Can a developer occasionally flaunt his or her political or social beliefs?

[Pogilrup]

After thinking a bit about some of the current mess that is going on with videogames, I know that many of you here don't like it when someone tries to enforce some rigid standard of what appropriate and what isn't on this medium.

But I wonder if you are willing to tolerate a developer who is more or less open about where he or she lies on the political spectrum?

The first talented creative figure I can think of who is open about his or her beliefs is Alan Moore. Of course, you would probably agree that Alan Moore has actual talent and years of experience, such that the inclusion of his beliefs into the story actually enriches it.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

I think it's fine for developers to voice their political or social/religious beliefs. There's nothing wrong with that in my opinion--at least, not here in the United States.

The problem comes, I feel, when voicing those beliefs is uses as and excuse to attack other people. Here's an extreme example: I'm Christian and I know that the things I believe don't often go over well with other people and I get that other people believe something different. That's fine with me. However, when your opinion turns into, "Everyone who believes in God is a raving lunatic and shouldn't be allowed to raise children," then I have a problem because now you are deliberately insulting my beliefs.
Disagreeing with something, or having a different view on something is fine. However, when developers start using those views as an excuse to attack a person or people with a different view (and I mean really attack, not just disagree), then they better be prepared for the backlash, and they better not whine about it.

 

[briankoontz]

The only time you notice whether political or social beliefs are being "flaunted" is when they deviate from the norm.

It's like air. Air is invisible, and it's only when something besides the normal mixture of gases comprises the air that people notice it at all.

All games have ideologies, political positions, social positions. But when they are "normal" they are invisible, unless you have some reason to detect them.

More games should deviate from the norm politically and socially, but as we might expect the major publishers don't want anything to do with this. "Normal" is precisely what they are looking for, so that gamers can have "fun" without any further consideration. The natural result of this is that only through bypassing the industry do "deviate" games get made, which "normal" gamers then loudly complain are about something else besides "fun", not recognizing the ideology and politics within the "normal" games they claim lack them.

It's definitely not about ignorance. We can (and do) tell gamers this time and time again without any noticeable result other than their annoyance. Gamers WANT to ignore politics and ideology in games so that they can claim the games THEY want don't have them, and note the superiority of these games since they are strictly about fun.

The only reason people believe in the existence of air during it's invisibility is because there's no political or ideological purpose in denying it. The same can't be said for "normal" games and their political and ideological content.

 

[Pogilrup]

The only time you notice whether political or social beliefs are being "flaunted" is when they deviate from the norm.

It's like air. Air is invisible, and it's only when something besides the normal mixture of gases comprises the air that people notice it at all.

All games have ideologies, political positions, social positions. But when they are "normal" they are invisible, unless you have some reason to detect them.

More games should deviate from the norm politically and socially, but as we might expect the major publishers don't want anything to do with this. "Normal" is precisely what they are looking for, so that gamers can have "fun" without any further consideration. The natural result of this is that only through bypassing the industry do "deviate" games get made, which "normal" gamers then loudly complain are about something else besides "fun", not recognizing the ideology and politics within the "normal" games they claim lack them.

It's definitely not about ignorance. We can (and do) tell gamers this time and time again without any noticeable result other than their annoyance. Gamers WANT to ignore politics and ideology in games so that they can claim the games THEY want don't have them, and note the superiority of these games since they are strictly about fun.

The only reason people believe in the existence of air during it's invisibility is because there's no political or ideological purpose in denying it. The same can't be said for "normal" games and their political and ideological content.

Well then the creators lack the required subtlety.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

They can, but I really don't think they should. If their personal political beliefs have nothing to do with their job then they have no business flaunting them and doing so gives them no benefit. They have nothing to gain and everything to lose from flaunting their political or social beliefs because doing so can instantly alienate a portion of their audience, so just from an economical standpoint it seems pointless.

Like I said, they're free to do whatever they want, but if they're smart they'll keep their mouths shut about their political and social opinions because they have nothing to gain from stating them.

 

[bishopzz]

I always enjoy when artists talk about what they believe in and I dislike when they are too afraid to do so. These people are human beings they are just as qualified to speak their opinion as anyone else.

 

[PainInTheAssInternet]

I'd say they're people as well and I am seriously against the vicious and poisonous perspective we seem to have about public figures. If they want to express out loud how they feel , they have every right to. Everyone also has the right to respond back to that as well. I would advise against doing so, however, because the gaming community is far from accommodating on subjects like this.

EDIT:
Proof of my last point is in the title of the thread. Apparently "flaunting" is defined as any display of them whatsoever.

 

[Pogilrup]

I'd say they're people as well and I am seriously against the vicious and poisonous perspective we seem to have about public figures. If they want to express out loud how they feel , they have every right to. Everyone also has the right to respond back to that as well. I would advise against doing so, however, because the gaming community is far from accommodating on subjects like this.

EDIT:
Proof of my last point is in the title of the thread. Apparently "flaunting" is defined as any display of them whatsoever.

Well surely some works wouldn't be the same if it didn't have that infusion of the creator's beliefs, right?

That's not to say that they are better because the creator deliberately put a bit of her or his own beliefs into it. I mean a person with truly racist beliefs would be better off not including such bits.

 

[Malpraxis]

Yes they can, definitely. It should be encouraged.
It won't happen though, because they immediately narrow their audience, and that's bad business.

 

[Gronk]

Ofcourse they can and should. I actually find that whatever they created has a chance of being a lot more interesting/engaging/provocative/memorable/influential if they do. A piece of work that lacks any sense of there being a human being behind the wheel often risks feeling empty and uninteresting.

That said, I as a person also have the full right to not agree, think that the message is wrong, that they overdid it, that they did it in the wrong way etc etc.

 

[carnex]

Yep, it's their god damn right. They can state it any way they want too. In game, in public life etc.

Someone does not agree with that opinion. Express your disagreement.

In short games like ZOG nightmare do exist and have a right exist even if it's a piece of racist, white supremacy neo-nazi propaganda. Plenty of people expressed their disagreement with the content and message of a game (yours truly included) and no outlet is willing to carry it in it's inventory but product does exist and creators do have their rights to produce something like that intact.

 

[jklinders]

In a modern Western society it is everyone's right to express their beliefs, religious, political or otherwise.

But you are asking if it's OK to "flaunt" those beliefs. Of course it is, for the same reasons. Now I'm not sure what you mean by "flaunt" but to me it's to overbearingly and repeatedly push your belief set over and over. Everyone has that right, but it can be bad for business.

If a game makes me think about things in a different way, that is a good thing. But like movies, if there is an agenda and it feels like it's being pushed on me with all of the subtlety of an anvil being dropped on my head, I'll be less likely to look it up. Games, like movies are entertainment first, education and philosophy second. Being made to think is one thing, subjecting myself to a propaganda piece (even if I agree with the sentiment) is usually not on my menu.

If these beliefs are expressed outside the creation of the game, through articles or speeches and whatnot...*shrug* no impact on me, I'm not going to lose sleep over it. Someone would have to have a pretty odious belief set for me to say that they do not deserve my money over it.

 

[Schadrach]

After thinking a bit about some of the current mess that is going on with videogames, I know that many of you here don't like it when someone tries to enforce some rigid standard of what appropriate and what isn't on this medium.

But I wonder if you are willing to tolerate a developer who is more or less open about where he or she lies on the political spectrum?

The first talented creative figure I can think of who is open about his or her beliefs is Alan Moore. Of course, you would probably agree that Alan Moore has actual talent and years of experience, such that the inclusion of his beliefs into the story actually enriches it.

Of course they do. Creative endeavors should have every freedom to cover whatever material they wish in whatever manner they wish.

The biggest things I have an issue with as regards gaming and politics are a) the insider politics of the industry that have undue weight on how things get seen and perceived and b) the tendency of people who don't the freedom mentioned above being used to present positions they don't agree with or designs they dislike for political reasons trying to shame the creators or consumers of that media. Unfortunately, if I use many examples I'll get dubbed a misogynist, since it seems like it's mostly feminists who find political reasons to get upset at game developers these days.

 

[Something Amyss]

The only time you notice whether political or social beliefs are being "flaunted" is when they deviate from the norm.

Not only that, but it's about the same time you see arguments of "artistic integrity" evaporate.

So here's my route. They can say and do what they want. And I can buy their product, not buy it, criticise it, praise it, complain about it, whatever.

 

[COMaestro]

A developer is welcome to express or even flaunt their beliefs, whether through social media or through the games they produce themselves. However, they need to be aware that doing so may alienate some of their potential audience. If they are okay with that fact, then go ahead. They have every right to do so, and it may in fact make a more engaging product because of it.

 

[MeatMachine]

Developers absolutely have the right to say whatever they want to say, regardless of how offensive, unpopular or militant their opinion happens to be. I don't believe anyone should have their freedom of expression squashed for any reason.

Of course, being developers, their success inevitably depends on their reputation, and pretty much every last one of them knows full well that everything they say, make, and do represents not just themselves, but their entire studio. Running your mouth, even against a minor group, is a very quick way to commit career suicide.

So if, for whatever reason, a heinous anti-semitic game developer wanted to harp on the Jews, he'd find himself in a very inopportune position to do so.

These things kind of have a habit of regulating themselves. If anything, people are TOO quick to tear their throats open for accusations of bigoty or whatever the perceived problem happens to be.

 

[visiblenoise]

Hey, agreement! I also say yes, flaunt all they want. If they do actually want to.

 

[K12]

I think flaunting is far better than pretending to be "neutral" and not noticing or addressing some of the implications in your game's stories. It may well put people off if you are too clumsy with it, especially if you have controversial opinions but when this kind of thing is done well it's really worth the risk.

When it comes to statements made separate outside of your games feel free to go nuts. However you should bear in mind that your fame as a video game developer is the reason that people care about what you think so realise you can alienate people by being too hard-line or uncompromising.

There seems to be a growing number of people who think that having strong opinions about anything political makes you biased and irrational straight away, especially if your opinions fall along traditional lines. I get that this is a reaction to loud partisan pundits and their armies of aggressive, unquestioning peons but I really don't like it. It feels too much like throwing the baby out with the bath water.