| 14 OCT 2002 at 10:49am |
AlistairIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 3
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Online | >Stick to the games if I want reality I will turn on the tv
Alistair
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| 14 OCT 2002 at 11:36am |
sennebecGuild Master
Posts : 3334
Joined: 15 NOV 2004
Location: US, maine
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Alistair (14 OCT 2002 10:48am)
>Stick to the games if I want reality I will turn on the tv
Alistair
i tend to agree with alistair...
one reason i play adventure games is for escaping the ever constant buzz of harsh realities...
it's all around us... on our radios, tvs, even the start-up home pages on most everyone's computer !
i don't think i want to see a reality-check on JA...sorry :-[
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| 14 OCT 2002 at 12:13pm |
CerberusPrivate Detective
Posts : 417
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Online | I think that the two should be kept seperate, however I am always interested in hearing other peoples opinions about real-life stuff.
There is an off-topic forum here, perhaps that would be the best place to discuss such matters, seperate from the usual gaming content?
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| 14 OCT 2002 at 2:01pm |
| Deleted User | Hello Mark,
I will put in my two cents worth as follows: I keep up with the US situation through the newspapers and CNN. I agree with you that it is horrible. Actually, it is beyond horrible. It takes my breath away. My children live in the DC area with the sniper. My oldest son was very close to the incineration in the Pentagon on 9/11. Games, books and other hobbies are a sanctuary from the miseries of everyday life - as are Just Adventure and other online game sites. Therefore, I think that you should continue to do what you do so well - write about the gaming world. And leave the rest to CNN.
Harriet@JA
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| 14 OCT 2002 at 3:01pm |
bleepnikPrivate Detective
Posts : 544
Joined: 13 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Alistair (14 OCT 2002 10:48am)
>Stick to the games if I want reality I will turn on the tv
amen. games are my escape from reality.
.g
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| 14 OCT 2002 at 4:36pm |
JonasKyratzesSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 280
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Mark_H._Walker (14 OCT 2002 10:10am)
Hi Guys,
A sniper is murdering DC residents, kidnappers nab children with frightening regularity, and mothers use fists to take out their frustrations on young kids. As Batman once said, "It's not a normal world."
It's hard, in these times, to write a gaming column. I mean how important is the length of Syberia when we contemplate war on Iraq? Do you all think people would rebel if I started including a slice of reality in my column? Sometimes I think I should use this platform to discuss greater issues.
Everyone's thoughts?
Best,
Mark "GameGuy" Walker
I wouldn't mind.
[i]
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| 14 OCT 2002 at 5:43pm |
nytimesguyPrivate Detective
Posts : 684
Joined: 14 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Just not too big a slice. Sometimes all one needs is to draw a line from game to reality to make a point. When I reviewed the war strategy game Medieval: Total War I ended by suggesting that Bush's current strategy towards Iraq would make sense if he were playing a game and could restart if he screwed everything up, but that was two sentences out of the review. Unfortunately my editor softened the line, but it was still better than nothing. Anyway, if you can tie a game to the real world in a compelling way, go for it. Just don't get so obsessed with the state of reality that you can't enjoy the games or talking about the games. We have to have some fun before Bush gets us all blown up.
Charles - Game Theorist
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| 14 OCT 2002 at 6:49pm |
The Terror of the Wolf part 3Schattenjger
Posts : 2391
Joined: 11 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Ultimately, if we really want to discuss topics like that, there is an OT forum here too.
Of course, there's bound to be unhappy things in the world. There always have been and always will be. That's not so much of 'the world today', but just The World itself. It's in human nature to screw around with everything that they can, as sickening as it is. So, is there a reason to let it get to us? Well, yeah. It's our world too.
Because of that, most of us are not really in any position to change things. That's the sad truth. We can help out when we can, but beyond that we're only one person. We can't change the whole world by ourselves, that's why we help out. But as far as I'm concerned, the best way to help out is not to contribute to it all.
I mean, do we go out and murder people? Do we cause other people to suffer? Do we enlist in the army and fly overseas to murder people? Do we beat our children and rape our significant others? I'm assuming here, but for the most part I'm sure I can say that we don't. Because we're too busy playing Adventure Games
It's kinda like seperating buisness from pleasure. In our days, we can if we choose work to make the world a better place. But when we want to relax and unwind, we can come to our own little corner of the world, where only those we care about matter, and let the sorrows of the world dissapear. This is such a place.
So yeah, we can discuss all that. In the OT forum. But for here, let's keep this a sanctuary.
[url=http://www.justadventure.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1136331866/0#0]GAMES FOR TRADE!![/url]
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| 14 OCT 2002 at 7:18pm |
CindyIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 7
Joined: 14 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Hiya, I'm new to this forum, but rather old to the gaming world. I recall how difficult it was to continue to write columns, oh, probably from the day after 09/11/01. I have one due tomorrow, and am still pounding my head against the wall.
I do agree that most of us who have chosen this particular -escapist- activity have done so for, er... escape, perhaps?
It's sometimes embarrassing to admit gaming-amidst-the-bombs-and-the-ashes to people who don't understand--especially in the recent world climate that Mr. Walker has alluded to. It is probably not as -citizen-of-the-world-ly- as volunteer work or as -Sivananda-mantra-esque- as yoga and meditation, or as scintillating as a brisk workout, but it is certainly healthier than a lot of things we could be doing, like drugs, alcohol, wife-beating, etc.
Let the games remain.
*****************************&&Cindy Yans&&Features Editor&&Computer Games Magazine&&www.cgonline.com&&******************************&&Eschew obfuscation&&
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| 14 OCT 2002 at 7:43pm |
| Deleted User | Hi Everyone,
Thanks for the thoughtful input. I appreciate it one and all. For the most part, I agree with you. But, as Popeye would say, "I yam what I yam." So, I gots to say a couple of things.
This world is a great place. CNN doesn't depict reality, but rather a sensationalistic broad-brush that sells commercials. For every muder there are hundreds of acts of kindness that go unreported.
I do intend to continue writing about games, but I do hope to also tie into the real world. Technology run amuck, rudeness, and knee jerk politics are issues that bother me deeply and I hope to tie them in to my gaming views.
Oh BTW, please don't berate the pilots, soldiers and saliors who implement our government's policy. It is not their choice to bomb a foreign country. It was, however, their choice to serve ours.
Best,
Mark
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| 17 OCT 2002 at 12:37am |
overcomeSpace Cadet
Posts : 112
Joined: 16 OCT 2002
Status : Online | I think you should go ahead and use your article to state some of your opinions. Or maybe just do it fully in one article. It seems like it is taboo to talk about political views and religion just about everywhere.
But better to cause a stir than do nothing. I think no matter the state of world affairs games should be there for children and even adults to show them that there are alternative worlds to teh violent one we have created. Inspire them hopefully. But right now our games are increasingly a reflection of our society's violence and primitiveness rather than an alternative.
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| 17 OCT 2002 at 2:39am |
MichalNGrand Inquisitor
Posts : 7058
Joined: 14 SEP 2003
Status : Online | overcome: There is a good reason politics and religions are often "taboos" as discussion topics. The outcome of such discussion is known in advance - people will not agree on these matters, they will piss each other off and come to no conclusion whatsoever. You might as well skip the exercise.
Mark: This is a normal world. Live with it If you think there was any period in history that was significantly better, I'd like to hear about it. People have a strong tendency to forget the bad things.
As for the perceived impact of 9/11, I would suggest that it has a lot to do with the concentration of journalists in NY and DC (which is quite possibly the reason why these cities were targeted).
Oh, and regarding "implementing the government's policy": the enemy soldiers always do that too.
I forgot my sig.
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| 17 OCT 2002 at 3:58am |
mszvPrivate Detective
Posts : 751
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Online | In this forum, I prefer the focus to be on adventure games. I come to this forum to learn about adventure games, and read what other people have to say about adventure games. The Off Topic forum thread is where to discuss non gaming stuff. I would prefer that the gaming threads be non-political and focus on games.
If you write a gaming column, and I read it, I want you to write about computer games, not world events. I don't go to a trade journal to learn about a writer's opinions on world events. Writing an editorical piece in the newspaper, that's a different thing.
Lest you think I am being too harsh, let me state that one's view of the world informs everything that one does, you can't get away from it. Who you are, what you believe in, what you care about, whether or not you think the world is a dangerous place, all this will inform your writing, whether you want it to or not. So, just bring everything that makes you "you" into your writing.
I also think that what we care about, learn about, talk about, our hobbies, careers, avocations, passions, all of these are good things, in their own right. Perhaps it's arrogance on my part, but I think it's good to care about my career, and to work at doing a good job at it, as well as my hobbies, such as gaming. I don't always separate the two. I bring what intelligence I have (I think it's gone down!), my analytical nature, my interest in other fields such as contemporary art, I bring all of this to my gaming experiences. I think doing a good job at gaming (really, really getting into the game, or even analyzing it) is a very worth endeavor. What we learn in our jobs, our life experience and our hobbies makes us who we are, and can make us better people.
Finally, in response to another person on the thread, I do think (being "blindly optimistic" perhaps), that there is always something you can do to help the world. We all can't be firefighters or heroes, we just have to do the best we can. It's also good not to give into fear, terror, or always feeling sad. Games are a good thing.
Take care.
Regards, mszv
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| 17 OCT 2002 at 10:46am |
| Deleted User | Great opinions. I love reading this stuff. But one, nagging question weaves through these disertations like a needle through wool... How do I get one of those avatar thingies under my name?
Best,
Mark
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| 17 OCT 2002 at 12:17pm |
emmaPrivate Detective
Posts : 525
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Avatar... I belive you can find that under the heading Profile, on the top!
I think this is a really interesting topic. My immediate gut response was, like some others here, no! Don't bring in reality! But then I started to think, what if a game actually has some sort of connection to current events, it's not an impossibility? Like in the sense some movies has to current events? Today, EVERYBODY knows what some horror movies from the fifties subconsiously stood for. Well, then of course you have to write about that, as you see it. Art-forms has always been a part of our culture and history, sometimes being symbolic, sarcastic, realistic and so on... Art is in fact a part of our reality. and yes, Adventure Games are a form of art.)
After giving it some thought, I have to say, there is no way to make a decision on wether or not you should let current events seep into your articles. You just have to roll with it I guess...?
[URL=http://www.dvdprofiler.com/mycollection.asp?alias=emma]My DVDs[/URL] | [URL=http://www.adventuregamers.com/]AdventureGamers[/URL] | I haven't lost my mind, I've got a backup on a disc somewhere.
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| 17 OCT 2002 at 2:12pm |
bistroSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 240
Joined: 15 OCT 2002
Status : Online | I live and work in the D.C. area. Lost two aquaintances in the Pentagon on 9/11. Now we have that *&^% sniper lurking around (hope the cops fire two warning shots IN his head). I have been and always unindated with the news and commentary (part of my job to review that stuff). I just discovered this site the other day. I come here for my love of adventure games, not to see the news or commentary (no personal offense intended). Let's keep to the subject matter here, please. Or keep it in the OT. The occasional comment is OK, but please bring the subject back on track.
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| 17 OCT 2002 at 2:48pm |
emmaPrivate Detective
Posts : 525
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Online | errrr... sorry, I thought that was what I just did? Didn't mean to perpetuate the sidetracks of this thread.
[URL=http://www.dvdprofiler.com/mycollection.asp?alias=emma]My DVDs[/URL] | [URL=http://www.adventuregamers.com/]AdventureGamers[/URL] | I haven't lost my mind, I've got a backup on a disc somewhere.
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| 17 OCT 2002 at 3:08pm |
AdsoIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 16
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Hi everyone,
This is a great thread and I find myself torn about it like emma. However, I also think, perhaps, The Game Guy's original question was lost. I think that in his column, if there is a correlation to current events, it might seem odd not to mention it. The forum can stay happily free of the "real world", except for the OT forum, and his column can contain whatever the muse gives him.
That's my humble opinion.
Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened.&&&&Sir Winston Churchill
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| 17 OCT 2002 at 3:13pm |
| Deleted User | Hi Emma,
Thanks for the avatar help. I even figured out a way to link to my GameGuy avatar. Tres cool! :-).
BTW, you have nothing to apologize about. You were right on topic. The topic is "The GameGuy Gets Real," and it is about the whole reality/game/best use of our life thing. I appreciated your post.
Games are an escape from reality, but they are also part of reality. A small example... the way we treat each other online. Players can hack their way through Battlenet or Everquest alienating all they meet, or treat their fellow gamers with humor and respect.
Another example... I'm constantly telling gamers to turn off their computers. This is only a small part of life. For sure it's a fun one, but so is playing two-hand touch (football or other) in the freshly fallen leaves or sipping suds around a campfire.
Best,
Mark
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| 17 OCT 2002 at 3:30pm |
bistroSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 240
Joined: 15 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Originally Posted By emma (17 OCT 2002 2:48pm)
errrr... sorry, I thought that was what I just did? Didn't mean to perpetuate the sidetracks of this thread.
Nay, nay!! I wasn't referring to your post, emma. Just posts in general where we might stray off the subject...that's OK as long as we get back to the subject (re: adventure game topic) quickly. And, as Mark says above, we ARE sticking to this topic here...
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