RE-IMAGINED: VIDEO GAMES AS CULTURE.

I thought I'd throw some links to some unique video games that I've come across on the net. I'm drawn to these examples because they completely explode the stereotypes of both games and consequently, expectation about the gamers who play them. Over the last few years there seems to have been a surge in creativity, capital investment and in people taking games much more seriously. This has lead to even contradicting results in so far as while some companies have started using video games as an advertising platform, still other producers have created games to satrize and political criticize those companies. Game war in the political/adverstising space, hmmm.

Regardless of interests, with the growth of games things also seems really to be happening in regards to independent games such as this one pictured below. MPTY (More Power To Ya).
Get your biting satire here: McDonald's Video Game

Politicized parody game about running the huge multi-national food giant.

Politgames and Propagames (political and propagandistic games...) have now been around for a few years. In 2002, the U.S. launched its video game that brought the first tax-funded first-person shooter to the world. "America's Army" is free to download and is intended as a vicarious and glorifying Army experience, now even available on mobile phones...


The battle for young minds via the game space seems to be going full tilt when you also take in to account, the almost opposite game offered up on the net for download. By downloading the United Nations' "Food Force", you can get a sense what is involved in running humanitarian rescue missions while having to contend with hunger, war other obstacles. Reportedly the game is challenging and experienced record downloads upon becoming available. Encouraging.

Links:
Satirical McDonald's game: http://www.mcvideogame.com/
America's Army: http://www.americasarmy.com/
U.N. Food Force: http://www.food-force.com/

The inimitable virtual show, THIS SPARTAN LIFE, crafted with cinematographic skills from within the PC and XBox game HALO 2, has to be seen to initially be understood as a concept. After a short period of visual adjustment, most viewers will find themselves acclimated to the machinima aesthetic (a film made from within a video/computer game) and begin relaxing and enjoying the actual 'meat of the sandwich' offered - a fascinating and engaging talk show that speaks to current cultural currents that go far beyond gaming alone. We are excited and enthusiastic to be able to screen TSL in Sout Korea to an audience arguably familiar with Halo 2, however probably less so with this intelligent derivative of its visual style.

<sub>I'm sorry it was an accident....

...the dangers of playing with guns...</sub>

Links:
This Spartan Life: http://www.thisspartanlife.com/
Machinima 101: http://www.machinima.com/article.php?article=186