Guns in games
- Thread starter Atheist Pope
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Weaponry of any calibre is a means of power. "male power", if you want to get Freudian. Most people seek a form of power to exert themselves on others / the game world / the villain / whatever.
Weapons are a 'tool' if you like, for the protagonist to protect him/her/themselves and for the antagonist to pose a threat to the protagonist. They are universally recognised as a threat. By looking at Crash Bandicoot, you wouldn't think he was capable of taking out so many critters, would you? But give him a pistol and suddenly you know he means business. Just look at what happened to the Jak and Daxter franchise. From cute n' cartoony to brooding and badass.
Also, violence is always entertaining and - like sex - is an unavoidable part of the human experience. Though the better term for such a generalisation is conflict. Violence can mean anything from slamming a door to blowing someone's head off. Games deal with violence often because it's a heavy topic and powerful means of expression, and is less controversial than sex and other sensitive topics and themes.
Weapons are a 'tool' if you like, for the protagonist to protect him/her/themselves and for the antagonist to pose a threat to the protagonist. They are universally recognised as a threat. By looking at Crash Bandicoot, you wouldn't think he was capable of taking out so many critters, would you? But give him a pistol and suddenly you know he means business. Just look at what happened to the Jak and Daxter franchise. From cute n' cartoony to brooding and badass.
Also, violence is always entertaining and - like sex - is an unavoidable part of the human experience. Though the better term for such a generalisation is conflict. Violence can mean anything from slamming a door to blowing someone's head off. Games deal with violence often because it's a heavy topic and powerful means of expression, and is less controversial than sex and other sensitive topics and themes.
Every story, and every game, needs conflict to drive it. If it isn't physical conflict then it's conflict of some other kind (emotional) but we don't really get that in games because it would suck. In this modern age the easiest way to have conflict is to have guns. Even in games like Zelda you have swords and bows, and even in Mario we've got ways to fight with enemies.
Actually in the real world i am very glad that guns exist. I mean yes they do kill people but the deaths they cause are often quicker that that of anicent bronze weapons. They are, in and of themselves, mercy killing. I would much rater die from a heart shot than having an enemy warrior cut off my arm. That and the psychological damage for the victor was much more before guns came into existence.
Let me add these other games I have on my list (mostly indie and art games):SnowdensOfYesteryear said:
Braid
The Void
The Misadventures of PB Winterbottom
The Void (yes I repeated that in purpose)
The Path
The Void (Isn't it clear the message now?)
Pathologic (made by the same creators of the Void)
The Void (I should stop repeating right now)
Super Columbine Massacre RPG!
Every Day The Same Dream
The Void.
Alright The Void is probably the most original game I have ever played, and the best example of Art Game there is (yes, even better than Shadow of the Colossus), and if you couldn't say by my repetition, just go and buy it now.
Games have to have some form of challenge for the user to overcome. Violence just happens to be one everyone can relate to and enjoy. Its by far the most common, but does not mean its the only popular type of game. I for one enjoy a good puzzle game as well.
So does the OP or anyone else for that matter know of a way to tell a story of conflict between good/evil,right/wrong, revenge, or etc. without any form of violence?
Also point and Click adventure games are usually pretty low-key on excessive violence and there are also detective and doctor games that come out now and then, or are those to "Casual"?
Also point and Click adventure games are usually pretty low-key on excessive violence and there are also detective and doctor games that come out now and then, or are those to "Casual"?
Probably because of Halo Combat evolved. I revolutionized hardcore gaming and created a franchise that to this day is loved by many. Then with the amazing money amounts created Cod4 and MW2, every game wants to be the like them.
