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Biases in Simulation Video Games

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

Orsonwarcry writes "Kieron Gillen went to Prague to speak to Bohemia Interactive, known best for Operation Flashpoint. He goes on to discuss the effects of bias on simulation games. 'In other words, a simulation is never just a simulation. Equally, freedom is rarely actually free of designer- imposed desires. Even in games with the most self-expressed mandates of "choice" for the gamer, it doesn't mean that there isn't a message. In Deus Ex, the generally politically liberal Ion Storm Austin created a world where you could choose between violence and pacifistic approaches, but the charismatic characters urged you towards peace while the monsters suggested violence.'" Some interesting stuff in there.

9 of 484 comments (clear)

  1. Bias in the player too? by Thunderstruck · · Score: 5, Funny

    Surely there must be bias in the player too for this to become an issue. The article example of "mosters" urging violence, for example, assumes that every player will assume monsters are bad. Clearly these folks did not watch enough Sesame Street.

    Now go turn on PBS while I fire up a MUD, no biased graphics to distract me from good and evil there!

    --
    Trying to use sarcasm in text-based forums does not work.
    1. Re:Bias in the player too? by Kenja · · Score: 4, Funny
      "Clearly these folks did not watch enough Sesame Street."

      I agree, the Cookie Monster tells me to hurt people all the time and he seems like an ok sort for a monster.

      --

      "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    2. Re:Bias in the player too? by Rei · · Score: 4, Funny

      ... and when Big Bird told me to support the appointment of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I knew things had gone too far...

      --
      "It felt almost as good as stealing cars from grandma." -- Margaret Thatcher, probably.
    3. Re:Bias in the player too? by Rei · · Score: 4, Funny

      So lets get this straight: Killing people with a gun often isn't violence because "some killing" would happen anyways, but killing a single fertilized egg cell is? I think I've got it now.

      --
      "It felt almost as good as stealing cars from grandma." -- Margaret Thatcher, probably.
  2. Female characters by tezza · · Score: 4, Funny

    Games are biased towards female characters with very strong spines.

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    [% slash_sig_val.text %]
  3. Llamas by bornyesterday · · Score: 5, Funny

    I was always deeply offended by the SimCity series' bias towards Llamas. There are few animals more evil and mean-spirited than a llama, and Maxis' emphasis on this animal is suggestive of their cold-hearted capitalist aims!

    1. Re:Llamas by toddestan · · Score: 4, Funny

      I was always deeply offended by the SimCity series' bias towards Llamas. There are few animals more evil and mean-spirited than a llama, and Maxis' emphasis on this animal is suggestive of their cold-hearted capitalist aims!

      Well then, the obvious solution would be to uninstall SimCity and install Winamp, right?

  4. Re:World View by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 4, Funny

    Because a simulation is supposed to be an objective replication of reality. Think "The Next Generation"'s Holodeck. It's much like how journalism is an objective view of events.

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    Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
  5. Re:World View by bigjocker · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's much like how journalism is an objective view of events

    (Score:+5, Funny) or (Score:+5, Sad), I don't know which one is it ...

    --
    Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.