What happens when games get political?

[TheDarkMaster2]

I mean there's no problem with Allegory right?

[Astraea]

A funny jab by allegory is fine with me in a game. But go over one sentence and it quickly gets preachy and loses it's wit.

[Temuldjin]

"generally" the the more political "flufff" added to a game the more the overall quality of the story/plot suffers.

Said in a other way, if you led the story writers focus on a good story/plot then generally the game becomes good, if you force them to focus on politics then the quality of the story of cause suffers because the quality of the story is no longer the objective, the politics are.

[DazoftheDroid]

So, i think we all agree. In that politics absolutely do not belong in video games, and if they are present (usually forced) then we, as gamers have every right to criticize them on that basis.

[isturbo1984]

I just find it weird that people equate SJW topics with politics. Some third wave feminist screaming about false rape allegations is not political. I think a good example would be Far Cry 5. People SCREAMED because it wasn't political, but it had a ton of American history and satire. So yes, I think it is easy to have a game without it being political. But one without reflecting on social issues... may be a bit harder.

[aileron]

"I just find it weird that people equate SJW topics with politics," Ok you find it weird, but doesn't the 'social' in SJW mean it affects society at large, and isn't the way society is managed in a democracy through politics and political opinions and actions by individuals? "Some third wave feminist screaming about false rape allegations is not political" Isn't it? Someone could dispute your use of the words 'screaming' and 'false' there. Society, through their democratically elected government, elected through their politics, are going to respond to that 'screaming' feminist, aren't they? Politics follows society, or something like that, someone once said. Anyhoo, this will probably be deleted too ;p

*The above assumes you and I live in democracies.

[MrLacksOriginality]

I only have a problem with western games when it comes to politics. When a Western game uses politics, it is really trying to indoctrinate you into learning a political point of view the maker wants you to have. Japanese games have politics but in general it is much less preachy. For example, there are war themes in many Japanese games, they show how it affects people in different ways without trying to put into your head a particular point of view abut war.

[DazoftheDroid]

Thanks for clarifying everything guys. Now i understand how the site will work (i think).

So, to summarize:
You can comment/review/highlight a games political content, and give your own (non-political) views based on that content.

You cannot promote/enforce your own political views on said material, no matter how political the source may be.

Does that seem about the gist of it?

[Merlin]

Thanks for clarifying everything guys. Now i understand how the site will work (i think).

So, to summarize:
You can comment/review/highlight a games political content, and give your own (non-political) views based on that content.

You cannot promote/enforce your own political views on said material, no matter how political the source may be.

Does that seem about the gist of it?

Well its more fundemental than that. It is as such. Don't bring ideology into it. Don't frame things and disingenuously color the effort of others. I think the whole "no politics" moniker isn't exactly right. It comes down to no ideological injections. This makes it more clear, because a game can be political. I mean, who doesn't think the newer wolfenstein games haven't done a pretty bang up job? Very few, and that game is all about war and the politics around it. But ideology applied to the discussion is another thing. Ideology is also more than political, it is religious too(among other things), and often they go hand in hand to be rather nasty. Just discussing a political or religious themed game is totally fine. I personally love religious imagery in games if they do it justice. Just don't be a zealot, and it should be fine. I think there is going to not be much fear, but if things overreach, I promise you I'll move on. However I have courage that things will be fine. The type of people who would want to be ideological zealots probably won't show up here anyhow because there will be no fuel for their fires, it just won't be worth it.

[Merlin]

Also let me know what you guys think about this, but obviously many games these days are being injected with the ideology itself. So Battlefield 5 being "historically accurate" while injecting a certain ideology into it. I think its fine to observe that these things happen, but not to let ourselves get dragged into the mess of ranting and raving. Observe, discuss, move on. I think that is where the rub is. We may not be Kotaku here, but my real concern is when the game itself is ideological indoctrination. I think that will be a much finer line to walk for many people who won't be able to get walk it, and I don't exclude myself from that either trust me. I'm a bit unsure. Its like, what if ISIS made a videogame to brainwash kids into being Jihadists? I don't know, surely it would be a topic people would want to talk about, but I fear people might not know how to keep it right, yet not stop people having the ability to talk about it at all, because surely that would be wrong too. Hard to say.

[jwarrenviola]

I think with the advent of pushing agendas in games much like in real life interactions, is to opt out of participation, even when it may be from a favourite franchise. The reason why opting out is the best option, is because like what was seen with battlefield V, the developers attacked and mocked the fans when they voiced their displeasure. Since a few of the big studios have already taken the steps down the road of pushing agendas and ideologies they aren’t likely going to turn back, even if it is financially damaging and they aren’t going to say “ye know, maybe we were wrong to inject xyz into these titles.”

Now the real test will be for all the other developers out there on whether or not they’ll see what’s happened as a lesson of what not to do. I think the main idea should be no matter what spectrum you’re on, if the idea of games is to bring us out of reality, to provide escapism, then interjecting real life politics is a direct alienation if that escapism and really takes away from the experience.

[jwarrenviola]

So, I think the purpose of this forum is to provide a politic free environment to discuss games and their content rather than who agrees with what ideology and who is right and wrong.

[Merlin]

Indeed, just wanted to point out that it extends further and deeper than just politics, though that is indeed the gaping wound that needs rest and healing most about the whole mess, and it has been nice thus far to just have forums like the old days.

[AvalonArt]

what happens ? xD They go browke son

[DazoftheDroid]

So many views here! What i was hoping from this site, was that people/gamers/reviewers will go back to criticizing games for their gaming content, you know, things like gameplay, story, graphics, sound, rather than how many gay or trans characters there are. I get sick and tired these days of hearing how woke a game is, rather than if it is a good game or not. Inf fact it seems now that a woke game IS a good game lol. Yeah, no it isn't.