Videogame Regulation Is Everyone's Business

Thanks to the International Game Developers Association for their editorial discussing why game developers should collectively take a stand against negative views of gaming. The writer, IGDA program director Jason Della Rocca, suggests: "The perception that games are 'bad' for us stubbornly persists, and we have yet to find effective ways to change people's minds on this issue. Game makers may be biased toward games' 'good' qualities, but you'd be surprised how many developers simply don't care about the issue of public perception, don't have an informed opinion, or believe it is all a big waste of time - even to the extent of questioning the need to fight government regulations." He concludes with a message to game developers: "In the bigger picture, resolve to push boundaries and innovate... We need not put a stop to games with violence, but we need other avenues beyond violence as a design crutch."

Comments

A small observation

[NetDanzr]

Gaming is just like watching movies or reading books. It's entertainment that is usually engaging enough to command all your attention. For some reason, however, most people get really surprised when I draw this comparison, and only those who are willing to think about it for a minute agree with me. Maybe the IGDA should target the people who are willing to think first and add some intellectual challenge back into games.

Re:A small observation

[cgenman]

Watching movies, watching TV, and reading comic books were once looked down upon as deeply as playing games is today. In fact, all visceral escapist entertainment seems to start that way... from radio shows to tango.

From what I've seen, this won't change until the generations change. A group of people who grew up on videogames will necessarily have a different perception of the situation than a person to whom videogames were what "kids do." Of course, we need to draw more girls into the fold if we want to make that transition happen faster.

All we can do is continue to make the best, most enjoyable games possible. Tarzan was once considered pulp, just as Pac Man was. Fighting bad perceptions is important too, but in perspective one more Myst would do a lot more than any number of screaming developers to change public opinion. 20 years from now, we will probably be debating the social ramafications of Dune 2, and everyone will have "always" loved good games.

Insert obligatory Penny Arcade link.

Same thing, different product.

[Sylver Dragon]

This type of thing has happened over and over again. Some new form of entertainment comes along, the current generation loves it, but the older generation does not understand it, and blames it for all the evils of society. In the end, the old people die off, and the form of entertainment becomes validated as the generation, who grew up with it, take over the control of society; only to repeate the same mistake with the new form of entertainment their own kids play. This is one of the problems with the long life spans we have now, the older generations get to hold on to the reins of power for too long, there is no way to take them from the older generation, and they don't die off soon enough to get out of the way of the progress of the younger generation. Or maybe I am just bitter because I think that 80 year old senators don't have a clue about video games, and are just knee-jerk reacting to the problem.

Some of us can't move on

[cgenman]

Many of us identify as gamers. Many of us find ourselves in the position of having to defend our lifestyle choice to other people, as if our hobby were removing the hinges from public doors or planting cannibis around the local elementary school.

Penny Arcade's latest comic shows this perception, in that we now have something to point to and say "see, we're not bad people." Why do we have to donate generously and publically to charity just to prove we aren't beasts, as if the donation somehow atones for our pasttime? It's not like community theater actors have to go outside and rake the leaves so that people will say "they may be evil, but at least they rake the leaves."

I'm a game developer. In conversation when I mention being a game developer to non-gamers I'm instantly shunned. Obviously I'm selling violence and sexual debasement to children, along with the worst devil of all, Idleness. Pointing out that the last game I worked on was intended for adults in their mid 30's just makes them think I'm selling old smut to children. Pointing out the one before that was a non-violent basketball game? I'm blamed for frat parties.

It's prejudiced crap, and we shouldn't have to put up with it.