Dangers of playing the good guy.
- Thread starter Pseudonym2
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I find that playing the good guy reinforces the positive aspects of my character and is relaxing. While I'm well aware that I didn't really do a good deed and that it's all just a game, I find it still feels good and provides a warm fuzzy feeling in my stomach.
Playing the good guy in a game is, for me, the same as playing the evil guy -- just one more part of the path toward maximum bonuses and XP. To use a Planescape: Torment example:
In the Alley of Dangerous Angles, there are three "factions" at war with each other: The Razor Angels (Good), the Darkalley Shivs (Obviously evil) and Blackrose (A single guy who is neutral and killing members of both). You get two quests from each side: One to eliminate their opposite number and one to kill Blackrose (Blackrose orders you to kill both of the enemy leaders -- and then himself. After all, the only way to ensure neutrality in the matter is to eliminate all other factors).
Being me, I get the quests from Blackrose and the Razor Angels to wipe out the Darkalley Shivs, collect the rewards, get the quest from Blackrose to wipe out the Razor Angels, collect, then dialogue my way out of fighting Blackrose himself "because I'm immortal, lol". If memory serves, acting fast enough after that dialogue can get you the XP for killing him as well.
And all this while getting maximum XP for killing all the members of both gangs.
So no, there is no feeling of altruism when I play a game -- just the constant thought of "How can I exploit this game to my advantage?"
In the Alley of Dangerous Angles, there are three "factions" at war with each other: The Razor Angels (Good), the Darkalley Shivs (Obviously evil) and Blackrose (A single guy who is neutral and killing members of both). You get two quests from each side: One to eliminate their opposite number and one to kill Blackrose (Blackrose orders you to kill both of the enemy leaders -- and then himself. After all, the only way to ensure neutrality in the matter is to eliminate all other factors).
Being me, I get the quests from Blackrose and the Razor Angels to wipe out the Darkalley Shivs, collect the rewards, get the quest from Blackrose to wipe out the Razor Angels, collect, then dialogue my way out of fighting Blackrose himself "because I'm immortal, lol". If memory serves, acting fast enough after that dialogue can get you the XP for killing him as well.
And all this while getting maximum XP for killing all the members of both gangs.
So no, there is no feeling of altruism when I play a game -- just the constant thought of "How can I exploit this game to my advantage?"
I just get annoyed when the bad guys get all the awesome powers (like all the lightning related forces in KOTOR) and the good guys tend to get healing and shield abilities, that often get annoying (having to go through the process of activating them, only to have them quickly overwhelmed by large groups of enemies).
Grabbing a man, swallowing him whole then using his energy to throw tentacles in every direction to impale any innocent bystander in the near vicinity is a good release for some people. I doubt nice people pass beggars on the streets and say "oh, no sir. No spare change for you today, i saved megaton i'll have you know"
I find it really difficult to play the bad guy in games. I always have to force myself to do so... In Knights of the Old Republic, I played it twice before I was able to get it right and be on the Dark Side.
Playing violent video games since I was maybe four years old and I hasn't made me violent.
Playing violent video games since I was maybe four years old and I hasn't made me violent.
So basically, everybody feels "natural" playing the good guy first, then tries evil the second time around just to see what it's like. If every single game that has a good/ bad mechanic inspires people to do this it's time to reinvent the mechanic. For instance: does anybody know of a game where choices (not only dialogue, but also actions) actually make a character MORALLY grow?
You must've heard it.. if you're a normal, sane human being it is really hard to kill another human being in real life (outside of self-defense). Such an act really changes a person for ever. But in a game... characters are either A. some sort of soldier, which means they are "used to it"..which is funny cuz what is all that commotion about post traumatic stress disorder then (sarcasm)? Or they are B. magically immune to remorse, guilt, sorrow..unless it's in the script (not your choice).
I guess I'm advocating more 'realism' concerning morality in games. But that's probably when games stop being fun...cuz nobody wants to think too much when playing a game, right? Another possible scenario is: games start to look like movies (the metal gear problem)..which can be frustrating if you have to skip too many cutscenes.
Balancing gameplay and storytelling to create not only believable/ likeable characters but also a fun game is truly difficult. Even gaming guru's fall into countless traps in search of this 'philosopher's stone'. To me it just feels like they aren't trying hard enough... maybe cuz in the end gaming is business. They aren't experimenting as much as they did ..say...15 years ago. Basically they're playing it safe and we, gamers, faithful customers, get more of the same every year. It has even gotten so bad, you can actually confuse one game for another (inFamous, Prototype).
I think that the gaming industry has become complacent now that it is established. Now they don't have to worry about our wishes anymore... cuz we're eating whatever they are serving...including crap.
Thank god for the indies, who are still experimenting. Innovation, originality... words that they haven't forgotten.
You must've heard it.. if you're a normal, sane human being it is really hard to kill another human being in real life (outside of self-defense). Such an act really changes a person for ever. But in a game... characters are either A. some sort of soldier, which means they are "used to it"..which is funny cuz what is all that commotion about post traumatic stress disorder then (sarcasm)? Or they are B. magically immune to remorse, guilt, sorrow..unless it's in the script (not your choice).
I guess I'm advocating more 'realism' concerning morality in games. But that's probably when games stop being fun...cuz nobody wants to think too much when playing a game, right? Another possible scenario is: games start to look like movies (the metal gear problem)..which can be frustrating if you have to skip too many cutscenes.
Balancing gameplay and storytelling to create not only believable/ likeable characters but also a fun game is truly difficult. Even gaming guru's fall into countless traps in search of this 'philosopher's stone'. To me it just feels like they aren't trying hard enough... maybe cuz in the end gaming is business. They aren't experimenting as much as they did ..say...15 years ago. Basically they're playing it safe and we, gamers, faithful customers, get more of the same every year. It has even gotten so bad, you can actually confuse one game for another (inFamous, Prototype).
I think that the gaming industry has become complacent now that it is established. Now they don't have to worry about our wishes anymore... cuz we're eating whatever they are serving...including crap.
Thank god for the indies, who are still experimenting. Innovation, originality... words that they haven't forgotten.
Well in response to the thread question. No i do not think that playing good release pent up benevolence which would have been better spent elsewhere, i believe that it gives us a minor fuzzy feeling with every action which is good/nice. We then seek out this fuzzy feeling and do something nice in real life, which gives us a better fuzzy feeling. The fuzzy feelings help remove our anger and hate and we become, overall, nicer people.
Being the bad person releases the pent up agression we accumulate through our daily lives. The difference between seeking the feeling of goodness and using the feeling of slaughter as a release rather than as a desire is that we are socially programmed from birth to seek to do what is good and righteous and taught to avoid harming others.
Being the bad person releases the pent up agression we accumulate through our daily lives. The difference between seeking the feeling of goodness and using the feeling of slaughter as a release rather than as a desire is that we are socially programmed from birth to seek to do what is good and righteous and taught to avoid harming others.
I like being the good guy because after I spend a lot of time doing stuff, people clap when I walk by, rather than throwing rocks at me.
Fair enough.Pseudonym2 said:
To respoond to your OP then:
I feel that it is actually sometimes easier to be a good guy in games than in real life.
Games usually reward altruism, but real life tends to punish it.
