Gamers are against the world here

I am just realizing after watching Geoff keighleys debate of Fox news about mass effect that we have no body to protect gamers from the people who think we are all BOOM BANG BOOM BLOOD GUTS KILLING, We do have Geoff, the ECA and ESA but Geoffs a great guy but hes not a lawyer hes an analyst, and the ECA and ESA are at eachothers throats. Who does the other side have? EVERY OTHER NON GAMER IN THIS WORLD. We need someone to stand up but all the good lawyers agree with jack.

What are your thoughts?

People are ignorant, and I have no idea how long it will take before people realize that games can have deep stories and characters, and incorporate violence appropiately less then movies do.

And where can I see the Geoff fox news debate?

Perhaps if fellow gamers acted with maturity and intelligence and took a deep interest in the politics surrounding video-games and the workings of the industry we would not be viewed in such a light. When I see debates about Manhunt 2 or allegations of racism in RE5, for example, I can see where these conservative cranks get their ammo. Of course gamers are by and large representative of the mass of the population, forming a broad range of opinions. There is the hulking contradiction that the games industry is now a massive behemoth yet gaming is still viewed as a comparatively niche hobby.

Most gamers just give knee-jerk reactions to criticism and defend the industry and games at all costs. Sometimes you have to take arguments on board and acknowledge that the industry is lacking in artistic merit and maturity, which is why you have to be concerned with the direction of the industry and not just the games or hardware squabbles.

There are two faces of gaming- games as entertainment and games as art. The former is advancing at an exceptional rate largely thanks to the DS and Wii, the latter is much more stagnant and sluggish. We could use the argument that gaming is still a young medium and it will progress as time passes into something more vital and worthwhile like cinema or books. However I don't think we can sit back and let time do the work, we must demand and power the forward motion of the industry.

For this shift to take place I feel the focus must be shifted from graphics towards AI and gameplay, with this comes new possibilities for meaningful emotions, character relationships, narrative, dialogue and social interaction. Games are fixated on physical actions at the moment. The technology is there to make this move, it is up to gamers and devs to get their act together. Either way the industry will eventually heed these words, be it now, or many years down the line when the graphics route leads to a dead end. I prefer to start early.

The problem with video games is that still a large number of ppl view them as childish things,something that aims towards younger audiences.This leads to misguided criticism about their content since children shouldn't,for example,be exposed to extreme content like gore and violence.If more ppl out there understood that it is not at all an industry focused on young kids (not all of it to be exact) they (and by they I mean everyone from simple civilians to lawyers and the media in general) would treat it as something that deserves study and is able to entertain,educate and make us think about a variety of topics.As for the gamers' defence issue,I think that there are a lot of ppl with power and influence out there who appreciate video games but in some cases don't want to risk their reputation and resources required to support our medium.I think that a solution will be found in the faces of gamers who grow up with this hobby and will at some point be able through position or status to defend it.

The thing is, why are videogames constantly under attack and not other provocative media? The answer is not because games are interactive. It's all because the gaming industry is a relatively easy target, compared to TV and the movies. People don't actually care about the effect games may have on people, they are just promoting themselves and buying themselves some exposure. There were high school shootings before videogames were even around, there were kids flinging themselves off balconies because they thought they were Superman. Once upon a time, rock 'n' roll was banned from radio stations.

Goes without saying that videogames can influence the sensitive mind, but so can the news on TV, outdoor advertising and action flicks. Being exposed to all that sex projected from high street billboards can stimulate an ailing mind in a sinister way. I don't see any lawyers protesting about that. The truth of the matter is that the government needs to inform parents and prevent unsuitable games from reaching immature audiences. And that's that.

Perhaps if fellow gamers acted with maturity and intelligence and took a deep interest in the politics surrounding video-games and the workings of the industry we would not be viewed in such a light. When I see debates about Manhunt 2 or allegations of racism in RE5, for example, I can see where these conservative cranks get their ammo. Of course gamers are by and large representative of the mass of the population, forming a broad range of opinions. There is the hulking contradiction that the games industry is now a massive behemoth yet gaming is still viewed as a comparatively niche hobby.

Most gamers just give knee-jerk reactions to criticism and defend the industry and games at all costs. Sometimes you have to take arguments on board and acknowledge that the industry is lacking in artistic merit and maturity, which is why you have to be concerned with the direction of the industry and not just the games or hardware squabbles.

There are two faces of gaming- games as entertainment and games as art. The former is advancing at an exceptional rate largely thanks to the DS and Wii, the latter is much more stagnant and sluggish. We could use the argument that gaming is still a young medium and it will progress as time passes into something more vital and worthwhile like cinema or books. However I don't think we can sit back and let time do the work, we must demand and power the forward motion of the industry.

For this shift to take place I feel the focus must be shifted from graphics towards AI and gameplay, with this comes new possibilities for meaningful emotions, character relationships, narrative, dialogue and social interaction. Games are fixated on physical actions at the moment. The technology is there to make this move, it is up to gamers and devs to get their act together. Either way the industry will eventually heed these words, be it now, or many years down the line when the graphics route leads to a dead end. I prefer to start early.

Caviglia

He shoots! He scores!

Let's settle this argument in a gaming tournament (fun, non-expansives, non-violent and tons of volunteers)! Gamers win! :P

Non-gamers pick any game, any. I am sure we will have a gaming champion to outdo you! :P

Whats happening to videogames now is the same thing that happened to rock&roll,R-rated action movies,gangsta rap etc.

Parents that dont want to accept the fact that they may be a reason to their children *Insert Conflict Here* try to find another reason to make themselves feel better.

Ive watched and loved every rambo,T2 And Die-hard,Listened to and im fan of Metallica,Tupac Shakur and NWA,And played hundreds of games with voilent and sexual content at the age of 6.

and im a sane and social person with no criminal record and good reputation.

Compared to little timmy who was heavely protected by mommy and daddy,kept away from the real world and grows up to be a killer.

Videogames are just a hobby,past time,another media interface like movies,It doesnt kill people.