Blogging the experience of gameplayhttps://www.gamelog.cl/gamers/GamerPage.php?idgamer=1120https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=4013I can't say I've really accomplished much more in this game outside of killing a multitude of students using a variety of weapons. I'm a little confused now as to what the objective of the game is (if it is anything other than kill as many people as possible). Despite the fact that I have not accomplished much more in the game, I have been able to think about it a lot more critically. It seems to me that more than commenting on the actions of Eric and Dylan, the game is more interested in critiquing the media's sensationalism and immediate scapegoating of video games/music/movies. It's especially intruiging to me to see an "independent" video games like this as I don't really have much exposure to them. I only really see the big-budget/mass-produced games, and I think that might be why I have such a cynical view of them. I have trouble believing that any of those games are created for artistic purposes or to make the players ponder what they are doing . . . or even a narrative that is based around some sort of emotional pull. I feel the same way about movies (Hollywood pictures generally suck), but with movies there is a huge underground independent community who are interested in making art. Super Columbine Massacre, however crappy the gameplay may be, is really cool for that reason. The designer bypassed the system to carry out his own vision and spark interest on a level above just pure entertainment. I would love to see more of that in the video game world . . . and I honestly think it will happen sooner or later.Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:04:44 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=4013&iddiary=7552https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=4013I must say it's sort of hard for me to get very far in the game without getting really frustrated. For a long time I could barely get past the hallway (I'm sort of incompetent when it comes to games). But I think even this is interesting . . . you can't be seen by the kids basically because they taunt you whenever they see you. I'm under the impression that the bombs are hidden, so it's not like you are hiding from the kids for any other reason other than to avoid being taunted. I was also really annoyed every time one of these kids questioned me - it honestly made me hate them and look forward to killing them. I guess the game is trying to put me into that sort of frustrating position and make me think twice about judging the killers as purely evil. Once I got around to killing people, I found I didn't have the option of not murdering each individual (at least I couldn't figure out how not to). I guess that's just as well because the point of the game is to kill. I can use different weapons to kill different stereotypes . . . the "popular girl" the "jock." The "church boy" even got on his knees and prayed before I shot him, which was pretty gut-wrenching. It may be sort of crappy in terms of game quality, but Columbine Massacre is definitely making me think some things that I may try to avoid thinking about. I had forgotten a lot about the Columbine shootings, and this has made me revisit them in an interesting albeit uncomfortable way.Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:18:02 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=4013&iddiary=7516https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=4013Wow, this game is really interesting. I think if it had been created by a professional team of developers it would be even more disturbing than it is. It already makes me slightly uncomfortable to play it even with it's terrible graphics. The first thing that strikes me is that the game designers seemed to think it was crucial to represent Dylan and Eric's media exposure. I remember hearing musical artists like Marilyn Manson were blamed for "inspiring" the Columbine massacre. I didn't know that Apocalypse Now also appeared to "influence" them. The game seems so focused on little details (of course, I don't even know how factual these are) . . . it makes me think this game was definitely created to explore ethical issues. To think that a game was created entirely for the purpose of conversation and to make the gamer feel uncomfortable is interesting for me (I still am kind of cynical about video games and their artistic/ethical implications). While I don't particularly enjoy playing the game, it is sort of cool (for lack of a better word) to be placed in such a compromising position (essentially pretending that you are a killer based on a REAL killer). I seriously doubt that the conversations are accurate, but I think the "recordings" that they do are based on what they really said. I felt like reading that stuff was really intense, far more than any other meaningless storyline in a lot of the video games my friends play. Maybe it's just the fact that it's based on real events that makes it more intriguing - I'm not totally sure. But it's definitely thought-provoking, even if the gameplay is a bit archaic.Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:07:32 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=4013&iddiary=7495https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3890I don't really see how people can beat this game, I'm already very sick of playing it. It's not that I'm offended and can't bare to watch it, I am just bored of killing people and running away from the cops. The criminal life is not for me. I think it's significant that my initial curiosity at what it would be like to be a criminal wore off pretty quickly. I understand it doesn't fade that quickly for everyone, but I think that once they try it and see a hypothetical version of what it feels like, their quench for trying it disappears. One thing I found interesting is how there are always consequences for my actions in the game. I don't truly have the freedom to do whatever I want, at least not without there being extreme consequences. The more people I run over, the more cars I steal . . . the more intense and expansive the police chase for me becomes. If ever there was an argument that didn't say the game is an awful catalyst for violence, it is that these consequences are always present in every move you make. If anything Grand Theft Auto is an excellent platform on which to discuss ethical problems, even outside the realm of the belief that playing the game is, in and of itself, unethical. However, I don't really intend to play it again anytime soon.Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:00:16 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3890&iddiary=7314https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3890Stealing, murdering innocents, picking up hookers . . . all while the general public stands and watches. I think it's almost as bad for those watching and doing nothing as it is for me committing all these violent acts. Maybe the game creators are trying to form some social commentary . . . on second thought, me hanging out the window with an automatic weapon and shooting at cars, I'm not sure if social commentary is the point of this game. I think the new questions is . . . in light of what we discussed in class, is it ethical to do these things if everyone in this "other world" agrees with them? If I can steal a cop's motorcycle and nobody does anything, is it ethical? I think that because these people exist in another world that "they" have their own code of mores. I also am of the impression that people get bogged down talking about how "offensive" the game is, when the real ethical questions center on the relation between reality and the game. I admit . . . it was enjoyable to steal cars and shoot people. But I think that derives from a kind of sick curiosity that all humans have whether they want to admit it or not. For that purpose, the game allows me to live out thoughts that may have crossed my mind (though I wouldn't dare carry them out). While many ethically minded people would argue that the game promotes criminal behavior, I would counter that it stops many from carrying out these thoughts in real life. Regardless, it's a cool game to play, even if I am really terrible at it.Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:30:53 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3890&iddiary=7284https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3890After not having much video game experience, the introduction video gave me a brief background on CJ, and how he was returning to his neighborhood. The ethics of police officers right away, struck me as off. The police stole CJ's money, and then told him they would eventually need him, so they essentially extort CJ. The core controls were a little difficult to grasp at first, but once I was able to gain the controls, I felt I was able to enjoy the game more. Exploring the map and gaining different "tools" after I killed certain people. The citizens take a unique approach in this game, because they actually decide to jump in the way of traffic, as opposed to avoiding it. If you also decide to walk around the sidewalks, the racial slurs and just plain street talk that can be heard is very offensive and inappropriate.Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:14:28 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3890&iddiary=7267