Storytelling and Stereotypes in the World of Video Games
Posted by Victor Godinez 5:07 PM, April 30, 2008
Tom Huang, a colleague of mine at The Dallas Morning News and an ethics and diversity fellow at the Poynter Institute (a think tank for journalists, basically), recently wrote a column about whether games can be used to discuss current news events and how games should tackle racial diversity.
I sent him some of my own thoughts on those topics (they'll be included in a follow-up piece at some point) but you should look at what Tom says in the essay that's already up.
I love the idea. I think the problem is that there are no high quality developers willing to take on such a project. Bad games, no matter what the motivation behind them, will not attract players.
If it was possible to create a timely, relevant, high-quality game as a teaching tool, doesn't it stand to reason that developers would also be able to create a high-quality game based on movie license? The latter seems impossible, so far.
mine keeps freezing right after opening credits i can't play the game at all. I'll keep trying although i don't think its going to work. anybody having the same problem
Mine freezes. It froze on the opening credits and also randomly during game play. I thought it was the disc so I traded it in for a new copy, but it still freezes. I think the problem is my Xbox.
Yes this is happening with my xbox 360. Whats happening is Microsoft is putting 4-5 different dvd Roms in there 360's and not all are capable of reading this disk. Im furious about this being i Just got mine back from repair and the gave me an old referbishd one.Rockstar support told me to call and demand a brand new one. All of us being consumers. We have the right to have a working system capable of playing the products we pay for. Complaints and lawsuits are await.
i got GTA4 FOR THE PS3 and mine freezes at the opening cinima, tried pushing buttons to skip but it lets me drive for a sec then freezes like eric said this is BS, this is what i get for my $65? i hope MGS4 doesn't have the same prob! maybe this is Rockstars version of the red ring of death
Mine was freezing up a little bit the first day I played but has been fine since. I played yesterday for a good 4 hours, with not problems whatsoever. i think my ps3 just had to get used to it lol
I'm on my third rental from blockbuster and all three freeze after the first 5 min of play. I've tried every solution short of smashing my 360 against the wall. Just happy I didn't pay $60 to buy.
I too am one of the unlucky xbox 360 owners. No problems with any games before, went out and exchanged the disk, deleted the save data, cleared the hard drive cache with the x x LB RB x x thing, new gamer profile. No dice. I got through for about 3 hours initially, but once it froze once there was no going back. Freeze either at the start screen with the boxes or about 2 min after gameplay starts when it actually gets that far. Bummer. This is my last free weekend for quite a long time too.
I just bought it for PS3 (60GB) and it when thru the opening movie/credits, and locked up when you were able to drive. Now it locks up at the very beginning and just has "starting a new game" at the bottom right. I deleted the game file and tried again. It never even tried to load a new game file this time. WTF???? I know it isn't my console, I just played CoD4.
I just unpacked and loaded the game, after installing some 3 gb of data. The game went on to "Starting a new game" and its stuck on the same screen.....my friday nite ruineddddd......
I purchased GTA IV on the day it came out at Gamestop. I have a 360 btw. I popped it in and played for say 5 mins and it froze...hmm...i thought. Reset the system. In 30 mins it froze a good 4 or 5 times at different points during game play...never during a cutscene. Took it back...got another copy. used a lens cleaner on the 360...tried multiple different games no freezing. Played new disk. Played for 10 mins or so froze again while walking down the street. Once while driving, again walking down the street. Hmm...not sure what to do...called Gamestop to ask what i should do. They gave me ANOTHER copy...cont. to freeze at intermittent places in the game...makes it super frustrating to play. Bought one from Best Buy today...hasn't frozen so far. We'll see....can't wait to see what Rockstar does.
Hi, I own the 40 GB PS3 and I recently bought Grand theft Auto IV from walmart, and the first two days I played this game without error. Day 3 I start up my game, Keep in mind the disc only got to see 2 seconds of daylight before i placed it inside the ps3, I play for about 5 minutes, and my game freezes. I reset it, tried again, then it froze on the loading screen. I gave it the benefit of the doubt tried it again and played no longer than to get into a multiplayer game and get killed and it froze right up. This is typical, all my other grand theft auto games have had problems, I put no codes in or anything the game is fucked. I will never buy another Rockstar game again if someone doesnt patch this soon.
Mine's starting to freeze and lockup now. First three days were fine, last couple of days I've had numerous ingame freezes (game would just crash, music still playing, needed a reboot) and a few times the game wouldn't start at all.
I deleted the game data cache twice, it wasn't a real fix.
I've got a 60Gb PS3. It's getting worse and worse, bizarre.
Same problem here for my 360. I played for a bout 4 hours with no problems. All of a sudden it froze, I restarted it, it froze again in another 10 minutes, now whenever I turn on the game it freezes within a minute or so.
I am having the same problem for Xbox 360. I took my disc back today and exchanged it for a new one, no good. I put the new disc in and it froze again. I have restarted about 20 times and nothing helps. I usually get through the loading screens but once i actually try and play the game it automatically freezes.
I bought a Xbox 360 half a year ago for one thing the new GTA thats the only reason I played the games that came in the box a little but for the most part my Xbox is brand new as I said I only have a log of like 10 or so hours on it just got GTA and it freezes so bad I mean when I first stuck it in there was no problem I played for 2 hours then a crash/freeze up I try restart Xbox launch game and as soon as I get to loading screen freeze the I try restart again and I get about a minute of game play then bam freeze up...
oh one thing of intrest one of my freeze times the xbox told me Disk is dirty or unreadable take out wipe with cloth or whatever I looked at the back of disk and guess what it looks perfect duh its brand new why is my xbox telling me it cant read it..?
Xbox 360 version, i got threw about 8 hours of play. then mine froze. after that i havent been able to retart the game without a freeze right after the start. i have also tryied deleting all gta memory and getting a new copy but nothing worked.
I have GTA4 for 360 and it is giving me the same problems. I exchanged my disc thinking that was the problem but it didn't work. Still freezing. This is the only game my 360 does it for.
this crap is freezing on my xbox,it will do it for a couple hours then it will play for 4 hours.when the game freezes and i have to restart,instead of saying play game it sais play dvd.i hope someone gets their f'n teeth knocked down their f'n throat
I had the same problem with my 60GB ps3. until there is a solution with an update or so, go to networks and disable the internet connection. then the game will work. I tried it. it works.
i was having a freeze like a minute into the game everytime, on my xbox. today i went into the game option and turned off auto save and the game hasnt froze since. i dont know if thats what fixed it but it working now so im knocking on wood that it doesnt freeze anymore.
Hey, I have a 360 and have been playing the game for a few days. The first time I loaded up, it was fine. then as soon as i was close to the first mission, the game would give an unreadable disc error. It would do that every time. So i deleted the save file and started again. Then I got all the way to the second island before the Francis missions, but then it would give me the same unreadable disc freeze as soon as I get there. I did trade my game in once before and it still did the same thing. From what I gathered, the unreadable disc freezes are caused from corrupted GTA IV data saves on the hard drive. How these files got corrupted is beyond me, since I haven't put in a cheat or anything. Hopefully there's a patch that can fix all this. Fortunately I haven't had these other freezes I've been hearing about, but I feel for you guys. I'd hate to start over from scratch... again.
After nearly seven years of doing punchbutton, I'm still not worthy enough to receive a review copy of most games (except from D3... they ROCK)! That being said, I stayed up late last night to snag my collectors' edition 'GTA IV' at midnight from the local GameStop.
I played for 2 hours.
First thoughts: I love this game. It's everything I hoped it would be and more. The graphics look better than I thought they would, the city is staggering in size and the story line has been engrossing.
Here's what else I think in a bullet list:
• The opening title sequence is awesome. It's part cut-scene, part Hollywood movie opening. The graphic designer in me was doing backflips.
• Concerned parents are going to have a heart attack over this game. This is one of the most "M" rated games I can remember. The first couple of hours offer many adults-only surprises including a flash of a fairly risque scene, countless curse words, overt sexual harassment and ability for the player to drive drunk. I was giggling at most of these, but I DO NOT condone them. Giggle.
• The music is fantastic. There are 18 radio stations to listen to while driving through Liberty City. Techno, Funk, Jazz, Rock, whatever... it's all there with some great new songs and great classic tunes, too. Nitzer Ebb is there! I can't believe Nitzer Ebb is in this game!
• The bowling mini game is OK. I'm dying to know why the mini-golf and go-kart track fences are wide open... are those mini games for later?
• I found a glitch! In the first car chase mission, the warehouse below your target has some weird alternate universe of disappearing boxes and a pitch-black void where Niko can vanish and reappear. Weirdness.
• On my first date with Michelle, she just left me her car. I wrecked it.
• Also on my date with Michelle, I accidentally fell into the pond at the mini-golf course. I climbed out and turned around, Michelle was standing neck-deep in the pond staring back at me. Hilarious.
• I want the amusement park to be open (it's closed for the winter)!
• Someone on the beach, next to the boardwalk, said something quite shocking to me. I won't repeat it.
• The car physics are awesome. All the vehicles feel heavier and more realistic than before. You can't just use gas and steering, you have to use the brakes a LOT. Also, gently bumping a pedestrian can produce some extremely realistic results... you don't knock them down, but you can knock things out of their hands or knock the hats of their heads.
• I hate my cousin (in the game).
• Liberty City is crazy gigantic. Seriously, it's almost daunting to think where the next 38-plus hours will take me in the game.
• Niko walks down stairs with a sideways twitch... just like a real person. A real person with a leg problem.
• My in-game stats show that I've already racked-up a 56-foot free fall. This occurred when I fell from a warehouse into the river. Oh, and then I swam for 50 seconds (also in my stats).
• I predict that 'GTA IV's' in-game stats will be as addictive as achievement points.
So there you have it. If I had more sleep I would have had more to discuss. But that's all I can remember.
I will remember to take the day off next time a 'GTA' game is released.
I'm having fun with Mario Kart Wii! I have to admit that the Wii-mote works better than I expected it to with a racing game. The maps are spectacular (as far as 480p goes), and I'm enjoying all the online multiplayer fun. I do get irritated at the wait times between matches though...it can be a slow process.
That being said, I hope I can still find time to play this game after GTA4 comes out tonight. If I had the contraption shown in the video below, I might put GTA4 aside and play Mario Kart all day long...I want this for my birthday:
Finally, back to blogging: 'Rock Band' guitars, 'Mario Kart Wii' and 'GTA IV'
Posted by Doug 2:26 AM, April 28, 2008
Due to the lack of business trips and 16-hour work days, I'm finally back to blogging (ahem, Marc, Victor and Melcolm).
I got a nearly full weekend of gaming too!
ROCK BAND:
Let's start with the wireless guitars for the Xbox 360 version of 'Rock Band.' Why have these taken so long to get released?? Who cares now... they're out and they're pretty cool. As a matter of fact, I was able to get higher scores on old songs with the new wire-free Stratocaster.
Are these new Strats actually better than the wired guitars? So far, I'm saying they are a TINY bit better. A TINY bit better than the first working guitar I received from EA after returning three broken wired ones. Any less wires in my living room are aesthetically appreciated and are preventing inevitable injuries.
OH, and while I'm on 'Rock Band,' did any one notice that Judas Priest's entire "Screaming for Vengeance" album is available for download. Yea.. full albums... for 1200 points! Yikes!
MARIO KART WII:
Following 'Smash Brothers,' the second biggest Wii release of 2008 made its way to stores this weekend (by the way, I LOVE LOVE LOVE weekend releases). 'Mario Kart Wii' had yet another midnight release at stores around the U.S.. Well, that is if your GameStop had over 100 pre-orders. Mine didn't and I had to find another one across the street.
After picking up my copy (and an extra plastic wheel) I went straight to the online multiplayer mode and Melcolm and I played several different games in different modes. This new Kart is a total blast. It reminded me of the arcade version of 'Mario Kart,' but without the cool camera feature.
Online multiplayer is fast and giddy fun, but the menus, find-a-friend system and room creator is ridiculously difficult to figure out. Nintendo seems so paranoid about misuse of their online gameplay that they've made the connectivity overtly frustrating.
GRAND THEFT AUTO IV:
Ignore every doubt I posted about this game.
Earlier this evening watched G4TV's live gameplay footage of 'GTA IV.' From the raw video I saw, my jaw hit the floor. I can't wait to buy this game Monday night. I can't wait to play. Good Lord! I'm convinced, it's gonna be good!
Oh, and IGN gave it a perfect 10 out of 10. When have they ever done that?
Here's my preview from Tuesday's paper of the upcoming Deca Sports for the Wii.
Like I said in the preview, this game has the potential to be as popular as Wii Sports, which I would bet is still by far the most played Wii title of all time.
Hudson, Deca Sports' publisher, may have some competition, though, to replace Wii Sports as the default title for many Wii owners, since I recently received a copy of Summer Sports: Paradise Island for the Wii.
I'm surprised it's taken so long for these mini-Olympics-type games to proliferate on the Wii, given the popularity of Wii Sports, but it sounds like developers are finally figuring out the Wii's strengths.
And here's a video of the preview in question (a high-res version is available here):
You might also want to check out this video interview with the producer of RE5. He doesn't address the topic of race specifically, but does say the developers decided to set the game in Africa because the game explores the origins of the zombie virus and Africa is considered the birthplace of the human race.
It's funny reading those comments. It always amazes me when people find elements that aren't there or overemphasize things. The Japanese didn't create black zombies on the game becuase they like seeing that race of people dying or fulfilling a stereotype. Resident Evil has had all type of zombies in the past. They've had many locations. Are they somehow barred from having Africa as a location? I mean Africa is the location where they found the oldest human remains. The individuals who dig up racist conspiracies are usually the people that are in themselves most racist of all. These people limit society from having fruitful discussions about race becuase if you disagree with any views of theirs it's countered by calling you racist.
This is utterly absurd to bring an issue like this up. I see nothing hateful nor racist from this preview nor noticed due to the fact that IT'S A JUST A GAME (Japanese at that). This game is simply geographicly correct and shows the gamers some reality of modern wartorn life in Africa.
many people like to say that no one was complaining when the zombies were white or spaniards. but blacks never enslaved or oppressed either group, or at least not on the scale that whites have. people who can't see that are just plain dumb.
Just got the release on all the release, packaging and pricing info for Solid's grand opus: MGS4
KONAMI ANNOUNCES IMPORTANT
PRODUCT DETAILS AND PRICING FOR
METAL GEAR SOLID® 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS STANDARD AND LIMITED EDITIONS
El Segundo, Calif. April 10, 2008 - Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. announced today that the limited edition of the highly-anticipated release of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system will be available in North America on June 12 exclusively at GameStop, the world's largest video game and entertainment software retailer. Additionally, Konami has revealed pricing and the first images of the final packaging for both the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Standard Edition and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition.
ABOUT METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS STANDARD EDITION
Marking the return of Hideo Kojima's legendary tactical espionage action series, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots features a cinematic experience and visual masterpiece that will redefine this landmark franchise as a revolutionary game for the PLAYSTATION®3 system. The game is the final chapter in the saga of Solid Snake which sends him around the world in pursuit of his arch nemesis, Liquid Ocelot. Armed with new gadgets and abilities, Solid Snake must shift the tides of war into his favor, using the chaos of the battlefield to infiltrate deep into enemy territory. In his globetrotting final mission, Snake must sneak deep into enemy locations in the Middle East, South America, and other corners of the earth to foil Liquid Ocelot's. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots includes Metal Gear Online "Starter Pack", which is the full and complete multiplayer component of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Standard Edition will be priced at $59.99 SRP.
ABOUT METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS LIMITED EDITION
Featuring collectible packaging with exclusive artwork by famed Kojima Productions illustrator Yoji Shinkawa, the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition will contain everything that is included with the Standard Edition as well as an additional Blu-ray disc featuring two "making of" documentaries. The documentaries will include extensive interviews with Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima and the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Soundtrack CD. The Limited Edition will be available exclusively at GameStop.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition will be priced at $84.99 SRP.
ABOUT METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS PRE-SELL PROGRAM
A special pre-sale program of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will be offered at participating retailers. This pre-sell entitles customers that pre-order either edition, a copy of the Metal Gear Saga Vol. 2 DVD (while supplies last). Featuring extensive original video content the DVD primarily focuses on the interconnected history between all of the "Snakes": Big Boss (Naked Snake), Liquid Snake, Solidus Snake, and of course, Solid Snake. The DVD also contains a compendium of the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots trailers. Additionally, each DVD allocated during this pre-order period will contain a unique voucher code that will enable the consumer to download the Metal Gear Online Beta. The download of the Beta will be available from April 17th to May 5th and the gameplay will be available from April 21st to May 5th.
"As the most anticipated game to be released for the PLAYSTATION®3 system this year, we wanted to make sure that no fan of Metal Gear Solid would be disappointed with the amount of content and gameplay at their disposal," said Anthony Crouts, Vice President of Marketing for Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
The Lucasarts game entitled "Force Unleashed" features the story that fills the gap between episodes III and IV of the Star Wars adventures. The first series of events puts you in Vader's space boots as he searches for his secret apprentice. Prepare to force-choke the rebels to death this September.
'Grand Theft Auto IV' thoughts... let's see how this goes.
Posted by Doug 12:17 PM, April 7, 2008
OK. I'm pretty much convinced that 'Grand Theft Auto IV' is going to be an amazing game when it finally gets released on April 29th.
When the first trailer hit last year (the one with the amazing roller coaster drive-by scene), I was a little skeptical. I just kept thinking, "there is no way the game is gonna look this good."
As each additional trailer was released, I lost the awe of original clip... right up to the release most recent trailer, which has worried me the most.
Is it just me, or has the game really been scaled-back in the looks department? I just don't think the same level of graphic next-gen-ness, that we saw last year, is in this latest trailer.
It's the TV marketing campaign for 'GTA IV' (and GameStop) that starting to reverse my trepidation. I love the style of ads and the ridiculously varied set pieces that are shown in the 60 second spots.
Here it is:
But something over the weekend pushed me into the same giddiness that I felt last year when I saw the first footage from the game: an interview with someone that's already finished the game on gamesradar.com. This is enough to make me wish April 29th was here now.
The fact that it's a prequel to FFVII is just icing on the cake.
I do think a full FFVII remake is probably inevitable, and I'd bet the only reason Square Enix hasn't given us one yet is because it wants to milk us for all the prequels, sequels and spin-offs that it can before finally putting FFVII to bed for good.
But Crisis Core really is a great game, shameless franchise whoring or not.
Here's a video from Square Enix that I've posted that shows how the real time combat system works.
It's like it's vibrating at me through the packaging!
You can get yours in a couple days for the outrageous price of $54.99, or buy the the Metal Gear Solid 4 limited edition PS3 console with DS3 controller in June for $499.
Either way, this puppy is gonna cost ya'.
UPDATE: Brian Crecente stole my headline! Just check the time stamp!
Storytelling and Stereotypes in the World of Video Games
