Video Game Campaign?

So, it would be completely unlike me if I let this story pass by and not make a comment. Obama has bill boards in the video game Burn Out Paradise. I have mixed emotions, on one hand as a voter and a resident of the united states, I feel like it cheapens it a bit, I feel like running for the Presidency of this country is a big deal and that people might/will look down on advertising in video games. On the other hand (gamer thoughts) the gaming industry is a huge demographic and reaches people of every race and gender and just about every age group that is eligible to vote and will spark conversations with those that are young enough to ask questions but are not old enough to vote. Gaming is so popular and so forthcoming that it would almost be silly not to advertise there, it’s like running a commercial at superbowl almost.

All in all, I think it’s a great way to put himself out there, as someone you wouldn’t mind shooting the shit with but at the same time, someone you know would kick your ass at war strategy. The in game billboard was genius. Good thinking.

Rumor: McCain wants to know if he can put bill board advertisements on Nintendo 64.

Image taken from: www.gamepolitics.com

After you beat the game, go vote!

I think this says a lot about where we are as a technologically reliant culture though. Your thoughts? Please leave a comment.

Gamers are social. Yeah, we know.

There’s always a negative stigma that surrounds hard core video gamers. ” I have a life and I can’t spend all my time getting good at video games”. ” I have other things to do”. ” I have friends” Great, we do too. The majority of people who constantly keep up with video games are part of a budding sub-culture of teenagers and young adults who, do have other things going on in their lives and use video games for the purpose that it was intended: escape, relaxation, socialization.

Think about it, some of the most popular games of this past year where? Halo 3, Call of Duty 4, Gears of War, GTA 4, Soul Calibur 4, Guitar Hero 3, Rockband…all of these games are hugely sucessful and their success is dependent on either their multi player online ability or their multi player ability in general. Gamers like to play with their friends. They like to beat their friends (lol) and they like games with potential for them to get better and recognized for their skill.

I don’t doubt that there are people who sit down and do nothing but play video games all day, refuse to get a job, have no life etc but most of us gamers aren’t that lazy. Our video game time is somewhere meshed in between catching up on our latest shows, doing what we can on our day off and rushing home after a stressful day at work so we can get some time in with our friends. Gaming is social and even games with a reputation for addiction like WOW (World of Warcraft) require you to play with multiple people, that is if you ever want to level up and see the entire WOW world.

So, the next time you get your butt whooped online playing a video game, think before you say that the person that just kicked your butt has no life and don’t judge gamers. We definitely don’t judge you for your past times.

 

Oh, if you don’t believe me, someone else was thinking the same thing.

: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080916/ap_on_hi_te/tec_video_gamers;_ylt=AsCXjQ0igF5bOM9K09WAsgUK77EF

Gaming: A study on its effect on culture

Since I’ve been playing Halo (3, going on 4 years) I’ve been plagued by a lot of issues namely from non gamers who really believe, deep down in their hearts that video games have contributed to violent outbursts in children/young adults.

Now. I’m not saying that video games haven’t upped the exposure of violence but like with movies and music, games do come with a rating. If your child is under 18 and playing a rated M (Rated M for Mature), then it’s not the fault of the Game Makers and they should not be held accountable when your underage child plays a video game and acts out (Children sometimes can not tell the difference between real and fantasy and the lives maybe blurred), what I’m trying to say is check yourself.

Example 1. If you child drinks underage, gets drunk and gets alcohol poisoning, would you sue the beer company? Example 2. If your child sneaks and gets into a movie that features cursing and your child starts cursing, do you sue the makers of the movie? Same logic applies here.

I’m tired of the blame game. The latest strand of idiocy arises from this article: http://www.wdtimes.com/articles/2008/09/05/news/news3.txt. There’s a couple of things wrong with this article and I’d be delighted to point them out.

1. An 11 year old boy decided to skip school and there was no one to do anything about it.

2. He owned a .22 calibre rifle

3. He plays halo, a game that’s rated M17 which means for mature audiences, recommended for ages 17 and up.

4. He owned a gun, but was not taught how to properly use a gun. He took the magazine out but did not eject the round that was already in the chamber.

I can not believe that journalists and even the parents are even encouraging and goading the media and the community at large by stating that he skipped school to play halo and was continuously playing halo. Uh, the parents shouldn’t have allowed the game and should have paid a bit more attention to the gun they had lying around in the house. The kid could have been trying to recreate what he saw with his parents while they were casually shooting around.

I’m tired of people using video games, music, movies and everything but themselves as an excuse for why they are not good and attentive parents. I’m not saying that my mom knew everything I did, but if it was something as intense as playing a video game, she made damn sure she did her research, she would have spent an afternoon at the gaming store finding out everything about the thing before it even set foot in the house and it would have never set foot in the house since I was underage anyways.

We need better parents, more initiative and to follow the ratings. Stop scapegoating! I’m sorry that your son passed away, but don’t play the blame game.

I am, going to play some halo tonight. Anyone getting on Live?

P.S. for entertainment purposes only: http://www.break.com/index/blame-halo-3.html

 

Anastasia R, gamer girl

Girl Gamers, Thriving?

Often times when there is a discussion about gaming, girls are no where to be found or they are rolling their eyes on there way out, why is that? Well, there are a few reasons why and as a girl gamer, I’m more than happy to share them with you.

1. Don’t automatically assume that because you’re a boy, you know more about video games or you would be better at video games than a girl. Normally if a girl is as dedicated to something, she will excel, I don’t know if you knew that.

2. If you are playing online (Online MM like Halo, COD etc) and you are playing with a girl, show some respect. Why? Because girls don’t like shit talk from random guys, its discouraging and distracting. Why ask how old she is, where she lives, does she have a boyfriend etc when you can be asking her where the guy is that killed her when you were half way across the map singing the latest Rap Song. Girls like to win. A girl is more likely to add you to her friend list or preferred list if you are a good player, don’t spend the entire time bsing when you could be contributing to winning.

3. If a girl does better than you at a video game it doesn’t mean she’s fat, ugly, dumb, has no life etc. It just means that she’s better, get over it.

4. Girls play recreationally, we don’t like spending 12 hours a day every day on a game to prove a point. We learn to play, when we’re good, we play whenever we have time. Why? We have other things going on. You still expect us to know how to cook…right?

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P.S You have halo 3? Gimme that gamertag.