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Torture in Games

Posted by Soulskill on 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.

7 of 249 comments (clear)

  1. Fr1st Pr0stes !!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Fr1st Pr0st

    1. Re:Fr1st Pr0stes !!!! by Pax00 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      in soviet russia the games torture you

    2. Re:Fr1st Pr0stes !!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      in soviet russia the games torture you

      TETRIS DESTROYED MY LIFE!

  2. Japan called.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    they'd like everyone to know they make games too. That is all.

  3. Asheron's Call already had this quest... by Hubbell · · 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.

  4. two words: by circletimessquare · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    SHIRE!!!

    BAGGINS!!!

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

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  5. Soviet Russia?! We did it first! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Games torture anyone who plays them. It's called "grinding your toon to the maximum level".

    I'm a glutton for punishment -- I play Vanguard. Four types of torture: adventuring, crafting, diplomacy, harvesting. Could you ask for more torture?