Torture in Games

Posted by Soulskill on Monday December 15, 2008 @06:32PM from the ok-torture's-bad-but-killing's-fine-right dept.

Recent comments from Richard Bartle, one of the developers for the first Multi-User Dungeon (MUD), stirred up discussion about whether virtual torture is acceptable as part of modern games. Bartle was referring to a quest in the latest World of Warcraft expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, in which players are instructed to extract information from an NPC. He drew criticism for his view from a variety of sources, but Wired is now running a piece provocatively titled, "Why We Need More Torture in Games." The author makes the case that the failure of most media to properly portray how horrible torture actually is (for example, on the TV show 24), and the increased focus on real-world topics like Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib and waterboarding, could make games the perfect venue for demonstrating the "devastating repercussions" of torture.

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Asheron's Call already had this quest... by Hubbell · 2008-12-15 18:36 · Score: 0, Offtopic

Back in like 2002 or 2003. Nuhmidira's Bestowment which required you to choose between killing good ol Nuhmie or letting her live, your choice determined what kind of imbuement your item got.
Re:Fr1st Pr0stes !!!! by Pax00 · 2008-12-15 19:47 · Score: 0, Offtopic

in soviet russia the games torture you
two words: by circletimessquare · 2008-12-16 00:30 · Score: 1, Offtopic

SHIRE!!!
BAGGINS!!!
hang your head in shame, "nerds", that no one has posted this yet

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