Jenkins On War And Videogames

Thanks to the MIT Technology Review for their Henry Jenkins-authored opinion piece on the use of recent wars in videogames. Jenkins, an MIT professor and much-interviewed game-related academic, argues: "If the idea of turning war into games is so intrinsically offensive, why has there been so little public outrage over the use of playing cards as a way of representing the search for and capture of Iraqi leaders?" He concludes: "Given the divisiveness of current sentiments toward the war and the newness of games as a rhetorical medium, it is hardly surprising that these games offend some and disappoint others."

Comments

Iraqi leader playing cards

[PeteyG]

why has there been so little public outrage over the use of playing cards as a way of representing the search for and capture of Iraqi leaders?

Because the whole idea behind the deck of cards... was that US troops would carry them around, play games with them in their spare time, and memorize the faces of these guys so that if they happened to spot them... they could nab them.

The media really latched onto the idea, but the original purpose was to promote awareness among the troops of what they should be on the lookout for. NOT some crazy Right-wing warmongering wargasmic ploy. THAT is why there has been no public outrage.

Agree with most of the other stuff he says, though.

games and war

[HughsOnFirst]

"Given the divisiveness of current sentiments toward the war and the newness of games as a rhetorical medium,

Gee, isn't the relationship between games and war only a few thousand years old? Chess and playing cards originated in India and are both supposed to be modeled on war.