Moral Kombat: The Documentary
Filmmaker Spencer Halpin has apparently spent a lot of time and money creating his new documentary on video game violence entitled “Moral Kombat.” I’ve read a few articles on the film and Halpin goes on to speak about his fair treatment of the subject and how many different voices will be giving their opinions. But, if this trailer is any indication, the piece is squarely in the anti-gaming violence court.
To me it just smacks of sensationalism, like something you’d see on Inside Edition made to scare parents. Take look at it and let us know what you think.
Fruit Brute
Posted to Video Games, Videos on 4 January 2007
· Comments (6)
Other stuff like this: documentary, moral kombat, spencer halpin, video game violence
Someone should make a game called Murder Simulator that’s all about fluffy bunnies and tea parties and shit.
Frighteningly well put together and convincing, and that’s just the trailer. The biggest part they left out though is that game producers are not responsible for America’s children, the parents are. If parents in this country would stop trying to place blame on anything and everything but themselves and actually take responsibility for their kids this wouldn’t even be and issue.
We’ve seen and heard and made fun of these people time and time again, but what we as gamers must realize, is that we ourselves have a responsibility here.
I’m not saying we are responsible for violence being in video games and video games being linked to violent behavior. On the contrary, I am convinced that virtual violence is at best linked to real violence in that it gives you an outlet, allows you to blow off steam. Arguments branding first person shooters as training for murder come straight out of these peoples butts.
Our responsibility here lies in educating, not ridiculing these ignorants. We all know they don’t know what they are talking about, but neither do most of their audience, some of whom might actually have enough leverage to hurt gaming like it has never been hurt before (and, hailing from Germany, I know just how much censorship can hurt gamers. Buying mature themed games is like buying hardcore pr0n – not from the top shelves in the store, but from under the counter, in shady back alleys and dim-lit bars. Well, maybe not back alleys).
People demanding censorship in video games willingly ignore how much this worlds youth has fallen into neglect. Ask them to explain how a child can play stuff like GoW (which is not available on ebay here) while their parents are sitting one room over. Not making it available makes mature content all the more tempting. So here are the conclusions: You either outlaw games altogether or said parents get their collective axxes of the couch in the living room, actually sit down with their children and communicate; and that means listening, too. Not allowing children to learn how to deal with barriers, to become a responsible adult, can be a dangerous thing in and of itself (Manson has probably never seen a video game in his entire life, but his history is the blueprint of a neglected child)...
Unfortunately, out of sheer popularism, many people have taken the first way out, screaming for bans on games, giving parents one less thing to worry about. Next are probably movies that will require unlocking to watch, ban of mature-themed magazines, ... – until there are no media left to upset our children or make parents worry. Of course kids will find other ways to endanger themselves if neglected by their parents – so next is the padding in all kids bedrooms…
We as gamers know all this, having spent countless hours with games that are or were considered to make us into monsters. But they didn’t. We are just as normal (mabye just a tad more intelligent and with a little superior problem-solving skills :P) as anybody else. Games don’t kill people. People kill people.
So, how about next time a conversation with family or friends turns toward censorship you pepper the argument with a little reality spice? Ask them whether they feel responsible for their children/nephews/grandchildren/friends.
And how they think censorship will relieve them of that resonsibility.
Because that is what we are. Responsible. For the way we act everyday. And for the way our children will act tomorrow.
Hmm. It’s clearly meant to be a sensationalist trailer, but it’s just a trailer. It makes no conclusions.
Things to consider:
* This is a new guy looking to make his mark. Would you fault him if he appealed to the masses with an easier stance, or at the very least the easier bias?
* Secondly, if you wanted to make a film that argued for a position, would you not make a trailer for said film that at least gave the impression that you were for the opposing view in order to attract the audience you want to
address?
* c: Godverdomme, but I’m tired of hearing Thompson’s pearls of wisdom. We don’t consider violence a virtue? Someone tell the military, where the “will to kill” is the prime virtue.
I can dig that people want to oppose violence, that perhaps glorifying violence in any form isn’t exactly the greatest human trait. But burying your head in the sand doesn’t change anything Thompson. You are the problem.
This guy’ll be doing church tours just like the anti-pop-music brigade was doing back in the 80s when I was in high school. The pro-censorship people need people like Jack Thompson to make people like this guy seem reasonable by comparison.
I was going to write a decent response to that clip but “the tek guy” summed it all up =)