Just watched that video.... kinda makes me want to cull the flock of women that inhabit our world... That was some of the dumbest stuff i've ever heard. Does no one think that you can play games for the same reason you read a book and watch movies? Just because they bring you joy and make you happy?
Not knocking the guys that were emotionally moved, that's fine, and i'm glad you found a game that could do that for you. How about this guys girlfriend pick up a controller and try playing with him? If she doesn't like it, then he doesn't have to go with her when she gets her nails done....
That segment was rediculous. I'd heard Tyra had a show at some point. but i thought it was America's Next Top Model...
Hmm. Excellent topic, although i'm appalled at the lack of understanding of games, I can't say i'd expect less from Tyra Banks.
Now, to answer your questions, I can't say a game has ever brought me to tears, but i've certainly been emotionally effected by moments in games. In Fallout 3, for example,
I helped to Ghouls get into Tenpenny Tower peacefully, after 'persuading' some of the more bigoted residences that they no longer had a place there. Convinced i'd done the right thing, I moved on.
However, when I retuned a couple of weeks later, I found all the non-ghoul residence conspicuously missing. After a brief search, I found them, or what was left of them. After confronting Roy, I got genuinely pissed off that they'd used my gesture of peace to get into the tower and then slaughtered the residence. So, I pulled out my shotgun and got some revenge, Punisher style.
Man, did my Karma points go down.
The point is, I got genuinely angry at the betrayal of the character, even if it was just a game. And in Mass Effect, having to make that choice, not once, but twice, didn't make me cry, but I was certainly effected by the choice.
Or in Far Cry two, it wasn't a part of the narrative that got to me, but when one of my buddies, who came and rescued me from certain death one too many times, lay dying in my hands, and I could do nothing but pump more morphine into them, and my mind fleetingly wondered if it wouldn't just be more merciful, judging by her anguished cries, to pull out my pistol...
As for the second point, I'd agree with what seems to be the general consensus, that it's definitely OK to cry at, or to otherwise become emotionally involved in games, just as it is with films, TV, music, books, or any other media outlet. In fact, i'd argue it's more acceptable with games, simply because they have by their nature a much greater level of immersion. I wasn't idly watching the the choice made by some one else in Far Cry 2, I made the decision, the consequences for it were on my head, it wasn't some alien character debating on if there was enough morphine for a dying buddy, or if the pistol was a kinder option, it was me. In every other comparable media, anything that happens, be it a joyous event, tragic disaster, difficult decision, etcetera, happens to someone else, i'm just watching. In game, or at least, well written, immersive games, it happens to me.
Unfortunately, whilst game has made progress towards the territory of mainstream society in the last few years, gaming as a whole is still not understood by many, who assume it to be just for kids, or somehow incapable of effecting people as films or books can. Hopefully though, as games gain more mainstream acceptance, horrific displays of ignorance on the subject, such as that apparently displayed by Tyra Banks, will be much less common.
1) Yes, to the (I know it's a bit cliche) opera scene in FFVI, and again in Persona 3, when I got the absolute final ending.
2) Why not? Like the OP said, we do it all the time with books and movies, and videogames are (my opinion) better at eliciting emotion, given how involved you are, and there's always this sense of "I could've saved him/her if I was stronger/faster/better/etc."
I personally have never cried at a game. I've had those moments wher part of me chokes up a little bit though.
Also, I think hell yea it's ok to cry at a videogame. People can watch a movie, which takes two hours passivly watching, and become emotionally attached to it to the point they just bawl at some point. If you spend days, or weeks becoming attached to something you partly control, like a videogame, of course it's ok. You become attached to parts of a game, it's human nature. It's a visceral experience intended to provoke reaction.
I've never felt emotionally attached enough to a game character to cry. I've had tears well up when watching movies though so I wouldn't say it's beyond me.
If you feel sad enough when playing a game to cry I think that it's a sign that it's probably a good game, because you that strong of an attachment to a game character.
If I saw a friend of mine (a guy) crying when playing a game, I'd probably take the opportunity to point and laugh, but I wouldn't think less of them as a person.
Okami. When the little guy is asking everyone to pray for Amaterasu. I had to punch myself in the arm and take a shot of bourbon to get my manliness back.
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