So I startled myself the other night. I had been looking at a lot of content about Resident Evil 5 out there in internet land and worrying that this game may be portraying Africans in a negative light. Then a debate started between my roommate and I about “What’s the difference between killing white people and killing black people?” And I think I’ve figured out the answer…not a thing.
There is very little out there that should make me feel any different about Resident Evil than say FEAR2. Except for the fact that in RE5 you’re killing people to “survive” and in FEAR2 you’re just kind of killing people. I don’t even know why. Sure they are arguably just pixels and such and such. But are these not representations of people? Maybe they have representations of wives and kids waiting for daddy to come home (that’s when I’m probably over-thinking it). But FEAR2 seems distasteful, trying to be serious for a serious audience.
They claim to gear the game towards a mature audience. An audience that is grown up enough to know when killing something is “wrong.” Arguably my beloved Saints Row 2 is similar, but Saints 2 is supposed to be violent and humorous, like Evil Dead. The over the top antics in that game are meant to be enjoyed because they’re so ridiculous. It gets the M-rating for its ridiculous violence. FEAR 2 is supposed to be serious, grown up killing for big, strong, grown up men. Which leaves me confused. Why am I killing these characters? What’s the point? Why is it trying to be serious about this? If its for an adult audience then it should have adult themes, a story, beyond just “kill the baddies.”
So I’m somewhat disgusted by the whole thing. Shouldn’t death serve a purpose (the stylized beauty of it in Kill Bill, the drama and harshness of it in The Godfather, the impossible waves of blood in Evil Dead 2, the insanity of it in American Psycho)? And it seems like video games frequently see violence as an easy way to make a game fun and interesting, without purpose…Serious…mature
Maybe my problem is that I view video games as an actual art form. I look for meaning and reason in them. Left 4 Dead is a primo nerdy example of survival against inhuman monsters, as is Silent Hill (but less nerdy). Call of Duty 4 depicts the monstrous nature of war. And some games don’t even use violence (Ex: Flower & Tetris). But all too many critically praised and consumer obsessed games focus on pointless, realistic violence as a fun selling point. Meanwhile, they claim to be mature, but have no proof of being mature games. They’re immature pretenders.
I’d like to remind everyone that criticism is not censorship. Violence has the right to exist in video games, but I find it’s current state pathetic, immature, and disappointing. I think game developers should think before they shoot. Maybe their should be greater focus on non-violent aspects in the gaming world.
And…I don’t frankly enjoy killing people.
(Thanks for the pictures deviant art and Matejko)
