January 5, 2006
The Matrix and Video Games
We have all looked at how real a simulated game can be. The Matrix (1999, Warner Bros.) challenges this concept of reality by suggesting a mind over matter paradigm.
Neo: "I thought it wasn't real."
Morpheus: "Your mind makes it real."
The Matrix suggests that because we interpret information largely from our CNS, there is no way to tell if we are actually collecting our daily information or being fed our daily information.
Trinity: "He [Morpheus] made us free!"
Cypher: "You call this FREE?!"
This raises an interesting issue of security vs. freedom. With the War on Terror raging and the Bush administration trying to extend the Patriot Act, we are called to question what we value more: security or freedom.
I feel video games have a great deal of security in them. Because they are governed by rules and conventions and not a free-for-all, there is a great deal less freedom in today's video games. For example, in the game I am studying, Half-Life 2, I see that there is usually only one way out of a threatening situation. Thus today's games need more theoretical review so that they can evolve as a medium.
Posted by EvanReynolds at January 5, 2006 5:17 PM
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