Virtual Reality-Virtual Addiction: the hottest newest craze going on in Today’s World
“The Poor Man’s Drug”
This paper will talk about the definition of video games themselves, Video games addict/addictions, to the comparison between what is known as Video Games vs. Causal Games. As well as showing the elements of what makes Video games and other forms of electronic gadgets addicting. And where we at in are today’s world with them. I will also talk about at what age most player began, you would be surprised how early children actually start with video games on systems; such as Play stations (1, 2 and 3), X-box, to name a couple, and games such as Donkey Kong, Pac man, Ms. Pac man, Tomb Raiders and on and on. And is it only in America where we have this particular problem, or has it spread worldwide, effecting all of our youths.
The list of console systems as well as computer /video games is so large it would take up pretty much all of my report. Based off the information that I was able to locate, video games are becoming the next addiction of the future, the newest drug per say. People will stay awake for hours at a time, giving up food and drink, not moving from one spot for minutes, hours, days at a time, even giving up sleep, let alone remembering to get up and use the bathroom, just to beat their friend’s latest scores, or even their own just to prove that they could. And I can actually personally attest to this little fact, as you will see from my personal story of my time with a video game, where I personally learned how addicting a silly little causal fun kind of video game can pull you into its web.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Week 8: A Bombing We Will Go......
Week 8: A Bombing We Will Go!!!!
Okay so; let’s start training the next generation of military fighters, by teaching as young children how to shoot and kill the enemy. While using video games as training tools, may be cost efficient for the military and such. Let them keep things like fighting, shooting and killing people to themselves.
And with people going around saying things like; “It’s just a game”. Many people have said that they like games that have shooting in them, and how it improves their skills. Seems like a lot of our soldier’s over in Iraq (at least ones that are still alive and breathing), and other places, must have played such games as these.
As well as our fine police officers, but I think some of them missed the part about not abusing the person in their custody (as seen on our local daily news), or not to shoot unless you have too. Because people don’t come back to life like they do in the video games. Maybe they forgot the part about “Dead means Dead and no coming back for another chance”.
What ever happen to those really cool games; such as Donkey Kong, Pac Man, Ms. Pac Man or even that really old one Super Mario Brothers, with the cute little Italian pizza maker fellow in it? I mean there’s shooting fire balls and other stuff, but not looking like real people and especially people of certain persuasion or gender. This I feel has cause a lot of the rise in fighting, shooting deaths and such.
After I read the article, Military Training is just a game, I thought to myself: “Have you ever started to really wonder about all the money that goes into military training of our soldiers”? Imagine all those weapons and such that will be wasted, now that we can reduce it to such a fine point; Technology training. I have seen so many people upset about all the money we spend on a yearly base for training (myself would be counted in this group-actually against fighting period, invading and taking over peoples space and countries).
Think about what we could really do with that money. We could shorten the financial cost of training as well as get a better handle on maintaining it.
It seems like games in many forms have taken over off teens, and I feel that if we are to really be training via videos, make them are of the fact that in real life, you don’t get up and walk away. No other chance per say at the brass ring. Preparing to fight if it really is necessary, but remember that not everyone is your enemy.
Okay so; let’s start training the next generation of military fighters, by teaching as young children how to shoot and kill the enemy. While using video games as training tools, may be cost efficient for the military and such. Let them keep things like fighting, shooting and killing people to themselves.
And with people going around saying things like; “It’s just a game”. Many people have said that they like games that have shooting in them, and how it improves their skills. Seems like a lot of our soldier’s over in Iraq (at least ones that are still alive and breathing), and other places, must have played such games as these.
As well as our fine police officers, but I think some of them missed the part about not abusing the person in their custody (as seen on our local daily news), or not to shoot unless you have too. Because people don’t come back to life like they do in the video games. Maybe they forgot the part about “Dead means Dead and no coming back for another chance”.
What ever happen to those really cool games; such as Donkey Kong, Pac Man, Ms. Pac Man or even that really old one Super Mario Brothers, with the cute little Italian pizza maker fellow in it? I mean there’s shooting fire balls and other stuff, but not looking like real people and especially people of certain persuasion or gender. This I feel has cause a lot of the rise in fighting, shooting deaths and such.
After I read the article, Military Training is just a game, I thought to myself: “Have you ever started to really wonder about all the money that goes into military training of our soldiers”? Imagine all those weapons and such that will be wasted, now that we can reduce it to such a fine point; Technology training. I have seen so many people upset about all the money we spend on a yearly base for training (myself would be counted in this group-actually against fighting period, invading and taking over peoples space and countries).
Think about what we could really do with that money. We could shorten the financial cost of training as well as get a better handle on maintaining it.
It seems like games in many forms have taken over off teens, and I feel that if we are to really be training via videos, make them are of the fact that in real life, you don’t get up and walk away. No other chance per say at the brass ring. Preparing to fight if it really is necessary, but remember that not everyone is your enemy.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Week 7: Gaming, Ethics and Democracy
Remembering what we learn vs. I have to be the best; I got to beat your score man!
We all learn as children about ethics; such as not cheating, or lying, and playing fair, following the rules of the game, around the same time as we learn all about the rules in the game of life. I remember as a kid, competing against my cousins in games such as tug a war, races, and the rest of those cool games we play as kids.
And I also remember my brothers fighting all the time with our male cousins. They had to always be the best in everything, and used all the tricks of the trade per say. And a lot of these tricks would have been considered cheating at the minimal. Because according to the article; Cheaters: A Special Report, from gameinformer.com it wasn’t even close to what they called a; Glitch. It seem like it was pretty much more like a free for all, using thing that they could.
My brothers and male cousins were a mixture of all ages and sizes, as well as different levels of skills in games; videos as well as physical ones. It seemed like the older ones took advantage of the younger ones, because the older ones should and did know better than to challenge the younger ones. It seems to me that because of their ages (the younger ones) would most likely not have had the same level of knowledge or skills, and the older ones should have taken this into play and played accordingly, i.e. “Fair Play”.
But, it seems like when it came to games and boys, democracy went out the door. As it seems to be that the male DNA comes into play when it comes to games and winning. Most of the time all you could hear was; “I gotta beat your score, man or you loser, is that all you can get, I can beat that”. As well as; “Yeah, I beat your score, take that man”. And there was a lot more detailed descriptive things said; but they were not really appreciate ones or repeatable here. Now, while it’s not mention here, I am sure you can image what was said or at least close to it.
I have notice that while gaming; video playing, sports etc can be good for children as well as adults to be involved in, building up your hand and eye coordination, makes you use your mind, making strategies moves as well as it is helps you to learn how to be a team player. It also opens up another different area; fighting, being competitive, making you get so crazy and needing to win, no matter what the cost is.
You tend to get pulled away from your code of ethics that you have learned/or learning as a child. Sucked in cheating, playing dirty tricks, just so you win. And sometimes, it happens without you even being aware of it, because that need to win has so strong of a grip as well as it’s not something that you can see with the visible eye.
One of the things that I have notice in today’s world of gaming is that it looks the same as it did when I was a child growing up. Because I have noticed my son’s pulling a lot of the same tricks on their friends that my brothers pulled on my cousins. As well; as I noticed that it wasn’t just the boys pulling them, but my daughters as well. So, it seems that this problem is not just a male issue anymore; it has expanded to include female DNA in its equation.
But, I had noticed something interesting as I watched the kids playing Video games. And that was it wasn’t just the older ones pulling unfair tactics on the younger ones. As I mention previously it seemed like the older ones were playing unfair; i.e. using knowledge/skills levels more advanced (from age etc). What I found out was that a lot of times it was the younger ones who actually had more knowledge or higher skill levels per say.
Age did not always come into play, but mostly the things that were was; time to play/practice (time to play/amount of time etc), to who had access to the games themselves to even play on them. This is what really is what builds up your levels of skills/knowledge on the games.
I also notice that not all of the kids tried anything slick, or those cute little cheating tricks. While they wanted to win of course, they seem to recognize that the wins seem to feel more real and that they had really earned it. And realistically most people will feel this way. Because deep down you are a good person or at least most of us are. In the end when playing those games and the competition part of it comes out roaring its head like a lion remember these little words; you cheat and that win is not really yours to enjoy. So, DON’T CHEAT….
We all learn as children about ethics; such as not cheating, or lying, and playing fair, following the rules of the game, around the same time as we learn all about the rules in the game of life. I remember as a kid, competing against my cousins in games such as tug a war, races, and the rest of those cool games we play as kids.
And I also remember my brothers fighting all the time with our male cousins. They had to always be the best in everything, and used all the tricks of the trade per say. And a lot of these tricks would have been considered cheating at the minimal. Because according to the article; Cheaters: A Special Report, from gameinformer.com it wasn’t even close to what they called a; Glitch. It seem like it was pretty much more like a free for all, using thing that they could.
My brothers and male cousins were a mixture of all ages and sizes, as well as different levels of skills in games; videos as well as physical ones. It seemed like the older ones took advantage of the younger ones, because the older ones should and did know better than to challenge the younger ones. It seems to me that because of their ages (the younger ones) would most likely not have had the same level of knowledge or skills, and the older ones should have taken this into play and played accordingly, i.e. “Fair Play”.
But, it seems like when it came to games and boys, democracy went out the door. As it seems to be that the male DNA comes into play when it comes to games and winning. Most of the time all you could hear was; “I gotta beat your score, man or you loser, is that all you can get, I can beat that”. As well as; “Yeah, I beat your score, take that man”. And there was a lot more detailed descriptive things said; but they were not really appreciate ones or repeatable here. Now, while it’s not mention here, I am sure you can image what was said or at least close to it.
I have notice that while gaming; video playing, sports etc can be good for children as well as adults to be involved in, building up your hand and eye coordination, makes you use your mind, making strategies moves as well as it is helps you to learn how to be a team player. It also opens up another different area; fighting, being competitive, making you get so crazy and needing to win, no matter what the cost is.
You tend to get pulled away from your code of ethics that you have learned/or learning as a child. Sucked in cheating, playing dirty tricks, just so you win. And sometimes, it happens without you even being aware of it, because that need to win has so strong of a grip as well as it’s not something that you can see with the visible eye.
One of the things that I have notice in today’s world of gaming is that it looks the same as it did when I was a child growing up. Because I have noticed my son’s pulling a lot of the same tricks on their friends that my brothers pulled on my cousins. As well; as I noticed that it wasn’t just the boys pulling them, but my daughters as well. So, it seems that this problem is not just a male issue anymore; it has expanded to include female DNA in its equation.
But, I had noticed something interesting as I watched the kids playing Video games. And that was it wasn’t just the older ones pulling unfair tactics on the younger ones. As I mention previously it seemed like the older ones were playing unfair; i.e. using knowledge/skills levels more advanced (from age etc). What I found out was that a lot of times it was the younger ones who actually had more knowledge or higher skill levels per say.
Age did not always come into play, but mostly the things that were was; time to play/practice (time to play/amount of time etc), to who had access to the games themselves to even play on them. This is what really is what builds up your levels of skills/knowledge on the games.
I also notice that not all of the kids tried anything slick, or those cute little cheating tricks. While they wanted to win of course, they seem to recognize that the wins seem to feel more real and that they had really earned it. And realistically most people will feel this way. Because deep down you are a good person or at least most of us are. In the end when playing those games and the competition part of it comes out roaring its head like a lion remember these little words; you cheat and that win is not really yours to enjoy. So, DON’T CHEAT….
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Week 6: The Newest "Addiction's: Video Games and The Internet"
Week 6: (Social Connection/ Social Gaming)
The Newest “Addiction’s: Video games and the Internet”
Are Video Games harmful to you? We don’t really know for sure yet. According to the readings that we had this past week, it seems like they are leaning towards the answer being; Yes. In the article; Introduction: The Digital Revolution, the Informed Citizen, and the Culture of Democracy written by Henry Jenkins and David Thorburn they state; “Many political commentators predicted that networked computing might be the decisive factor in the election of 2000. By November 2000, 64% of all voters were Internet users and 90% of Americans on the Internet were registered voters. The Web would offer, these commentators claimed, the least costly and most effective means of reaching likely voters”.
It seems like even as far back as then they (the public as well as politicians) were aware of the usage of internet-computers and were already planning on how to use it to their benefits (reaching the public/votes). And with all the information that was provided (data/facts/examples) that was provided in the article, it looks like they did make that leap in the connection between them. Best ways to get people to do what you want, send subdural messages through the internet, and especially games. Most people are so busy having fun, playing the game that they really don’t notice those simple things going on all around them.
And in regards toward addicting, video games are very addicting. You get so involved in them that you block out things like need to sleep, eating, socializing with others until it gets to the extreme level of need. There are thousands of dollars being spent on a daily base. I tried a game that someone I knew had on their new phone that they had gotten this past month. And let me tell you something, it was so much fun and I couldn’t put it down. He keep asking me for it back and I kept saying; “Yeah, yeah just a minute. Just one more try”. Luckily, I didn’t have class the next day, because I played like six (6) more games before I finally let go of the game. I can also say, that I can guarantee each time we get together this past week or so, I have asked for any pretty much played that game, until he takes it away from me.
Now in regards towards Social Connecting; we as human beings are undeniably social creatures (this also includes Gamers too). And according to Sandra Chen, who wrote the article; The Social Network Game Boom, which is posted on GAMASUTRA, “With over 200 million people registered on Face book, the most popular social networking site, and millions, millions more on similar sites like MySpace, BEBO, and Hi5, social networking has become a part of daily life.”
This is so true; we have seen that worldwide, social activists are using social networking sites to organize protest. People are talking to each other through these web pages, vs. reading emails or call each other on the phone.
It is a testament to the power of social networking, and likewise social games, which is essentially games created to be played within existing major social networking websites. Social connections and gaming are becoming more and more connected, getting to be that they go hand in hand with each other.
Social networking has changed so much on how we consume information and how we play games. And on such places as FACEBOOK and the rest, you will generally find a clutter of unfettered information that leads to what social scientists call “ambient awareness”. It’s like being there at the same time as your friends, but not really paying attention to them, until you needed to.
You’re making social connections with others; friends as well as people that you don’t even know, but you can get information on at almost any given moment of time. And I have done this myself sometimes, but also at the same time as a mother of teens, who live on the internet, it is also too true that it can be dangerous for you. My daughter talks to her friends via FACEBOOK, as well as MySpace. Leaves messages for them there, gets ones that they have left her. Plus can read/ connect per say with people that they know but she doesn’t. While she hasn’t had anything bad happen per say to her, it can be scary I am telling you. I have learned more and more about all of these sites, as well as trying to keep on top of what is going on there. Let me tell you something, it can be a full-time job doing this.
So, while reading all that we had for the past week I can tell you that while I am still not sure about video games being harmful for you, I am convinced that at least some of them have addicting ability in them. I can personally contest to these. And in regards towards Social Connection; while it’s a great thing out there and I have used it sometimes, it also has harmful sides to it, all you have to do is look at the news (TV or newspaper etc) at any given time or place. So many people have been hurt (beaten, raped, kidnapped) and in some cases murdered.
In conclusion, let me leave you with these thoughts; what are your kids doing this summer, and what to do with your preteens and teens this summer? Now, I know what I would like, them going to school and brushing up on their social skills in a project based social-learning environment. Sounds like Fun and Educational, right? But, realistically we know that this not going to happen, unless they mess up in school. So, talk with your kids and see what they are doing, keep on top of them and their internet actions. Don’t let them be the next news item, becoming a statistic.
The Newest “Addiction’s: Video games and the Internet”
Are Video Games harmful to you? We don’t really know for sure yet. According to the readings that we had this past week, it seems like they are leaning towards the answer being; Yes. In the article; Introduction: The Digital Revolution, the Informed Citizen, and the Culture of Democracy written by Henry Jenkins and David Thorburn they state; “Many political commentators predicted that networked computing might be the decisive factor in the election of 2000. By November 2000, 64% of all voters were Internet users and 90% of Americans on the Internet were registered voters. The Web would offer, these commentators claimed, the least costly and most effective means of reaching likely voters”.
It seems like even as far back as then they (the public as well as politicians) were aware of the usage of internet-computers and were already planning on how to use it to their benefits (reaching the public/votes). And with all the information that was provided (data/facts/examples) that was provided in the article, it looks like they did make that leap in the connection between them. Best ways to get people to do what you want, send subdural messages through the internet, and especially games. Most people are so busy having fun, playing the game that they really don’t notice those simple things going on all around them.
And in regards toward addicting, video games are very addicting. You get so involved in them that you block out things like need to sleep, eating, socializing with others until it gets to the extreme level of need. There are thousands of dollars being spent on a daily base. I tried a game that someone I knew had on their new phone that they had gotten this past month. And let me tell you something, it was so much fun and I couldn’t put it down. He keep asking me for it back and I kept saying; “Yeah, yeah just a minute. Just one more try”. Luckily, I didn’t have class the next day, because I played like six (6) more games before I finally let go of the game. I can also say, that I can guarantee each time we get together this past week or so, I have asked for any pretty much played that game, until he takes it away from me.
Now in regards towards Social Connecting; we as human beings are undeniably social creatures (this also includes Gamers too). And according to Sandra Chen, who wrote the article; The Social Network Game Boom, which is posted on GAMASUTRA, “With over 200 million people registered on Face book, the most popular social networking site, and millions, millions more on similar sites like MySpace, BEBO, and Hi5, social networking has become a part of daily life.”
This is so true; we have seen that worldwide, social activists are using social networking sites to organize protest. People are talking to each other through these web pages, vs. reading emails or call each other on the phone.
It is a testament to the power of social networking, and likewise social games, which is essentially games created to be played within existing major social networking websites. Social connections and gaming are becoming more and more connected, getting to be that they go hand in hand with each other.
Social networking has changed so much on how we consume information and how we play games. And on such places as FACEBOOK and the rest, you will generally find a clutter of unfettered information that leads to what social scientists call “ambient awareness”. It’s like being there at the same time as your friends, but not really paying attention to them, until you needed to.
You’re making social connections with others; friends as well as people that you don’t even know, but you can get information on at almost any given moment of time. And I have done this myself sometimes, but also at the same time as a mother of teens, who live on the internet, it is also too true that it can be dangerous for you. My daughter talks to her friends via FACEBOOK, as well as MySpace. Leaves messages for them there, gets ones that they have left her. Plus can read/ connect per say with people that they know but she doesn’t. While she hasn’t had anything bad happen per say to her, it can be scary I am telling you. I have learned more and more about all of these sites, as well as trying to keep on top of what is going on there. Let me tell you something, it can be a full-time job doing this.
So, while reading all that we had for the past week I can tell you that while I am still not sure about video games being harmful for you, I am convinced that at least some of them have addicting ability in them. I can personally contest to these. And in regards towards Social Connection; while it’s a great thing out there and I have used it sometimes, it also has harmful sides to it, all you have to do is look at the news (TV or newspaper etc) at any given time or place. So many people have been hurt (beaten, raped, kidnapped) and in some cases murdered.
In conclusion, let me leave you with these thoughts; what are your kids doing this summer, and what to do with your preteens and teens this summer? Now, I know what I would like, them going to school and brushing up on their social skills in a project based social-learning environment. Sounds like Fun and Educational, right? But, realistically we know that this not going to happen, unless they mess up in school. So, talk with your kids and see what they are doing, keep on top of them and their internet actions. Don’t let them be the next news item, becoming a statistic.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Week 5: Step to the back of the bus, Only White's are allowed in the front....
Step to the back of the bus, or that old saying; can’t sit here it’s for White people only.
There’s that old enemy of ours rearing its head up again; Racism. And just when we thought it was getting better along it comes to show us how wrong we were.
With all that the world has gone through starting back in the day of Abraham Lincoln and the fight for freedom for African-American, then up to Women’s rights, etc and now it seems like we are stepping back in time. Especially after 9/11 bombings, the war going on at this moment in time, prejudice and stereotyping, along with its friend Racism is back in play. It seems like the video games out there are getting worse by the moment, with all the bad guys being either of the Asian, black or even now Middle Eastern/Arabic persuasion.
I notice that a lot of the articles that I read had a lot in common with what their opinions were in regards to Video games and Racism. In Critical race Theory on Wikipedia, seems like it was a response to come critical legal studies. And the connections between racial discriminations and stereotyping, and has been applied to looking into race/racism in aspects of social science, civil rights, and the legal court proceedings that result from it. And in Pacificcitizen.org; In Video games the Bad Guys Come in All Shades of Stereotypes. More like Bad Guys of Color, because it seems like most Bad Guys are not “White”.
Some have been known to try and say that these forms of games are entertainment, although if that is so, then it’s really sad that they had to resort to this level. Because all it does is feed on the fear of people, especially those who are already pre-disposed to being narrow minded and prejudice to begin with.
According to the article; Video games raise concerns over racism by David Becker from CNET News (, The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) had issued a report on Tuesday warning of computer games that espouse racist violence. The article mention such games as; “Ethnic Cleansing” a computer game that was being sold by Resistance Records, a small underground label that specializes in bands spouting racist and Nazi messages. This game besides offensive racial stereotyping (you had to walk through urban streets and subways, attacking African-American, Hispanic and Jewish characters), the games also included repeated racist images and audio content.
Games such as these can piggyback onto something that is very legitimate and popular and pervert it. It could cause even the most non-racist person to start thinking those racist thoughts. Things like this can cause Paranoia and Discrimination to rise even higher than it has been in the past. Because it causes people to assume that all African-Americans are drug users, gang-bangers, Asians as the drug dealers, and even using Women as cyber-bimbos.
With all of this going on it’s like taking a step back in time. While it seems like games of any kind (video etc) involves some sort of artificial conflict, because it seems like it wouldn’t be a game without it, they need to do what they can to make a great game without it causing racism/stereotyping of any sort.
There’s that old enemy of ours rearing its head up again; Racism. And just when we thought it was getting better along it comes to show us how wrong we were.
With all that the world has gone through starting back in the day of Abraham Lincoln and the fight for freedom for African-American, then up to Women’s rights, etc and now it seems like we are stepping back in time. Especially after 9/11 bombings, the war going on at this moment in time, prejudice and stereotyping, along with its friend Racism is back in play. It seems like the video games out there are getting worse by the moment, with all the bad guys being either of the Asian, black or even now Middle Eastern/Arabic persuasion.
I notice that a lot of the articles that I read had a lot in common with what their opinions were in regards to Video games and Racism. In Critical race Theory on Wikipedia, seems like it was a response to come critical legal studies. And the connections between racial discriminations and stereotyping, and has been applied to looking into race/racism in aspects of social science, civil rights, and the legal court proceedings that result from it. And in Pacificcitizen.org; In Video games the Bad Guys Come in All Shades of Stereotypes. More like Bad Guys of Color, because it seems like most Bad Guys are not “White”.
Some have been known to try and say that these forms of games are entertainment, although if that is so, then it’s really sad that they had to resort to this level. Because all it does is feed on the fear of people, especially those who are already pre-disposed to being narrow minded and prejudice to begin with.
According to the article; Video games raise concerns over racism by David Becker from CNET News (, The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) had issued a report on Tuesday warning of computer games that espouse racist violence. The article mention such games as; “Ethnic Cleansing” a computer game that was being sold by Resistance Records, a small underground label that specializes in bands spouting racist and Nazi messages. This game besides offensive racial stereotyping (you had to walk through urban streets and subways, attacking African-American, Hispanic and Jewish characters), the games also included repeated racist images and audio content.
Games such as these can piggyback onto something that is very legitimate and popular and pervert it. It could cause even the most non-racist person to start thinking those racist thoughts. Things like this can cause Paranoia and Discrimination to rise even higher than it has been in the past. Because it causes people to assume that all African-Americans are drug users, gang-bangers, Asians as the drug dealers, and even using Women as cyber-bimbos.
With all of this going on it’s like taking a step back in time. While it seems like games of any kind (video etc) involves some sort of artificial conflict, because it seems like it wouldn’t be a game without it, they need to do what they can to make a great game without it causing racism/stereotyping of any sort.
Friday, April 24, 2009
(Week 4) Beware: “The Princess Peach is PMS-ING”
Beware: “The Princess Peach is PMS-ING”
(Playing with Fire: Trouble in Super Macho World?-Gonzalo Frasca)
While I don’t play a whole lot of videos, that is my son’s department and he does it so well, and I better mention that my daughter also plays them, just not a total die-hard like her brother. Even so, I do know some about Super Mario and Princess Peaches; I actually played it some back when I was younger. And it would be safe to say that my amount of video play time didn’t even come close to the time my brothers spent playing them.
I noticed while reading: Playing with Fire: Trouble in Super Macho World? –Gonzalo Frasca, that the article seem like it was mostly about the Author informing the reader’s about his dislikes (his opinions) of those “Fantasy centered Video Games”. And that he really seems to look forward to playing game: The Sims, when it came about. It seems that it likely because it had a more realistic touch-kind of feeling to it.
The games out there tend to make people either be that neat, outgoing, active and nice person (like the characters in The Sims game), and then there’s the games that take the opposite effect and make them seem more like Rambo (male), or look and like a Cyber-Bimbo. Which is not realistic at all, it seems like a never ending challenge to making the games lifelike (realistic) and fun at the same time. It must be a headache for the video game designers, I am glad that at this moment that this is not my job.
Now onto my Princess Peaches, what a gal dressed up in pink, looking so pretty and dainty like. But, watch out for the “Female Mood Swings”. And what a typical example of stereotyping of women, we are just a bundle of nerves and need some big bad strong male to save us from the evil out there. And Females get all emotional, pouting, all hell breaks loose, fire out her nose per say. But, Males don’t throw fits, or pout. They just jump up and knock their lights out.
That is such a plate of baloney going here. I happen to know a few female’s (one is my older daughter, who do not just pout and act all emotional when she upset or someone makes her mad, let alone try to hurt her. She will knock their lights out in a heart-beat, and she is a little short thing (5’2) but with a good right cross. So it’s not just Males who knock you out. Then there’s another interesting factor: They never mention that “Males” can have mood swings and emotional up and downs, and yes I did say (oh my, going say it again) “Males”.
And it shouldn’t be so shocking that we play Video Games, because hey we are out there working on cars, we like Sport’s Games (Boxing, Wresting, etc) as well as like to play them as well. What Males don’t realize and understand is that they Females play Video Games; just we’re more selective on what we play, how long and why. And it looks like the Video Game World is actually getting that.
With the number of Female who plays Video Games is increasing every day, spending money right there along with their Male counterparts, game designers have had to wake-up and get on the move. Start improving the games out there, especially female characters. Because as we all know, there is big money to be made here and let’s not lose a single dollar by being stupid.
And it seems like they are trying to do so because in Super Mario, Princess Peaches is being portrayed in her own video: “Super Princess Peaches”. Now while it’s great she has her own game to star in, they need to watch out the image she portrays to the public especially young children. They need to remember that children tend to imitate what they see and hear.
Because while “Pretty in Pink” sounds all sweet and great, it’s not the image I have in mind for Females. But, at the same time seeing Females portrayed as either a “Prostitute”, and it seems like these particular characters are strolling along and being beaten up when they Male character is mad or broke.
Then there are those videos games such as: “Tomb Raider”. Where they Females as lead characters who shoot, roll, jump and kick like their Male counterparts, except that they larger than life size breast and jump with every step that they take.
Until recently I hadn’t notice just how really sexism the games out there were. Then since taking this class I have spent more time watching the video games that my son plays, and have noticed just how the females were being portrayed. To be more eye catching to the Males playing them and so very outrageous stereotyping of a Female, as well as so unethically wrong to say the least.
Gaming has increased in the younger Male population and I pretty sure this is part of the reason as to way it has. This seems so disturbing as well as so immature of the gaming world (players as well as designers/inventors) out there. I can only hope that the children as well as adults who play these games remember that Females are not either one in real life: Pretty in Pink (helpless, dumb etc) or Cyber-Bimbo (prostitute, suppose to be beat etc).
Gender will be somewhat of an issue for awhile, but hopefully will start to improve over time as more and more Females are involved with gaming and such.
(Playing with Fire: Trouble in Super Macho World?-Gonzalo Frasca)
While I don’t play a whole lot of videos, that is my son’s department and he does it so well, and I better mention that my daughter also plays them, just not a total die-hard like her brother. Even so, I do know some about Super Mario and Princess Peaches; I actually played it some back when I was younger. And it would be safe to say that my amount of video play time didn’t even come close to the time my brothers spent playing them.
I noticed while reading: Playing with Fire: Trouble in Super Macho World? –Gonzalo Frasca, that the article seem like it was mostly about the Author informing the reader’s about his dislikes (his opinions) of those “Fantasy centered Video Games”. And that he really seems to look forward to playing game: The Sims, when it came about. It seems that it likely because it had a more realistic touch-kind of feeling to it.
The games out there tend to make people either be that neat, outgoing, active and nice person (like the characters in The Sims game), and then there’s the games that take the opposite effect and make them seem more like Rambo (male), or look and like a Cyber-Bimbo. Which is not realistic at all, it seems like a never ending challenge to making the games lifelike (realistic) and fun at the same time. It must be a headache for the video game designers, I am glad that at this moment that this is not my job.
Now onto my Princess Peaches, what a gal dressed up in pink, looking so pretty and dainty like. But, watch out for the “Female Mood Swings”. And what a typical example of stereotyping of women, we are just a bundle of nerves and need some big bad strong male to save us from the evil out there. And Females get all emotional, pouting, all hell breaks loose, fire out her nose per say. But, Males don’t throw fits, or pout. They just jump up and knock their lights out.
That is such a plate of baloney going here. I happen to know a few female’s (one is my older daughter, who do not just pout and act all emotional when she upset or someone makes her mad, let alone try to hurt her. She will knock their lights out in a heart-beat, and she is a little short thing (5’2) but with a good right cross. So it’s not just Males who knock you out. Then there’s another interesting factor: They never mention that “Males” can have mood swings and emotional up and downs, and yes I did say (oh my, going say it again) “Males”.
And it shouldn’t be so shocking that we play Video Games, because hey we are out there working on cars, we like Sport’s Games (Boxing, Wresting, etc) as well as like to play them as well. What Males don’t realize and understand is that they Females play Video Games; just we’re more selective on what we play, how long and why. And it looks like the Video Game World is actually getting that.
With the number of Female who plays Video Games is increasing every day, spending money right there along with their Male counterparts, game designers have had to wake-up and get on the move. Start improving the games out there, especially female characters. Because as we all know, there is big money to be made here and let’s not lose a single dollar by being stupid.
And it seems like they are trying to do so because in Super Mario, Princess Peaches is being portrayed in her own video: “Super Princess Peaches”. Now while it’s great she has her own game to star in, they need to watch out the image she portrays to the public especially young children. They need to remember that children tend to imitate what they see and hear.
Because while “Pretty in Pink” sounds all sweet and great, it’s not the image I have in mind for Females. But, at the same time seeing Females portrayed as either a “Prostitute”, and it seems like these particular characters are strolling along and being beaten up when they Male character is mad or broke.
Then there are those videos games such as: “Tomb Raider”. Where they Females as lead characters who shoot, roll, jump and kick like their Male counterparts, except that they larger than life size breast and jump with every step that they take.
Until recently I hadn’t notice just how really sexism the games out there were. Then since taking this class I have spent more time watching the video games that my son plays, and have noticed just how the females were being portrayed. To be more eye catching to the Males playing them and so very outrageous stereotyping of a Female, as well as so unethically wrong to say the least.
Gaming has increased in the younger Male population and I pretty sure this is part of the reason as to way it has. This seems so disturbing as well as so immature of the gaming world (players as well as designers/inventors) out there. I can only hope that the children as well as adults who play these games remember that Females are not either one in real life: Pretty in Pink (helpless, dumb etc) or Cyber-Bimbo (prostitute, suppose to be beat etc).
Gender will be somewhat of an issue for awhile, but hopefully will start to improve over time as more and more Females are involved with gaming and such.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Week 3 (Game Studies): Lara Croft Feminist Icon or Cyber-Bimbo?
Week 3:
Game studies: “Lara Croft: Feminist Icon or Cyber-Bimbo “?
Thesis (Claim and Reason):
Gender in Video-Computer Games, is something that we need to really wonder about and understand how it was portrayed in the games of “Past” as well as in “Today’s”. The changes that have occurred over time could be compared to being considered almost like an Evolution format.
On the average it had been said that girls and women are less involved in video games that are boys and men, and when they do play, they often prefer different games. Of course, that was then and this is now. On the average the number of males vs. females playing videos has risen over the years. Mainly, due to the evolution of the female characters in a lot of the ever popular videos games out in today’s world.
Over time there has been research done on exploring the likes and dislikes of the female gamer, and they discovered that the amount of female gamers have risen from 33% to over 45%. That is almost having the gamers out there in today’s world. So, today’s game players are no longer overwhelmingly male dominated.
It had been noted that females may tend to regard contemporary computer games (even those designed for male players) as “sites for female participation and resistance to societal gender roles and conceptions of masculinity and femininity”. But, while they are trying to per say increase the female role as an icon as well as a gamer, it is doing more harm than good.
Section I:
Claim: The Meteoric Rise of Lara Craft: she has changed over the years into a supposedly stronger female, and never looks like the normal next door neighbor girl.
Evidence: All of the females that have either portrayed “Lara” in the movies, or video games (such as physical shape, voices etc) have never been anyone else other that someone who is in great shape. Angelina Jolie (Tomb Raider movies-2001 and 2003), Jill de Jong (2007), Karima Adebibe (2007) are just a few of them. It has been said that the raising status of Croft as a sex symbol in the video games (due to the increasingly gratuitous artwork and advertisement) as being detrimental to the character, who has gained more attention from her appearance than her tough-as-nails spirit and determination.
Section II:
Claim: There are supposed to be some major changes happening with “Lara”, why does it seem like it will be worse that better before it’s over.
Evidence: It has even been stated that she would undergo a redesign and become more “demure” in Tomb Raider: Legend for the sake of becoming more appealing to female gamers. However, it has been said that some of the outfits that she wears in this game are more revealing than outfits seen in previous games, with many of them showing her cleavage and/or midriff (although most of the available outfits are fairly modest). It seems like she is being design to portray like “Eye and Thumb Candy for the boys out there”, vs. as a strong dependable , seeker of the truth, both large and small that it has been said she was suppose to be doing and continues to this day.
Section III: Dealing with the opposition
Twenty-five years ago video games were something that guys played (mainly kids and some adult males), in today’s world the landscape is shifting. While the gaming world is pretty much male dominated, there is a large and growing population of female gamers out there.
Video game companies need to improve the attention to the designing of the games more, because per research it has been shown that the female gender (gamers) are shelling out almost as much money as it’s male counterparts.
Mainly because if we continue to cater to the existing (male) players, we’re never going to grow, thus decreasing the possibility of that Pot of Gold increasing more than it already is and that could mean the possibility of losing billions.
The first thing that the gaming companies need to understand is that male and female gamers are wired differently. They need to understand that women are looking for a quick fix, a game that they can hop in and out of with relative ease. Spending time trying to improve the characters abilities is more a male thing. Thus they need to be creating a more realistic heroine and not a scantily clad Tomb Raider.
Conclusion:
Now supposedly, here is this intelligent, beautiful, athletic woman, who also happens to be named on Game Fly’s List of Hottest Chicks Ever (2008), as well as honored with a star on the Walk of Game (2006) and even made the Guinness World Record as being recognized as “Most Successful Human Video Game Heroine. And on a poll held by MSN in 2008 of who was the most Iconic video game character, in which Lara came in 3rd but actually drew with Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog.
With all of this going on, why is she allowing them to portray her as a Cyber Bimbo? Lara Croft is considered by critics and fans alike as one of the most significant game characters in popular culture as well as the most famous female video-game character (which we know as she has been names in the Guinness Book of Records).
Yet, she has allowed them to dress her like a “Bimbo”, as well as being portrayed seemingly in an increasingly bloodthirsty manner (in the first two sequels of the series), and also not giving Lara the option to avoid lethal force against human characters. But it was said that they did a subplot in “Anniversary” where Lara mentions feeling guilty that she was forced to kill for the first time. According to Toby Gard (the original designer), he was stated as saying; “We wanted to make Lara’s first kill more meaningful”. Yes, let’s make her seem more human, and not just a killing machine like the rest of the video world.
We need to improve on all video games, and especially the ones with female characters. Females need to be portrayed as strong, independent and yet intelligent. Not all females go around killing people or dressing like Bimbos. They should try to make it a bit more realistic.
A very important way to reach females (as gamers) as well as the men out there is to create realistic heroines, not damsels in distress and certainly not scantily clad Tomb Raiders. In today’s world women and girls both are put off by the misogynistic treatment of females, where they are often nothing more that bikini-clad digital eye candy.
Games like the ones today; that have their female characters portrayed in this fashion, tend to lead the men in the world to assume (stereotype) all females that they have come in contact with and any that they will come in contact with in the near future. This could end up causing more harm than good for females in today’s world, where we have enough to deal with.
Game studies: “Lara Croft: Feminist Icon or Cyber-Bimbo “?
Thesis (Claim and Reason):
Gender in Video-Computer Games, is something that we need to really wonder about and understand how it was portrayed in the games of “Past” as well as in “Today’s”. The changes that have occurred over time could be compared to being considered almost like an Evolution format.
On the average it had been said that girls and women are less involved in video games that are boys and men, and when they do play, they often prefer different games. Of course, that was then and this is now. On the average the number of males vs. females playing videos has risen over the years. Mainly, due to the evolution of the female characters in a lot of the ever popular videos games out in today’s world.
Over time there has been research done on exploring the likes and dislikes of the female gamer, and they discovered that the amount of female gamers have risen from 33% to over 45%. That is almost having the gamers out there in today’s world. So, today’s game players are no longer overwhelmingly male dominated.
It had been noted that females may tend to regard contemporary computer games (even those designed for male players) as “sites for female participation and resistance to societal gender roles and conceptions of masculinity and femininity”. But, while they are trying to per say increase the female role as an icon as well as a gamer, it is doing more harm than good.
Section I:
Claim: The Meteoric Rise of Lara Craft: she has changed over the years into a supposedly stronger female, and never looks like the normal next door neighbor girl.
Evidence: All of the females that have either portrayed “Lara” in the movies, or video games (such as physical shape, voices etc) have never been anyone else other that someone who is in great shape. Angelina Jolie (Tomb Raider movies-2001 and 2003), Jill de Jong (2007), Karima Adebibe (2007) are just a few of them. It has been said that the raising status of Croft as a sex symbol in the video games (due to the increasingly gratuitous artwork and advertisement) as being detrimental to the character, who has gained more attention from her appearance than her tough-as-nails spirit and determination.
Section II:
Claim: There are supposed to be some major changes happening with “Lara”, why does it seem like it will be worse that better before it’s over.
Evidence: It has even been stated that she would undergo a redesign and become more “demure” in Tomb Raider: Legend for the sake of becoming more appealing to female gamers. However, it has been said that some of the outfits that she wears in this game are more revealing than outfits seen in previous games, with many of them showing her cleavage and/or midriff (although most of the available outfits are fairly modest). It seems like she is being design to portray like “Eye and Thumb Candy for the boys out there”, vs. as a strong dependable , seeker of the truth, both large and small that it has been said she was suppose to be doing and continues to this day.
Section III: Dealing with the opposition
Twenty-five years ago video games were something that guys played (mainly kids and some adult males), in today’s world the landscape is shifting. While the gaming world is pretty much male dominated, there is a large and growing population of female gamers out there.
Video game companies need to improve the attention to the designing of the games more, because per research it has been shown that the female gender (gamers) are shelling out almost as much money as it’s male counterparts.
Mainly because if we continue to cater to the existing (male) players, we’re never going to grow, thus decreasing the possibility of that Pot of Gold increasing more than it already is and that could mean the possibility of losing billions.
The first thing that the gaming companies need to understand is that male and female gamers are wired differently. They need to understand that women are looking for a quick fix, a game that they can hop in and out of with relative ease. Spending time trying to improve the characters abilities is more a male thing. Thus they need to be creating a more realistic heroine and not a scantily clad Tomb Raider.
Conclusion:
Now supposedly, here is this intelligent, beautiful, athletic woman, who also happens to be named on Game Fly’s List of Hottest Chicks Ever (2008), as well as honored with a star on the Walk of Game (2006) and even made the Guinness World Record as being recognized as “Most Successful Human Video Game Heroine. And on a poll held by MSN in 2008 of who was the most Iconic video game character, in which Lara came in 3rd but actually drew with Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog.
With all of this going on, why is she allowing them to portray her as a Cyber Bimbo? Lara Croft is considered by critics and fans alike as one of the most significant game characters in popular culture as well as the most famous female video-game character (which we know as she has been names in the Guinness Book of Records).
Yet, she has allowed them to dress her like a “Bimbo”, as well as being portrayed seemingly in an increasingly bloodthirsty manner (in the first two sequels of the series), and also not giving Lara the option to avoid lethal force against human characters. But it was said that they did a subplot in “Anniversary” where Lara mentions feeling guilty that she was forced to kill for the first time. According to Toby Gard (the original designer), he was stated as saying; “We wanted to make Lara’s first kill more meaningful”. Yes, let’s make her seem more human, and not just a killing machine like the rest of the video world.
We need to improve on all video games, and especially the ones with female characters. Females need to be portrayed as strong, independent and yet intelligent. Not all females go around killing people or dressing like Bimbos. They should try to make it a bit more realistic.
A very important way to reach females (as gamers) as well as the men out there is to create realistic heroines, not damsels in distress and certainly not scantily clad Tomb Raiders. In today’s world women and girls both are put off by the misogynistic treatment of females, where they are often nothing more that bikini-clad digital eye candy.
Games like the ones today; that have their female characters portrayed in this fashion, tend to lead the men in the world to assume (stereotype) all females that they have come in contact with and any that they will come in contact with in the near future. This could end up causing more harm than good for females in today’s world, where we have enough to deal with.
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