what does "ice"inspace refer to

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by iceman

I never play single player games, they don't interest me either (well, not for long).

Multiplayer games over the internet is what I played.

But I could never play the MMORPG games. I had to have a quick fix.

Ah! That's a bit different Mike. When you 're playing people rather than a machine I could understand the rush.

[Ric]

I'm a big fan of the C&C series, just love all those intricate battles. I tried to play over the net a few times but found I was being totally destroyed in a few minutes by 5 year olds from the other side of the world.

I have also been playing Neverwinter Nights (RPG) for a few years on and off and still haven't finished, a fascinating game to get you thinking and a couple of good punchups thrown in.

Cheers

[davidpretorius]

I play reality games:

"Take out the rubbish you bum"
"Are you with the ****##$ telescope again?"
"Dad, can we go to the park......"
"But why dad, why, why, why, why"
"Does my bottom look fat in these jeans?"
"Where you listening to anything i have said?"

Upcoming release Games :

"Dad, i am moving out with my boyfriend"
"Dad, I am going on the pill and there is nothing you can do about it"

and the final sequel after the kids have moved out and I am about to settled down for decent telescope time

"Darling, I think i am pregnant"

these games provide me with much needed skills in survival

[xstream (John)]

Originally Posted by davidpretorius

I play reality games:

"Take out the rubbish you bum"
"Are you with the ****##$ telescope again?"
"Dad, can we go to the park......"
"But why dad, why, why, why, why"
"Does my bottom look fat in these jeans?"
"Where you listening to anything i have said?"

Upcoming release Games :

"Dad, i am moving out with my boyfriend"
"Dad, I am going on the pill and there is nothing you can do about it"

and the final sequel after the kids have moved out and I am about to settled down for decent telescope time

"Darling, I think i am pregnant"

these games provide me with much needed skills in survival

Oh how true mate, oh how true!

[netwolf]

Mike you could always use the Wiimote as a remote control for your EQ6, it has been done.

Dave, yes real life is what we are trying to avoid in the game play. Btw that sounds a lot like the events in the movie Father of the Bride part 2..

Regards
Fahim

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by davidpretorius

I play reality games:

"Take out the rubbish you bum"
"Are you with the ****##$ telescope again?"
"Dad, can we go to the park......"
"But why dad, why, why, why, why"
"Does my bottom look fat in these jeans?"
"Where you listening to anything i have said?"

Upcoming release Games :

"Dad, i am moving out with my boyfriend"
"Dad, I am going on the pill and there is nothing you can do about it"

and the final sequel after the kids have moved out and I am about to settled down for decent telescope time

"Darling, I think i am pregnant"

these games provide me with much needed skills in survival

And they say it’s a bloke’s world!

[rumples riot]

The army taught me some thing for real. There is no subsitute for hunting a man for real. Computer games are just a cheap imitation for having someone in your sights for real and you in theirs. Once you have had someone shoot at you for real, then you have other thoughts about how cool war is.

Computer games desensitise people to the idea of violence and glorify war. Yes, I have played them, but in the end a thinking person has to look at what this is doing to youth.

Just my opinion, please go on with your conversation.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by rumples riot

The army taught me some thing for real. There is no subsitute for hunting a man for real. Computer games are just a cheap imitation for having someone in your sights for real and you in theirs. Once you have had someone shoot at you for real, then you have other thoughts about how cool war is.

Computer games desensitise people to the idea of violence and glorify war. Yes, I have played them, but in the end a thinking person has to look at what this is doing to youth.

Just my opinion, please go on with your conversation.

I agree with you wholeheartedly Paul. Computer "shoot-em-up" games HAVE de-sensitised the young public, and I think that it is harming our society. Some will dismiss it as bunk - but they know it's true.

I remember playing paint-ball games years ago. It bloody hurts when you get hit in soft flesh. You really want to avoid being hit. I also remember thinking to myself at the time how difficult it is to emerge from a game un-hit. It's well-nigh impossible. Then I thought - Jeez, what if these were real .303's? Gulp - you'd be dead for sure....in seconds. Pretty uncomfortable thoughts, huh.

[Kal (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by rumples riot

Computer games desensitise people to the idea of violence and glorify war. Yes, I have played them, but in the end a thinking person has to look at what this is doing to youth.

Just my opinion, please go on with your conversation.

A good example is the game "America's Army" which was released by the US Army to help bring people into the Armed forces, and it is in essence a preliminary training tool. You don't even have to look hard to realise that the US army realised the link between 'shootemup video games' and real life combat and is using it to their advantage.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by Kal

A good example is the game "America's Army" which was released by the US Army to help bring people into the Armed forces, and it is in essence a preliminary training tool. You don't even have to look hard to realise that the US army realised the link between 'shootemup video games' and real life combat and is using it to their advantage.

Good point Kal. I suppose that if you want to "play" this type of game, you probably wonder what it's like for real. Instead of hiding behind a computer screen, why not go and sign up for real? You'll find out then how much fun it really is.

[netwolf]

I cant even imagine using a gun in real life and i pray i never will. And playing these games does not desensitize me in any way. But thats me, i guess it has different effects on different people. In a game i now i can always restart an quit, but in real life there is no such thing. Perhaps keeping this firm in my mind is what protects me from being desensitized. Event though i can see violence in movies and in games, i still find it difficult to watch real life documentary's showing the same thing, because my mind knows its real. Distinguishing reality from fiction is perhaps the key in this. What about hide and seek or cops and robbers, computer games are just extensions of this. I think the key were my parents and family and the values they drilled in to me. Also the fear of what my dad would do to me if i stepped out of line always loomed large in my world as a kid.

Even as a kid when getting into a ruffle with my younger brother i always held back because i knew i was bigger and stronger. And what dad would do to me if i hurt my little brother.

I think fear leading to hate is what desensitizes people. Not games.

Regards
Fahim

[kljucd1 (Daniel)]

Hi,

Virtually every single one of my gaming friends was opposed to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, because of what war involves/represents.

Games are meant to be fun, and most people take them that way. The people who over react and make sweeping claims about games and the effect of them, usually don't actually know anything about them, or the people that play these games.

Regards

Daniel...

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by kljucd1

The people who over react and make sweeping claims about games and the effect of them, usually don't actually know anything about them, or the people that play these games.

What - so you're all special? You reckon that "playing" war games is OK but the real thing isn't. Jeez - make up your minds fellas.

[netwolf]

Chris,

Chess is also a war game, so does a person who plays chess have to like war?
Exercising your body and mind does not mean that you must use them to attack in real life. In fact a well trained body and mind will logically conclude that violence begets violence.

Regards
Fahim

[iceman (Mike)]

Chris - it's a game. I can full well understand the difference between playing a game, and going out and doing "the real thing" in a real war.

There's no comparison. You can't lump every 16 year old gamer into a category that fits everyone who's ever played a "shoot 'em up" game.

You can have your opinions but not everyone has to agree with them. With your own admission that you haven't ever played them, you honestly can't claim to be an expert on their effect on people's minds.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by iceman

Chris - it's a game. I can full well understand the difference between playing a game, and going out and doing "the real thing" in a real war.

There's no comparison. You can't lump every 16 year old gamer into a category that fits everyone who's ever played a "shoot 'em up" game.

You can have your opinions but not everyone has to agree with them. With your own admission that you haven't ever played them, you honestly can't claim to be an expert on their effect on people's minds.

I think that you seem to be taking this as an attack on you Mike - it's not. My beef is with the concept, not the players.

I have played them Mike - or at least tried to. They bore me stupid, so I never persisted.

No, I can't lump every 16 y/o gamer into the same basket - and neither have I attempted to. Others have:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-...389906_25.html

Last week the University of Michigan released a study that links playing violent video games and viewing violent content as a child to adulthood violence. The research, which dates back to the 1960’s when the lead scientist interviewed 856 third graders (and then tracked them for 30 years), found that repeated exposure to violent television shows and video games have a stronger influence on aggressive behavior than being poor, having a substance abuse or growing up with abusive parents.

“The study supports what has long been suspected: Viewing violent ‘entertainment’ and participating in ‘virtual violence’ have profoundly serious implications for society,” read the press release regarding the study. According to the researchers, video games, particularly the first person shooter games, could be more “dangerous,” than watching violent television shows or movies.

Contributing researcher Brad Bushman, a professor of psychology and communications studies at the University of Michigan, said that playing violent video games changes brain function, desensitizing repeat players to real life violence.

So - while these kids may not be turned into dangerous, bloodthirsty raving lunatics - they probably are the type to sit there and watch, passively, while some poor bloke gets bashed right in front of them by a 14-year-old girl and her mates for a wallet full of pocket money, and do absolutely nothing about it while they lick their paddle pops.

To balance this, there are also of articles stating the exact opposite. I did a Google search on "link games to violence".

I don't see the point in them - I don't see why we NEED to have them - is there a good reason that you can tell me? Apart from all of this I can see them as a huge waste of time. I only have to look at ALL of my neighbour;s 12-year-olds to see what kind of socially inept, introverted little whackos they are who can't go anywhere without their PSP's - or it's tantrum time. Sheesh! Have they even heard of a football in the local park - or can't they go there because lawers have turned the local park into a "safety zone".

[kljucd1 (Daniel)]

Originally Posted by Omaroo

You reckon that "playing" war games is OK but the real thing isn't.

Yes.

Regards

Daniel...

[Ric]

I actually remember these types of discussions and papers being written back in the 70's but it was all over "Dungeons & Dragons", a game played with the imagination using pencil paper and dice.

The boffins were convinced it was evil and that we were going to either kill people with swords and battleaxes or commit suicide because we no longer had a grip on reality.

I suppose time rolls on but the preconception of games and gaming still stays pretty much the same.

cheers

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by kljucd1

Yes.

Regards

Daniel...

Why? Answer the question properly or you don't have an argument.

[kljucd1 (Daniel)]

Hi,

Violent games/movies/whatever other violent entertainment you can think may act as a catalyst for those with underlying mental illness to commit violent acts. However, for the majority, the context in which these games is played is that it is just a bit of fun.

War on the other hand, as in the real kind, results in the deaths of real people and the destruction of real homes/land/lifestyles and many other real things.

There is a big difference between something real being destroyed and something unreal being destroyed. The vast majority of people who play these games understand this.

Also, I do not know many people at all who would stand by while another person, particularly a defenceless person, was being attacked.

Regards

Daniel...