4 ms·

Like video games? You may be playing with government propaganda [audio]

21 points by e-sushi 10y ago

cooper12 10y ago
Just a note that this is a podcast and not an article. (So maybe the title should include (audio) or something) Also, from the blurb posted, I'm not sure if the title is accurate because it specifically mentions the game IS Defense and then says it talked to a guy on "how to build a better propaganda game". Then again it is a 24-minute podcast and maybe Reuters just didn't write it well.
datalus 10y ago
Deus Ex is totally a New World Order, Illuminati propaganda game series. /s
Zikes 10y ago
Note: George Weidman might be better known as SuperBunnyHop.
mywittyname 10y ago
Most of the military FPS games I've played in the last 10 or so years with a story line have a ton of active military members credited. CoD4:MW [1] credits five active military personnel for advising, offers special thanks to several divisions of the USMC and US Army, and many of the other people given special thanks have be credited on several other military games (and nothing but). These games are clearly great recruiting tools for the US military. I wouldn't be surprised if we eventually have evidence that the US military was a large influence behind the proliferation of military shooter games from 2004 onward. Perhaps pushing larger publishers to creating "realistic" games by offering them resources in exchange for casting the military in a favorable light. Much like how they influence Hollywood by giving them access to billion dollar war machines for their movies. [1] Example: http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/call-of-duty-4-modern-warfare/credits http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/call-of-duty-4-modern-...
FrozenVoid 10y ago
Every game studio has its own agenda, beyond profit. It doesn't take a genius to realize a million-user game has social influence, and the game studio/company could be paid or coerced to adhere to some agenda. People still think video gaming is some niche nerd hobby, while its actually one of most popular forms of entertainment. Video games has more influence than books, cinema and TV combined - they are concentrated and repeated content following one narrative vs many-narrative media. Some governments, think tanks and interest groups already realized how immersive content works on the brain(as separate constructed reality) and its vast influence on the critical segments of society in their mental development stages. Memory is working with content from the games the same way as if it was equally important to real-life goals and tasks: the virtual worlds and escapism they represent are actually future models of reality for most people, changing their internal mental models of what is socially right/wrong. (not that "violent video games cause violence" - its "video games treat violence as glamorous and unrealistic, with minimal consequences" changing perspectives and opinion of violence)

21 points by e-sushi 10y ago

Just a note that this is a podcast and not an article. (So maybe the title should include (audio) or something) Also, from the blurb posted, I'm not sure if the title is accurate because it specifically mentions the game IS Defense and then says it talked to a guy on "how to build a better propaganda game". Then again it is a 24-minute podcast and maybe Reuters just didn't write it well.

datalus 10y ago

Deus Ex is totally a New World Order, Illuminati propaganda game series. /s

Zikes 10y ago

Note: George Weidman might be better known as SuperBunnyHop.

mywittyname 10y ago

Most of the military FPS games I've played in the last 10 or so years with a story line have a ton of active military members credited. CoD4:MW [1] credits five active military personnel for advising, offers special thanks to several divisions of the USMC and US Army, and many of the other people given special thanks have be credited on several other military games (and nothing but). These games are clearly great recruiting tools for the US military. I wouldn't be surprised if we eventually have evidence that the US military was a large influence behind the proliferation of military shooter games from 2004 onward. Perhaps pushing larger publishers to creating "realistic" games by offering them resources in exchange for casting the military in a favorable light. Much like how they influence Hollywood by giving them access to billion dollar war machines for their movies. [1] Example: http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/call-of-duty-4-modern-warfare/credits http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/call-of-duty-4-modern-...

FrozenVoid 10y ago

Every game studio has its own agenda, beyond profit. It doesn't take a genius to realize a million-user game has social influence, and the game studio/company could be paid or coerced to adhere to some agenda. People still think video gaming is some niche nerd hobby, while its actually one of most popular forms of entertainment. Video games has more influence than books, cinema and TV combined - they are concentrated and repeated content following one narrative vs many-narrative media. Some governments, think tanks and interest groups already realized how immersive content works on the brain(as separate constructed reality) and its vast influence on the critical segments of society in their mental development stages. Memory is working with content from the games the same way as if it was equally important to real-life goals and tasks: the virtual worlds and escapism they represent are actually future models of reality for most people, changing their internal mental models of what is socially right/wrong. (not that "violent video games cause violence" - its "video games treat violence as glamorous and unrealistic, with minimal consequences" changing perspectives and opinion of violence)