I can’t speak to Mexico. But, at least in the US, video games very much have been a pipeline for both rehabilitation of the military’s image and direct recruitment. It is what leads to generations that believe tier ninety special force operators are the greatest people ever which both provides “They know what they are doing and have their reasons” and “I want to be one of those”
I am not aware of any cartel friendly games (unless you REALLY disliked Fifty Cent, I guess?) but I wouldn’t immediately rule this out IF it is part of a wider media push.
Violent video games do not make you violent. But “cool guys doing cool shit” makes people want to “do cool shit”. There is a reason (para)militaries around the world tend to cooperate with, and outright fund, so much media that glazes them. Hell, military/spy porn is sometimes so good that it makes you ALMOST stop making jokes about how Sullivan Stapleton should play Hank Hill in a live action KOTH (that man wishes he had Hank Hill’s ass).
There are definitely some ways I’d like to see media shifts, but I’m always very cautious about govt regulation around it.
For instance, I always hated how much we parodize authoritarian dystopias. The “parody” element is often lost on people, and they end up respecting it; like people who lose the irony in vouching for Helldivers’ “For Managed Democracy!” or feel like Warhammer40k’s Imperium of Man is awesome.
We probably need more Spec Ops: The Line’s, but also more hero fantasies about destroying those dystopias.
Oh come on, mexican government! You’re better than this! In the 1950s parents said Elvis and his rock and roll music were corrupting the youth. So music was the tool of satan. Surprise surprise, total bullshit.
In the 1970s, skateboarding and hanging out in the malls were corrupting the youth. Surprise surprise, total bullshit.
In the 1990s, video games were corrupting the youth. Surprise surprise, total bullshit.
In the 2010s, social media was corrupting the youth. Surprise surprise, total bullshit. At least at that time. Today social media is highly manipulated TO INTENTIONALLY be corruptive, but not so much in the days of vine.
And now today, video games are corrupting the youth and making them violent. See Mexico? You can do better. This is a rerun and you know it. But fear not. I know a bigger problem that is corrupting not only the youth, but also adults, and even the elderly. You wanna know what the real problem in society is? Let ME have a go…
Religion is corrupting the humans! They’re starting wars because an invisable man in the sky told them to. Two sides each argueing that their version of the invisable man is the REAL magical invisable man.
Billions of people have died over the centuries. It is without a doubt the biggest source of corruption any society has ever faced.
In addition to all the violence, there’s also rapist priests. And money laundering. And at one time crusades to force their religion on an unwilling population.
But sure. Little 10 year old Jose is getting violent because he played mortal kombat. Couldn’t have anything to do with that chaotic and toxic home life watching his alcoholic father beat his mother, right?
Religion is corrupting the humans. What POSSIBLE rebuttal could anyone have to that?
Streaming services are increasingly offering short-term, flexible subscriptions—daily, weekend, or week-long passes—that provide an affordable way to watch live television. These “mini-subscriptions,” starting at around $5, have already proven popular. They challenge the traditional cable TV model, which often locks viewers into expensive, recurring monthly subscriptions, frequently including sports programming that many customers don’t want to pay for. pay online
Now, it’s very easy for me, someone who is not building a political action campaign around this topic, to tell someone like Scott that he needs to do better this time. But I’m going to do it anyway. I want this to work. I want the needle to move faster towards preservation of our gaming culture and towards the fulfillment of the copyright bargain with the public. So, please, let this go better this time around.
Ross devoted a year of his life (so far) to making this thing happen, purely out of his own passion for games. He gave it his all and the thing almost failed due to factors outside of Ross’s control. And then you want to turn around and tell him “that wasn’t good enough, do better next time” while sitting on your ass writing your shitty little tech articles for your shitty tech blog? dude even acknowledges how cowardly it sounds, and then proceeds to say it anyway. fuck all the way off.
Completely agreed. Nothing was added by this blog post, for anyone who wasn’t following it, but it was a decent enough summary. Then that last paragraph comes out of left field.
Ross has championed this for all our benefit, at great personal cost.
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