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The Moral Pathology of Vice City

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the stuff-to-think-about dept.

SiliconRedox writes "An interesting article at the NYTimes (reg req) outlining the rise of rockstar games and the imminent release of Vice City. What the article mentions but never brings together is the ability of the player to win the game through peaceful(ie: not killing people) or criminal means. The game, while being hailed as morally reprehensible, is in fact only acting out the pathology of the player." Everything worth knowing in life can be learned from GTA. For example, upside down cars explode, and flying cars can jump the bridge between the first and second city without finishing the quests. Just like in real life. I still haven't picked up Vice City, but I'm stoked. And I will most definitely not win through peaceful means.

6 of 325 comments (clear)

  1. More real life lesson by bobtheprophet · · Score: 5, Funny

    And of course, in real life I get points every time I run someone over!

    --
    Don't give me none of this "nature theme" business.
  2. What are you waiting for!? by jvmatthe · · Score: 5, Funny
    I still haven't picked up Vice City

    Still!?! YOU STILL DON'T HAVE IT?! Jeez it's been out since next Tuesday and you're just sitting around talking about getting it instead of doing something about it. What a maroon!

    Meanwhile, my GTA:VC complaints and I don't have it either! ;^)
    --
    Curmudgeon Gamer: Not happy
  3. Ob Penny-Arcade by still_sick · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Now you know"

    --
    ...Also, I didn't know Buggalo could fly.
  4. Re:Big Deal by Sentry21 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I played Descent 1-3 and Tomb Raider 1-5, and now I keep getting these urges to explore caves and mines. Why does no one ever talk about my plight?

    --Dan

  5. Re:Big Deal by $rtbl_this · · Score: 5, Funny

    You think that's bad? I played the Sims for a while and now I spend most of my time going to work, doing housework, socialising with friends and sleeping. That's a damned insidious game!

    --
    "Are you being weird, or sarcastic?" said Emma. I said I didn't know because I get the two feelings mixed up.
  6. Re:Big deal by drinkypoo · · Score: 5, Funny
    Give it a freaking rest. I've played quite a few games -- Descent 1-3, Quake 1-3, Tomb Raider 1 - 5, Eternal Darkness, etc. Despite that, I haven't been any more inclined to kill people. Gee, go figure.

    Me neither. In fact, since playing quake, my hand-eye coordination has improved threefold and now when I do a driveby, I hit 57% less pedestrians!

    Now if that isn't a ringing endorsement for violent video games, I don't know what is.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"