Category: Games and Politics (Page 2 of 9)

The Lost Gamergate Episode of Seinfeld

November 18, 2014 / Damion Schubert

One of the more annoying things about #GamerGate is trying to explain how it definitely started as a harassment campaign, but has long since migrated past that. It really sounds like the plot of a terrible sitcom episode. Based on that, I wrote the following.

George suspects that his girlfriend is cheating on him with a games journalist. So he writes a shitpost about the guy, starting a protest of a bullshit ethics complaint. The movement takes off, as people who legitimately care about ethics in games journalism and progressive games writing pick up banners. It starts to steamroll out of control, as George’s dad takes up the cause like a religion.

Frank: I refuse to live in a world where I can’t kill the hookers in GTA after they have sex with me!
George: But… you don’t even have a Playstation, dad.
Frank: IT’S THE PRINCIPLE!

The Art of Fun

November 19, 2009 / Damion Schubert

A version of this article first appeared in the November 2009 issue of Game Developer magazine. It’s an expanded version of this blog post.

Whether or not video games can be art has been debated for as long as game devs have been putting pixels together. It’s a question that goes beyond mere academia – games as art brings professional legitimacy for the industry, and goes to the heart of the concept of games as protected speech.

Naysayers argue that video games will never tell complex stories, touch as controversial topics, or display emotions as textured as those found in film – largely because games are obsessed with ’fun’. This argument suggests that until designers get out of the rut that is focusing on this singular emotion, art will elude us.

I feel like this particular line of reasoning completely misses the point of where the art of video game design actually lives.

Do games have to be fun to be successful? Almost certainly.

Does this mean that every game needs to push the same emotional buttons? Or that games can’t be art? No to both.

Let’s back up. Continue reading

Cliches I Wish Would Die

August 2, 2009 / Damion Schubert

Guess how cranky this video made me.

If you guessed ‘pretty damn cranky’, then gold star for you. I can get into some of the other reasons in the future, but here’s one I’d like to center on: Continue reading

Why Publishers Will Keep On Considering Anti-Piracy Options

April 20, 2009 / Damion Schubert

Pirates vastly outnumber non-pirates trying to connect to DemiGod servers for updates.

Original comments thread is here.

Illinois Lawmaker Throws Snit Fit Over Cancelling FFXI Account

August 5, 2008 / Damion Schubert

Ever spend a couple hours trying to cancel some sort of service, and say to yourself, “There oughta be a law”? Well, if you’re a politician, you can do something about it.

The Illinois House and Senate have just passed a new bill requiring subscription-based Internet gaming service providers online on how to cancel. Apparently this all came about after one alderman had a tough time canceling his son’s Final Fantasy XI account and took it up with the House. The full text of HB4178 can be read here, but it’s not made clear if virtual worlds are included in “games.” My guess would probably be yes, though.

Sometimes, the Windmill Wins

May 20, 2008 / Damion Schubert

Think of it as sweet poetic justice, or proof that Jack Thompson is too crazy for Florida (a state so crazy that Fark has their own tag), but he appears to be well on his way to ‘trouble’, as he was found guilty of 27 counts of misconduct.

In insult to injury news, New Mexico joined the elite club of states who have tossed a frivolous lawsuit championed by him.

And to add the cherry on top of his marvelous month, Jack’s had to watch his great white whale conquer the world, as GTA has racked up ridiculous sales numbers since it launched.