There was a very interesting article by Christian Nutt on Gamasutra that spawned from a question on a discussion board. While we have all heard people asking if we should boycott games for one reason or another, I thought the article discussed some interesting points that many of us, as aging gamers, should really start thinking about. Check out the FULL ARTICLE.

One of the things the article got me thinking about was what really is our responsibility as an adult gamer? If you are a gamer, once you hit a certain age (let’s say for arguments sake over 30) you can’t dismiss things as ‘what’s the big deal, it’s just a game’. Actually it really isn’t anymore.  If you are over 30 and respond to the question “When did you start gaming” with the words Atari 2600 anywhere in your response, you most likely have chosen being a gamer as a lifestyle rather than a random occurrence. And with lifestyle choices comes certain responsibilities. The discussion in the aforementioned article was about if we should boycott the game Shadow Complex.  The reasons were because it is based on a world created by Orson Scott Card who is a loud and proud member of anti-gay marriage.

My first response to this was hellz yeah!  Ban it! Freakin’ suckah and his anti-gay views! (I actually wouldn’t have said freakin’ suckah, I am much more colorful then that).  But after that initial “slap on the rainbow sticker we are going on a crusade” reaction I thought, I like Orson Scott Cards writing.  I have read the majority of his books and have encouraged my son to read them as well.  I actually wanted to play the game more because it was a world created by him. I knew I had opposing religious views with him, but I never thought about boycotting his books, or games with worlds he created! Seriously?  That would be like banning music in a town because dancing brings out the devil in people! 

And while I can see the point in refusing to buy something in order to show you do not support something, Nutt’s article went on to discuss how it isn’t just Card who is involved in this game.  There is a whole world of people who put their blood, sweat, and tears into this game.

Sometimes being grown-up sucks! Games are supposed to be fun and silly and time wasters, they aren’t supposed to make us think about world issues! So what do we do? What is the adult, responsible thing to do? I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t been given a code for this game and if I had read this article before I played it.  I would have been torn for sure.  Do I respect the person for their artistry? Or do I shun the person for their beliefs when it is something I feel strongly about?

Either way.. YOU should read the article.  Nutt did a great job of looking at all the sides and making you ask yourself a billion questions about the issue!