Molyneux Says Americans Find it Harder to Be Evil

[dietpeachsnapple]

Once I got past all of the commentary concerning how pleased everyone was with themselves, this article tweaked one particular nerve of mine:

"to quote one caustic-tongued Brit-turned-Aussie, is all about giving the player "motherf***ing CHOICE!" in his games - and while said choices do usually boil down to the extremes of Mother Teresa vs Sauron, they're still choices."

I have a near photographic memory, so when someone proposes that they are citing someone, I very much appreciate the author having the decency to say who they are citing (Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw) and that they be so kind as to remain true to the content of the citation.

This segment of the article allows for two interpretations

-The author only took the words "Motherfucking CHOICE!" (missing two exclamation points) from Yahtzee's "Fable: The Lost Chapters (Fullyramblomatic review)," thereafter, defying all of the context built upon by Mr. Crochaw, and continuing on with their OWN interpretation of the moral choice system being polarized...

or...

-The author could not be so kind as to accurately quote the before "unnamed" critic by using the comparison of Mother Teresa to Sauron as opposed to "baby-eating," as shown in his Bioshock review concerning the topic of moral choice systems, specifically.

There is a slight irony in quoting so passively a person who so vehemently decries the crimes committed by moral choice systems, suggesting they should "drink paint and retard themselves out of existence," as stated in his 'Infamous' review. I am further tweaked in noting that Yahtzee, to my recollection, never once has said "Motherfucking CHOICE!!!" but instead included it twice in his Fable: The lost chapters review as part of his characteristic 'subtext' as shown on the background.

This article was short, cute, and well-intended. It was also badly constructed, "cutesy," and poorly researched giving me the feeling that the author came to the conclusion that including a well known critic in their insipid article somehow added credence to their talking points.

 

[Schlorgan]

maybe it's because Americans have been raised with the Golden Rule.

Jk, I don't know

 

[RelexCryo]

Somewhat ironic considering the image of America of the world in general.

I have to wonder where these numbers came from, a poll? Those are never accurate, stupid people choose what they think they should put.

Well, I am an American, and I do pretty much always play the good guys.

Of course, I am a roleplayer, and play from the perspective that I am actually in the game world....and that it is real people I am dealing with.

So I am not sure I am like an average person in that respect.

 

[Zanakanishi]

Now, I think this could be true.. (though 10% is a little silly) but people for some reason find it hard to be evil in games for the same reason in real life (think about it.. have you ever stopped to think "should I do that" in a game? myself and my other geeky friends have.

To back up my point I will go to the limits to explain. A game called "rapelay" got a lot of media attention.. because you need to rape a family in it.. and that is all.. (it's japanese.. people in usa and uk would not dare to make that public) everyone was complaining about how "vile, sick and twisted" it was... but this is what I think of it:
"It's a fucking game!"
so my point is.. a lot of people see games and relate them to the real world... when in fact they are for fun.

Oh, and btw... you are not rly evil in fable 2... you should not have horns unless you do something like:
marry a random person make them love you, have a child let him/her/it grow to say.... 13?
then... tie them both up, rape them then slowly kill them both WHILE using the point and laugh expression... or just kill a few childeren.. (BUT NO! the game will not let you do that.. because everyone would complain... everyone has to be a pussy don't they?)

sorry for the long and odd rant.. it just had to be said.

 

[Dorian6]

then i guess that means 90% of Americans are liars

 

[Twilightruler]

Tell that to the town of Megaton Peter...Admittedly yes, I did play my first time through fallout 3 as a good guy. Then I realized...it's so much easier to be evil, and much more theraputic

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

Yes, because some sourceless figures say that Americans, one the whole, tend to be good on Fable II it must apply to Americans in general for everything. KKK? Never heard of them.

 

[Amnestic]

Yes, because some sourceless figures say that Americans, one the whole, tend to be good on Fable II it must apply to Americans in general for everything. KKK? Never heard of them.

Perhaps the KKK occupy those 10%?

Captain Obvious, reporting for duty.

 

[Chadling]

If the "evil" choices in video games weren't so comically stupid, you'd probably see a lot more people playing an evil character. Case in point: both KOTOR games. I love those games, but, ugh, the evil choices are just so shallow that I can't really stomach them.

Basically, I'd play through as a good character at least once (to try out the various classes), attempt to play through as an evil character.... only to get bored with robbing old men that have problems with debt collectors and killing every single NPC that so much as looks at me funny. That's not the work of an evil mastermind; that's what a two-bit scumbag does.

 

[Connosaurus Rex]

I love these moral choices that way I feel like I don't have to save everyone in the Superhero/villain game, but you usually end up saving them in some way at the end.

 

[BoogieManFL]

I usually go on the good side because I find being evil to be pointless in the long run. Also, evil is without rules so that means it's easier.

Many villans appear to just try and wipe everyone out. What if you succeed? What do you do then? Rule over a scorched and desolate world? What fun! Some want to rule the world and such, but overall I still find being evil to be mostly pointless and ultimately self defeating.

However, a few games it's fun to be the bad guy. Like Evil Genius, or the Dungeon Keeper series. I mean, on Evil Genius one of your missions you have your minions show up in the backdrop of a live broadcast clubbing seals, just to show the world how evil you are. Being evil in most games is just killing everyone. Fallout 2 is a good one too, because the dialogue is so clever and funny.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

Where does he get these numbers? I get all my fun in these games from being an evil dick with no regard for anyone else.

He gets these numbers the same place most people talking in statistics get them: their arse. I'm pretty sure I've played every game I own that has a good/evil system as both good and evil. However, on the first playthrough, I usually go as the good guy. So perhaps if he's only counting the initial run through a game he might be correct. I doubt it, but you never know. I've basically learned to ignore anything that comes from Molyneux at this point.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

If the "evil" choices in video games weren't so comically stupid, you'd probably see a lot more people playing an evil character. Case in point: both KOTOR games. I love those games, but, ugh, the evil choices are just so shallow that I can't really stomach them.

Basically, I'd play through as a good character at least once (to try out the various classes), attempt to play through as an evil character.... only to get bored with robbing old men that have problems with debt collectors and killing every single NPC that so much as looks at me funny. That's not the work of an evil mastermind; that's what a two-bit scumbag does.

This is exactly my problem with the 'evil' paths in most games. You're "Stupid Evil" not Lawful/Neutral/Chaotic Evil. Yeah, an evil guy is just going to randomly murder every single guy he encounters in the woods because it makes him 'more evil'. Really, as Yahtzee once said, a truly evil character would put up a front of goodness in order to gain the trust of world leaders and then suddenly turn on them when the moment was right. I guess this kind of dynamic is a little beyond current game programming or writing skills though.

 

[Hookman]

I have one simple question: What the fuck does Molyneux know about anything?! I love being evil in games like Fable! All my friends love being evil! All their friends like being evil! Everyone likes to be evil sometimes!

 

[PartyMonkey]

This is a goddamn outrage.
Does he have a dog?
I'm going to kill and eat his dog.

In front of his little girl.

...Does he have a little girl?
Man, this is a lot of work.

But I'll show him evil!
Even if I have to wait...

EDIT: Though I will admit, I find it easier to be a dick in real life than I do in game.
I'm not sure why.

Erm...can I watch and laugh?

If not film it and stick on youtube

 

[captainwolfos]

The 10% might actually be a realistic figure, but saying 'only 10%' sounds a lot less than saying '30 million people'.

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

Yes, because some sourceless figures say that Americans, one the whole, tend to be good on Fable II it must apply to Americans in general for everything. KKK? Never heard of them.

Perhaps the KKK occupy those 10%?

Captain Obvious, reporting for duty.

Good work, Captain. Dismissed.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

I have like 3 games. 2 are evil- one good.