Zen Of Design

The design and business of gaming from the perspective of an experienced developer

Category: Social Justice Stuff (Page 8 of 11)

Guild to Girls: You Cause Drama

June 6, 2007 /

Nihilum is one of the top-ranked WoW guilds in the world. Housed on Magtheridon, this European guild is credited for many World First kills and even some service-wide first kills. Some ranking sites consider it the best raiding guild in the world.

And for all you European readers out there, take note – they’re recruiting! But according to this post on WoW Insider, if you’re a girl gamer, you’re out of luck. The guild avoids doing so because (a) girl gamers tend not to be able to take abuse and (b) girl gamers cause drama, by their very existence. Continue reading

Columbine RPG: Lousy Game, Fascinating Message

January 11, 2007 /

With all the hubbub over Super Columbine Massacre, I thought maybe I should play it. Tragically, it’s a lousy game. And by that, I mean in terms of actually having any clue what you’re supposed to do at any given time. My own personal theory is that the guy who runs the Slamdance contest quit in disgust when he couldn’t figure out how to open his duffel bags and get his guns, resulting in him being caught by the hall monitors over and over again. Apparently, you’re supposed to know to go to the top of the hill to watch the bombs get set off. My attempt to do so resulted in, well, nothing happening. Continue reading

Kill Frag Dolls! Get Paid For It!

December 5, 2006 /

When reading this news story, it’s hard not to keep in mind that this was paid for by the company that shut down my project and laid off everyone. Perspective, and all that.

Ubisoft is giving $500 to anyone who beats the Frag Dolls (a team of girl gamers) at Rainbow Six Vegas. What could go wrong?

Well so far: 6 matches, 5 Frag Doll losses, 4 winners per match, 3 hours, 20 lucky gamers, and $10,000.  In English: Last night the Frag Dolls lost ten thousand dollars in three hours to twenty gamers. Ouch!

Government At Work: Giving Bad Games Free Press

April 10, 2006 /

Quick – which review is more likely to make a kid run out and buy 25 to Life? From The Pennsylvania congress, via GamePolitics:

“…and be it further RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives respectfully acknowledge law enforcement officers and honor the memory of the brave men and women killed in the line of duty by expressing support for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and antiviolence campaign…”

Continue reading

Meanwhile, In The Land of Make-Believe

April 7, 2006 /

I haven’t talked about the game ratings thing at all lately, largely because Game Politics does it so much better than I do. Blogroll them if you’re not already.

That being said, GP turned me on to this story of the Virginia Legislature trying to get Mature games with labels that are at least 3 inches X 3 inches square (or put another way, covering up a full quarter of the front of a standard DVD game case). Clicky clicky for a general mockup.

Brenda Brathwaite goes on to point out the obvious: Game Ratings are already much larger and more prominent than movie ratings on DVD. This is not to say that there aren’t steps we can’t take to improve how our industry is percieved and that ratings are accurate. It would just be nice to see politicians display some appropriate perspective.

Double Standard in Questionable Content

March 26, 2006 /

While I was gone, a Desperate Housewives game was announced! Here’s the amusing part:

Not only can you tap into the delicious secrets held by your naughty neighbors — including Bree, Lynette, Gabrielle, Edie and Susan — but shortly after settling into this cushy suburban neighborhood you’ll also discover you were in a car accident 20 years ago and have been living with amnesia ever since. The goal of the game is to interact with the characters to unlock a few dark secrets of your own.“As fans of the show would expect, the game is loaded with gossip, betrayal, murder and sex — you know, all the things women like,” says Mary Schuyler, the producer of the title at Buena Vista Games… (The game will be rated for ages 13 and up.)

Emphasis mine. Remember, kids, sex and murder is only bad for kids if gang-bangers are doing it! If it involves suburbanites, even Disney can get involved!

Two Great Pieces of Games As Art

March 15, 2006 /

Here are two examples of videogames that carry a message, and use the interactivity of the games to make their points.

The first is the McDonald’s game (all you need to know is that I’m shocked that McDonalds the Hamburger Guys haven’t shut it down yet). Brian helpfully reminded me of this link.

The second is September the 12th (which I’ve posted before), a profound statement about the ultimate futility of waging the war on terror with scud missiles.

Whether or not you agree with the points the makers of these games are trying to make, there’s little doubt that the game makers are trying to say something here, and that message is aided a great deal by the lens of interactivity.

Elephant Hunting

February 23, 2006 /

I saw ‘Elephant’ last night. It was, in a word, pretty horrible. I normally like Gus Van Zant, despite the fact that his movies tend to have a certain artsy arrogance to them that normally I can’t stand. I really don’t know what movie these people watched.

One of the ballsy decisions that Gus makes is to use real high school students instead of professional actors. In a result that can only be described as utterly shocking, it turns out that average high school students can’t act. Continue reading

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