re: Fuck Videogames
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Presentation speakers
- Liz Ryerson
it’s the case with many “gamers” and techies in general that so many who have constructed their lives and identities through videogames often have a hard time accepting that there are other valid means of expressing or legitimizing their own emotions outside of technology. the world of technology is, after all, what they know. they want to make personal videogames because they understand how videogames work (having played them a lot) and that they can express deep emotions through play, but they don’t have the kind corresponding experience with other forms of art to understand how those work. this lack of understanding combined with videogames’ newness means they get raised to the top of the pantheon as the all-encompassing, clearly superior, art-form-to-end-all-art-forms.and that defines conversations among people passionate about games more than anything else – a spirit of “we can do anything with games”. one that can take on a socially progressive angle, but is often really driven by the same ultra-capitalist, highly fascist idea of tech culture’s that humankind can overcome any kind of obstacles facing it through better technological products – or building more “perfect” systems.i worry that we’re more used to connecting with systems in videogames than with people. we tend to have trouble understanding how to make choices unless they are presented in a game-like manner. so we’re using these games as a way to better understand ourselves and others through a way that we can connect with. and that’s not necessarily a bad thing at all. but games are often not the best mirrors, either – particularly when creators aren’t very thoughtful about the choices they provide their players. it’s easy to misrepresent personal experiences in all kinds of awkward and manipulative ways and undermine your ultimate goals.Transcript/notes:
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