A Little More Conversation, A Little Less Reaction

The fireworks were certainly flying in class today as we opened up the infamous can of worms called The Great Video Game Debate. I have to say, as a member of society who plays mainstream video games, I do enjoy things like Halo and Battlefield. Is there much substance and depth to these games? I’m not so sure. I do think that we as American gamers have become too driven by instant gratification to pursue games with deep meanings. Perhaps that is why the Japanese don’t release some of their more difficult products to us Americans.

            I do agree with Professor Leeper on the fact that it is good that this conversation is being held. Video games are becoming huge influencers in our world, and they are a force with which to be reckoned. In fact, I wrote a Sociological Study paper during my senior year on the effects of Grand Theft Auto on American teens. Research is showing that it most definitely does affect people, and it isn’t for the best. This is why I think we need to really keep an eye of video games. Never before has a medium engaged an audience in such a way. We are now actually controlling what happens in the media that we are watching as an audience. We can’t do that with films or music. This is why we must be very careful, and it is why we need to approach this subject as a civilized conversation, not a heated, opinionated argument characteristic of a Pokemon battle with Team Rocket. :)