Biases in Simulation Video Games

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.

Comments

Re:Bias in the player too?

[pete-classic]

And any really libertarian [sic] would also agree that using government power to destroy choice by banning abortions is an equally evil, and anti-libertarian act.

So it would be evil and anti-libertarian to criminalize me shooting you because I don't like your ideas? (If you think so you're probably an anarchist, not a libertarian.)

From the LP platform page:

No conflict exists between civil order and individual rights. Both concepts are based on the same fundamental principle: that no individual, group, or government may initiate force against any other individual, group, or government.

[. . .]

The only justified function of government is the protection of the lives, rights and property of its citizens.

I don't think that I'm "making an exception" when I say that, in accordance with the above, I think it is a valid function of (state) government to protect fetuses (which, for reasons you seem to have no interest in, I consider to be "individual" "lives") from abortions.

You can't be a little bit libertarian any more than you can be a little bit pregnant. Either you are, or you aren't.

It must be nice for you to have such a cut-and-dried world view.

It isn't possible that two people, who are both really-and-truly libertarian can disagree on the facts, and, therefore, come do different conclusions even though they are applying the same set of ideals?

-Peter