IGDA Screens Film About Controversial Columbine Game Tonight

November 27, 2007

The Montreal chapter of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) will hold a screening of Playing Columbine: A True Story of a Video Game Controversy tonight.

The documentary film by Danny Ledonne (left), details why he created Super Columbine Massacre RPG as well as the intense reaction to his game.

The screening is among the events at this week's Montreal International Game Summit.

IGDA executive director Jason Della Rocca told GamePolitics that Ian Bogost of Persuasive Games, game designer Genova Chen (flOw) and Joel Kornek, a survivor of the 2006 Dawson College shooting rampage, will be among the attendees. All three appear in the documentary.

More info here...

Posted in

Comments

Submitted by Patrick (not verified) on Tue, 11/27/2007 - 08:13.

I've been helping Danny edit the film down, and its starting to get pretty lean. This cut could still shed another 15 to 20 minutes, but its like whittling, its gets harder and harder to take away stuff without maligning the design. Its a pretty good movie though, and I really want to emphasize that it goes into the future of games, other important games, and what we can do as players and designers to better explore and represent the medium - Ledonne and SCMRPG are really beginning and end points for this discussion.

Submitted by Bloodharp (not verified) on Tue, 11/27/2007 - 07:41.

Well, itll be some interesting stuff to watch wont it? Personally, the game is good on a first amendment stand point as its flexing his freedom muscles, but still a lil' bit outta taste. But then again, who knows? might be a half descent game. Just hope the survivor isnt offended by it too much. GL with it.

Submitted by Bloodharp (not verified) on Tue, 11/27/2007 - 07:42.

ps: GL is for the show, not the game which i know is already out. Just to clarify.

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Tue, 11/27/2007 - 09:32.

I downloaded the game last night and plan on playing it this week. I have always read about it, supported the idea behind it, but never actually played it. I look forward to it.

I can't wait for this movie and Moral Kombat to come to the public so that I can watch it.

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Submitted by bloodysky (not verified) on Tue, 11/27/2007 - 09:48.

actully, the game was quit fine.
i did not finsh it yet, but i have to say it casn tastless for some.
but in the end its only a game.
the tragdy was hard, but dont forget whos resposable.
it was the parent, the pathatic gun laws, and the tv whos looking for scapegout( poor manson, and vg)

Submitted by Video Games Blog » IGDA Screens Film About Controversi (not verified) on Tue, 11/27/2007 - 11:11.

[...] Source: IGDA Screens Film About Controversial Columbine Game Tonight Bookmark it: [...]

Submitted by DannyLedonne (not verified) on Tue, 11/27/2007 - 13:30.

The common perception people have of this film, as the GP article alludes to, is that it is solely about SCMRPG and its controversy. In truth, that is a starting point for looking at a swath of games that tackle serious issues. Much of the film looks at how controversy is covered in the press, the school shooting phenomenon, and the future of games as an expressive medium. But SCMRPG is the main character, in essence, because it touches on all these issues.

I am doing select screenings now as the film is being trimmed, mixed, and scored to get the best possible documentary for people (gamers and otherwise) to begin engaging these subjects. It is my hope that the film encourages debate long after I have left it in pursuit of other (non-videogame, non-Columbine) film productions...

Submitted by Merc25 (not verified) on Tue, 11/27/2007 - 20:04.

So will this ever be on DVD or some other way for non-members of these groups to see it.?

Submitted by LightWarrior (not verified) on Tue, 11/27/2007 - 21:49.

I find it funny that people are aguring over the fact on why Danny did this...For fame and controversy or to make a point.

People fight over anything these days...yeap anything...

Danny is making a whole freaking documentary over all this hype....what about that one kid who made the game with Cho who was very immature and satire and basically addmited that he did it for the lulz.

I don't understand how people can sit there and say Danny did it for the lulz as well when he is dead serious about all these.

Each to there own...

Submitted by Danny Ledonne (not verified) on Tue, 11/27/2007 - 22:10.

@Merc25:

This will absolutely be on DVD. I am putting the film through the festival circuit next year with DVD distribution thereafter. I'm sure GP will cover this but check periodically on the 'News' page of the film's website for updates on this.

Submitted by Logan Keller (not verified) on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 12:23.

I went to see it. It was brilliant. Unfortunately this cut didn't include anything from the Philadelphia debate, or else I missed it. Still, lots of material get covered, many events/games, many points of view. Definitively worth checking out.

There is a part in the movie mentioning how the game was originally released anonymously, and some guy exposed Danny in order to force him to "own up" to it. And then he proceeded to do so in such an eloquent and spectacular way. It really makes you appreciate all he's done and what he's had to put up with. Thanks for everything, Danny.

Submitted by MikeT (not verified) on Thu, 11/29/2007 - 00:42.

I was up in Montreal this week for MIGS, and while I did not get a chance to view the film myself (I was stuck doing some urgent paperwork and couldn't make it to the party) everyone I talked to found it to be quite excellent. The biggest thing I noted is that several people who had a very negative attitude towards the Columbine game itself came away some very different ideas after the movie. In several instances I talked to folks who said that after seeing the film they had a much better idea of what the game was trying to accomplish, and had a much better appreciation for it as a piece of commentary, rather than something designed with shock value in mind.

Submitted by Kobra (not verified) on Thu, 11/29/2007 - 06:48.

I've seen... a few clips... from the the third cut of the documentary and it kicked ass as far as documentaries go. Before anyone asks: Verbal NDA.

Poll

Shout box

Cecil475: @hellfire7885 - Makes me want to support Nintendo even more.05/24/2013 - 4:49pm

hellfire7885: Man, EA seems to be determined to destroy the Wii U ,and the evidently are so arrogant as to believe not making games for it will do that.05/24/2013 - 4:45pm

DorthLous: Pwahahahha http://www.destructoid.com/wii-u-sales-drastically-spike-after-xbox-one-presentation-254449.phtml#LlG8HEYbQj2krql5.0105/24/2013 - 2:23pm

james_fudge: she gets no credit until she employs some common sense. - 2 credits for her.05/24/2013 - 11:22am

Andrew Eisen: To Stender's credit, she did unmoderate my most recent comment within a day's time. There's even a couple other replies. None from her though.05/24/2013 - 11:18am

james_fudge: apparently gamers are all 14 - 21 years-olds living in basements according to her way of thinking...05/24/2013 - 11:11am

ZippyDSMlee: EZK: 0_o thier video card chipset is at the very least 3 versions behind the top PC video card.......05/24/2013 - 7:38am

MechaTama31: "You just wouldn't understand how my parenting preferences are more important than everybody else's freedoms."05/24/2013 - 7:37am

DorthLous: I love how she plays the "I'm a parent, you're a gamer, you couldn't understand" card... I'm a parent and I find her position despicable...05/23/2013 - 4:16pm

E. Zachary Knight: She didn't address your questions because she doesn't have any answers.05/23/2013 - 3:38pm

Andrew Eisen: I replied to her comment. Maybe in a few weeks I'll get a reply.05/23/2013 - 3:24pm

Thomas Riordan: @Andrew Eisen To what bowling alley does she go that puts sexual images in the faces of 6 year olds?05/23/2013 - 3:17pm

Andrew Eisen: Well, it took a month but Linda Stender finally replied to me... and didn't address a single one of my questions. http://aswlindastender.com/2013/04/23/follow-up-video-games-and-their-effect-on-children/05/23/2013 - 3:13pm

Imautobot: Also, from a tech perspective the PS4 is apparently already winning. http://bgr.com/2013/05/22/xbox-one-vs-playstation-4-specs/05/23/2013 - 3:12pm

Imautobot: Sony's PS4 motto should be "We play games." Microsoft's should be "We play games, when we're not rewinding your tapes."05/23/2013 - 3:11pm

Andrew Eisen: Oh look, Dying Light was just announced For Everything But Wii U. That's 73.05/23/2013 - 2:06pm

james_fudge: Zippy: they said the same thing about Cell. How did that turn out.05/23/2013 - 1:28pm

Andrew Eisen: Need for Speed Rivals is coming out For Everything But Wii U - PS3, 360, PC, PS4 and Xbox One. That brings the grand total up to 72.05/23/2013 - 12:55pm

PHX Corp: http://wiiudaily.com/2013/05/microsoft-is-selling-the-wii-u-better-than-nintendo/ Wii U daily Opinion: Microsoft is selling the Wii U better than Nintendo05/23/2013 - 12:23pm

E. Zachary Knight: Zippy, they very well may be. But that will only last until they are released. At that time, they will be two generations behind.05/23/2013 - 11:14am

All shouts

<< Return To Top

Forgot your password?
Username :
Password :