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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.'"
In this case, movies and books had delved into similar subject matter and seldom faced such protest.
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One thing that heartens me is that movies, books, and music have covered these subjects and have been protested for it. In many cases, we're now on the other side of that: dealing with (some) tricky subject matter has become acceptable. We can use those mediums to talk about topics that are taboo.
If that can happen for traditional media, it can happen for video games, and that's a Good Thing(tm). I'm optimistic.
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Dejobaan Games - Bringing you quality video games for over 75 years.
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So that's what they were trying to do with the Emotion Engine.
Seriously, though. To make a game as emotionally moving as a movie or book, there's needs to be a well-developed plot and rich characters that the player(s) can identify with and/or fall in love with. A lot of games lack one or both of those. Also, few games tell much of a story other than having you complete objective A, B, and C to fight Boss 4B and see the next cutscene. Until a higher level of depth is achieved, video games will not evoke much in the way of emotions. All the fancy graphics and great gameplay in the world will not evoke as much emotion as well-written plots and characters.
Everything I say is a lie. Except that... and that... and that, and that, and that, and that... and that.
On his particular quote in the summary, I definitely agree. 'Video games' has the same stigma that 'comic books' have languished under for many years, and perhaps gives us a hint as to how much hope we can have of altering that. It is interesting to observe, for instance, that most people seem have no idea that the video game industry has been generating more cash than the movie industry for several years now. That is but one metric, but the Jack Thompsons of the world would have you believe that this new interactive medium is somehow corrosive to one's personality - I would think that this argument had been beaten to death back when RPGs were supposed to be making teens kill themselves, etc.
If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.