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Friday 20 February, 2009
Realism was a very interesting concept used to analyze the computer game Super Columbine Massacre RPG. Realism is generally defined as a quality or fact representing a person, thing, or situation accurately or in a way that is true to life. The Columbine Massacre was a tragic event in American history. A large majority of people blamed violent video games because of the preconceived notion that the violence in video games heightened the propensity of the players who played those games to engage in violent acts themselves. It was very interesting that a video game would be modeled after Columbine because of the controversy, which surrounded the event.
Realism could be analyzed in two different ways, through the technical design of the game and through the storyline of the game. It was interesting to look at the technical design of the game because the games graphics are not digitally stunning. The movements of the characters within the game and the scenery of the game were very primitive. This game does not have the typical realistic graphics that most contemporary computer games. The graphics were reminiscent of the Game Boy color graphics. However, the storyline and the dialog of the game were very realistic. During game play, I truly felt the haunting sense of this malicious act. Playing the game as the antagonist definitely changed the method of play because instead of feeling a sense of accomplishment when I completed a mission, I felt remorse knowing the effects of my actions. Reading the dialog between Eric and Dylan was horrifying because it showed the level of dysfunction within the two boys. In a sense, the game does a good job of portraying the disturbed nature of the boys, but I did not like the fact it was so realistic, playing this atrocious character.
Although I have not progressed very far in the game, the game does display some realistic characteristic and fictional characteristics. It will be interesting to see the dialog and actions of the game to follow. One has to play this game within a certain context to truly understand this game, and be able to differentiate the realistic and the fictional characteristics.
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