For a while now I have been looking at the various arguments for each side of the debacle. At first glance it looks like a Consumer happiness vs. Artistic freedom situation. Both side have their valid points, but that is not the point of this thread. When you look at the arguments, you can see a whole new level going on. As the arguments have developed, it has turned into a more philosophical questions about games, mostly games with moral choices. Self expression (I.E. you) vs. expression of the artist.
All other forms of media have always been expressions of the artist, all we do is observe what makes him tick. But in games, like ME3, the artits are closer to a stage's tech crew. Setting up the set pieces so the actors can do their magic. We make all the important decisions on how we act, what we do, how we treat others, and what we say. All critical aspects when you are trying to build a theme or moral of the story. So that means the theme is in the hands of the player, do you want to say "do whatever is necessary to win?" or "always do the right thing?" You are expressing your opinions, not the artist.
on the other side. The artist still guides you to do certain things. They choose what missions you do, the responses of npcs,the moral choices you have to make. They guide you to certain ways of thinking by making one cause more sympathetic than the other. this is more so in more linear games like COD. As what you can do and say (or if you can) is strictly controlled by the artist. As an actor in the game, you still can do improve. But the artist still writes the script.
So my fellow escapist? What to you think?
All other forms of media have always been expressions of the artist, all we do is observe what makes him tick. But in games, like ME3, the artits are closer to a stage's tech crew. Setting up the set pieces so the actors can do their magic. We make all the important decisions on how we act, what we do, how we treat others, and what we say. All critical aspects when you are trying to build a theme or moral of the story. So that means the theme is in the hands of the player, do you want to say "do whatever is necessary to win?" or "always do the right thing?" You are expressing your opinions, not the artist.
on the other side. The artist still guides you to do certain things. They choose what missions you do, the responses of npcs,the moral choices you have to make. They guide you to certain ways of thinking by making one cause more sympathetic than the other. this is more so in more linear games like COD. As what you can do and say (or if you can) is strictly controlled by the artist. As an actor in the game, you still can do improve. But the artist still writes the script.
So my fellow escapist? What to you think?