The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Sid Meier, the creator of such games as SimCity, the Sims, and Civilization, has called the killing that is built into many games a "crutch." He has been quoted as saying that game designers are taking the easy way out by continually designing games that rely on killing to get the interest of the player and also the easy way out when it comes to designing the games themselves. The controversy over killing in games seems to get stronger and stronger each year. A few years ago, when the Vice City games were in full swing, people were terrified that kids were going to learn to run people over in the streets. Now it has reached a fever pitch again with the release of Manhunt. I'll first admit that I haven't played the game, but I have seen a lot of clips of it online and I have done my research. This game not only looks to be over-the-top violent and gory, it is angering many people for being designed to take advantage of the Nintendo Wii motion control system. When the character in the game needs to swing an axe or use a knife, the player needs to actually perform the action with the Wii controller. This has a lot of groups astounded that this game could even be released, as they are saying it is basically a training ground for violent acts. On the other side of this equation are the games that are trying very hard not to be games. This started with the famous Dance Dance Revolution. Getting a game, but also a dance pad, players have to copy the moves on the screen to earn points and advance to higher rounds. Not only did it open up a new audience for gaming systems, it also made people sweat and a lot of schools and fitness clubs are using the game as a way to get people active. Phenomena This is also behind the phenomena of Guitar Hero. It is a game that isn't a game. It is aimed at a new audience that games in the past have not appealed to. As well, it doesn't rely on the blood and gore of killing to get people involved and entertained. Already on to its third version with no end in sight as the Christmas season rolls into full blast, Guitar Hero is pulling in more parents to play than their kids. Another company is building on this as well, with the release of Rock Band. This is the next step from Guitar Hero. Now, you can recruit a few friends and become an entire band. Having a drum kit, karaoke mic, and a guitar, this is the next hottest thing. You can choose the instrument you want to play when you are alone, or you can bring in a few friends for a full out jam session. Online rumours state that virtual battle of the bands sessions are not far off and that there will be basically unlimited playlists of songs that will be available for this game, capitalizing on different kinds of music and popular songs in different countries around the world. Finally, there is also the Rich Girls game. Not yet released, it gets the main character to involve themselves in teenage smoking, drinking and sex to advance their lives online and to score more points. While the game designers say that it is actually a social critique, as the players can end up in a rehab centre if they go too far out of control, this game is already being panned by critics who are putting it up beside the release earlier this year of another game called Bully. So games are changing. Along with most other forms of entertainment, many of them are moving further down the line towards being more extreme, and game designers are trying out new roles for themselves and their players. But buyers need to be educated and aware. ([email protected]) Tech Notes runs Mondays.
