned, namely games like Counter-Strike, etc, being linked to school shootings.
To me, the most interesting thing is looking at some of the older stuff and wondering what some of the fuss is about, but it seems that one constant is clear- gaming is completely misunderstood, and I wonder if it’s only gotten worse as the generational gap widens. I’m not too worried though. Some day, the people calling the shots will have consoles at home, and they’ll be thinking about gamers.
What do you think about gaming perception in the media? Are any of these controversies news to you?
[Via Kotaku]
Edit: Apparently a couple of pages are down- if you look at the right hand section next to the article, you can see all of the ones listed, so you can click them there. It seems 4 and 5 were removed.
Gaming is just the latest scape-goat for the media. This kind of thing has repeated itself many times throughout our history, especially since the rise of the television.
MTV, comic books, even Star Wars and other harmless sci-fi properties(and some not so harmless) have had their time in the public’s eye as the “Defiler of Youth.”
Every new medium to be introduced is going to try to break ground in some way; that’s part of how they establish a market. People always look for something new and exciting, and sometimes those go against the status quo.
So, gaming will have it’s time to be vilified, but something else will come along. Perhaps
Yeah, I think the thing you’re right on the money on is comic books, which are still looked down upon, though not blamed for violence the way they were in the 50s, 60s.
One thing I heard Hal Halpin (head of the ECA) say at PAX is that gaming is at that point where, like comics, they have to decide if they’re going to be a medium that people walk up to, or a medium that they walk down to (as in, the basement).
[quote comment=”491″]Gaming is just the latest scape-goat for the media. This kind of thing has repeated itself many times throughout our history, especially since the rise of the television.
MTV, comic books, even Star Wars and other harmless sci-fi properties(and some not so harmless) have had their time in the public’s eye as the “Defiler of Youth.”
Every new medium to be introduced is going to try to break ground in some way; that’s part of how they establish a market. People always look for something new and exciting, and sometimes those go against the status quo.
So, gaming will have it’s time to be vilified, but something else will come along. Perhaps[/quote]
Any crap MTV gets is deserved. I don’t feel they get enough.
Games are misunderstood, no question. But sometimes, with certain games, we don’t do a lot to help out.
Examples include: DOA Volleyball, Rumble Roses and that BMX XXX game.
As great a game as it is, Soul Caliber’s big boobied ladies don’t help either
MTV definitley deserves crap for alot of things. I think we have enough reality shows about 20-something LA airheads.
No, I don’t think that BMXXX or DOA is helping to improve gaming’s image. It’s interesting how the view on gaming has shifted from a violence based one to a more perverted perception.
Violence is still a hot-button issue, but the media seems to be focusing more and more on the use of games to portray “dirty sex”.
Mass Effect was only the tip of the iceberg in my opinion. Once Fallout 3 and Fable 2 hit, there will probably be another whirlwind, especially since both games allow same-sex relations. There will probably be more games that try to do this sort of thing.
I’m all for games taking on a more realistic tone(as long as it’s tastefully done. I don’t really want to do a button mashing rythm game, thanks), but developers need to realize that by making content like this availible in their games, they’re going to need to do alot of explaining on the evening news.
I think as long as it is tastefully done and not just to stir up crap, I am ok with a lot of things.
Same sex stuff doesn’t bother me and actually, some of these bigots online need to be exposed to something different every once and a while, besides girl on girl stuff that they will never get to see in real life without giving a credit card number first.
I think the media tells too much bad things in games. Like some stuff in GTA4. But I think the media should look at the bright side with gaming. Games are not all gore violence, or rated M for mature! (or was it M for manly, I’m not sure)
We need more news on sackboy.
Lol, I see that they don’t have anything to say about Little Big Planet. Let them try. And aren’t most movies more graphic than games….by alot?
[quote comment=”510″]Lol, I see that they don’t have anything to say about Little Big Planet. Let them try. And aren’t most movies more graphic than games….by alot?[/quote]
Affirmative!