Video Game Violence

I know there's a big controversy about video game violence - you know, the idea that between TV/movies/video games, etc kids these days see way too much violence, and it makes them violent? That's not what this blog is about. I mean, seriously, if you decide to be violent just because you saw a video game character do it, then you already needed help.

My take on video game (more specifically, computer game) violence is just that I don't like it. For the most part, I find violent games to be boring. In the event that a non-boring game has a few violent parts, or I'm talked into playing a violent game, then, well... OK, so, it scares me!!!

For example, there's a really cool, old, girl-detective game called Laura Bow (BTW, I found a free download last weekend on an abandonware site which I was able to install and configure on XP). LB2 is "The Dagger of Amon Ra," a whodunit set in a NYC Museum, and centering around the Egyptology craze of the 1920's. Throughout most of the game, you simply have to interview people, collect objects, explore locations, eavesdrop, and discover dead bodies. There are a few ways to die if you do something stupid like: try to cross the street in NYC, walk alone at night in NYC outside a speakeasy, play with the traps in the German security guard's office, inhale too many vapors from large vats of formaldehyde, open a steamer trunk full of hungry carnivorous beetles without bringing fresh meat to feed them (ie other than yourself), etc. However, if you use some common sense, you'll be alright... until the end of the game, that is.

Then, suddenly, ACT 5 springs upon you, and you are being chased through the museum by an axe murderer cloaked in black! Or maybe it's a mace-murderer? Anyway, if you do it properly, the scene goes like this:



... I, however, took SEVERAL tries before I was able to do it properly. If you take too long to get to the next right step, you get axed. So, this ACT both started and ended with lots of screaming. I think the first time the murderer appear, I literally got up and ran around the house (Screaming, of course - and the soundtrack doesn't help. My pulse quickens just thinking about it). Even once I did start figuring out what to do, each new screen had to be "paused" by hovering over the toolbar while I screamed a bit and figured out my next move. And since reinstalling the game... no, I haven't had the guts to play ACT 5 yet.

Another thing about video game violence, and war games in general, is that I'm just not particularly good at them. My little brother had the game Army Men, where you control an army of little plastic army men, and direct them on missions throughout the house and yard using everyday items in your operations. My brother insisted that I play this game with him, so I dutifully went off to boot camp. At one point, I was supposed to learn how to drive a tank. However, I could not figure out how to get inside the tank. So, I just decided to skip that module and walk to the next training activity. My leisurely stroll happened to cross a minefield. My little brother subsequently gave me the most withering of looks, and slapped his forehead whilst groaning "You killed yourself in bootcamp! Aaaaah."