Sony's Phil Harrison Talks Emotion in Games

The increasingly enjoyable games coverage continues on the MTV site, despite the horrible flash interface. Stephen Totitilo sat down for a chat with Sony's Phil Harrison, and comes away with some interesting perspectives on the year. Mr. Harrison discusses Sony's outlook on their launch, the overall role of games in world culture, and the topic of game content as it relates to 'appropriateness'. Specifically, he dealt with the 'controversy' over Rockstar's well-received title Bully. From the article: "Harrison called it a 'storm in a teacup' stirred by politicians and media, embarking on a familiar argument that games aren't really just for kids. In this case, movies and books had delved into similar subject matter and seldom faced such protest. Did that give Harrison, someone with nearly unparalleled power to greenlight video games, any pause about the material he thinks he can offer gamers? 'It has absolutely not changed my approach,' he said. 'I fervently believe that the biggest challenge we face is that our industry is referred to as video games, and games are supposed to be fun,' he said, adding that games shouldn't have to only focus on light topics. 'Games should deal with fear, should deal with comedy and with death. They should deal with peril, with drug offenses.'"

Comments

Emotions in modern games

[jfclavette]

"Shit. I paid 60 bucks for THIS ?"

Re:Emotions in modern games

[LordKronos]

"Shit. I paid 600 bucks for THIS ?"

There. I fixed it for you.

Re:I doubt games will ever evoke much emotion

[Anonymous Coward]

I think you misunderstood what Sony's Phil Harrison means when he says emotionally immersive; what he means is "In HD" and has very little interest in anything else.

Re:I doubt games will ever evoke much emotion

[elrous0]

But you don't feel the same emotions in a game because the game is safe.

I don't know. Those wiimotes are apparently pretty dangerous.

-Eric

Breakfast Club, The Game!

[scolen2]

I am completely outraged at how my kids are playing a game where the only way to lvl is to smoke pot in the back room, Yell profranities at teachers and break school property!