Comments on: Loaded Images: National Neuroses http://redkingsdream.com/2009/10/loaded-images-national-neuroses/ reflective musings and retrospective mutterings Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:28:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Daniel Golding http://redkingsdream.com/2009/10/loaded-images-national-neuroses/comment-page-1/#comment-56 Daniel Golding Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:35:41 +0000 http://redkingsdream.com/?p=99#comment-56 It also comes with the ability to 'read' games: most people presently take them at face value. If there is any objectionable content there, they assume that the game is advocating it. The same can't be said of film, but it did take a while for the general public to get there. Likewise, it'll take the general public some time to be able to read games in an effective manner. It also comes with the ability to ‘read’ games: most people presently take them at face value. If there is any objectionable content there, they assume that the game is advocating it. The same can’t be said of film, but it did take a while for the general public to get there. Likewise, it’ll take the general public some time to be able to read games in an effective manner.

]]> By: Evan Stubbs http://redkingsdream.com/2009/10/loaded-images-national-neuroses/comment-page-1/#comment-54 Evan Stubbs Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:25:00 +0000 http://redkingsdream.com/?p=99#comment-54 I think movies have the same issue; the entry cost is prohibitive, reducing the publisher's appetite for risk. We're less restrained when it comes to text because, apart from time, there's no up-front cost to writing a book. And, as we all know, a writer's time is worth nothing. :) Plus, while it varies from country to country, rating systems are far more stringent on games and movies than they are on books. So, while I can pop down to the local bookstore and buy AQOTWF or Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk, something like Super Columbine Massacre runs a very real risk of becoming banned in Australia simply because it deals with mature, potentially confronting material. I hope we'll continue to move towards a more experiential perspective in appreciating games, but with people like Michael Atkinson out there, it sure isn't going to be coming from Australia. I think movies have the same issue; the entry cost is prohibitive, reducing the publisher’s appetite for risk. We’re less restrained when it comes to text because, apart from time, there’s no up-front cost to writing a book. And, as we all know, a writer’s time is worth nothing. :)

Plus, while it varies from country to country, rating systems are far more stringent on games and movies than they are on books. So, while I can pop down to the local bookstore and buy AQOTWF or Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk, something like Super Columbine Massacre runs a very real risk of becoming banned in Australia simply because it deals with mature, potentially confronting material.

I hope we’ll continue to move towards a more experiential perspective in appreciating games, but with people like Michael Atkinson out there, it sure isn’t going to be coming from Australia.

]]>