Game Violence Debate Rendered Onstage

Game Violence Debate Rendered Onstage

May 1, 2007
While it usually plays out on the T.V. news, the ongoing controversy over video game violence has found a new venue - the stage.

As reported by the San Diego Examiner, First Person Shooter, a work by playwright Aaron Loeb, opens this week at the San Francisco Playhouse. A description from the theatre's website says:
First Person Shooter takes us inside ‘JetPack Games’, a start-up video game company, where the hottest, most violent game on the market has brought instant success to its twenty-something tech geniuses. Their celebration fizzles when their game is blamed for a schoolyard shooting. As the young CEO of Jet Pack deals with an impending lawsuit and the father of one of the victims, he must confront whether he has any responsibilities in the world beyond his computer screen.

Loeb, who at one point was a games journalist, told the Examiner how he was affected by the widespread criticism of video games in the wake of the Columbine shootings:
It was a surreal time, an awful time. We went from this very insular, geeky setting to being thrust into the national spotlight.

Loeb, who now works for game developer Planet Moon, added:
It would have been easy for me to write a screed defending video games. That would have been a very dull play. Instead, I tried to chronicle what I’d seen, heard and experienced — and imagine how a conflict like this would play out.

Comments

i think ill stick with phantom of the opera
That's fucking retarded, some people are just plain stupid.
Well, what do you know? People are interest in stopping other people having a nice time rather than solving problems like Global Warming...
Because the child being mentally unstable has NOTHING to do with it.
Can't wait for the video game adaptation...
Could be interesting. I'd probably go see it, to see how it is, though I doubt it'll ever come to my area.
Blah. Its probably not 1/100th as entertaining as Avenue Q. Pass.
Kind of glad this guy isn't a game journalist any more.. doesn't seem to have his wits about him.. Especially because he thought the post columbine criticisms were aimed at game journalists..

The columbine incident was a tragedy, but to try and martyr yourself like you put the guns in their hands because you reported on games is just.. well.. stupid. Was it horrendous? Yes. Does that mean the entire world should be informed of your feelings in theatre form? Hell no.

The funny thing is.. right now this tory sounds like something out of Jack Thompson's game proposal. I wonder if this play involves any pissing on faces while spewing poorly written one-liners? (Is there any other kind?)
I think some of you guys are over-reacting. It sounds like an interesting way to tackle the issue to me, and it doesn't sound like it paints games as either utterly blameless or totally at fault - which is a reasonable enough perspective to take.

Loeb doesn't sound like he's trying to "martyr" himself, and there's nothing to suggest "he thought the post columbine criticisms were aimed at game journalists". The only reference he makes in that area is how gaming as a whole "went from this very insular, geeky setting to being thrust into the national spotlight".
Ughh Why can't you people just leave us gamers alone in peace, eh?
I mean it seems that everytime thier's a gun shootout You all just have to blame it on a video game


"There's been a murder" Great Lets Sue Rockstar!
"There's been a Shoot Out" Blame it on The Video Games.

I mean can't you just Tell the parents It's their Responsibilty For us All?

This View Was Taken by a 12 Year olds Point of View In This Issue.
I love the controller on the poster. Instead of a d-pad on the left they just added a few more buttons. No joysticks or d-pad, just 6 buttons, that would be perfect for controlling an FPS. You can tell these people really know their subject matter!
A former games journalist should know that you can't really have a decent first person shooter experience on a console controller.
It sounds like an interesting play. Less about "who's to blame", more "someone's pointed a finger, how do you react?"

Even with a mountain of evidence saying there's no link, with screaming mothers, accusatory lawyers, and an enraged public, you'd probably still have to deal with the niggling thought of "what if it did?"
Actually this play seems to be from Rockstar's point a view after they were sued by JT and his clients.
OK society want a place to put blame for crime and violence that is present in our society. the problem is that the true reason for the problems is not games the FBI released a threat assessment on school shooters and video games was not a factor violent media in general was listed as a single factor not games. Also a USC sociologist explains that video games are just the newest scaprgoat for a place to put blame instead of the true culprits; mental illness, lack of proper parenting, or shielding children so much they cant deal with real life when they are no longer shielded. Blame the game will last just as long as the controversy over violent movies or violent music it will be scapegoat fro blame until something else comes along to take its place. We as gamers just need to hold out and support that games are a form of free expression and that they are and always should be protected by the constitution just like books, music, and movies.
I have been reading here a long time and for the first time I realize that a lot of you sound like JT.
@owensworth
"Because the child being mentally unstable has NOTHING to do with it. "

Where did that come from? Are you refering to the kid in the play?

@Rusty100
"That’s fucking retarded, some people are just plain stupid. "

Sounds like a standard JT comment to me. Why is it retarded? Is it aimed against gamers? looks to me like someone is putting both sides of the story on the table. Better than we get with mass media.

@Massaki

All your comments are broken record repeats that don't really apply to this article. If I am wrong, please explain how.

I only ask a little patients and respect. Your as bad as JT if you havn't seen the play and already blaming it on the VG industries competition.

...I'm not making any friends today. Bad horeskope I guess.
I thought about doing a humorous play about videogame development, then I realized it wouldn't sell well. So I switched to exploiting a national tragedy and BAM! Money in da bank baby!
I swear that most of the comments didn't read the linked article. You seem to think the play is about soemthing that the article never indicates. Is it too much to ask that people listen to arguments and agree, disagree/debate as necessary rather than crying heresy (or retardation) as soon as there's some hint that some isn't in 100% agreement with them?
AJ i dont see how that is a JT like comment “Because the child being mentally unstable has NOTHING to do with it. ” i think he was using sarcasm Aj come on now. Now the rest of the comments i can agree with you on them.
I apologize for not explaining myself. The fact that he was using sarcasm was not missed. The fact that it has no relevance to this thread. It was a knee jerk comment aimed at the worst case scenario (a anti video game play) without knowing the facts.
I think that by itself the basic concept of the play is well rather crappy, so I think this play will flop unless they have really good execution. If it potays the farmer as ignorant or quick to judgement, or just using games as a scapepgoat I don't think the play will be any good. Also if the play is too onesided in the other direction I don't think it will be any good. I think it needs to present both sides as plausible. It also needs a good ending. I really enjoy plays so I hope this doesn't screw up too badly (in the meantime I got to find a way to see Damn Yankees).
@Father Time

So the play basically mocks the JT types as the ignorant farmer and a corporate exec as the video game industry? Sounds pretty accurate to me.

j/k...

But I totally agree that this seems a little iffy in the literary part. I would like to see it before I make any solid judgement tho. It sounds mildly interesting which is all it takes for me to give it a chance. Besides, I played clock tower 3 after reading reviews...kinda enjoyed it. All 6 hours of it.
well, I'm the producer and I'just like to add that they play doesn't take sides as to who is right or wrong. Actually isnt' really about whether video games are to blame for anything. IT's more about how when something bad happens, everyone has to point the finger. And how miraculous it is that the two leading characters, the game guy and the farmer can somehow get beyond blame to some kind of actual connection
For a producer, Bill, you sure do suck at typing.
If I could tipe, I would've bin a playwright!
@Bill
maybe you could write plays but get a proofreader
@fathertime

Or write speeches for JT
AJ, Bill, etc.

I can't believe you guys let yourselves get sucked into these comments. you can't fight idiocy with reason. you must use the black arts of total irrationality. what I think you should let these inane comments go on during the production as part of the performance. use the natural gas power of these simpering internet armchair critics like the natural resource it is. remember barter town? remember the pig feces that's converted into methane? well, that's what you are looking at, only no one has learned how to tap its power yet. the power of pathos. its like a tower of Babel that has diluted the English language into a meaningless cacophony of insults and snipery traded back and forth by useless chubby impotent losers. if you attempt meaningful discussion they will result to petty insult. if you insult them they will cry mock foul. its a mental kung-fu of who can out stupidity the other in the most frustrating manner possible.
b.t.w. none of these loafs of shit commenter's thoughts matter about anything. just throw some Jell-O pudding cups on the floor in front of them and they'll waddle back to the nocturnal glow of they're monitors like the lawnmower man Pepsi sucking scum that they are. I mean, do you think one of them will actually get out of his chair to actually leave their house to see a play? of course not. they could get hurt. you see, plays are performed in major metropolitan areas that have minorities in them. they would chew your average game site posters front butt manpussy up to shreds like a puppy with a chew toy. please, flame away you pathetic clowns. maybe you can apply some of your energies into doing something besides working your IT help center jobs and posting endless shit talk on website comment areas. mmmm. oh, and if you don't work an IT job just I don't know, insult yourself for me please I can't think of what else to call you.
oops i mispelled thier again. dammit.
Ben,

hey dumbass. you know that game companies own copyrights of thier controllers right ? no you don't. becasue your an idiot. also i looked at your website and its gay.
wow lets all relax back to your seperate corners the bells rung and i spiked the water with valium =p
@Ionesco

I wasn't saying anything as such against their characters and I will not presume to know their jobs. I was merely commenting on the lack of explainations that I wish some people would add with their comment. No need to flame us on it tho I do appreciate where you are coming from.

@cullarn

So that explains the medicinal aftertaste...what did you put in the gatorade?
cularn. shut up ! i keel you.

AJ. what? sorry. i thought you were someone else.

thats it ? i spent like 15 mins. writing that rant. *sigh*. i havn't flamed up a board for years. I'm going to move to newer articles and attack people there.

XXOO.

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