The Game Guy- Serious News Journalism

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On my way out the door to do my 7am spot on "cheap games," I hear "GDS" tease that there's a new controversial game that's out there and they're going to have a game expert come in during the 8am hour to report/commentate on it.

Naturally, I feel a little slighted. Things have been going so well with me and the whole "GDS" gig, that I would have liked to have been the "game expert" they were plugging. But I also respected the fact that I'm relatively new in this TV gig, and they would probably want to go with a more established reporter or commentator.

So I walk into the studio this morning at about 6:45. They give me my time for the 7am spot, and I'm about to go set up and grab some coffee when the executive producer of the show comes up to me. He tells me they just got some news off the wire about this New York senator who's up in arms about this game that hasn't been released yet, and can I cover the story and commentate on it?

Holy Crap. Hell yea, I'll report all over that.

And so begins my first foray into "breaking news" and news reporting. I've got to give myself a pat on the ol' back for being able to pull out the name of Singleton's game "Fear & Respect" out of nowhere. I'm not kidding you people, I had no idea I was going to be covering this story and had about 20 minutes to get enough knowledge to run with it. All in all, it came out pretty good.

As for the actual "controversy." Like "Grand Theft Auto" and "Mortal Kombat" before it, this is going to be the game politicians rant about when they cite reasons for the downfall of our American society. Are games like "25 to Life" murder simulators, or do they encourage violence against police? My vote is a big "no," but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be scrutinized.

The whole "Urban" genre is so tired and run its course that I believe it'll eventually collapse under its own popularity. (Of course the same can, and has been, said about the rap genre.) The popularity is currently at an all-time high, but I really believe it jumped the shark with "GTA: Vice City." Arguably, "Vice City" isn't an "urban" game, and more of a satirical period crime title. Still, "Vice City's" popularity gave birth to "GTA: San Andreas," which, though impressive in scope, isn't as original as "Vice City."

Ultimately, the "Urban Action" genre is a cash-cow industry right now, but it comes at a price of being racist, misogynistic, degrading, and glorifying illegal activity. It's more of a moral question of whether these types of game should be encouraged to be produced, rather than whether they actually encourage violence. Unfortunately, big business does not translate to moral business (see, Philip Morris.), and so as long as there's an interest in these games, there'll be money, and as long as there is money, there'll be more "poor black kid from the 'hood earns his way out with guns and drugs" storylines. What there won't be more of- is creativity.

A ban on violent, realistic, crime-glorifying games? No. A moral boycott by consumers to get more original and less insulting games? I'll sign that petition.