Vigil80

The suspects were taken into custody. Police say all are gang members on probation, with outstanding warrants for their arrest.

Well, that is frustrating.

The Oculus seems like it could be very interesting. So much better if he could have seen it realized. Best wishes to his friends and family.

Say what you want about the NRA, but contra Rolling Stone - who should stick to covering pop music - they received less than 3% of their average annual income from gun companies in the last seven years. Hardly "basically run."

Meanwhile, you really think it's altruism on EA's part, or even activism? Corporations distance themselves from controversy in service of the bottom line. In this case, they get to try to ignore licensing fees and look good in the media doing it.

Yes, yes, an NRA spokesperson made an inflammatory comment about video games. But assuming EA's move is meant as some kind of shot across the bow of the NRA, or that they even have anything to do with it, is a heck of a stretch.

Have your cake and eat it too, eh?

@brodehouse: I felt similarly. It's one reason why I think (and hope) that this is the last Bioshock. I don't see where there's left to go that wouldn't be redundant or silly.

Not that that stops other game makers...

I'm having the opposite experience from most everyone else, seems like. I came away from the game with a negative feeling, and immediately resisted the "Great game, or greatest game?" reaction of most everyone else.

But now I'm recognizing the parts I enjoyed - particularly the music and sound, and the general art design - and feeling good about it.

One point should not be forgotten in all the chatter about the game's story, however: It would have greatly, greatly benefited from a proper, regular save system. Really, just let me save my game, guys.

No, really. Shut up. Let me save.

I changed the background back to dark, too. And then I downloaded the latest Bombcast and Bradley May Cry part deux.

Agreed with the many comments that no game is perfect, really.

But the first thing that popped in my head was The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

Edit: And the fact that apparently only one other person said so in the thread so far is genuinely surprising to me.

@cyberbloke: Not really, no. They haven't helped video games, but it's a rather narrow view that says they're the source of the trouble. The reality is that video games were already on the chopping block with a lot of politicians, and always have been. Politicians have room on their desks for more than one ridiculous measure at a time. I don't know why folks - in any camp - seem to forget that.

Genius ideas like the town of Southington, CT trying to hold a video game burning, or California's game ban that was taken to the Supreme Court, haven't needed help to crop up.

@Judakel: No, he shouldn't. All this "culture" buzzword talk is overblown. It's just attractive to assign blame, especially when the actual perpetrator isn't around to take it himself.

@thekingoftoilets said:

Superb write-up Alex, per usual. I view the whole debacle over violent video games = real life violence to be a bit of a naive statement myself, and I think when it comes down to it, the culture of today's multimedia needs to be examined as a whole upon individuals that allow different types of media to alter their mood and attitudes. I have a full-flung opinion I could harp on about, but if I were to summarize, I would say that when people do their jobs (parents taking attention to what their child's watch, play, and listen to, and store clerks ID'ing customers for Mature purchases), and someone is there to listen and be understanding and take the proper steps towards help when it is needed, then maybe something could be stopped before it even remotely starts.

If people want simple answers so badly, I wish they'd take a closer look at statements like your last sentence there.

That's why when people ask, "But wait, what if violent media does have an effect?" I don't think it really changes anything. It isn't like banning and censoring would suddenly become a good idea, the right answer. People with problems need options. Parents need to parent.

@Brodehouse: Well said.

Be wary of simple answers, indeed. Nothing like these conversations to stoke the pathological fears some seem to have.