computer games
Hi again!
Am I the only active gamer on this forum?
I live from disability, and though I do have a small part time job, I have much free time. I spend the major part of it with my computer, either with the internet or with games.
Lately I've been thinking to see whether I could find other christians with whom to make good computer games. I have little skill as of yet, but I could imagine to learn some blitz basic or another easy language.
Over the years I have bought myself a sizeable library of computer games and can say that I thoroughly know something about gaming.
But, somehow, I find many modern computer games lacking. For example, take the various roleplaying games on the market. Nowadays there is a trend in such games that the player is allowed to do as he pleases, to be completely free in your actions. That means, you can play such games as an evil character. One such game I own, Fallout 3, even allows the enslavement of people, even going as far as making it possible for the gamer to sell children into slavery.
Although the game and other games like this are made very well technically, I have trouble with such games, from conscience. Sure, I need not do such things and can use the freedom in such games for positive ends. But still I feel bad about it.
I would much prefer to have games that teach you something about life without dragging you into evil things. For example, I would like to make a role playing game about a policeman who simply tries to arrest criminals. The modern game industry would likely turn such a policeman into a shady figure, much like it happens in movies. Lone rangers all over. Why is there no will to fight for the good? Modern game heroes are either violent and smart people (think GTA), or they are lost in despair and misery and fight other people to take revenge (Max Payne).
I would also be interested in better management games. I have a game called "The guild", in which you can live in a medieval city seeking to establish a business and to become famous. It's a good game, but like with other games I mentioned, it has flaws. For example, you can marry and yet also have an affair with other women. You can lie and cheat in the council meetings. And there is no real reward for doing good in such games.
I am aware that most games in this way or another deal with evil. It's like with kids' games, like when they play cowboy and indian fight each other. There's not much wrong with it provided it remains a game. But again the modern industry does wrong there. Many modern games are made to immerse you in another game world, or in a historical setting. But why are games becoming so dead earnest? Why aren't they more humorous? Why must I always literally slip into the skin of some warmonger, for strategy games, why is it less possible actually to play as a good king? For example, when I play Medieval 2, a strategy game where I control a medieval empire, why is there little incentive from the game to play as a good king? If I want to win the game, I must always conquer, conquer, conquer. There should be more possibilities for good there.
I'm not sure if people should not be allowed to play evil in games. I'm really not sure. But there should at least be more options to do good, and less of this tiring earnesty.
Hi again!
Am I the only active gamer on this forum?
I live from disability, and though I do have a small part time job, I have much free time. I spend the major part of it with my computer, either with the internet or with games.
Lately I've been thinking to see whether I could find other christians with whom to make good computer games. I have little skill as of yet, but I could imagine to learn some blitz basic or another easy language.
Over the years I have bought myself a sizeable library of computer games and can say that I thoroughly know something about gaming.
But, somehow, I find many modern computer games lacking. For example, take the various roleplaying games on the market. Nowadays there is a trend in such games that the player is allowed to do as he pleases, to be completely free in your actions. That means, you can play such games as an evil character. One such game I own, Fallout 3, even allows the enslavement of people, even going as far as making it possible for the gamer to sell children into slavery.
Although the game and other games like this are made very well technically, I have trouble with such games, from conscience. Sure, I need not do such things and can use the freedom in such games for positive ends. But still I feel bad about it.
I would much prefer to have games that teach you something about life without dragging you into evil things. For example, I would like to make a role playing game about a policeman who simply tries to arrest criminals. The modern game industry would likely turn such a policeman into a shady figure, much like it happens in movies. Lone rangers all over. Why is there no will to fight for the good? Modern game heroes are either violent and smart people (think GTA), or they are lost in despair and misery and fight other people to take revenge (Max Payne).
I would also be interested in better management games. I have a game called "The guild", in which you can live in a medieval city seeking to establish a business and to become famous. It's a good game, but like with other games I mentioned, it has flaws. For example, you can marry and yet also have an affair with other women. You can lie and cheat in the council meetings. And there is no real reward for doing good in such games.
I am aware that most games in this way or another deal with evil. It's like with kids' games, like when they play cowboy and indian fight each other. There's not much wrong with it provided it remains a game. But again the modern industry does wrong there. Many modern games are made to immerse you in another game world, or in a historical setting. But why are games becoming so dead earnest? Why aren't they more humorous? Why must I always literally slip into the skin of some warmonger, for strategy games, why is it less possible actually to play as a good king? For example, when I play Medieval 2, a strategy game where I control a medieval empire, why is there little incentive from the game to play as a good king? If I want to win the game, I must always conquer, conquer, conquer. There should be more possibilities for good there.
I'm not sure if people should not be allowed to play evil in games. I'm really not sure. But there should at least be more options to do good, and less of this tiring earnesty.