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Design Educations Under Criticism
Via GameSetWatch, a story at CollegeNews.org about the crass reasons higher learning institutions have for offering game design courses. From the article: "Video game design as a college major? It's yet another sign of the coming of the apocalypse. Schools of higher learning are simply cashing in on a fad that is destructive to society. Electronic Arts, the nation's largest game maker, has led the way in encouraging ivy-stained institutions to teach the design of such games as Grand Theft Auto, World of Warcraft, Doom, Wolfenstein 3D, and Mortal Kombat. Last year, the company contributed millions of dollars to establish a three-year master of fine arts program in 'interactive entertainment' at USC." More on GamePolitics.
The gist of the article is a repeat of Jack Thompson-esque rhetoric about how violent games make violent kids, etc.
Ted Rueter, the author of the article, is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at DePauw University. I don't remember many friends or acquaintances in college that majored in PolySci, unless they were A) planning on going to grad school, or B) not planning on getting job (seriously!). I think we have a case of bona-fide "marketable skills envy" here! Remember--this is coming from a man who has no apparent expertise in the realm of child psychology. In other words, he doesn't know what he's talking about. He mentions studies that supposedly prove that violent games make kids more aggressive, but doesn't reference them. I did find it humorous that Rueter derides the fact that "Many games are based upon a scenario in which a woman is kidnapped or has to be rescued". Is he trying to say that chivalry and heroism are ruining our society?
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Another nice quote:
"In Nintendo games, women are often depicted as victims. The covers of Nintendo games show males striking a dominant pose."
For example... this game depicting males as the "breadwinner" of the household. Sick.
Or perhaps this one. Another classic example of a "dominant male pose". Will somebody think of the children?
Or what about these three games, which blantantly reinforce the negative stereotype that males possess superior athletic ability to females?
And this horrid game. Another generic shooter about some steroid-addicted metallic dude saving a damsel in distress.
Don't even get me started on this one. How could anything be so offensive?
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This article is so ridiculous it's (almost) funny.