When it releases, Six Days in Fallujahwill be one of the most controversial games ever made. Dealing with the War in Iraq, its immediacy is unprecedented, and with it, Atomic Games can single-handedly change our expectations for video games.
The animated documentary Waltz with Bashir parallels Six Days in lots of ways. With any luck, Six Days will treat its subject matter as seriously as Waltz, because in order to be justified, it has to become more than just a video game. It has to paint the reality of war, not glorify it the way so many games do.
One line from xXx — that Vin Diesel action flick from a few years ago — sticks with me. It’s in the opening scenes when Diesel (aka Xander Cage) denounces Senator Dick Hotchkiss for wanting to ban video games. According to Hotchkiss, they “diminish the intelligence of our youth.”
And Diesel then continues: “Come on, Dick. It’s the only education we got.”
For countless generations it has been said that the children are our future. But exactly what does this mean? A superficial interpretation will merely state that the youth will take over the roles of tomorrow.
However, as older generations are physically replaced by newer generations, there is also an introduction of new ideas, new values, and new perspectives that result in an overall change that expands throughout all social, cultural, political, and economic spectrums.
Often times, popular culture plays a large role in influencing future values. So, this begs the question of how will the generation of current popular culture, which also includes video games, come to view the world? Read More »
Asia is renowned for constantly exploring new frontiers in both gaming and technology. As a result, many of the new fads, ideas, and practices emerging from the region have fascinated many Western — specifically American — gamers.
However, it is this fascination that has led many to completely misconstrue the image of gaming in the East.
Sure, games like Doala freak us out and may never find an audience outside of Japan. And yeah, seeing people in giant Pikachu costumes and other varioius cosplay outfits may also give us chills, but should we, the West, really be shocked or surprised at gaming trends in Asia? Read More »
I was in San Francisco when demonstrators in Berkley were doing everything imaginable to drive out the US military recruiters, including (but not limited to) women making out with potential recruits to stop them from going into the offices. Despite these efforts there’s definitely been no slowdown in military recruitment. In fact, according to the New York Times, the economic downturn and slower news from Iraq have more people joining up then ever. So guess who the Army’s next target for recruitment is…gamers!
There are many games friends will play together – sports, video games, and even board games. One that’s always proven to be hilarious is Fuck, Marry, Kill. The basic premise is three choices are given, the person playing has to choose one for each category and give their reasons. In the spirit of video games, I’m going to play.
It might be yet another sign that gaming is becoming a serious industry; the government backed EPA program called Energy Star, which rates and approves electronics for their environmental impact, now includes gaming consoles on its list of researched goods. The question is; do green issues affect your gaming rig choice? Read More »
What happens when a ton of celebrities get together to educate America on the inner workings of our political machine through song and dance? “Proposition 8 — The Musical.” Enjoy.
For countless generations it has been said that the children are our future. But exactly what does this mean? A superficial interpretation will merely state that the youth will take over the roles of tomorrow.
Asia is renowned for constantly exploring new frontiers in both gaming and technology. As a result, many of the new fads, ideas, and practices emerging from the region have fascinated many Western — specifically American — gamers.
I was in San Francisco when demonstrators in Berkley were doing everything imaginable to drive out the US military recruiters, including (but not limited to) women making out with potential recruits to stop them from going into the offices. Despite these efforts there’s definitely been no slowdown in military recruitment. In fact, 
There are many games friends will play together – sports, video games, and even board games. One that’s always proven to be hilarious is Fuck, Marry, Kill. The basic premise is three choices are given, the person playing has to choose one for each category and give their reasons. In the spirit of video games, I’m going to play.
It might be yet another sign that gaming is becoming a serious industry; the government backed EPA program called Energy Star, which rates and approves electronics for their environmental impact, now includes gaming consoles on its list of researched goods. The question is; do green issues affect your gaming rig choice? 