Friday 5 August, 2011

Hello,

I just started playing the Columbine RPG. All during setting up the game I said to myself "I can't believe I am playing a game about this..." I was not looking forward to playing the game because it reenacted such a horrible event. I was surprised to see such cartoony graphics. I feel that the graphics somewhat desensitized the harshness of the subject matter.

I found game play to be a bit difficult. They give you a bit of direction but it's still very much a trial and error game to me so far.I had difficulty getting to the cafeteria to plant the bombs. I planted a bomb and then I wasn't sure what to do next. The text of the game is also unclear.

I found it somewhat disturbing when the character must go into the basement to gather their supplies and they record their farewell message. It was quite creepy to see the two real pictures of the shooters and the dialogue of the message. The characters are very angry at the world it seems. They also find random things like Mariyln Manson cds with negative lyrics as encouragement for the task to come. That somewhat seemed like a source of blaming the music for added influence toward violence and anger.

"I was surprised to see such cartoony graphics. I feel that the graphics somewhat desensitized the harshness of the subject matter"

In some ways I'm thankful for the cartoony graphics because they make the contrast with the real pictures that much greater.