make games, not war
DESCRIPTION
Jesse Schell's closing keynote from Games4Change 2011TRANSCRIPT
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
