Yes, games can be outright propaganda at times. |
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71.1% (54) |
Yes, but it's just to cash in on a trend. |
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19.7% (15) |
No, games are a form of art/expression, not persuasion. |
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5.3% (4) |
No, it's just a game, relax. |
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3.9% (3) |
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Copy Clerk  Posts: 117 Joined: 25 Apr 2008     | |
Copy Clerk  Posts: 125 Joined: 24 Apr 2008 | Everything has a preferred reading. The sensationalism of Americas militiary actions I find particularly disgusting. As for games like GTA. I don't think they do glamourise crime at all. You would have to be pretty stupid to draw that conclusion. |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 1815 Joined: 4 Nov 2007    | Yes. |
Paperboy  Posts: 20 Joined: 22 Nov 2007 | I've played quite a few games which haven't had any moral 'take' on the subject matter when they probably should have. Like in Age of Empires and similar games, on random map games you actually have to commit genocide to win. You have to hunt down and kill every last unarmed civilian, plus sometimes raze their houses, farms etc. It's pretty fucked up when you think about it. Also, there's a few FPS where you are told to go in and kill the bad guys... how do you know they're bad guys? How do you know YOU'RE not the evil invader/terrorist/whatever? There's a bit in Crysis where you have to do what looks suspiciously like killing a bunch of villagers who are just defending their homes. As an aside, that would make an awesome twist - like you spend the first half of a FPS killing the evil Russian commmies... then it's revealed you're a Nazi stormtrooper. |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 3011 Joined: 25 Jan 2008     | LIFE is propaganda. Games, movies, clothing, books... Any medium you can think of can be used to push a message, viewpoint, or opinion. Games in specific, yes many of them out now are VERY rich in propaganda. Battlefield 2 pitting the US against Iraq and China, Crysis being against Koreans, both push the idea that "THESE are the bad guys, kill them". If tomorrow the US went to war with Canada, I'm sure the next year's Medal of Honor would be "MoH: Northern Strike" and we'd probably see Battlefield Moosejockeys soon too. |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 2527 Joined: 21 Jan 2008   |
I'm pretty sure that something along this vein is being done with Haze. As to propaganda in videogames, yes, at times, it can be outright propaganda. America's Army (at least, it was one of those games) was actually developed by the US Army, to recruit soldiers. Though, I believe the majority aren't. They're just being really patriotic, which the American consumer will eat up. |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 2178 Joined: 20 Dec 2007  | I don't think 'propoganda' is the right term, more like just 'very bad attempts to appeal to certain demographics' - cuz cool people buy "Saints Row" - and "Tom Clancy SPECIAL OPS GAMES" - like holy crap man, I'm doing like...secret agent stuff... -and WWII shooters, GO AMERICA (Britain and Russia is cool too and all, but clearly, America did most of the work, also, France sucks, lawl.)! BOO YAH! TAKE THAT KRAUTS! Yeah, Allied forces > Axis of Evil 8) It may seem like propaganda, but you see, we've already succumbed to that propaganda during the war, so it's not really 'propaganda' but more 'don't stray too far away from current beliefs of the demographic, just stick with the program ok, Nazi's = EEEEVVIIILLL' (which is why I like that Company of Heroes: OF let you play as Germans and you got to screw up Operation Market Garden.. Most developers would have stayed too politically correct and stuck to Normandy crap, but they finally broke the ice. Also, I like that CoD is less 'gung-ho america' it has it's moments, but it gives credit to those who deserve it too.) |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 3745 Joined: 26 Feb 2008  | Sorry, I can see how games can be used as a form of propaganda, IF you are gullible. Playing Empire at War as the rebels only made me dislike them as a fighting force. Imperial Star Destroyers FTW! Also, playing America's Army doesn't make joining the Army more glamorous, it just shows a more realistic perspective of what it is like... Sort of... |
Copy Clerk Posts: 117 Joined: 25 Apr 2008 | In case I didn't anger anyone with my earlier posts enough to check my profile, I'd like to break that I'm American. Don't get me wrong. I do come from a city that prides itself on fucking up British colonialism (like all ex-British colonies, I guess) but It's not like I have a Kalashnikov under my bed and a "Don't Tread On Me" flag for a blanket. I'm not saying this to raise empathy, I don't want you to censure you're posts for my sake. This is not any response to offense, I'm trying to provide context because I said that I'd share my stories about game catering and I will. Okay, let's talk angry. When I was 15 I bought (I mean, illegally copied) a game called "America's Army: Operations" (that's right, it's a series). It's an online shooter that requires the player to spend an arbitrary number of hours in what's called "Basic Training". If you ask me, it should have been "Kindergarten". I knew something was up when I shot my Drill Instructor out of boredom, watched him ragdoll to the ground, and then herd him say "Don't worry, you'll do better next time." I'm no expert, but I'm sure US Army DIs aren't THAT forgiving, and I'm scared if they are. When I finally got online I had to read though about 3 pages of text about parachuting history, and when I got to playing I was kicked from the server over accidentally shooting a teammate, which was a feat because every in game gun except the M16 was an inaccurate piece of dog crap. Before I could play again I had to read a speech about honor and values and shit. I think the Army missed the fact that they were making game and not a recruitment tool (I know what your about to say). The fact that the Army made this game is even more disappointing. Well, I bet none of you are really surprised. I've just had trouble pointing this sort of thing out to some. Tell me more stories of you discomfort with games. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 3745 Joined: 26 Feb 2008 | I knew that America's Army was made by the Army. And No, DIs are not that forgiving. I was in the Coast Guard and our Drill Instructors weren't allowed around for Range Day because they were so harsh that they didn't want anyone shooting them at the range... Still, I don't see it as propaganda. That is still my opinion. |
Pulitzer Laureate  Posts: 851 Joined: 7 Mar 2008    | Am I the only one who's played any Barbie game? If you don't think that's outright propiganda, then I can't help you. Anything can be propiganda; books, video games, paintings, food (freedom fries, anyone?) That's why you have to keep your guard up at all times. Apologies for ruining the term "Freedom Fries" for everyone. |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 2392 Joined: 18 Dec 2007 | Yes, whithout a single doubt. What is the deal with freedom Fries? Why not call them chips like the rest of the sensible world? |
Infamous Scribbler  Posts: 700 Joined: 1 Jan 2008 | Well compare the number of Vietnam video games to WW2 video games.That's about 10 to 3000. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 2527 Joined: 21 Jan 2008 |
I think it stems from their hatred of the French... which is funny, because I remember reading something, where the same question cropped up, and this statement followed:" It's kinda funny that they're changing the name 'French Fries' to 'Freedom Fries'. It means they equate the French to freedom..." And with that, I'll take my leave... |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 3485 Joined: 13 Feb 2008   | Hey, Comics used to be blatant propaganda. If you are at all offended by racism, don't click here. This was sold to young kids with the Government's blessing.
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Gone Gonzo Posts: 2392 Joined: 18 Dec 2007 | |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 2178 Joined: 20 Dec 2007 |
That was hilarious, but they still had a "peace" (but thanks to them now everyone thinks it means 'kill the jews' - yes I'm talking about the swastika) symbol as their banner and a nice big eagle holding it for the officers, and then there's the iron cross, but I don't know if those symbolized evil or not. I doubt they actually thought of themselves as evil - but the SS, eh, probably, they were crazy. (Also, I think the skulls WERE the 'skulls of their enemies' - or at least a symbol saying 'we are going to kill you!' - because there was more than just a skull on there, there were stick grenades or something sitting around it.) |
Infamous Scribbler Posts: 700 Joined: 1 Jan 2008 |
This made me cry...honestly is this what our society comes down to? |
Copy Clerk Posts: 82 Joined: 31 Mar 2008 |
Have you seen Dr. Seuss's racist caricatures? Walt Disney testified before the House Committee on |
Beat Writer  Posts: 222 Joined: 6 Dec 2007   | Without a doubt games can have propaganda in them. The more interesting question is, knowing a game has that kind of propaganda, would you still be playing, or would it either turn you off to the point of not purchasing? Propaganda loses its power the minute it stops being listened to. |
BANNED  Posts: 146 Joined: 29 Apr 2008 |
Hey I'm American and don't hate the Fench( even though they never thanked us for freeing them fro the Nazi's) and I think that you Britts are just anry thhat you have no more clonies or power really and jealous at the fact that one of your rouge colonies beat you guys and became a bigger power in the world than you. Get over it!!! Now why don't you be a good litle Titty Britty and eat some crumpets, tea, and serve me Bacon on The Disney Cruise ship? |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 1011 Joined: 16 Jan 2008  |
Interestingly, if you put both of the games you just made up together, you get a real game. Battlefield 2142: Northern Strike. Amused me, anyway. |
BANNED Posts: 146 Joined: 29 Apr 2008 | Anyway, I think that anything can be propoganda, including what that asshat commy Frank Thompson said about gamers vandalizing his home, the old biggot. He's just trying to make the U.S. like Europe and Autralia, who ban games and only ban violent games, not sexual games. Well, I guess thats why Filter rated Britain as the 3rd most erotic country in the world... |
BANNED Posts: 146 Joined: 29 Apr 2008 | stompy: Fire Daemon: I think it stems from their hatred of the French... which is funny, because I remember reading something, where the same question cropped up, and this statement followed:" It's kinda funny that they're changing the name 'French Fries' to 'Freedom Fries'. It means they equate the French to freedom..." And with that, I'll take my leave... Hey I'm American and don't hate the Fench( even though they never thanked us for freeing them fro the Nazi's) and I think that you Britts are just anry thhat you have no more clonies or power really and jealous at the fact that one of your rouge colonies beat you guys and became a bigger power in the world than you. Get over it!!! Now why don't you be a good litle Titty Britty and eat some crumpets, tea, and serve me Bacon on The Disney Cruise ship? |
Copy Clerk  Posts: 60 Joined: 11 Apr 2008 | Technically everything propaganda of some form, every thing you read, see, hear conveys the opinion of the creator imposing his or her beliefs onto you. Unless its something you are free to do anything in with no constraints, and then your just building your own propaganda. I find propaganda to be a very... well... misunderstood word. Not all propaganda is bad, just some is. And as to stop myself digging a bigger hole than I've already dug... I'm shutting up cuz I have no clue where I'm taking this. |
Infamous Scribbler  Posts: 555 Joined: 23 Dec 2007 | [quote=ElArabDeMagnifico]-and WWII shooters, GO AMERICA (Britain and Russia is cool too and all, but clearly, America did most of the work[quote] I will eb quite frank with you sir, that is the biggest pile of steaming horseshit I have ever seen since the Kentucky derby was ended midrace to allow a slow and ugly old lady to cross the racetrack. Which is to say to the Americans out there: 1) I love your country. Seriosuly, you're TV is the only one that can hope to match the British, you all own guns, speak english and are based around the ideas of a true Englishman (Tom Paine) Your nation has been (despite what the closet communists say) a net exporterof good things vitually since it's inception. And good work for that to. But my main point is this- you did not do most of the work in WW2. No, I don't care what your history teachers told you. And you poms at the back can shut up as well, because you weren't the coup de maine either. IT WAS THE RUSSIANS. The russians were the nation whose bold resistance and unflagging determination broke the backs of the Wehrmacht. They won world war two. And anyhow, the number of Commonwealth and American soldiers who disembarked at Normandy were apporximately equal, and remained so for most of the Normandy campaign. So- to summarise Britian- 25% |
Copy Clerk Posts: 117 Joined: 25 Apr 2008 |
I actually can attest to both. There's a PS2 game called Urban Chaos: Riot Response that's more right wing than Charlton Heston would be at a gun barbecue. However, the game's actually a lot of fun. Medal of Honor: Rising Sun, conversely, almost offended me by making the Pearl Harbor attack and every other battle seem like a Saturday morning cartoon. I almost don't want to play any other Medal of Honor game because of it. A pity, considering how good MOH: Allied Assault was. |
Gone Gonzo  Posts: 1809 Joined: 14 Nov 2007 |
I would, but the way your Dollar is going, you couldn't afford a seat next to the kitchen. |
BANNED Posts: 146 Joined: 29 Apr 2008 |
Your dollar aint doing well either asshat, in casev you havent noticed it's as unstable as ours, example: last Friday it became worth as much as ours you titty britty! |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1809 Joined: 14 Nov 2007 |
Nope, just checked. Our British Pound is still worth two of your American Dollars. Yes, our economy ain't great, but it could be a damn sight worse. Oh, and reported for racism. And get a spellchecker, for the love of god. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 3485 Joined: 13 Feb 2008 |
I'd like to multiply that by their prospective armies; given that the US and the USSR had around 50 times the troops. I think we did quite well. |
Infamous Scribbler  Posts: 700 Joined: 25 Feb 2008 |
You should do your research mate. Its not a dollar, it's the Pound Sterling. The Sterling is still worth $2 and has been for some time now, our economy is doing fine regardless of the media and Northern Rock. Back on topic: Of course games are propaganda, they're a mass media. Just about every shooter has some kind of political agenda. Usually along the lines of Americans/Nato/UN rocks, Russians/arabs/asians must all die. Although outside of fps' it tends to be less prevelant/blatant. I liked Cod 4 for making the protagonists a bunch of unlikeable douches. The relative lack of we are perfect, they are evil made the characters more believable. But seeing as its going back to ww2 for number 5, I expect apple pie to be making a flag waving return... |
Did you ever play a game that was just a little too pro-something or anti-whatever?
Remember Medal of Honor? Metal Gear Solid? America's Army? Just about every Tom Clancy game?
Did a game make you feel like the developers misjudged the content? Remember every "gangsta" GTA rip-off? Every "mafioso" game?
Being a rather unimpressionable gamer (I think) I can usually pick-out the bias. I have my own stories for every game I mentioned and numerous movies and animes, but tell me what you think first.