Curse

Vaal 84 · Jul 09, 2008, 03:54 PM // 15:54

Given i'm now 23 and English i've been drinking legally for a good while now so i can't really comment on booze in gw. However i do remember when metal gear solid came out on the Playstation. Snake had a pack of fags which you could smoke allowing you to see the infra red laser beams. I was about 15 at the time ( i think) Now i'll admit i thought that was a cool feature of the game but it in now way persuaded me to smoke. I would be highly surpirsed if anyone, regardless of their age has reached for a drink after double clicking on an in game beverage.

Actually thinking about having to double click 20,000 times i probably would reach for beer... or 8.

bhavv · Jul 09, 2008, 04:06 PM // 16:06

Most kids already see their parents drinking alcohol. So what is wrong with it in a game.

Every kid that is 12+ knows what sex is, so what is wrong with bouncy breasts on female ellys?

But oh noes, if you talk about it, or make a sexually suggestive, yet innoffensive name, you get banned :-|

Stockholm · Jul 09, 2008, 04:09 PM // 16:09

OK, since everyone is concentrating on undrage drinking insted of the double moral of A-Net and the promotion of Alcohol contrary to US Laws I have change the topic Headline.

Ctb · Jul 09, 2008, 04:10 PM // 16:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avarre

...trick young kids into thinking they can successfully wield a sword at 16 Mastery in real life while intoxicated, and that just won't do.

Isn't that exactly the effect alcohol has on most men in the real world?

Badump-kish!

Quote:

A-Net and the promotion of Alcohol contrary to US Laws I have change the topic Headline.

I'd love to know what law you think you're talking about...

Stockholm · Jul 09, 2008, 04:26 PM // 16:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ctb

Isn't that exactly the effect alcohol has on most men in the real world?

Badump-kish!

I'd love to know what law you think you're talking about...

There is a bunch of case being tried right now about Alchol ads in media targeting students.
Stat cases being heard on Federal level, happend to run a cross some articals about it, thats why I opend this thread, but lost intresst now .

Bye.

Ctb · Jul 09, 2008, 04:37 PM // 16:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stockholm

There is a bunch of case being tried right now about Alchol ads in media targeting students.
Stat cases being heard on Federal level, happend to run a cross some articals about it, thats why I opend this thread, but lost intresst now .

Bye.

So, I'll ask again: what law do you think you're talking about? Because "cases" involving advertisements targeted at students would seem to have nothing to do with video game content, unless Guild Wars has advertising in it that I'm not aware of.

And don't go getting all pissy because you started a thread with an unclear topic. YOU'RE the one who instigated the discussion involving underage drinking by alluding to it right in your first post:

Quote:

the general consensus in our society is that we should minimize the exposure to alcohol as much as possible. Some states even banned alcohol ads in places where kids are allowed.

captain_carter · Jul 09, 2008, 05:12 PM // 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamm bamm bamm

Ignoring the whole 'kids can't tell games from reality' garbage, minimizing a child's exposure to alcohol and turning it into an anathema to be violated is a great way to turn your teenagers into binge drinkers. Same goes for anything. If you big it up and ban it, they'll rebel. You treat them like an adult and they'll become one. 12+ is nothing, over here in the UK you can give alcohol to 5 year olds at home. I used to be administered nightcaps when I couldn't sleep and it never did me any harm. *hic*

That is exactly correct. If only we could get all the world's leaders to realise this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkGanni

However thats what inspires them to drink.

I would say the below posted article says alot what impact can games have on real life.

http://www.ripten.com/2007/12/20/two...-kombat-moves/

- Ganni

You seem to be suggesting it is the fault of the game, however that is not what the article you link states at all.
I'll also say that the actions described in the article should be obviously stupid, dangerous and wrong to you; even if you are drunk, to think otherwise indicates you have mental issues.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orange Milk

There is absolutly no reason I should be using the metric system when I live in the United States of America.

No, unless of course you want other people to understand what you are talking about, which I can only presume is the point of taking part in a discussion.
We should all use SI units, a valuable system, that is especially important for scientific data, such as that provided by yourself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cluebag

While I'm reading these posts defending the appropriateness of alcohol in the game, simply because it's up to the parents to properly raise their children and teach them right from wrong, and because that something's presence in a video game doesn't mean that people are going to try to see if it's effects are comparable irl, (drinking, killing, etc.), then what limits a game developer from including other things that will NEVER influence the minds of young, impressionable people playing this game, apart from a silly rating? Why not include a snorting coke title, or sharing needles title, or raping little boys/girls title, counterfeiting your own money title (oh whoops, duping is bad), or any number of other things that are of questionable value, since after all, its ONLY a game? If its only a game, and all these titles are optional, what harm is there in including these sorts of additional activities that couldn't possibly corrupt young minds at all, ever. Someone in a previous post mentioned something about smoking being potentially an objectional activity in a videogame. I say why stop there? They may as well include everything as an activity title, since there is absolutely no harm associated with exposing anyone to a domestic abuse title, or an unprotected sex title, or not paying your bills title, because its a GAME. Its not up to the game developers to exercise any restraint when it comes to including harmless activities to pass the time in game, that's the parent's responsibility to ensure everyone grows up well balanced in the face of all these harmless game activities.

Well yes that is true, and if alcohol had been discovered today it would probably be illegal in most parts of the world, it is a highly dangerous drug. However, it's consumption has become a well known socially acceptable practice, and we would have a ver very hard time removing it. In sensible use there really is little wrong with alcohol.
Why is alcohol included and these other things not? Because(!) alcohol is socially acceptable, many parents drink, there are many reasons why it is socailly acceptable including its history. Many of the other things you describe are not, parents would never let there child have games with that kind of content, and the rating would be ridiculous. Many parents wouldn't mind the use of alcohol in GW, and would trust the body governing ratings to do their work correctly.

Additionally, from a slightly sillier point of view, many of the things you suggest, would be innappropriate to the setting of the game, fantasy, or would involve activities that were far more in depth and akin to crafting, which is not in the game because that is not part of its design.

FrAnt1c² · Jul 09, 2008, 05:13 PM // 17:13

Big deal, in belgium its legal to drink from 16+ , and I think 60%+ of the gw community is that old so not that much of a problem in my eyes...

Ctb · Jul 09, 2008, 05:58 PM // 17:58

Quote:

then what limits a game developer from including other things that will NEVER influence the minds of young, impressionable people playing this game, apart from a silly rating? Why not include a snorting coke title, or sharing needles title, or raping little boys/girls title, counterfeiting your own money title (oh whoops, duping is bad), or any number of other things that are of questionable value, since after all, its ONLY a game?

What a load of bollocks.

First of all, all of those subjects have already been explored in games to one extent or another and the games were rated appropriately based on the content.

Regardless, congrats on that giant strawman. Now, why don't you respond to the actual argument being put forth instead of that make-believe one you concocted and attacked: that it's the parent's responsibility to decide what is and is not appropriate content for their own children?

Sir Earl Lionheart · Jul 09, 2008, 06:10 PM // 18:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkGanni

However thats what inspires them to drink.

I would say the below posted article says alot what impact can games have on real life.

http://www.ripten.com/2007/12/20/two...-kombat-moves/

- Ganni

Hmmm... I remember as kids watching the Saturday night Kung Fu Theatre and at every commercial break going outside and just literally beating the crap out of each other and then run back in once commercial break was over. We certainly could have killed one another or poked an eye out back then. I lived, my brothers lived, and so did millions of kids who immitated their heroes, wrestlers, hmm John Wayne. Yes accidents do happen. Yes kids do get hurt while trying to immitate something that they have seen. But, people also die walking across the street, driving a car, at football practice, etc.. Bad things happen to good people. Accidents happen. You can't shelter kids from everything. And besides i hate to say it but alcohol, cigarettes, and violence was around a lot longer than video games. I started smoking when i was like 12 yrs old... and I don't think that Pong had anything to do with it.

Snow Bunny · Jul 09, 2008, 06:51 PM // 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stockholm

There is a bunch of case being tried right now about Alchol ads in media targeting students.
Stat cases being heard on Federal level, happend to run a cross some articals about it, thats why I opend this thread, but lost intresst now .

Bye.

There's no law against it.

Not to mention that iEnjoy MGS, and I have never infiltrated a remote Alaskan Nuclear disassembly plant with intent on killing several hundred terrorists.

In fact, the only thing I've ever done remotely game rated was when I beat a mission in True Crime: Streets of LA where you have to race to your brother in the rain. Taproot's "Poem" was playing on the game soundtrack.

When I was driving in the rain, and Taproot's "Poem" came on my ipod, I accelerated

IlikeGW · Jul 09, 2008, 07:16 PM // 19:16

The parents who would ban their kids from playing a game with a little mug in the inventory, are going to lose control of those kids when they go to college and become alcoholics. Puritanical strictness when out of fashion for a reason... it's foolish and dangerous to repress kids rather than teach them that things are ok if they're done responsibly.

MoldyRiceFrenzy · Jul 09, 2008, 07:51 PM // 19:51

just...no.

i dont think drinking alcohol in this game is going to turn me into an alcoholic. if it comes down to it, its the parents fault not a game.

Earth · Jul 09, 2008, 08:00 PM // 20:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkGanni

However thats what inspires them to drink.

I would say the below posted article says alot what impact can games have on real life.

http://www.ripten.com/2007/12/20/two...-kombat-moves/

- Ganni

They were drunk when they did it. Seriously, if they didn't play Mortal Kombat games wouldn't even be brought into this, only the fact that they were drunk.

Anyway...

I don't really think drinking alcohol in GW is realistic enough to get kids to want to drink alcohol. I know I don't want to drink alcohol, and I'm 16. Even when I first got this game and I was young and unexperienced (lol) I didn't get the urge to want to drink alcohol. I really don't think alot of people do, maybe a very small minority but you know, those kind of people shouldn't be playing games without supervision if they're easily influenced.

-Lotus- · Jul 09, 2008, 08:03 PM // 20:03

like kids dont drink already? no ones going to start drinking because of rice wine in GW...

Cluebag · Jul 09, 2008, 08:35 PM // 20:35

I don't remember stuttering when I said “that's the parent's responsibility to ensure everyone grows up well balanced in the face of all these harmless game activities,” implying that a parent will make a well informed decision when purchasing a babysitter for little Johnny/Suzy.

My point was that since alcoholism is harmless and an optional, fun, appropriate, in-game activity with which every 12 year old is already familiar, based on its being societally acceptible, then why not include other harmless, optional, fun, appropriate, socially acceptable, in-game activities for us title seekers to work towards. Maybe a pokemon “gotta catch 'em all” STD style of title, or some other societal norm with which every 12 yr old will already be familiar. Or maybe I'm confusing socially acceptable with appropriate, silly me. But, then again, it's only a game, so anything goes, right?

Kanyatta · Jul 09, 2008, 08:49 PM // 20:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkGanni

However thats what inspires them to drink.

I would say the below posted article says alot what impact can games have on real life.

http://www.ripten.com/2007/12/20/two...-kombat-moves/

- Ganni

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Posted URL

The 17 year old Roberts was downstairs at the time, drunk

Because everyone thinks clearly while intoxicated, amirite?

Studies have actually shown that people who play violent video games are much more calm and passive in real life because video games are a way to channel stress.

GoodApollo1234 · Jul 09, 2008, 09:10 PM // 21:10

I think some people just take the game too seriously. If you're a person who is easily reeled in by product placement ads, you best lock yourself in an empty room, nail the door shut, and seal it with duct tape, because that is the absolute only way to escape them

I'm currently working on my drunkard title. I don't even drink in real life. Not a drop. It's a freakin game, and if kids can't realize that, they deserve to go out, buy alcohol, and get caught/grounded/sent to therapy by their soccer moms.

I'm aware that terrible things can happen if a kid gets their hands on alcohol, but it says it RIGHT ON THE BOX- USE OF ALCOHOL. If parents are too stupid to realize that their child (among a select few) may be influenced directly by games, then they shouldn't be allowed to reproduce.

Jiao Yang · Jul 09, 2008, 09:17 PM // 21:17

I've turned alcoholic because of Guild Wars, and I'm just 13

Lothlorian Sassun · Jul 09, 2008, 09:22 PM // 21:22

I don't think any kid is going to become an alcoholic simply because he clicked a rice wine icon 5 times. I think every child in America has seen at least 1,000 beer commercials before he even picked up the GW box at the store.