Yale Developing $3.9 Million Anti-Drug, Alcohol and Sex Game
- Thread starter Austin MacKenzie
- Start date
Recommended Videos
If I may "defend" my alma mater, I don't think Yale researchers are working under the assumption that this will be wildly successful or effective. But I, at least (and I bet they, too), would be interested in seeing just how this works out. As any scientist could tell you, you usually learn more from the failures than from the successes.
Also, I know we're all supposed to be cynical gamers who are completely against any sort of socially-conscious message, and if this were a game targeted at 16-year-olds, I'd agree, but we can all at least agree that we don't want hard-drinking, drug-using, promiscuous 9-13 year olds, can't we?
Frankly, I don't see why anybody who believes video games are as worthwhile a medium as any other should be against people exploring how to use games in these or similar capacities.
edit: Oh, and as far as the "this is a waste of money" argument, the reality is that 3-4 million is chump change in the world of academic research. If you're going to be outraged about misused millions, you'd have to be outraged about everything, all the time, forever.
Also, I know we're all supposed to be cynical gamers who are completely against any sort of socially-conscious message, and if this were a game targeted at 16-year-olds, I'd agree, but we can all at least agree that we don't want hard-drinking, drug-using, promiscuous 9-13 year olds, can't we?
Frankly, I don't see why anybody who believes video games are as worthwhile a medium as any other should be against people exploring how to use games in these or similar capacities.
edit: Oh, and as far as the "this is a waste of money" argument, the reality is that 3-4 million is chump change in the world of academic research. If you're going to be outraged about misused millions, you'd have to be outraged about everything, all the time, forever.
There is nothing wrong with telling kids about the potential dangers of doing drugs and having sex. I think we all know, especially a university filled with 19-22 year olds, that drugs, alcohol, and sex are still quite promenent in society, but it is a decision best left up to informed adults rather than curious kids.skeanthu said:
[sarcasm]You're right! The government has never wasted $3.9 million or many times more on anything.[/sarcasm]Insanum said:
The grant is actually going to be dispersed over the course of 5 years, so that only comes to $780,000 a year, which comes to a sixth of a cent annually from each tax paying American. The game could be a waste of time and money, who knows, but there are plenty of other things on which our tax money is spent that far surpass this in irrelevancy and cost.
Wow that is not gonna work. All they did was take all the movies that have already been made about it, but now you get to.... what exactly? have sex while drunk and on drugs, and then have the game say, "Almost, try again." They'd be much better off creating a game that so distracts everybody on earth that we all die out because we won't step away from the game long enough to get water. Like those koreans that die playing starcraft
I doubt this will work. The only way they could clearly get their message across is if they focus the whole game on it. If they do that, the game will suck, no questions asked. If they don't focus the game on it so much, but add drug and alcohol use undertones, then it wouldn't be doing it's job as well if it just flat out told/showed us the dangers of said substances. All and all, a waste of 4 million dollars.
If they were funding a "sex, drug and alcohol negotiation and refusal skills." game, it'd sell a hell of a lot better, and probably be of more use. Just ask FRANK.
So...Disease Control is looking at high school sex...why? Unless there's multiple older partners involved, the chance of disease is gonna be frighteningly low - I would have thought.Austin MacKenzie said:
My God that sounds like the world's most boring/least entertaing game.
Although, sounds like a top contender for most preachy game of the decade.
Although, sounds like a top contender for most preachy game of the decade.
This will bomb. Educational games always do.
The only reason I'd buy it was to do the things its teaching against.
The only reason I'd buy it was to do the things its teaching against.
Here's my porblem. How is this game gonna do shit if it's impossible to see the consequences? You can't show the dangers of sex and drugs in a work-safe environment, or you won't even come close to getting the point across.
I feel like these guys are on a very smart track here, but then took the wrong turn and went off a cliff.
Games help people learn in very particular ways. If you're given a gun that shoots rabbits and barely does anything, you don't ever use that gun. Heck, if a gun is severely underpowered even when its real-life counterpart is the best in its class, people may think badly of the gun when they see it at a shooting range.
That's why the learning could be a bit more hands-on. Present players with a choice to use alcohol in a safe (virtual) environment, and then show how their drunken behavior makes things extremely difficult for them in ways that make sense.
I have seen some VERY effective teaching games when the creators understand game design, game theory, and put together some creative ideas. So don't discredit it altogether.
Games help people learn in very particular ways. If you're given a gun that shoots rabbits and barely does anything, you don't ever use that gun. Heck, if a gun is severely underpowered even when its real-life counterpart is the best in its class, people may think badly of the gun when they see it at a shooting range.
That's why the learning could be a bit more hands-on. Present players with a choice to use alcohol in a safe (virtual) environment, and then show how their drunken behavior makes things extremely difficult for them in ways that make sense.
I have seen some VERY effective teaching games when the creators understand game design, game theory, and put together some creative ideas. So don't discredit it altogether.
Whats so bad about drugs, alcohol and sex? (I kid, I kid)
Seriously though, this game will be completely ignored by its target audience.
Seriously though, this game will be completely ignored by its target audience.
/threadlaryri said:
I worry that many of my fellow escapists have missed the point on this one by saying this 'wont sell'. It's a) A research project and b) to be marketed to schools, which probably WILL buy it.
Don't be such kneejerks, I for one am interested in seeing what they come up with, you all act like the only games that have ever been successful games were based around violence and sex. If you want gaming to be taken seriously, you have to accept serious people paying serious cash to experiment.
I don't know how they'll make it 'work', but maybe they can, and if you worry they're trying to whitewash childhood with slanted conservatism, remember that according to we gamers people know the difference between a videogame and reality.
Don't be such kneejerks, I for one am interested in seeing what they come up with, you all act like the only games that have ever been successful games were based around violence and sex. If you want gaming to be taken seriously, you have to accept serious people paying serious cash to experiment.
I don't know how they'll make it 'work', but maybe they can, and if you worry they're trying to whitewash childhood with slanted conservatism, remember that according to we gamers people know the difference between a videogame and reality.
This and any attempts to show that refusing drugs and sex is cool will never work. It's not cool, it's awkward, but I still do it, and not because of any stupid DARE program, TV ad, or Health Class.
I don't do drugs or because I prefer my mental clarity... If you prefer your experience to be altered, how the hell is this game or anything like it supposed to stop you?
I don't do drugs or because I prefer my mental clarity... If you prefer your experience to be altered, how the hell is this game or anything like it supposed to stop you?