In Memoriam: How The Sims Made Real Life A Bit Less Awkward

March 02, 2013 Comments 31 notes gaming editorial editorials gaming culture The Sims

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The new Sim City is on the way, revitalised and as graphically updated as you could imagine on current PCs but also lugging along with it other modern day features such as the always-online DRM system. I can’t help but think back to simpler times, when I used to come home from school to play the classic Sim City 200 on my first ever computer (a Pentium 586 133Mhz), marvelling at all the possibilities at one’s mouse cursor tips and stressing out over dropping approval ratings amongst the general populace as I contemplated raising taxes to garner funds for our soon-to-be-exploding power plant.

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January 11, 2013 Comments 51 notes gaming politics gaming culture
Joe Biden meeting with gaming industry on gun violence Smokin’ Joe Biden, who also happens to be the Vice President is meeting with several key publishers in the industry today to discuss the effects of gun violence in games and what the White House can do about it. It’s all part of the White House’s initiative to explore cultural factors that may be contributing to the latest uptick in gun crimes. Personally speaking, I think if someone is a few tacos short of a combo platter, a video game isn’t going to be influencing them any more than the latest torture porn flick or Catcher in the Rye; which is infamously loved by serial killers and nutballs. The reason why is really anyone’s guess.  Without a doubt there are some games which are simply not suited for youngsters, which is why we have the ESRB. It comes down to a parent to make that call if it’s a good idea or not for their 7 year old to be playing 40 hours of Call of Duty a week (I don’t think it is). Even more important is a parent keeping an eye out for violent behavior and signs of any mental illness, which seems to be the real problem in all of this and not any one form of media.  Via: HP

Joe Biden meeting with gaming industry on gun violence

Smokin’ Joe Biden, who also happens to be the Vice President is meeting with several key publishers in the industry today to discuss the effects of gun violence in games and what the White House can do about it. It’s all part of the White House’s initiative to explore cultural factors that may be contributing to the latest uptick in gun crimes. Personally speaking, I think if someone is a few tacos short of a combo platter, a video game isn’t going to be influencing them any more than the latest torture porn flick or Catcher in the Rye; which is infamously loved by serial killers and nutballs. The reason why is really anyone’s guess. 

Without a doubt there are some games which are simply not suited for youngsters, which is why we have the ESRB. It comes down to a parent to make that call if it’s a good idea or not for their 7 year old to be playing 40 hours of Call of Duty a week (I don’t think it is). Even more important is a parent keeping an eye out for violent behavior and signs of any mental illness, which seems to be the real problem in all of this and not any one form of media. 

Via: HP