Blogging the experience of gameplayhttps://www.gamelog.cl/gamers/GamerPage.php?idgamer=1044https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3814Today's session of Super Columbine Massacre RPG! led me to even more observations about Eric and Dylan (or as they call themselves "Reb" and "Vodka" of the trenchcoat mafia). I also learned that it's really annoying to have to start the game over and over just because I can't manage to play the game on the same computer each time. Anyway, like yesterday, I found more hidden content in the beginning of the game that revealed a little bit about the two characters' pasts, like the scene at blackjack park, where they tried ignited one of their bombs for possibly the first time. I thought it was disturbing when they fantasized about getting even more for a bomb so they could then wage an attack on the school. One thing that I found a bit poignant (but not in the good way), was the way the two characters' attitudes seemed to change back and forth during the game. I thought it was sad that Eric sad that he was remorseful about his parents and that he didn't want anyone to blame them for anything, it just meant he had some regrets. I also thought it was really sad that he wished he was a psychopath so he didn't HAVE to feel remorse-that was really disturbing, in my opinion. Another thing that also shocked me was how Eric and Dylan saw everyone else. I remember Dylan said something like, "when I'm in my human form and I know I'm going to die, everything has a sense of triviality to it..." That was one indicator that he didn't see people has people at all, like he put himself above them or something. Also, after reading that a few times and noticing the enemy names, such as "sheltered girl," or "preppy girl," or "jock type," that was also another indicator that the two boys didn't respect the dignity of the other students at the school-they were disregarding their dignity and lumping students they didn't even know into these stereotypical categories and even when they won, they saw it as a trenchcoat mafia victory! That's what I found really disturbing. The last thing was that when the bomb went off in the cafeteria and there was a fire, one of the boys said "don't you wish you had any marshmallows?" Disturbing... I guess this game just reminded me that there are some kids out there who are really really disturbed.Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:57:08 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3814&iddiary=7175https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3814Unfortunately, I had to start the game over again today because I had played on a different computer. Luckily, however, since it was my second time playing through the intro, there were things I noticed that I didn't before when I initially played the game yesterday. For instance, the first time I played the game, I didn't really look around Eric's room at all, but this time I did. I thought was interesting finding extra elements in the game because it helped me sort of get into the mind of the two boys to somewhat understand where they were coming from. Although there was also a part in the beginning that also irritated me about the two boys; when Eric (or "Reb") picked up his copy of DOOM, it read "Let the desensitization to violence BEGIN!" This part initially made me angry because this sounds like the justification of all parents when they forbid their kids from playing video games. I've heard parents say they're afraid of their kids becoming psychopaths because of so many games, and I've even heard my fair share of my own parents telling me that, so it just made me groan. But then I also thought about the one article we read about Grand Theft Auto where kids who played the game worried about that "one kid who gets way too into the gameplay," or something like that... I guess these two kids were just some of those bad cases. Another perk about it being my second time playing was that I was able to bypass the stupid hallway part where I had to plant the bombs in the cafeteria. After waiting for the explosions to go off, I was finally able to load up on my weapons and go in and start the actual combat aspect of the gameplay. Yesterday, I thought the game reminded me of Pokémon, and now it reminds me of it even more with the gameplay. I also thought the types of students were pretty funny in regards to some of their attacks. I think the one that tickled me the most would have been the church girl and the fact that she kneels down and prays right before getting a health/defense boost. One thing I thought was interesting from an ethical perspective this time around was that in games like this, I usually get motivated to defeat as many enemies as I can so I can level up, but this instinct/tendency of mine was halted by the fact that these were the Columbine shooters and that I was killing innocent students and leaving their bloodied corpses on the ground. I thought the whole experience of mowing down students was a bit harrowing and I ended up quitting after killing a certain amount of students, unwilling to progress further in the game. But tomorrow, I want to see what happens further in the game; hopefully I won't have to have killed many students to progress further.Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:06:15 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3814&iddiary=7154https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3814Today was the first time I played "Super Columbine Massacre RPG!" and before when I first learned we had to play this game, I was nervous. After playing the game for thirty minutes today, I can see why I was so nervous in the first place. When the actual shooting at Columbine high school took place, I was only 9 years old so I've never really known too much about it. After playing the game for a little bit, I found the gameplay experience to be a bit cheezy. From what I understand, the game was made using RPG Maker and I recently met a guy who knows one of the people who made the game, so I thought that was interesting. Anyway, the game's music was pretty neat, all things considered, but I thought the dialogue between the two characters was weird, disturbing, and upsetting. Also, the game really reminded me of Pokémon, mainly because of the graphics and sprites, but I suppose that was to be expected... I only got as far as the Rebel Hill waiting scene because I kept getting caught in the hall on the way to the cafeteria where I was supposed to set up the bombs. I got very frustrated because it took me forever to figure out that the security cameras were security cameras (they looked like crumpled garbage to me). But the characters made me mad because to me, they're just bitchy little girls who can't handle life. Hopefully tomorrow will be more fun since I had no combat to play with.Sat, 15 Aug 2009 22:03:55 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3814&iddiary=7137https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3778I think I finally allowed myself to get into the gameplay of San Andreas this morning. I think I played for over an hour, and I finally stopped mumbling and grumbling when I was finally able to relate to some of the actions of the main characters. While I don't agree with all that stuff about increasing gang territory and being the top gang again, there were other actions that I did agree with. The scene where CJ and his friend go into Balla territory to hook up with B-Dup and Big Bear in order to help reassemble the Grove Street gang was especially a key scene for me. When they saw what Big Bear had been reduced to from being addicted to crack, I was then finding myself empathetic for CJ (I had a friend in a similar situation). I thought CJ had a good sense of justice when he and Sweet or Ryder (I can't remember which one) went to beat the crap out of the crack dealer. I also thought it was a morally good decision to march over to the crack den and beat the crap out of the other thugs living in that house so they wouldn't sell crack to anyone. I thought the retribution they dealt for their friend was very noble. That moment was one of the few redeeming parts of the game, because I later proceeded to be the driver in a drive-by shooting, leaving dozens of other people dead. Immoral...Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:01:40 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3778&iddiary=7106https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3778I played for about 45 minutes today. I discovered the beauty of the unlimited health and was finally able to bypass the drive-by gunner mission. I got up to the point where Carl and Ryder go out to start tagging neighborhoods tagged by the Ballas. I stand by what I said yesterday about there being very little choice being involved in the game. So far, the only choices I've been able to make are whether or not to fight back when I'm attacked by other gang members, whether or not to let the police get you when being chased (obviously, doing the RIGHT thing will lead to negative game progress), and whether or not I should highjack a better vehicle for transportation's sake. Also, I was slightly saddened by Carl's character change when reunited with his "homies." It seemed as though he was living a rather honest lifestyle back on the East Coast, but now he expresses that he wants to stay in Los Santos; he says he "now knew what he was missing," which made my heart sink. I was also slightly surprised by some of the disturbing comments said by pedestrians passing by, such as "have you ever had a pearl necklace?" All that aside, I can still understand why parents don't want their children playing this game. It's extremely violent, crass, and above all, immoral.Sun, 26 Jul 2009 18:18:35 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3778&iddiary=7095https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3778This is my first time playing any of the games of the Grand Theft Auto series and I really do think it'll be my last. It could be because I'm reluctant to play this type of game, but the gameplay experience wasn't really pleasant for me. I don't necessarily think stereotypes were a problem in the game, but I think the reality in the game is a very warped version of our own. Carl, the protagonist of the game, is what I'm guessing to be a former big-time thug turned clean and is only returning to the neighborhood to bury his dead mother. Right away, there's a distorted reality when Carl is immediately pulled over for no reason by 2 cops who know him. Instead of being fair and impartial enforcers of the law, they instead try to pin the murder of another police officer on Carl even though they know that Carl did no such thing. On top of that, after the officers are done harassing Carl, they throw him out of the car in a neighborhood they know is really dangerous for Carl. Also, there isn't much choice to do good things in that game, even if your character seems to be a semi-decent guy. Right in the beginning, you are instructed to steal a bike in order to get out of the neighborhood. Also, even if you do try to follow the law on your new stolen bike, people yell at you, which only encourages you to break the law and ride like a crazy person. Traveling to a destination was all good for me, but I noticed that in order to really get anywhere, it was MUCH more convenient to go stand in the middle of the road, wait for a car to stop, open the car door, punch the driver, throw the driver out into the street, and then drive off with a new car. I played the game for 45 minutes and I'm still stuck on the first part because I keep getting gunned down by that stupid drive-by, but hopefully tomorrow will bring more luck. My opinion thus far is that you're not presented with moral decisions as much as you are forced to do the immoral thing. I don't think there's much choice in this game...Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:24:53 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3778&iddiary=7079