Pseudo-Week One

This post was a long time coming. Sadly, it is doubtful that the additional timeframe has in anyway influenced or enhanced the contents forthwith.

To answer the initial question – that is, ‘Why are you here?’ – well, defining ‘here’ would be the essential part.

‘Here’ on WordPress?

Answer: The cool kids were doing it.

‘Here’ on a blog in general?

Answer: Some random person keeps hounding me for blog entries. Apparently its a requirement for the course. Shoot.

‘Here’ as in Comp4431? (Okay, so I caved. There were a number more ‘here’ references I could make. Feel grateful, plebeian, that I decided to show mercy – such as it is.)

Answer: I struggle on the answer to this, simply because I wanted to avoid the typical ‘It looked fun’ in reply. I’ve always tried to pick subjects that interest and entertain me, ones that I know I’ll be able to pay attention in and actually get something out of it (sadly that decision making failed me with Intro to Marketing this semester). I tend to have a rather large problem with procrastination (“No,” I hear you say, “You must be joking!”) but if the subject can hold my interest then that’s half the battle won. I’ve always had a particular fondness for games of all types, as they are usually my main weapon in the War of Procrastination, and I generally become quite immersed in them before realising that 6 hours have passed.

I still remember playing my first console game, Tom and Jerry, on NES back in the day, with The Simpsons soon to follow. I have fond memories of playing Sonic the Hedgehog on Sega, of playing Pokemon Blue, and Red, on Gameboy, before selling that Gameboy on eBay to afford a Gameboy Advanced and Pokemon Yellow thereafter (with possibly a little additional support from the ‘rents). Then there was the Nintendo 64, the Playstation, the Playstation 2, the Wii, the Nintendo DS – the list goes on. I’ve played video games for as long as I can remember, although funnily enough I rarely ever played them on the computer (does an addiction to Minesweeper count?).

Of course, there is also the fact that my course for Media & Comm comes to an end mid-way next year, and I still have yet to decide on what exactly I want to do after uni (and whether I’ll actually be employable with what this course has given me so far, I’ll admit), and this course seemed like a good stepping stone if I decided to follow the game/design/animation route that I’ve been eyeing off and on for quite some time, because it could at least give me a taste of what it would be like, and also if I have any hope in this area.

Plus? It looked fun.

Gun-related Morsel;

Gun-orientated games are so popular, in my opinion, because they occur in arena that is without virtual consequence. These games allow people to play out base-desires; the desire to hurt, maim and kill the ‘Other’ – the Enemy – be it aliens, monsters, or a stand-in for someone in racial-opposition without the social ramifications that would occur in the ‘real world’ where these desires are considered, for the most part, socially and morally abhorrent.

In these games, people play the ‘Hero’ – they shoot, kill and subsequently stop the Enemy, and protect themselves, others like them, fellow citizens, the country, the world  - the Good Guys. Here, there is no consequence for shooting another person; in fact, it usually gains you rewards. There is no jail-time, no repercussions, no social stigma – these are not real people. In these games, people do not feel guilt or horror at the taking of ‘life’. In fact, they revel in it. Usually within these games, not killing someone has more repercussions than if you actually do, including the loss of your own ‘life’. Of course, that doesn’t matter – you can just go start again from your latest save point.

These games provide both the arena and the medium for playing out desires and instincts that are otherwise socially unacceptable. They generally paint things in terms of black and white, Good and Evil, whereby the player is on the side of Good, and must take out Evil in the most graphic (and potentially cathartic) way possible.

So ends the first episode of this blog. I guess its rather unfortunate for any of you who do stumble across my corner of the blog-osphere – the ramblings here are ridiculous. Oh well. In any case, tune in next time to Pseudo-Week.

- Kacie.

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