Poll: Are video games the last right wing medium?

[norsef]

Are computer games the last right wing medium? I was listening to the audio commentary for The Armando Iannucci Shows when Armando brought up an interesting point. He claims that the theater, books, movies, television and high art are all predominantly left wing. Certainly in terms of how they present war and conflict as hell or something to be avoided.

In contrast video games are much more right wing, or perhaps more specifically Republican. Guns as an ultimate solution to survival, interventionism to stop global conflict (a la 90% of Tom Clancy games), a distinct lack of diverse sexuality (apart from the occasional pocket billiards moment in Fear Effect), or the fact that every game seems to be based in and star Americans.

I must stress that there are of course exceptions of left wing games just like there are right wing books and movies. Books in particular being the work of a sole individual are more swayed by the author's opinions or belief with the Left Behind books being an example of this. As a medium however video games do seem to be predominantly right wing. But exceptions to this include the whole evil government trend in many games, the anti-religion in Devil May Cry 4 or Grandia 2 and the occasional bisexual (always a lady natch) in Bioware RPGs. Though I would argue the latter might be down to lazy writing or not wanting to create a new animation or dialog string.

Discuss.

 

[Nmil-ek]

Can you not bring Americas frankly laughably jaded 2 party system into utterly EVERYTHING, especially considering most games are developed by japanese companies.

 

[Erana]

First, go learn the meaning of, "Right wing."
Then we'll talk.

Also, is there really a need to stuff video games into a single category?

 

[Kage Me]

There is no "right wing medium", unless specific TV channels, publishers or newspapers are counted as seperate media. In such a case, the Telegraaf would be a liberal medium, but that doesn't make newspapers as a whole liberal.

 

[norsef]

Can you not bring Americas frankly laughably jaded 2 party system into utterly EVERYTHING, especially considering most games are developed by japanese companies.

Well I'm British but I know the audience for here is predominantly American so I used Republicans rather than just conservatives. Like wise most games seem to be set in America or at least with predominatly cast so using the American two party made sense. It's probably closer to the Neo-conservative views actually.

 

[0thello]

It is interesting but you need to clearly define your terms and proposition.

 

[red the fister]

i have to agree with LB, sex sells, violence sells and in Squeenixs case so does sexual ambiguity.

Nmil...... it's not jaded it's broken (i'm american and independent)

OP.... yeah, no

 

[Ashryd]

How can you have a question: "Are video games the last right wing medium?"
That has a answer: "Yes but there are other right wing mediums"

Yes there are no Dodos left. But there are other Dodos left. One or the other really.
Not sure you looked at that one quite right.

 

[junesongprovider]

In contrast video games are much more right wing, or perhaps more specifically Republican. Guns as an ultimate solution to survival, interventionism to stop global conflict (a la 90% of Tom Clancy games), a distinct lack of diverse sexuality (apart from the occasional pocket billiards moment in Fear Effect), or the fact that every game seems to be based in and star Americans.

A game being based in and starring Americans is certainly NOT a point indicative of a conservative medium. How exactly do American characters and settings make a game conservative? Liberals aren't Americans?

 

[Halfbreed13]

I label this a fail...

Ever notice that whenever a game comes out FOX shits their diaper? Yep, makes perfect sense that they loathe and denounce their last medium....

 

[johnman]

There are so many varied games out there with so many different themes, messages and stances its impossible to define them as a medium.
But i do see where your coming from, with games like Modern Warfare supporting Us foriegn policy from a certain perspective.

 

[norsef]

I label this a fail...

Ever notice that whenever a game comes out FOX shits their diaper? Yep, makes perfect sense that they loathe and denounce their last medium....

Well if you mean the insane Mass Effect thing then its uproar was because of its liberal, so corruptive, view on sexuality.

A game being based in and starring Americans is certainly NOT a point indicative of a conservative medium. How exactly do American characters and settings make a game conservative? Liberals aren't Americans?

Well I'd argue they reflect a perceived conservative trend in the audience who would not be able to accept or understand an alternate culture.

 

[Nmil-ek]

Can you not bring Americas frankly laughably jaded 2 party system into utterly EVERYTHING, especially considering most games are developed by japanese companies.

Well I'm British but I know the audience for here is predominantly American so I used Republicans rather than just conservatives. Like wise most games seem to be set in America or at least with predominatly cast so using the American two party made sense. It's probably closer to the Neo-conservative views actually.

Regardless, if you want to paint with such a broad brush you can lump literally anything ignoring time, logic or rational into a bleeding left/right wing view it just doesn?t make any sense to do so. If someone came up to me and told me Shakespeare?s works were clearly left or one of my sketches was right I would bloody pound them for being a twat.

 

[Lexodus]

How can you have a question: "Are video games the last right wing medium?"
That has a answer: "Yes but there are other right wing mediums"

Yes there are no Dodos left. But there are other Dodos left. One or the other really.
Not sure you looked at that one quite right.

It's true! I SAW seven of it yestomorrow!

 

[hamster mk 4]

Artistic Mediums do not have political bias. It is the artist them selves that have the political bias.

Main stream video games try to be a politacly nutral as possible to apeal to the widest audience. The political extreamists of course will see this as siding with the opposite side and start complaining about bias.

Some indie games have tried to champion left wing issues (See harpooned: http://harpooned.org/), but that is to be expected from people who would seek to distance them selves from "Corporate Money".

 

[tustin2121]

In contrast video games are much more right wing, or perhaps more specifically Republican. Guns as an ultimate solution to survival, interventionism to stop global conflict (a la 90% of Tom Clancy games), a distinct lack of diverse sexuality (apart from the occasional pocket billiards moment in Fear Effect), or the fact that every game seems to be based in and star Americans.

I must stress that there are of course exceptions of left wing games just like there are right wing books and movies. Books in particular being the work of a sole individual are more swayed by the author's opinions or belief with the Left Behind books being an example of this. As a medium however video games do seem to be predominantly right wing. But exceptions to this include the whole evil government trend in many games, the anti-religion in Devil May Cry 4 or Grandia 2 and the occasional bisexual (always a lady natch) in Bioware RPGs. Though I would argue the latter might be down to lazy writing or not wanting to create a new animation or dialog string.

I agree with Erana, you apparently have no idea what "right wing" is. You can't look at the left and say that the right is the opposite of them (mainly because the right are actually the center, but that's a different discussion). I am "right wing", so I should know.

For one, the right doesn't believe that guns are the ultimate survival solution - we believe they are the LAST survival solution, and that you should have the option of using a gun if it comes to that.

For another, define "diverse sexuality". It has the word "diverse" in it, which is already a weighted word. The right is not against Trans-, Bi-, and Homosexuals, we just don't want them shoving their way of life down our throat! We don't care if these "diverse sexualities" exist but, by God, don't tell us that we have to bend to their will. (And seriously, most religious people are the same, it's just a select few that want to, say, eliminate all homosexuals.)

One more political point: the right believes that government should be eliminated (or rather, since that is impossible, made as small as possible). It is the left that wants large controlling governments.

Finally, you can't tell me that every game stars Americans; over half the game market is made by and stars Japanese people. If any part of the world is "underrepresented", per say, it would be Asia (including the MidEast) and Australia. Everywhere else has its people in a game somewhere.

(I can see a flame war coming over this. Please don't start...)