So some dude is working on a Sand Hook game.

[Pinkamena]

Just ignore it and move on. If everyone did it, he would fail in what he's trying to do.

 

[James Joseph Emerald]

I always thought a school shooting game would be interesting if done right.
I was thinking it could be from the perspective of one of the victims, and it's like a stealth-based survival horror where you are constantly faced with decisions about who you should try to save and whether or not you should try to fight back or run away.

Also, there wouldn't be any checkpoints and if you die you have to restart the whole game, so you really have to think about whether you want to be a hero or a survivor.

 

[sethisjimmy]

There's no need to automatically dismiss something like this. Super Columbine Massacre RPG was actually pretty well done and sought to create understanding of the killer's motives and give perspective on the situation. The few critics that actually played the game and didn't immediately balk at its subject appreciated what it had to say.
It was also a free download, and the author originally intended to stay anonymous, so he wasn't looking to profit or become famous on the coattails of tragedy.

Now whether this game would be as ambitious and well-intentioned is anybody's guess but it's too presumptuous to automatically censor it before getting a better idea of the context.

 

[newfoundsky]

But we can still call these people horrible excuses for humans, who probably have little dried up pieces of crap for souls, right?

Because it feels like if we have to let them do this kind of crap, we should be able to explain publicly why they do this, and call them on their crap. (Inside and out)

Let me ask you, all the books about Columbine are okay, but for some reason if you put these things into game form, and I'm pretty sure we all agree that games are just as viable a medium as paintings, books, etc, but put these things in a video game, and all hell breaks loose. So this guy is no different than any of the people who cashed in on Columbine, only he probably was never going to make any money off the game, while books about Columbine were on the Best Sellers lists for weeks at a time, each pushing a different agenda. So, what, if anything, was wrong with him telling the story of this shooting through a video game? Would it be better to do it in a different medium?

 

[newfoundsky]

There's no need to automatically dismiss something like this. Super Columbine Massacre RPG was actually pretty well done and sought to create understanding of the killer's motives and give perspective on the situation. The few critics that actually played the game and didn't immediately balk at its subject appreciated what it had to say.
It was also a free download, and the author originally intended to stay anonymous, so he wasn't looking to profit or become famous on the coattails of tragedy.

Now whether this game would be as ambitious and well-intentioned is anybody's guess but it's too presumptuous to automatically censor it before getting a better idea of the context.

I could never figure out what to do when I had to plant the bombs. It was frustrating, so I gave up.

 

[DrunkOnEstus]

There's no need to automatically dismiss something like this. Super Columbine Massacre RPG was actually pretty well done and sought to create understanding of the killer's motives and give perspective on the situation. The few critics that actually played the game and didn't immediately balk at its subject appreciated what it had to say.
It was also a free download, and the author originally intended to stay anonymous, so he wasn't looking to profit or become famous on the coattails of tragedy.

Now whether this game would be as ambitious and well-intentioned is anybody's guess but it's too presumptuous to automatically censor it before getting a better idea of the context.

Agreed, completely. I don't feel that we can simultaneously profess the serious and artistic prowess of the medium as well as condemn certain subject matter. I gained so much insight into the thought process, potential motives, and days leading up to the event for Eric and Dylan just from that game alone. The guy did his research, the shame is that the name of the title was probably too much to swallow, making the people who could benefit from it most turned off immediately. Hell, someone who was paralyzed in that shooting downloaded it and was glad it was made: http://kotaku.com/171966/columbine-victim-talks-about-columbine-rpg?tag=gamingcolumbinesupermassacrerpg .

It's also arguably more important to the modern indie game movement than you might think. In 1997 SCMRPG was a finalist in an indie game contest, and the director of the contest pulled the game due to what is agreed to be personal ethical reasons. This caused other devs to pull their titles in protest, little games with names like flOw, Castle Crashers, Braid, and Everyday Shooter. This is a stretch, but it's entirely possible that had SCMRPG not been made, you might not have ever played Journey. I'll give anything at least a look.

 

[emeraldrafael]

nice, someone made something to get the attention and you played right into it. though after the Columbine game i cant really be shocked, and im sure ww2 vets or any veteran doesnt exactly like the glorification a war game brings. So yeah, its in poor taste (maybe, didnt play the game, dont have an interest too, but im sure you could do it at least somewhat tastefully [if i remember correctly the columbine rpg was a decent game for what it was and done as tastefully as the subject could be]) but its something that shouldnt get attention.

 

[The Lunatic]

Is this really that offensive?

Some random guy, trying to get your attention by being "Offensive" by writing 100 or so words on a website.

It's not even funny. It's just sorta lazy.

 

[Imp_Emissary]

But we can still call these people horrible excuses for humans, who probably have little dried up pieces of crap for souls, right?

Because it feels like if we have to let them do this kind of crap, we should be able to explain publicly why they do this, and call them on their crap. (Inside and out)

Let me ask you, all the books about Columbine are okay, but for some reason if you put these things into game form, and I'm pretty sure we all agree that games are just as viable a medium as paintings, books, etc, but put these things in a video game, and all hell breaks loose. So this guy is no different than any of the people who cashed in on Columbine, only he probably was never going to make any money off the game, while books about Columbine were on the Best Sellers lists for weeks at a time, each pushing a different agenda. So, what, if anything, was wrong with him telling the story of this shooting through a video game? Would it be better to do it in a different medium?

Hmmm.... That is a very good question.

I'd have to say yes. A game about a mass shooting is different from a book about it, and no I am pretty sure all the books about Columbine are not "okay" automatically. If the book is just a detailed retelling of what the shooter did that day thn in that case the book wouldn't be a lot different than the game, except for the interactive elements. And both would still be terrible. (Also, very short.)

I don't say that because I don't think anything should be made out of this event. If someone wants to write a book and actually explore WHY someone would do something like this (or a game) then go for it (but good luck finding much of an answer)

All that said, do you really think this "game" that was made/is going to be made will do any of that? I'm not saying it couldn't (no idea how it would go about doing that, but it could I guess). If the game is just going to be a shooter where we play the killer guning down kids, what the hell is the point of that? And even if there is some artistic merit, is it worth making a game about the killer?

This all goes into what this psychologist said in this video.

Spoiler: This one.

To be short, all this media attention gives people reason to go on these killing sprees. It isn't the only reason yes, but it gives them positive motivation to do so. I mean hell, if they just kill themselves they would be lucky to get a few minutes on the news, but if they go on a killing spree first they get all day coverage for maybe even a week. People all over will see their face, books will be written about them, world leaders will talk about them, and yes even video games will be made about them.

Will not doing any of that stop the killings? No, but it could give people less "reason" to do it. There has already been another shooting in the U.S

Spoiler

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/two-firefighters-shot-killed-while-responding-webster-n-163105823.html

.

A man set his home on fire, called 911, shot the firefihters when they came to put it out, and then killed himself.

I'm not saying that no game should be aloud to be made about such things. But I will say that they don't seem to have any artistic merit, and even if it did I don't think it would be worth giving the killer his/her own video game.

Lets be honest, most "art" made right after this kind of thing is made for attention, or money. Be it a book, TV news, or a video game.
Do I think the game is going to sell, no. And that makes it even worse in a way. The people making these games are really only doing it for the attention, and it's sick just like anyone else who would use these events for attention.

So in short, almost all the media in all this is sick and wrong. Games are just the type I like the best.

I thank you for your question, and hope you have a nice day.

 

[JoesshittyOs]

Best you can do is ignore him. Seriously, the less attention, the better. This is one of those situations where there's really nothing you can do.

 

[Lucem712]

I hesitate to judge it so quickly. I know, I know, it's a game about shooting up kids..but video games don't have to be just about enjoyment, they can be education. It probably won't be the most informative game (or perhaps, at all) and it's probably just some jackass trying to get some publicity but it could happen.

Do you actually think that's what is going on, or do you just want that to be what is going on?

There is a 99.9% chance it's just some jackass looking to be notorious, just like all the other games made about mass shootings, regardless of their merit (I'm neutral as I haven't played them)

But, we have to be willing to give something a chance. Sure, it's probably just some fucked up person coding a shooting spree, but there could be a chance. Its why the game depicting Fallujah didn't get released/finished because we're so quick to see video games (even some of us from within[footnote] and trust me, I have the same gut reaction[/footnote]) as tools of enjoyment that we automatically think, 'Fuck. What the hell is wrong with you! Getting enjoyment out of killing kids!"

But it could be about education, about the mindset of a killer and a daring attempt to understand something that many of us can't begin to fathom. (I know I can't)

So, I don't think it is, but I won't say it's just some sick game until I can see it.

 

[Imp_Emissary]

I hesitate to judge it so quickly. I know, I know, it's a game about shooting up kids..but video games don't have to be just about enjoyment, they can be education. It probably won't be the most informative game (or perhaps, at all) and it's probably just some jackass trying to get some publicity but it could happen.

Do you actually think that's what is going on, or do you just want that to be what is going on?

There is a 99.9% chance it's just some jackass looking to be notorious, just like all the other games made about mass shootings, regardless of their merit (I'm neutral as I haven't played them)

But, we have to be willing to give something a chance. Sure, it's probably just some fucked up person coding a shooting spree, but there could be a chance. Its why the game depicting Fallujah didn't get released/finished because we're so quick to see video games (even some of us from within[footnote] and trust me, I have the same gut reaction[/footnote]) as tools of enjoyment that we automatically think, 'Fuck. What the hell is wrong with you! Getting enjoyment out of killing kids!"

But it could be about education, about the mindset of a killer and a daring attempt to understand something that many of us can't begin to fathom. (I know I can't)

So, I don't think it is, but I won't say it's just some sick game until I can see it.

That's a fair statement. I would also like it to not just be some sick shock game made for attention.

However, I am afraid I'm too much of a Possitive Pessimism to say that it may. But I do not disrespect what you say.
Again, well said.

Spoiler: Also...

Digimon are awesome.

That is all.