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Video Game Pioneer Speaks Out

Posted by simoniker on from the time-traveler-apparently-wave-of-future dept.

GreyGusMan writes "Ralph Baer was playing video games before many of us were born. CNN has an interview with the man who helped invent video games back in 1966, talking about how the idea came about - and getting his thoughts on what the industry has become. He doesn't like videogame violence, but he scoffs when asked if he thinks it's tied to real world violence." When the person talking not only created the Magnavox Odyssey, but also devised the tragically addictive 'repeat the sequence' handheld Simon (no relation), you'd better listen up.

6 of 24 comments (clear)

  1. How old is this? by ehushagen · · Score: 2, Interesting
    With a quote like this:

    "3D games were tried once - and failed because they weren't properly executed, but now that the processing power's there, who knows?," he said.

    it almost makes you wonder if he was interviewed a long, long time ago...

    1. Re:How old is this? by sweetooth · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I got the impression he meant something else by 3d. Maybe more like VR games rather than 3d rendered games as most of us play all the time.

  2. Re:Why only in US? by Slowping · · Score: 3, Interesting

    So true...

    And it's amazing these same people aren't more vocal about the war on Iraq the US just underwent. If anything, that more than any video-game teaches that problems are solved by violence.

    Now I'm not saying Saddam wasn't a bad guy or that the Iraqi people didn't suffer.

    But let's call it for what it is. One month in and no signs of WMD. Problem solved? well, I guess you could say that. But what's the lesson learned? It's okay to solve things by violence.

    Just like it was okay for those boys at Columbine to solve their problem of being bullied by using violence.

    --
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    *beware the cute-bunny virus
  3. Re:Where does it say.... by Slowping · · Score: 2, Interesting


    Um well yeah imagine how much fun a game of Command and Conquer where you win by guiding UN Weapons Inspectors around the bad guy base.

    Actually, if the AI is done right, it might be an interesting covert/political/puzzle type game.
    --
    (\(\
    (^.^)
    (")")
    *beware the cute-bunny virus
  4. Game Content by daigu · · Score: 2, Interesting

    "Still, I wish there was a little more content in some of this stuff."

    Legitimate point. Although, Wired had an interesting article that has me hoping that the Enter the Matrix game might start a trend to change that.
  5. "He doesn't like videogame violence" by xagon7 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    At least I ain't the ONLY person that doesn't think bashing innocint people with a baseball bat and stealing their car is "fun". It may not cause violence, but this glorification of the "bad guy" is pretty fucked up.