|
Tuesday 27 October, 2009
I was interested to play this game since I had heard about it before. I heard that it was entered into a competition (IGF I think?) but was removed off the list and there was a big controversy about it. I always felt that the people who made this game did it just for attention and to make themselves stand out and above the crowd as video game developers, which to me is sad. If that was their intention, it looks like they did well, on their website it says that the games popularity is overwhelming. The fact we have to play this for school feeds into that fact. I feel as if promoting this game is a bad thing, because its like, we are giving the game developers what they want, attention, similar to what Eric and Dylan want in the game, attention.
I was disappointed to see that it was made with RPG Maker 2000. As a gaming student, its pretty sad to see that this game could be so popular and yet still be so... childishly developed. There are so many other games that have had much longer development times and work put into them that don't reach even 1/100th the popularity that this game has. As a gaming student, it makes me angry that this game is so popular because of how badly programmed it is.
Anyways, as to the game, I guess one thing I was thinking is, is anything in this game factual? for example, the message they leave on the tape recorder, is that stuff they actually said? Or is this just the developer putting words in their mouth? I know this is just a game, but they are basing it on a historical event with the characters being real people. The developers of this game have the power to change our view of Eric and Dylan and the actual event that occurred in real life. Playing this game may give me the false view of who they were and what actually occurred that day. I think this game needs to take a stance of "This is not accurately based on the actual event" or, they need to specify what is factual and what is not.
What is the point of this game? Is it to show how its ridiculous to blame games/media for the shooting? Is it to show that games/media led to the shooting? Is it to make the player realize what influenced Eric and Dylan? I really have no clue at this point, it just feels like a game that was made, just to be made.
I was frustrated while playing it. The game didn't give good instructions on what to do when placing the bombs. Also dodging people in the hall is a pain. When it came to the actual shooting people part, I was surprised to find, that I really felt bad attacking people. My older bro came in the room to look for a bit and was like "You need to shoot people" and I was like "I dont want to if I dont have to". Its probably the first time I felt bad killing people in a video game because I knew they were innocent. Probably the only time I didn't feel terribly bad was in the bathroom there were bullies beating up a kid. So I was like, "okay, I guess these guys aren't wholly innocent" so I killed them. I figured I need to shoot some people, so if anyone, I should shoot them". I thought that whole part was stupid, why would bullies be beating up someone when there is a school shooting? but I guess the developers were trying to put some interesting scenarios into the game so it didn't feel so bland. I guess they were also trying to say that the shooters related with the kid getting picked on, which is why they did the shooting in the first place, maybe? Well, thats the message the developer is trying to make I think.
|
