Articles
GameGuy:
The “Law and Order and Government” Edition
By Mark H. Walker
Road
Trip
It will soon be easier
for North Carolina’s Red Storm to collaborate with Massachusetts’
Papyrus on future games. Not that the studio that brought us Ghost
Recon would ever want to work with the kings of round track racing
(NASCAR 1-4), but the Virginia Department of Transportation
(VDOT) has decided to give them a hand just in case. At least if the
Red Storm folks want to drive through Virginia enroute to Boston.
VDOT has decreed that the
territory needs a new interstate. The asphalt and its attendant Wal-Marts,
Burger Kings, and 7//24 Quick Marts, will uproot hundreds of thousands
of Virginia’s White Pines, Red Maples, and majestic oaks. But who
cares? Running through the mid-western section of the land, VDOT claims
I-73 will replace/augment existing Highway 220, expedite travel, and
alleviate traffic concerns. Problem is… there are less cars traveling
Highway 220 than honest Olympic judges in Utah. The Army Corps of
Engineers surveyed the situation and claimed existing roads were sufficient.
Nevertheless VDOT intends to lay the road. Can’t blame them; construction
looks like progress, progress smells like money, and money talks.
It’s just a shame the trees have to walk.
A
Rose by Any Other Name
Speaking of talking money,
how about that State of Emergency (SOE)? It’s selling
like hotcakes and putting a large fecal ingesting grin on the savvy
folks at Rockstar. Savvy is a good description, their public relations
folks branded SOE the world’s first riot game… avoiding the obvious,
and more accurate label -terrorism. Still, I don’t know a better description
than terrorism for a game that has you bombing innocent people. Nevertheless,
it sells well. I just wonder how many copies they’ve peddled to Ground
Zero at the WTC, Army Special Forces troops, or Daniel Perl’s widow…
Georgia
Peach
Bo Jackson was the only
good thing to come out of Georgia. Well, at least until now. Earlier
this month four Georgia lawmakers proposed the Violent Video Game
Protection Act. Bottom line, the bill makes it illegal to sell certain
games -you have to be thinking it means the ones with “Mature”
ratings-to kids under 18. The message is simple: If you want to make
games with gratuitous violence, go ahead. On the other hand don’t
expect to sell them to droves of eleven year olds.
No doubt this will promote
more whining than California’s vineyards. You mean you expect us
to write GOOD games? The developers will say. Damn, it was much easier
to splash some blood on the screen and sell the gross-out factor.
I think it’s a good thing.
The bill that is, not the whining (It’s never pretty to see grown
men whine). If you can’t sell the crass, vulgar, and disgusting you
may have to actually promote the clever, intriguing, and fun. Like
maybe a collaboration between Red Storm and Papyrus. NASCAR Recon
anyone?
© Mark H. Walker,
LLC 2001
Mark H. Walker is a veteran interactive entertainment
journalist who has written over 40 books including his recently released
Medal of Honor and Wizardry 8 strategy guides.
