tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041401714407470668.post6690501979282176604..comments2023-10-23T10:59:43.634-05:00Comments on J676: Video games and mass communication: Smart BombGreg Downeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154543464555817869noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041401714407470668.post-68425184556613665172008-07-07T12:36:00.000-05:002008-07-07T12:36:00.000-05:00I find the two articles we read on the military an...I find the two articles we read on the military and video games the most interesting. While the video game industry it mostly concerned with making better graphics and gameply, the military is focused on training the best killing machines; though, some of the military operations are for simulating things outside of killing. Also, the idea of turning a person with increidible controller ability into a person worthy of driving whatever military operated machine sound very interesting. Obviously not a for sure thing but fascinating to think about, especially what "six year olds" could be capable and completely morally free from dropping bombs unknowably. hopefully such an immoral act isn't going to happen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041401714407470668.post-24778356603561040102008-07-07T12:22:00.000-05:002008-07-07T12:22:00.000-05:00Good point, Sarah.Good point, Sarah.Adrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05838262810164443856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041401714407470668.post-87094351831840363952008-07-06T20:17:00.000-05:002008-07-06T20:17:00.000-05:00I was just having a conversation over the weekend ...I was just having a conversation over the weekend about the question of how "real" reality is today. What prompted this (of all things) was what used to be the channel CourtTV and is now TruTV. There motto is "not reality. Actuality." This to me really sums up the way that a lot of media works today. The word "reality" (as in reality tv) has become synonymous with bad, exploit based entertainment. Here we have a media outlet taking this into account and trying to re-define what the word "reality" means when it comes to their program. Very strange.Jonathan Gelatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04401389126033117427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041401714407470668.post-39863506919996730172008-07-06T16:31:00.000-05:002008-07-06T16:31:00.000-05:00Well, there's nothing wrong with a person interpre...Well, there's nothing wrong with a person interpreting a story in a way that runs contrary to the author's intended point (Kline, et al., talk about the ability to rewrite the video game narrative by "negotiating" it in an unintended way in the last chapter of theirs that we read, for example), but wouldn't it seem that Macedonia's observations - ominous ones, to many of us, btw - that children being inculcated with technology has an end convenient to the military-industrial complex be the best argument ever for scholars, educators, parents and other interested parties to teach children how to be media-savvy at an early age? <BR/><BR/>Interesting to have the subject of the article joining us on this thread. I wonder how he perceived his portrayal as it appeared in Smart Bomb...Sarah. R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13495338005089494192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041401714407470668.post-75644847184760488312008-07-05T19:21:00.000-05:002008-07-05T19:21:00.000-05:00What came to mind for me while reading this articl...What came to mind for me while reading this article was the dualistic nature—as may so often be expected in the scope of video games—of technologies potential for both degrading and assisting education, for both training soldiers for battle and (presumably) their enemies as well (once the simulator is leaked), and to both ensnare and dehumanize (possibly) acts of violence, as a testament to duty and reflexive killing.<BR/><BR/>Should anything, that by its very nature is dualistic (yin and yang), be assessed critically on account of its potential for evil, so much as its potential for good? Is it fair to say that video games are all good or all bad or should we search for some sort of a middle-ground, as has been accomplished via motion pictures and radio—in reference to the technology’s potentials for use as a tool’s of propaganda (the Third Reich), while at the same time, learning and encouraging good behavior (be they 'campfire' chats by FDR's administration on the radio, or National Geographic being screened in a high school biology class via TV.<BR/><BR/>I think that in all such matters, one must both praise the good attributes of any technology as well as scorn any bad attributes of the said technology. Video games should not be treated any differently.Marlon Heimerlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16038436219563339071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041401714407470668.post-75053166946026096852008-07-04T13:45:00.000-05:002008-07-04T13:45:00.000-05:00This article touches upon some of the earlier piec...This article touches upon some of the earlier pieces we read in that skills can be learned from video games such as hand-eye coordination, stress management, spatial issues, etc. and the military has realized this and capitalizing on that in a positive manner. It seems that as technology continues to progress in how we fight wars nowadays, video games will have an increasing role in teaching our future soldiers how to deal with all the technology and processing instant information that being a soldier commands. A little shoutout to Mike for joining us. That's pretty cool.Eric Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00198361987589659236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041401714407470668.post-68642871868787874962008-07-04T10:08:00.000-05:002008-07-04T10:08:00.000-05:00AA was a breakthrough at many levels. It paved the...AA was a breakthrough at many levels. <BR/>It paved the way for games and virtual worlds to be more than marketing -- they identified and developed affinity groups. MTV has been successful with this as well with their virtual world strategy. Given that the average viewer of TV is now 50, virtual worlds offer a new way to provide a common experience for large groups. Look at how World of Warcraft or Club Penquin are entering into the mainstream. Disney's purchase of Club Penquin for $750 mil is an indicator of what media companies are anticipating.Mike Macedoniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04726619826790267422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041401714407470668.post-4513346070199679892008-07-03T21:56:00.000-05:002008-07-03T21:56:00.000-05:00Thx for joining us Mike!I remember when AA came ou...Thx for joining us Mike!<BR/><BR/>I remember when AA came out in 2002, I played a bit of Soldier of Fortune 2 and people were talking about how AA was free. I never played it because I have a mac, but from what I heard from others the game wasn't that impressive. <BR/><BR/>What Wardynski said about the flow of information about life in the army was pretty interesting to me. With the number of veterans decreasing, the army needs to find different ways to get across to the youth of America. Video games and technology were the right choice.Nick Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01905187886343516157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041401714407470668.post-4263824852200104612008-07-03T16:41:00.000-05:002008-07-03T16:41:00.000-05:00Interesting comments. However, how real is "real" ...Interesting comments. However, how real is "real" today? We are now having our lives electronically mediated by blogs, chat, email, games like WoW and social networks. Half the planet now has a cellphone and we still have only 92 years left in the century to complete the rest. OSC also anticipated this.Mike Macedoniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04726619826790267422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2041401714407470668.post-43885237932061075092008-07-03T14:32:00.000-05:002008-07-03T14:32:00.000-05:00Amen to the instant revulsion from the "Ender's Ga...Amen to the instant revulsion from the "Ender's Game" comment's. Really feel that Macedonia (what a great name) missed the entire point of the entire Ender series and actually took it to the opposite end of the spectrum.<BR/><BR/>The adoption of a wired army, on the other hand, seems a more natural and (sad to say) appropriate incorporation of gaming and technology. "Information is power", and as the style of warfare changes the need for instant access to a wide-array of information becomes even more crucial for both tha soldiers on the ground and the command structure.Jasunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09678999861981038638noreply@blogger.com