Overthrow the Government! (not really)

[Hey Joe]

Playing Deus Ex over the past couple of weeks and [shameless plug]writing a review for it[/shameless plug] has got me wondering why it is that gamers seem to embrace the idea of overthrowing a government in games?

It seems that shady governments screwing your character over has been a long standing theme, and I was wondering what the psychology behind this may all be. Are we merely living out fantasies repressed by society? Does playing these games foster an anti-government sentiment?

On the flip side, can you think of games that are overwhelmingly pro-government? Because all I can think of at the moment is America's Army, and apart from that, I'm drawing a blank.

Discuss.

 

[Akirasfriend]

Gamers are all anarchists at heart. The reason they want to overthrow the government is so they could have their own dictatorship where they don't mindlessly censor games and label them as pornography for showing half a bare, simulated arse in an otherwise unexciting videogame. They don't have the direction, power or ability to live out their dreams, but they can emulate them through the medium of video games, damnit!





Or is that just me?

 

[John Galt]

I think it's due to the fact that the "freedom fighter" is a very likeable figure. What's more noble than the lone underdog taking on the totalitarian regime? Nearly every person has some problem with the government at some point in their lives so we are much more able to relate to a revolutionary than to a omnipotent and omniscient force with no single face. However, I did find the story line of Crackdown to be very nice though. The whole, "we used you to cement our control" ending seemed very sinister yet real at the same time.

 

[Minischoles]

Because criticising any government is the favourite activity of almost every person on the planet. Easily blamable for everything from natural disasters to unemployment and they can't exactly say anything back.

 

[Copter400]

Nah, people are just crazy like that. Like Comrade Galt said, there's something very romantic about the whole lone-wolf-against-the-fascists thing.

 

[H0ncho]

On the flip side, can you think of games that are overwhelmingly pro-government?

Wargames, perhaps? Particularly the command & conquer games as mentioned above. Also Gears of War, Halo, call of Duty 4 - practically all games that set you up as the defender of order (order=government, so few people believe in spontaneous order nowadays)against some external threat.

Edit:
Usually these games are more glorifying the army, and doesn't really reveal anything about the rest of the government - but I still think they glorify the government, for the army is an important part of government.

 

[[HD]Rob Inglis]

Gamers are all anarchists at heart.

Not really.

 

[The Madman]

Having worked as a security guard at a government building before, I can say with all sincerity that if there is a 'The Man' or 'Big Brother' he's a short balding little fellow with a bit of a hunch and a nervous twitch to his eyes who's always thinking everyones picking on him. Atleast in Canada he is! Can't help but feel sorry for the poor lil' guy, he needs to take a vacation.

Sorry George Orwell, but as excellent a book as 1984 was so far all it's done is inspire a generation of people convinced the government is out to get them and that the sollution to everything is Anarchy.

Anyway the main reason that overthrowing the government is so popular in games is for the simple reason stated above. It's dramatic and romantic. The lone righteous fighter taking on the odds to overthrow an oppresive government! *swoon*