make games, not war

Post on 29-Aug-2014

2.596 Views

Category:

Technology

3 Downloads

Preview:

Click to see full reader

DESCRIPTION

Jesse Schell's closing keynote from Games4Change 2011

TRANSCRIPT

Make Games, Not War

Jesse Schell

A Simple Survey

1) In terms of their ability to change people’s behavior, video games are:

a) Less powerful than other media

b) More powerful than other media

2) Videogames tend to change people:

a) For the worse

b) For the better

Now the hard question

3) Playing videogames tends to make people:

a) More likely to reason and promote peace

b) More likely to fight and promote war

c) Neither

d) I have no idea

Why are videogames so violent?

• A world where…

– You can do anything

– No one gets hurt

– Verbal communication is awkward or impossible

Opinion Scorecard

Peace War• Violence comes easily

Is simulated violence bad?

Jackie Kashian

It’s true that there are plenty of videogames that tiny children shouldn’t play. I am a grown up lady, and I need to shoot people.

I think It’s best if it occurs fictionally.

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Violent Crime

Millions of Violent Crimes

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Videogame Revenues

Billions of US Revenues

Opinion Scorecard

Peace• Catharsis

War• Inherently violent

Desensitization to Violence

Opinion Scorecard

Peace• Catharsis

War• Violence comes easily

• Desensitization to violence

Opinion Scorecard

Peace• Catharsis

War• Violence comes easily

• Desensitization to violence

• Videogames train you to kill

“Exploring, in a safe and controlled context, what is impossible or too dangerous or forbidden is a crucial tool in accepting the limits of reality. Playing with rage is a valuable way to reduce its power. Being evil and destructive in imagination is a vital compensation for the wildness we all have to surrender on our way to being good people.” – Kutner and Olson

Opinion Scorecard

Peace• Catharsis

• Control

War• Inherently violent

• Desensitization to violence

• Videogames train you to kill

The Orc

Opinion Scorecard

Peace• Catharsis

• Control

War• Violence comes easily

• Desensitization to violence

• Videogames train you to kill

• Humans inherently racist?

Dani Bunten Berry

CGDC 1991 CGDC 1992

Opinion Scorecard

Peace• Catharsis

• Control

• No more race / language barriers?

War• Violence comes easily

• Desensitization to violence

• Videogames train you to kill

• Humans inherently racist?

Hayley’s Story

Opinion Scorecard

Peace• Catharsis

• Control

• No more race / language barriers?

• See others POV

War• Violence comes easily

• Desensitization to violence

• Videogames train you to kill

• Humans inherently racist?

What drives real world violence?

Violence is Communication

“Long experience has taught me that the

crux of my fortunes is whether I can radiate

good will toward my audience. There is only

one way to do it and that is to feel it. You

can fool the eyes and minds of the audience,

but you cannot fool their hearts.”

- Howard Thurston

“I believe that those of us who are the producers and purveyors of television -- or video games or newspapers or any mass media -- I believe that we are the servants of this nation.”

“I got into television because I hated it so. And I thought there was some way of using this fabulous instrument to be of nurture to those who would watch and listen."

Persuaders Fulfillers

Artists Humanitarians

Persuaders

Fulfillers

Artists

Humanitarians

Persuaders Fulfillers

Artists Humanitarians

Email: jesse@schellgames.comTwitter: @jesseschell

Slides: jesseschell.com

Thanks!

top related