The Video Game Critic

Yes, I was wondering if ya'll had any kind of moral or spiritual rules that you follow when it comes to gaming.  I used to play anything, but felt convicted several months ago to make sure they don't go against my spiritual stands (I'm Chrisitan).

 

This means that several very popular games that I was really excited about, I quit after about 30 seconds (like Gears of War, Far Cry, etc.).  Like I said, I used to play anything, but I dont especially feel like I'm 'missing out".

 

Anyone else?  Do yall have any rules about this?

[QUOTE=voor]

Yes, I was wondering if ya'll had any kind of moral or spiritual rules that you follow when it comes to gaming.  I used to play anything, but felt convicted several months ago to make sure they don't go against my spiritual stands (I'm Chrisitan).

 

This means that several very popular games that I was really excited about, I quit after about 30 seconds (like Gears of War, Far Cry, etc.).  Like I said, I used to play anything, but I dont especially feel like I'm 'missing out".

 

Anyone else?  Do yall have any rules about this?

[/QUOTE]

My personal gaming rule is kill everything in sight. No seriously, I am not a huge fan of games that have excessive swearing in it. I don't know, it just seems like a cheap way to add an "adult" theme to it.  How does Gears of War go against somebody's "Christian" stance. I played the through like 4 times....did I miss something?

I find myself kinda devilish whenever I play Halo 2 online. Because I'm more of a killer on there than talking stuff about people. But it never goes anything against me like I'm not Christian or something.

I was raised a strict Catholic, but that's never deterred me from playing ANY video game.  If I was to avoid everything that offended my moral sensibilities I'd probably never listen to music, watch TV, or go to movies.  It's just entertainment.

First of all, I would not play a game with excessive swearing either simply because, as a child, I was physically abused and the abuse was accompinied by swearing, so even today as an almost 41 year old adult I cringe when I hear loud, ugly CU$$%! words.

When I was 15, shortly before my mom died, my older brother brought over a 2600 game in a leather case-"Ha!Ha! look what I got!" he said-yup, it was CUSTERS REVENGE. I rushed up to my room to play it, and was both BORED and HORRIFIED! Even then it was obvious Mr. Custer was RAPING that woman. "That's SICK, Dumb and CRAZY!-I'll stick to SPACE INVADERS!" I told him. He thought I was jealous!

I try to stay away from extremely violent games, unless it is ABSTRACT like Berzerk (shoot Robots).

I don't mind dirty jokes or pictures of naked women-or MEN for that matter, as I'm an artist and have painted my share of said pictures from real life naked models. But I find games that try to be titallating, with digitized bouncing boobs or worse, to be either silly/dumb or demeaning to both men and women (but more so to WOMEN)... although I'm against violence, I at least understand why some people LIKE games with violent content. I DO NOT understand why anyone would want to play a "sex" game. WHY?! If you are sex-mad, read a porno book/watch a video. Why waste your time plodding through poorly designed levels to see FAKE genitailia or copulation?!..sex/videogames=oil/water! 'Nuff said!

[QUOTE=The Video Game Critic]I was raised a strict Catholic, but that's never deterred me from playing ANY video game.  If I was to avoid everything that offended my moral sensibilities I'd probably never listen to music, watch TV, or go to movies.  It's just entertainment.
[/QUOTE]

 

I  disagree.  Our moral/spiritual guidelines DO affect what kinds of entertainment we enjoy, and the things we do to enjoy ourselves do affect our spirituality (a lot of you will probably disagree with the 2nd half).  You're right...I only watch about 5% of movies and TV shows that come out, but the benefits of staying spiritually whole far outweigh 'missing out' on the major forms of entertainment.

 

I still play videogames...a ds that I play about 30 mins a day.  I used to play ANYTHING, regardless of content, now i do avoid things that 'offend my moral sensibilities', because that's what you're supposed to do.  Whats the option, saying 'well, there's nothing that I can enjoy and not be offended, so I might as well not worry'? 

[/QUOTE]

My personal gaming rule is kill everything in sight. No seriously, I am not a huge fan of games that have excessive swearing in it. I don't know, it just seems like a cheap way to add an "adult" theme to it.  How does Gears of War go against somebody's "Christian" stance. I played the through like 4 times....did I miss something?

[/QUOTE]

 

That doesn't mean 'anti-Chrisitan' (like a burning cross or whatever), but dudes getting their heads blown off in graphic detail while teammates run around cursing (mild or not), is enough for me.

[QUOTE=voor]

[/QUOTE]

My personal gaming rule is kill everything in sight. No seriously, I am not a huge fan of games that have excessive swearing in it. I don't know, it just seems like a cheap way to add an "adult" theme to it.  How does Gears of War go against somebody's "Christian" stance. I played the through like 4 times....did I miss something?

[/QUOTE]

 

That doesn't mean 'anti-Chrisitan' (like a burning cross or whatever), but dudes getting their heads blown off in graphic detail while teammates run around cursing (mild or not), is enough for me.

[/QUOTE]

 

Ok I get it. To each his own I guess. I'm not religious but I have high moral character but I don't feel like entertainment (legal of course) of any kind effects that. I mean, I wouldn't kill somebody but does it make me a bad guy b/c I enjoy "chainsawing" the enemy in Gears? I don't think so.

[QUOTE=voor]

I  disagree.  Our moral/spiritual guidelines DO affect what kinds of entertainment we enjoy, and the things we do to enjoy ourselves do affect our spirituality (a lot of you will probably disagree with the 2nd half).  You're right...I only watch about 5% of movies and TV shows that come out, but the benefits of staying spiritually whole far outweigh 'missing out' on the major forms of entertainment.

 

I still play videogames...a ds that I play about 30 mins a day.  I used to play ANYTHING, regardless of content, now i do avoid things that 'offend my moral sensibilities', because that's what you're supposed to do.  Whats the option, saying 'well, there's nothing that I can enjoy and not be offended, so I might as well not worry'? 

[/QUOTE]

As an adult, I think your moral standards are pretty much set, and I don't think playing Mortal Kombat or Night Trap is going to change that.  It's different for kids however who are still developing a sense of what's right and wrong.

I think we all have different standards and tolerance levels.  I must admit I avoid certain movies and television shows because I don't feel comfortable with their content (Howard Stern comes to mind).  So I guess I agree with you to some extent.

Video games are just games. I have no moral issues playing one or another. It's like watching a movie to me, its not a big deal. The only requirement is enjoyment of the game.