Key quotes from books
Graeme Burton
Arnold publications
'More Than Meets The Eye'
'Hollywood consistent use of cultural norms as narrative devices'
suggesting that its normal to see the same narrative roles throughout media texts likes gaming. The dominant white male as the hero and narrative roles in gaming.
'Ethinic minorities are continually misrepresented by racial stereotypes'
Suggesting that minorities will continually be presented as the 'Other' and can be seen as the 'villian' in gaming
‘Some Individuals/institutions will always have greater power to portray how to react on situation’
( Howard Becker )
This suggests that issues and debates such as 'moral panics' will continue to shape the way in which the audience will portray power. Also how some institutions will act on moral panics and use scares such as 9/11 as a selling point.
‘To say we may judge what is or is not real based on what is shown to us’
This quote fits into my title as it would suggest how the audience portray narrative roles. How if games and television shows muslims for example to be terrorists and evil all the time or the 'other' than the audience will begin to believe this.
'If something is repeated often enough it will tent to be believed and remembered’
This also fits into my title production as it helps proove the relation to narrative roles and how they can be seen in the audiences eyes. This is because by games such Call Of Duty, narrative roles tend not to vary with the dominant white hero and minority passive muslim/russian villian. By continually showing this role of power to its audience repeatedly the audience tends to believe this is true.
Sunday 12 December 2010
Hyperdermic Needle
This is a theory in which suggests that the Media somehow 'injects' the audience on what they should belive, how they should act and what their veiws should be portrayed. ( as a syringe injects drugs into the body )
- draws attention to the power of the media producers over its audiences and how they are able to forcefeed infomation/views in which the audience should believe/trust
- It makes audiences seem 'passive' and 'powerless'
Does it influence us ?
Many theorists believed that the increase in violence was a direct result of violet images being shown in cinema through the Hyperdermic Needle theory. One such theorist stated that the new found media was manipulating the mainstream masses and deliberately causing crime and violence for financial gain. Although this argument has been cast aside man times it always returns in modern society when there is a severe outbreak of violence on TV.
Violence
This is not only done through influences of media but also how gaming violence and narrative roles influence how the audience portray things.
here are many things society as a whole and individuals can do to appease or inflame the issue, however each argument has a counter argument and a counter argument will exist for that and so on.
Because it is an issue of such heated debate with no answer or possibility of an answer should we just leave the issue be and choose not to address it further? Or should we make the issue widely known so society is more aware of the role the media can play. Or perhaps we should leave it to the media to publicise that. After all the media does have a strong influence.
History and Orientation
The "hypodermic needle theory" implied mass media had a direct, immediate and powerful effect on its audiences. The mass media in the 1940s and 1950s were perceived as a powerful influence on behavior change.
The theory suggests that the mass media could influence a very large group of people directly and uniformly by ‘shooting’ or ‘injecting’ them with appropriate messages designed to trigger a desired response.
(a bullet and a needle)
suggest a powerful and direct flow of information from the sender to the receiver. The bullet theory graphically suggests that the message is a bullet, fired from the "media gun" into the viewer's "head". With similarly emotive imagery the hypodermic needle model suggests that media messages are injected straight into a passive audience which is immediately influenced by the message. They express the view that the media is a dangerous means of communicating an idea because the receiver or audience is powerless to resist the impact of the message.
Davis, D.K. & Baron, S.J. (1981). A History of Our Understanding of Mass Communication. In: Davis, D.K. & Baron, S.J. (Eds.). Mass Communication and Everyday Life: A Perspective on Theory and Effects (19-52). Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing.Golden, L.L. & Alpert, M.I. (1987). Comparative Analysis of the Relative Effectiveness of One- and Two-sided Communication for Contrasting Products. Journal of Advertising, 16(1), 18-25.Lazarsfeld, P.F., Berelson, B. & Gaudet, H. (1968). The people’s choice: How the voter makes up his mind in a presidential campaign. New York: Columbia University Press.
Cultivation Theory
Core Assumptions
Cultivation theory in its most basic form, suggests that television is responsible for shaping, or ‘cultivating’ viewers’ conceptions of social reality. The combined effect of massive television exposure by viewers over time subtly shapes the perception of social reality for individuals and, ultimately, for our culture as a whole
They emphazine the effects of televison viewing on the attitudes rather than the behaviour of the viewer. Heavy watching of televison is seen as a cutivating attitude which are more consistent with the world of television programmes than the everyday world.
This is a theory in which suggests that the Media somehow 'injects' the audience on what they should belive, how they should act and what their veiws should be portrayed. ( as a syringe injects drugs into the body )
- draws attention to the power of the media producers over its audiences and how they are able to forcefeed infomation/views in which the audience should believe/trust
- It makes audiences seem 'passive' and 'powerless'
Does it influence us ?
Many theorists believed that the increase in violence was a direct result of violet images being shown in cinema through the Hyperdermic Needle theory. One such theorist stated that the new found media was manipulating the mainstream masses and deliberately causing crime and violence for financial gain. Although this argument has been cast aside man times it always returns in modern society when there is a severe outbreak of violence on TV.
Violence
This is not only done through influences of media but also how gaming violence and narrative roles influence how the audience portray things.
here are many things society as a whole and individuals can do to appease or inflame the issue, however each argument has a counter argument and a counter argument will exist for that and so on.
Because it is an issue of such heated debate with no answer or possibility of an answer should we just leave the issue be and choose not to address it further? Or should we make the issue widely known so society is more aware of the role the media can play. Or perhaps we should leave it to the media to publicise that. After all the media does have a strong influence.
History and Orientation
The "hypodermic needle theory" implied mass media had a direct, immediate and powerful effect on its audiences. The mass media in the 1940s and 1950s were perceived as a powerful influence on behavior change.
The theory suggests that the mass media could influence a very large group of people directly and uniformly by ‘shooting’ or ‘injecting’ them with appropriate messages designed to trigger a desired response.
(a bullet and a needle)
suggest a powerful and direct flow of information from the sender to the receiver. The bullet theory graphically suggests that the message is a bullet, fired from the "media gun" into the viewer's "head". With similarly emotive imagery the hypodermic needle model suggests that media messages are injected straight into a passive audience which is immediately influenced by the message. They express the view that the media is a dangerous means of communicating an idea because the receiver or audience is powerless to resist the impact of the message.
Davis, D.K. & Baron, S.J. (1981). A History of Our Understanding of Mass Communication. In: Davis, D.K. & Baron, S.J. (Eds.). Mass Communication and Everyday Life: A Perspective on Theory and Effects (19-52). Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing.Golden, L.L. & Alpert, M.I. (1987). Comparative Analysis of the Relative Effectiveness of One- and Two-sided Communication for Contrasting Products. Journal of Advertising, 16(1), 18-25.Lazarsfeld, P.F., Berelson, B. & Gaudet, H. (1968). The people’s choice: How the voter makes up his mind in a presidential campaign. New York: Columbia University Press.
Cultivation Theory
Core Assumptions
Cultivation theory in its most basic form, suggests that television is responsible for shaping, or ‘cultivating’ viewers’ conceptions of social reality. The combined effect of massive television exposure by viewers over time subtly shapes the perception of social reality for individuals and, ultimately, for our culture as a whole
They emphazine the effects of televison viewing on the attitudes rather than the behaviour of the viewer. Heavy watching of televison is seen as a cutivating attitude which are more consistent with the world of television programmes than the everyday world.
Boyd-Barrett, Oliver & Peter Braham (Eds.) (1987). Media, Knowledge & Power. London: Croom Helm.Condry, John (1989). The Psychology of Television. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.Dominick, Joseph R. (1990). The Dynamics of Mass Communication. New York: McGraw-Hill.Evra, Judith van (1990). Television and Child Development. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.Gerbner, G., & Gross, L. (1976a). Living with television: The violence profile. Journal of Communication, 26, 172-199.Gerbner, G., & Gross, L. (1976b). The scary world of TV’s heavy viewer. Psychology Today, 10(4), 41-89.
Thursday 25 November 2010
How are the narrative roles of hero/villain constructed in popular video games such as the 'Call of Duty' and why are they more complicated than in earlier texts in the war genre?
http://lass.calumet.purdue.edu/cca/gmj/fa08/gmj-fa08-kavoori.htm
Gaming as Narrative
Galloway suggests that a key element in discussing gaming narratives is to see the relationship between the gaming world and the real world. He explains that historically the theories of visual culture refer to such relationship as the problematics of representation.
http://www.karsten-wenzlaff.de/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/wenzlaff-game-theory-and-terrorism.pdf
Difficulties of modelling terrorism in game theory
If we assume rationality of the terrorists, we can use game theory to identify the strategic interactions, such as dominant strategies and the issue of threats. Most ‘irrational’ notions of terrorism can be incorporated in the framework of game theory by adjusting strategies and pay-offs in the game. Game theory also allows uncertainty and behaviour under risk. And finally, it explains changes of behaviour when the rules of the game are changed.23 Modelling terrorism in game theory is complicated.
Terrorism is a complex social phenomenon, which makes it hard to identify the set-up the game. The political and economical implications are difficult to measure and therefore the pay-offs are difficult to state. The terrorism game involves decisions by different kinds of actors on multiple stages of the game, therefore the strategies are also difficult to assess. To come to terms with these difficulties, it is reasonable to look at the each sub-game of the whole game separately, identifying the different sub-games by the different participating players.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/ll3rvgmn5u7301d8/
Storytelling, people, computers, and digital communications are becoming increasingly interwoven. The idea of using procedural techniques to involve people in stories is enormously attractive, yet actually finding a way to create interactive fiction that achieves both artistic and commercial success remains elusive.
http://muslimreverie.wordpress.com/2009/07/25/whats-wrong-with-this-picture/
This was an ideal opportunity to shatter some stereotypes about Arab and Muslim villains. When I spoke to Jeffrey Katzenberg – a visionary producer – I asked him to include some reference to Arabs or Arab culture. He didn’t seem surprised that I mentioned it, which presumably means that it was discussed early on in the development of the game.
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=4342804
A theory for role-playing simulation games intended to support analysts (and trainees) with generating and testing alternative competing hypotheses on how to influence world conflict situations. Simulated leaders and followers capable of playing these games are implemented in a cognitive modeling framework, called the Performance Moderator Function Server (PMFserv), which covers value systems, personality and cultural factors, emotions, relationships, perception, stress/coping style, and decision making. Of direct interest, as Section I-A explains, is codification and synthesis of best-of-breed social-science models within PMFserv to improve the internal validity of agent implementations. Sections II and III present this for leader profiling instruments and group-membership decision making, respectively. Section IV then offers two real-world case studies (The Third Crusade and SE Asia Today) where agent models are subjected to Turing and correspondence tests under each case study. In sum, substantial effort on game realism, best-of-breed social-science models, and agent validation efforts is essential if analysis and training tools are to help explore cultural issues and alternative ways to influence outcomes. Such exercises, in turn, are likely to improve the state of the science as well.
http://faculty.fordham.edu/andersen/andersen_WarAndVideo.pdf
This paper explores the collaboration between the Pentagon and the entertainment industries at the site of the popular interactive format, the war-themed video game. The commercial media industry is heavily invested in the research and development of digital technologies used to create simulations, graphics, and virtual worlds, which are also essential to the networked protocols of military training and weapons system.
With advances in digital computer-based technologies, war themed games make increasing claims to realism, authenticity and historical accuracy. Real war footage is frequently inserted into narratives and battlefield sequences. We compare the narratives of the experiences of gamers to narratives of recruits and soldier’s experiences of war. Though war themed interactive games are taking simulated battlefields to higher levels of realism, including more intense graphic violence, the thrilling excitement of entertainment replaces the emotional truth of war, a trend with highly negative consequences.
http://www.lcc.gatech.edu/~bogost/courses/spring07/lcc3710/readings/jenkins_game-design.pdf
"Interactivity is almost the opposite of narrative; narrative flows under the direction of the author, while interactivity depends on the player for motive power”
"There is a direct, immediate conflict between the demands of a story and the demands of a game. Divergence from a story's path is likely to make for a less satisfying story; restricting a player's freedom of action is likely to make for a less satisfying game."
"Computer games are Not narratives....Rather the narrative tends to be isolated from or even work against the computer-gameness of the game."
http://lass.calumet.purdue.edu/cca/gmj/fa08/gmj-fa08-kavoori.htm
Gaming as Narrative
Galloway suggests that a key element in discussing gaming narratives is to see the relationship between the gaming world and the real world. He explains that historically the theories of visual culture refer to such relationship as the problematics of representation.
http://www.karsten-wenzlaff.de/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/wenzlaff-game-theory-and-terrorism.pdf
Difficulties of modelling terrorism in game theory
If we assume rationality of the terrorists, we can use game theory to identify the strategic interactions, such as dominant strategies and the issue of threats. Most ‘irrational’ notions of terrorism can be incorporated in the framework of game theory by adjusting strategies and pay-offs in the game. Game theory also allows uncertainty and behaviour under risk. And finally, it explains changes of behaviour when the rules of the game are changed.23 Modelling terrorism in game theory is complicated.
Terrorism is a complex social phenomenon, which makes it hard to identify the set-up the game. The political and economical implications are difficult to measure and therefore the pay-offs are difficult to state. The terrorism game involves decisions by different kinds of actors on multiple stages of the game, therefore the strategies are also difficult to assess. To come to terms with these difficulties, it is reasonable to look at the each sub-game of the whole game separately, identifying the different sub-games by the different participating players.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/ll3rvgmn5u7301d8/
Storytelling, people, computers, and digital communications are becoming increasingly interwoven. The idea of using procedural techniques to involve people in stories is enormously attractive, yet actually finding a way to create interactive fiction that achieves both artistic and commercial success remains elusive.
http://muslimreverie.wordpress.com/2009/07/25/whats-wrong-with-this-picture/
This was an ideal opportunity to shatter some stereotypes about Arab and Muslim villains. When I spoke to Jeffrey Katzenberg – a visionary producer – I asked him to include some reference to Arabs or Arab culture. He didn’t seem surprised that I mentioned it, which presumably means that it was discussed early on in the development of the game.
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=4342804
A theory for role-playing simulation games intended to support analysts (and trainees) with generating and testing alternative competing hypotheses on how to influence world conflict situations. Simulated leaders and followers capable of playing these games are implemented in a cognitive modeling framework, called the Performance Moderator Function Server (PMFserv), which covers value systems, personality and cultural factors, emotions, relationships, perception, stress/coping style, and decision making. Of direct interest, as Section I-A explains, is codification and synthesis of best-of-breed social-science models within PMFserv to improve the internal validity of agent implementations. Sections II and III present this for leader profiling instruments and group-membership decision making, respectively. Section IV then offers two real-world case studies (The Third Crusade and SE Asia Today) where agent models are subjected to Turing and correspondence tests under each case study. In sum, substantial effort on game realism, best-of-breed social-science models, and agent validation efforts is essential if analysis and training tools are to help explore cultural issues and alternative ways to influence outcomes. Such exercises, in turn, are likely to improve the state of the science as well.
http://faculty.fordham.edu/andersen/andersen_WarAndVideo.pdf
This paper explores the collaboration between the Pentagon and the entertainment industries at the site of the popular interactive format, the war-themed video game. The commercial media industry is heavily invested in the research and development of digital technologies used to create simulations, graphics, and virtual worlds, which are also essential to the networked protocols of military training and weapons system.
With advances in digital computer-based technologies, war themed games make increasing claims to realism, authenticity and historical accuracy. Real war footage is frequently inserted into narratives and battlefield sequences. We compare the narratives of the experiences of gamers to narratives of recruits and soldier’s experiences of war. Though war themed interactive games are taking simulated battlefields to higher levels of realism, including more intense graphic violence, the thrilling excitement of entertainment replaces the emotional truth of war, a trend with highly negative consequences.
http://www.lcc.gatech.edu/~bogost/courses/spring07/lcc3710/readings/jenkins_game-design.pdf
"Interactivity is almost the opposite of narrative; narrative flows under the direction of the author, while interactivity depends on the player for motive power”
"There is a direct, immediate conflict between the demands of a story and the demands of a game. Divergence from a story's path is likely to make for a less satisfying story; restricting a player's freedom of action is likely to make for a less satisfying game."
"Computer games are Not narratives....Rather the narrative tends to be isolated from or even work against the computer-gameness of the game."
Sunday 21 November 2010
How are the narrative roles of hero/villain constructed in popular video games such as the 'Call of Duty' and why are they more complicated than in earlier texts in the war genre?
| Key words | Synonym 1 | Synonym 2 | Synonym 3 |
| Call Of Duty | Medal Of Honour | Battlefield | Prototype |
| Representation | Hero | Villain | Ethnicity |
| Violence | Aggression | Graphics | Moral panic |
| War | Terrorism | Post 9/11 | Arabs |
| Stereotype | Muslims | Terrorism |
|
Academic study claims violent gaming reduces stress ?
http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/215790/academic-study-says-violent-games-reduce-stress/
Christopher Ferguson concluded that violent video games could actually combat anger and depression, two groups were given a violent game to play (Hitman: Blood Money or Call of Duty 2), one was given a non-violent game (Madden 2007) and a final group was told they wouldn't be able to play any games due to a malfunction.
The player - Why games merit academic study
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/sep/08/the-player-naomi-alderman
it's easy to disparage academic papers, but games are a growing part of our culture
Views on muslims in Call Of Duty
http://gamebattles.com/forums/t/3550110.html
Well the serial killer that was attacking in my hometown was a muslim. If I understand right, they hate all infidels and wish to kill all infidels. The United States and the people of it are infidels to them making us enemies naturally. So the hatred is mutual if this is the case
Anti Call of Duty, Social Networkinghttp://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9917199564
Has Call of Duty violence Toned down ?
http://spawnkill.com/2010/10/25/call-of-duty-black-ops-violence-toned-down/
“It was a contextual kill where you were twisting the neck. It was too much. The throat cutting nasty, but that was worse.” Because of this, Treyarch had to scale back and tailor the game to a more acceptable range.
Has this game toped the Cal Of Duty war Franchise ?
http://www.su-spectator.com/entertainment/raising-the-b-a-r-with-cod-black-ops-1.1782855
.
Overall, Call of Duty: Black Ops is the next true step in the series, not just another nameless entry. Any of the three main game modes could be packaged as separate games, but you get them all for one price of entry
Too much violence ( treyarch)
http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2010/10/22/black-ops-violence-too-much-treyarch/
There were situations going too far. It was a a contextual kill where you were twisting the neck. It was too much. The throat cutting is nasty, but that was worse.”
Is this Depicting War ?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2010/sep/19/war-video-games-hennessey-sicart
‘The tension the audience feels brings them as close as they’re going to get to the real thing’
Not everyone is happy
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2009/nov/16/modern-warfare-2-record
with such a high profile, controversy – and some stiff condemnation – was always inevitable.
BBC's religious affairs programme, The Big Questions, where it drew predictable criticism from Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders.
Call Of Duty +War representation +Muslims
Demonizing Muslims on screen
http://richardbrenneman.wordpress.com/2010/08/08/demonizing-muslims-on-screens-large-and-small/
n times of crisis, the perfect scapegoat is the alien Other, the being on whom we project our own darkest and most unacceptable impulses as well as our accumulated frustrations and rage.
Gaming - muslim point of view ( debates )
http://towardsmecca.com/2008/02/08/call-of-duty-4-a-muslim-point-of-view/
Banned Games Due To Violence And Representaion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banned_video_games
Cuba - the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops is gaining much controversy as there is a mission were the player can assassinate Fidel Castro.
Russia -Banned because violence and cruelty
Dubai - violence agianst muslims
Monday 15 November 2010
Gender potrayal
http://www.geekink.co.uk/1/post/2010/09/gender-portrayals-in-video-games.html
Views on muslims in Call Of Duty
http://gamebattles.com/forums/t/3550110.html
Anti Call of Duty, Social Networking
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9917199564
Call of Duty falls into common stereotypes of masculinity, particularly in World War II cultural media. That is, brotherhood, loyalty and a grim determination to see it to the end. The player is surrounded by average men in an extraordinary situation. And they all, including the player, need to adapt to that. The one thing that shines through the brightest is the fact key NPCs will do anything to ensure the safety of the player and other NPCs. In an interesting turn of events, the player is almost bestowed with this same mentality. By seeing the NPCs doing such things, the player is positioned to also perform the same sort of acts to protect the men around them. This brotherhood is a key aspect of most masculine based cultural media. While the mentality and personality of the characters in Call of Duty conforms to male stereotypes, the physical representations aren’t.
The characters that the player comes into contact with, both allies and enemies are average guys. Some are tall. Some are short. Some are skinny. Others are muscly. The men in Call of Duty cover a large range of masculine body-types once again cementing in the mind of the player that these men are ‘just like them.’ With the main demographic of first person shooters being men this is not surprising. To assist with immersion, Call of Duty ensures that the characters the player comes into contact with are average day guys they could see everyday in their real world lives.
http://www.geekink.co.uk/1/post/2010/09/gender-portrayals-in-video-games.html
Views on muslims in Call Of Duty
http://gamebattles.com/forums/t/3550110.html
Anti Call of Duty, Social Networking
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9917199564
Call of Duty falls into common stereotypes of masculinity, particularly in World War II cultural media. That is, brotherhood, loyalty and a grim determination to see it to the end. The player is surrounded by average men in an extraordinary situation. And they all, including the player, need to adapt to that. The one thing that shines through the brightest is the fact key NPCs will do anything to ensure the safety of the player and other NPCs. In an interesting turn of events, the player is almost bestowed with this same mentality. By seeing the NPCs doing such things, the player is positioned to also perform the same sort of acts to protect the men around them. This brotherhood is a key aspect of most masculine based cultural media. While the mentality and personality of the characters in Call of Duty conforms to male stereotypes, the physical representations aren’t.
The characters that the player comes into contact with, both allies and enemies are average guys. Some are tall. Some are short. Some are skinny. Others are muscly. The men in Call of Duty cover a large range of masculine body-types once again cementing in the mind of the player that these men are ‘just like them.’ With the main demographic of first person shooters being men this is not surprising. To assist with immersion, Call of Duty ensures that the characters the player comes into contact with are average day guys they could see everyday in their real world lives.
Sunday 14 November 2010
New Controversy
A video game developed in the US that challenges players to assassinate former Cuban president Fidel Castro has provoked an angry response from Cuba.
Call of Duty: Black Ops, which went on sale in the UK this week, is set during the cold war, with gamers taking on the role of a special operative as he saves the US from a communist plot, travelling between Cuba, Vietnam and Russia.
However, a mission in which players try to kill a young Castro has sparked a fierce response from the Cuban government.
"What the United States government did not achieve in more than 50 years, it now tries to do virtually," said a story on the government-run cubadebate website .
It said the game glorified real US attempts to kill Castro – there have been 638 attempts on the former leader's life, according to one of his bodyguards.
In 2006 Fabian Escalante, the former head of Cuban intelligence services, revealed how plots ranged from an exploding cigar that was intended to blow up in Castro's face to a fungus-contaminated wetsuit that would infect him with a chronic skin disease.
Perhaps the most fanciful plot involved planting explosives inside a mollusc shell painted in bright colours in the hope that Castro might be drawn towards it while scuba diving in the Caribbean.
In a section of Call of Duty: Black Ops set in Havana, players gun down enemy combatants while pursuing Castro, who was president of Cuba for 49 years before resigning in 2008.
"This new video game is doubly perverse," the article on cubadebate said. "On the one hand, it glorifies the illegal assassination attempts the United States government planned against the Cuban leader … and on the other, it stimulates sociopathic attitudes in North American children and adolescents."
It is not the first military-style shooter game to generate controversy this year. Medal of Honor was banned from US military bases before it went on sale last month because it let players take on the role of Taliban fighters battling US and Nato troops in Afghanistan. Developer Electronic Arts later changed the name of the combatants from Taliban to Opposing Force.
Reviewers of Call of Duty: Black Ops, which retails at around £50 in the UK, have been unfazed by the challenge of gunning down one of the primary leaders of the Cuban revolution. The game was given five stars by the Guardian.
Not everyone is happy..
Yes, the Modern Warfare 2 juggernaut just continues to batter its way through the video game agenda. UK industry news sites including GIbiz are proclaiming that Infinity Ward's FPS shifted 1.78m units in its first week on British shelves, grossing around £67m and shattering the £39m record previously held by GTA IV.
However, with such a high profile, controversy – and some stiff condemnation – was always inevitable. Yesterday, the game was debated on the BBC's religious affairs programme, The Big Questions, where it drew predictable criticism from Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders. Fazan Mohammed of the British Muslim Forum is quoted on news site MCV as suggesting:
"You can't equate it with watching TV or a movie or reading a book. This is a much more intimate experience. You're mentally playing out the effects of violence. A lot of people make the excuse that this is sport – that it's just entertainment. But Joseph Goebbels – the propaganda minister of Nazi Germany – said his entertainment did more for the German people, in terms of creating the psyche for war and hostility towards others, than the speeches of Adolf Hitler. The idea this is entertainment is not justification whatsoever."
Meanwhile, it's also being reported on gaming websites that the title has been recalled from shop shelves in Russia, allegedly due to its depiction of the country as a terrorist stronghold. We're seeking confirmation on that right now.
In other news, Modern Warfare 2 has enjoyed mixed fortunes with UK newspaper columnists. In a startlingly sexist and outdated piece for the Telegraph, Hannah Betts wonders whether the game should carry a "relationship health warning", opening her piece with the line:
"Something momentous took place in The World of Men this week, something that those living in The World of Women – that is, largely, The Real World – may yet be unaware of."
The article, which conveniently ignores strong statistical evidence that 40% of gamers are adult women, prompted a tirade of angry comments, including the succinct: "Female. Played Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Finished it. Do your research. Open your eyes."
As for the whole video game violence angle, Michael Moran over at the Times was more receptive to Modern Warfare 2 than the BBC's panel, seeking to distance the experience of playing CoD from the real business of war:
"I believe that the grisly imagery of the Modern Warfare 2 level 'No Russian' will teach more that it corrupts. I don't doubt that when the next Columbine or Virginia Tech massacre occurs some commenters will inevitably try to link it with Modern Warfare, but simulated guns don't kill people, real ones do. The NRA bears more responsibility than Infinity Ward."
Yes, the Modern Warfare 2 juggernaut just continues to batter its way through the video game agenda. UK industry news sites including GIbiz are proclaiming that Infinity Ward's FPS shifted 1.78m units in its first week on British shelves, grossing around £67m and shattering the £39m record previously held by GTA IV.
However, with such a high profile, controversy – and some stiff condemnation – was always inevitable. Yesterday, the game was debated on the BBC's religious affairs programme, The Big Questions, where it drew predictable criticism from Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders. Fazan Mohammed of the British Muslim Forum is quoted on news site MCV as suggesting:
"You can't equate it with watching TV or a movie or reading a book. This is a much more intimate experience. You're mentally playing out the effects of violence. A lot of people make the excuse that this is sport – that it's just entertainment. But Joseph Goebbels – the propaganda minister of Nazi Germany – said his entertainment did more for the German people, in terms of creating the psyche for war and hostility towards others, than the speeches of Adolf Hitler. The idea this is entertainment is not justification whatsoever."
Meanwhile, it's also being reported on gaming websites that the title has been recalled from shop shelves in Russia, allegedly due to its depiction of the country as a terrorist stronghold. We're seeking confirmation on that right now.
In other news, Modern Warfare 2 has enjoyed mixed fortunes with UK newspaper columnists. In a startlingly sexist and outdated piece for the Telegraph, Hannah Betts wonders whether the game should carry a "relationship health warning", opening her piece with the line:
"Something momentous took place in The World of Men this week, something that those living in The World of Women – that is, largely, The Real World – may yet be unaware of."
The article, which conveniently ignores strong statistical evidence that 40% of gamers are adult women, prompted a tirade of angry comments, including the succinct: "Female. Played Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Finished it. Do your research. Open your eyes."
As for the whole video game violence angle, Michael Moran over at the Times was more receptive to Modern Warfare 2 than the BBC's panel, seeking to distance the experience of playing CoD from the real business of war:
"I believe that the grisly imagery of the Modern Warfare 2 level 'No Russian' will teach more that it corrupts. I don't doubt that when the next Columbine or Virginia Tech massacre occurs some commenters will inevitably try to link it with Modern Warfare, but simulated guns don't kill people, real ones do. The NRA bears more responsibility than Infinity Ward."
5 links on guardian
Call Of Duty : Black Ops Upsets Cuba With Castro Mission
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/nov/11/call-of-duty-black-ops-cuba-castroCoD: Are all the kids right ?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/nov/09/call-of-duty-black-ops
Hollywood Style
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2010/nov/09/call-of-duty-black-ops-launch
Not Everyone is happy
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2009/nov/16/modern-warfare-2-record
Are they depicting War ?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2010/sep/19/war-video-games-hennessey-sicart
Thursday 11 November 2010
Infinity Ward / activision change in power
How Arabs and Muslims are Portrayed in Western Games
The distortion of the Middle Eastern reality has undergone a watershed change since 9/11,” the columnist says about recent war games:
The player controls American or broad Western coalition forces, while enemy units are controlled by the computer. The ‘enemy’ is portrayed with a set of broad, schematised attributes like head cover, loose clothes and dark skin etc. The narrative links the characters to “international terrorism and/or Islamist extremism.
How Arabs and Muslims are Portrayed in Western Games
The distortion of the Middle Eastern reality has undergone a watershed change since 9/11,” the columnist says about recent war games:
The player controls American or broad Western coalition forces, while enemy units are controlled by the computer. The ‘enemy’ is portrayed with a set of broad, schematised attributes like head cover, loose clothes and dark skin etc. The narrative links the characters to “international terrorism and/or Islamist extremism.
Research
Modern Warfare Franchise
Representations & Sterotyping
Digital Arabs: Representation in Video Games
This article presents the ways in which Muslims and Arabs are represented and represent themselves in video games
How Arabs and Muslims are Portrayed in Western Games
The distortion of the Middle Eastern reality has undergone a watershed change since 9/11,” the columnist says about recent war games:
The player controls American or broad Western coalition forces, while enemy units are controlled by the computer. The ‘enemy’ is portrayed with a set of broad, schematised attributes like head cover, loose clothes and dark skin etc. The narrative links the characters to “international terrorism and/or Islamist extremism.
News Values
Fear of Muslim Other
Call Of Duty Controversy
COD - Airport Scare, Bans In Russia !
Back Ops
"I SOMETIMES play the last Call Of Duty with my godson, who wipes the floor with me, and I was already impressed. But this new game takes it to a new level."
The movement of the characters is spot on.
The way a trained soldier holds and fires a gun is very specific - and they've got the movement right, down to the last detail.
That is exactly the sort of conditions our troops were fighting under in Basra, Iraq.The game really gets across the frantic chaos of a firefight.
Moral Panic
Modern moral panic
The controversy just won’t stop. As has been explained a thousand times before, the airport massacre level in Modern Warfare 2 is skippable and doesn’t involve you having to shoot anyone at all; you can just hang back with the rest of the rabble and follow them through the mayhem. Not that it matters of course, because it’s just a game and no-one actually dies.
Moral Effects
Young People and Violence
Violence in gaming was the other factor in which had been researched and through this I was able to find that younger people use the violence they learn from gaming and apply them to society through ethnic/cultural differences.
“Knowledge about young people’s views on violence and acceptance of violence in different contexts has important implications for violence prevention initiatives, particularly those in schools. If young people’s acceptance of violence is linked to their understandings of appropriate gender behaviour then an inherent aspect of effective violence prevention will also be to destabilise existing gender norms and expectations.”
Effects on violent media on children
Recent research has shown that connections between children playing violent video games can cause later aggressive behavioral problems. In retrospect studies have also shown a twelve percent increase in aggressive behavior after watching violent television as well
Post 9/11
Concerns on violent behaviour due to games
Young children have difficulty distinguishing reality from fantasy, which makes them more vulnerable to the effects of media violence. They may become more aggressive and fearful if they are exposed to high levels of violence in video games.
Censorship
Russia Bans
The Russian government pulled Modern Warfare 2 as a response to the Russian airport terror level, which we first revealed a few weeks back. But Russian gamers are also taking to gaming sites to attack developer Infinity Ward for its portrayal of their nation.
Ownership Control
Infinity Ward
Treyarch
Activision
One of the reasons why the owenership vary is because they compete with eachother through the Call Of Duty franchise. This allows them to make one game each year one after another making the next one better through competing. This evidently causes the game to become better which appeals to the Audience.
Representations & Sterotyping
Digital Arabs: Representation in Video Games
This article presents the ways in which Muslims and Arabs are represented and represent themselves in video games
How Arabs and Muslims are Portrayed in Western Games
The distortion of the Middle Eastern reality has undergone a watershed change since 9/11,” the columnist says about recent war games:
The player controls American or broad Western coalition forces, while enemy units are controlled by the computer. The ‘enemy’ is portrayed with a set of broad, schematised attributes like head cover, loose clothes and dark skin etc. The narrative links the characters to “international terrorism and/or Islamist extremism.
News Values
Fear of Muslim Other
Call Of Duty Controversy
COD - Airport Scare, Bans In Russia !
Back Ops
"I SOMETIMES play the last Call Of Duty with my godson, who wipes the floor with me, and I was already impressed. But this new game takes it to a new level."
The movement of the characters is spot on.
The way a trained soldier holds and fires a gun is very specific - and they've got the movement right, down to the last detail.
That is exactly the sort of conditions our troops were fighting under in Basra, Iraq.The game really gets across the frantic chaos of a firefight.
Moral Panic
Modern moral panic
The controversy just won’t stop. As has been explained a thousand times before, the airport massacre level in Modern Warfare 2 is skippable and doesn’t involve you having to shoot anyone at all; you can just hang back with the rest of the rabble and follow them through the mayhem. Not that it matters of course, because it’s just a game and no-one actually dies.
Moral Effects
Young People and Violence
Violence in gaming was the other factor in which had been researched and through this I was able to find that younger people use the violence they learn from gaming and apply them to society through ethnic/cultural differences.
“Knowledge about young people’s views on violence and acceptance of violence in different contexts has important implications for violence prevention initiatives, particularly those in schools. If young people’s acceptance of violence is linked to their understandings of appropriate gender behaviour then an inherent aspect of effective violence prevention will also be to destabilise existing gender norms and expectations.”
Effects on violent media on children
Recent research has shown that connections between children playing violent video games can cause later aggressive behavioral problems. In retrospect studies have also shown a twelve percent increase in aggressive behavior after watching violent television as well
Post 9/11
Concerns on violent behaviour due to games
Young children have difficulty distinguishing reality from fantasy, which makes them more vulnerable to the effects of media violence. They may become more aggressive and fearful if they are exposed to high levels of violence in video games.
Censorship
Russia Bans
The Russian government pulled Modern Warfare 2 as a response to the Russian airport terror level, which we first revealed a few weeks back. But Russian gamers are also taking to gaming sites to attack developer Infinity Ward for its portrayal of their nation.
Ownership Control
Infinity Ward
Treyarch
Activision
One of the reasons why the owenership vary is because they compete with eachother through the Call Of Duty franchise. This allows them to make one game each year one after another making the next one better through competing. This evidently causes the game to become better which appeals to the Audience.
Sunday 7 November 2010
Further Research...
How to create a successful viral campaign
There is no real set order in which allows anyone to create the best viral campaign but there are different factors in which I have to take in account when creating one. Some of which have been found from the research above such as having good content by just being creative and including something that hasn’t been seen before. Creating some sort of conversation so that it has the ability to show that it will be talked about after the campaign has been seen. The length of the video so that people do not get bored over a clip to long or don’t understand it by it being to short. Finally one of the most important factors, the technical set-up of the video and if it Is easy to send and share to others. If this is not possible than the viral campaign would not be passed on and would become useless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoIPdRbPOmU
This is a viral campaign that was used for Ps4 which has not been released. This was smartly done as it shows that the capability of the consol is too good even for a gamer. However as the consol has not even been created yet the campaign suggests that it has. This would grab the audience’s attention and would suggest why it is effective.
Young people and violence
Violence in gaming was the other factor in which had been researched and through this I was able to find that younger people use the violence they learn from gaming and apply them to society through ethnic/cultural differences.
“Knowledge about young people’s views on violence and acceptance of violence in different contexts has important implications for violence prevention initiatives, particularly those in schools. If young people’s acceptance of violence is linked to their understandings of appropriate gender behaviour then an inherent aspect of effective violence prevention will also be to destabilise existing gender norms and expectations.”
The psychological effects of violent media on children
Violence applied to the younger age ?
View from researchers suggests that performing violent acts in video games may be more contributing to children's aggression than passively watching violent acts on television. According to this view, the more children practice violent acts.
On the other hand the makers of these violent types of media such as movies, video games and television argue that violent children are drawn towards these types of violent entertainmen
example of a viral campaign.
There is no real set order in which allows anyone to create the best viral campaign but there are different factors in which I have to take in account when creating one. Some of which have been found from the research above such as having good content by just being creative and including something that hasn’t been seen before. Creating some sort of conversation so that it has the ability to show that it will be talked about after the campaign has been seen. The length of the video so that people do not get bored over a clip to long or don’t understand it by it being to short. Finally one of the most important factors, the technical set-up of the video and if it Is easy to send and share to others. If this is not possible than the viral campaign would not be passed on and would become useless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoIPdRbPOmU
This is a viral campaign that was used for Ps4 which has not been released. This was smartly done as it shows that the capability of the consol is too good even for a gamer. However as the consol has not even been created yet the campaign suggests that it has. This would grab the audience’s attention and would suggest why it is effective.
Young people and violence
Violence in gaming was the other factor in which had been researched and through this I was able to find that younger people use the violence they learn from gaming and apply them to society through ethnic/cultural differences.
“Knowledge about young people’s views on violence and acceptance of violence in different contexts has important implications for violence prevention initiatives, particularly those in schools. If young people’s acceptance of violence is linked to their understandings of appropriate gender behaviour then an inherent aspect of effective violence prevention will also be to destabilise existing gender norms and expectations.”
The psychological effects of violent media on children
Violence applied to the younger age ?
View from researchers suggests that performing violent acts in video games may be more contributing to children's aggression than passively watching violent acts on television. According to this view, the more children practice violent acts.
On the other hand the makers of these violent types of media such as movies, video games and television argue that violent children are drawn towards these types of violent entertainmen
example of a viral campaign.
Sunday 31 October 2010
** State of Play: Violence and video games
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6943835.stm
** Concerns on violent behaviour due to games
http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents/video_games/concerns/violence_videogames.cfm
** Does games such as Modern Warfare2 make teenagers more violent ?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16099971/
** COD Modern warfare 2, terrorist gameplay ?
http://www.pcworld.com/article/181140/is_call_of_duty_modern_warfare_2_terrorist_gameplay_artful.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6943835.stm
** Concerns on violent behaviour due to games
http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents/video_games/concerns/violence_videogames.cfm
** Does games such as Modern Warfare2 make teenagers more violent ?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16099971/
** COD Modern warfare 2, terrorist gameplay ?
http://www.pcworld.com/article/181140/is_call_of_duty_modern_warfare_2_terrorist_gameplay_artful.html
Critical Investigation
Critical Investigation & Linked Production
Initial Ideas
** How Muslims are represented in film and gaming post 9/11 and how it has shaped the way in which society accept culture.
** How violence in games can shape the way in which teenagers act in society and whether it has made teenagers more aggressive towards real life situations.
** Sequence from gaming trailers which suggest how the imagery of violence effects teenage violence
Linked production ideas
** Documentry - Post 9/11 and how society think about a 'Scare' from cultural difference
** Short Opening squence of how teenagers have become increasingly violent due to violence in games
** magazine cover of how imagery changes the way in which cultures are represented in society
Media texts that I will be using as part of my research include;
Film
** Four Lions
** Red Zone
Games
** Call of Duty: Modern Warfare2
**Battlefield Bad Company2
** Medal of Honour
Print
**Ps3 Forever (New magazine)
** Edge Magazine
**Game Zone
BEST IDEA:
How Muslims are represented in film and gaming post 9/11 and how it has shaped the way in which society accept culture.
Media Language – as a documentary
Institution- mainstream, suggest through violence that it would be controversial
Genre- documentary / action based through showing violence included in Gaming and film
Representation- Suggesting both Positive and negative representation of Muslims in Film and Gaming
Audience- Teenage demographics 16-25 both sexes how their social actions can be changed through the representations and outlook on accepting culture.
Ideologies- aim to be positive and educational so that people can see how the minor actions in gaming can cause issues in society
Narrative –
S.H.E.P
Social – how violence in gaming and film has caused people to believe Muslims are all terrorists
Historical – Past suggestions of gaming such as Manhunt and Hitman in which were banned from selling due to violence and representation of culture.
Economical – How the violence In Film and gaming become more popular and how if effects purchases.
Political – post 9/11 scared and if political influence has forces society to believe the ‘Arab scares’
Theorists
Hypodermic Needle Theory
Post 9/11
Giddens's theory of structuration explores social forces that shape our social reality
Issues and Debates
Gender & Ethnicity – how societies look at culture and ethnic backgrounds and relate them to violence in Film and Gaming.
Audience Theories – why the younger generation are so interested in the cultural violence and war.
Colonialism – war between different backgrounds, gangs
Initial Ideas
** How Muslims are represented in film and gaming post 9/11 and how it has shaped the way in which society accept culture.
** How violence in games can shape the way in which teenagers act in society and whether it has made teenagers more aggressive towards real life situations.
** Sequence from gaming trailers which suggest how the imagery of violence effects teenage violence
Linked production ideas
** Documentry - Post 9/11 and how society think about a 'Scare' from cultural difference
** Short Opening squence of how teenagers have become increasingly violent due to violence in games
** magazine cover of how imagery changes the way in which cultures are represented in society
Media texts that I will be using as part of my research include;
Film
** Four Lions
** Red Zone
Games
** Call of Duty: Modern Warfare2
**Battlefield Bad Company2
** Medal of Honour
**Ps3 Forever (New magazine)
** Edge Magazine
**Game Zone
BEST IDEA:
How Muslims are represented in film and gaming post 9/11 and how it has shaped the way in which society accept culture.
Media Language – as a documentary
Institution- mainstream, suggest through violence that it would be controversial
Genre- documentary / action based through showing violence included in Gaming and film
Representation- Suggesting both Positive and negative representation of Muslims in Film and Gaming
Audience- Teenage demographics 16-25 both sexes how their social actions can be changed through the representations and outlook on accepting culture.
Ideologies- aim to be positive and educational so that people can see how the minor actions in gaming can cause issues in society
Narrative –
S.H.E.P
Social – how violence in gaming and film has caused people to believe Muslims are all terrorists
Historical – Past suggestions of gaming such as Manhunt and Hitman in which were banned from selling due to violence and representation of culture.
Economical – How the violence In Film and gaming become more popular and how if effects purchases.
Political – post 9/11 scared and if political influence has forces society to believe the ‘Arab scares’
Theorists
Hypodermic Needle Theory
Post 9/11
Giddens's theory of structuration explores social forces that shape our social reality
Issues and Debates
Gender & Ethnicity – how societies look at culture and ethnic backgrounds and relate them to violence in Film and Gaming.
Audience Theories – why the younger generation are so interested in the cultural violence and war.
Colonialism – war between different backgrounds, gangs
Thursday 14 October 2010
Marshall McLuhan
Herbert Marshall McLuhan, CC (July 21, 1911 – December 31, 1980) was a Canadian educator, philosopher, and scholar—a professor of English literature, a literary critic, a rhetorician, and a communication theorist. McLuhan's work is viewed as one of the cornerstones of the study of media theory, as well as having practical applications in the advertising and television industries
McLuhan is known for the expressions "the medium is the message" and "global village". McLuhan was a fixture in media discourse from the late 1960s to his death and he continues to be an influential and controversial figure. More than ten years after his death he was named the "patron saint" of Wired magazine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_McLuhan
A commercial society whose members are essentially ascetic and indifferent in social ritual has to be provided with blueprints and specifications for evoking the right tone for every occasion.
Advertising is the greatest art form of the 20th century.
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/marshall_mcluhan.html
A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding.
http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/26899.html
McLuhan is known for the expressions "the medium is the message" and "global village". McLuhan was a fixture in media discourse from the late 1960s to his death and he continues to be an influential and controversial figure. More than ten years after his death he was named the "patron saint" of Wired magazine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_McLuhan
A commercial society whose members are essentially ascetic and indifferent in social ritual has to be provided with blueprints and specifications for evoking the right tone for every occasion.
Advertising is the greatest art form of the 20th century.
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/marshall_mcluhan.html
A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding.
http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/26899.html
Friday 8 October 2010
What is the Guardian 100 and who are the people who create it?
The Guardian 100 is an anual guide to the most powerful people in the industry. it is created by Lord waheed Ali, Dasiy McAndrew, Sarah Sands, Richard Park, James Scroggs, Matt Wells, Janine Gibson and Jamie Kantrowitz
How many woman are in the top 100?
18 women are in the guardian top 100
What companies do these woman work for and in what roles?
There are only 3 woman who are in this and they work as;
Sarah Sands - Consultant editor of the Daily Mail
Janine Gibson - Executive editor of the gaurdian
Daisy McAndrew - Cheif political correspondant of itv
What percentage of woman is this?
That gives 18% of the guardian to womans guidance.
How would I asses the balance of power? why is it in this way?
The balance of power is very unbalanced as the majority of panelists are males and there are 3 times as many men on the top 100 to woman. This could be a result of modren society where men are mostly dominant and have more control in media. Woman have smaller roles and are less important in media.
Wednesday 29 September 2010
District 9. short
Some of the criticisms that I had come across after my presentation is that I felt I was not very prepared to present to the entire class. This was because I did not use enough media terminology throughout the PowerPoint presentation and had suggested that I would not be able to get the best possible mark on the presentation.
If I had used cue card instead of trying to memorise the information I would probably be more likely to keep the class more involved as I would then have known my text better and the information provided would flow better rather than stopping to glance at the white board to make sure I do not go off topic.
The YouTube link in which I had used did not work as it had been removed by the owner not long before the presentation which meant I was not able to find the time to post a new video in which could have gained the audience’s attention.
Another criticism is that I had used a lot of text on some of the slides and this had meant that the class did not know whether to read the text or listen to what I had to say which had confused them and had made the presentation more complex
However on a positive note I was able to keep calm even though I was very nervous and scared presenting to a class in which I am not very familiar with.
I was able to interact with the class well as well as I had used some humour within the PowerPoint in order to keep the audience more involved. I think this had benefited me on ma overall grade.
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