I read last night on Kotaku that a Norfolk University professor wants to use a video game to build awareness about the Underground Railroad. Longtime Crispy readers will know that the subject matter holds special meaning for me, too. I wish Prof. Newby-Alexander and her team the best. But, the thing I most worry about with regard to the game to come is that it'll be too educational. Y'know, like taking your medicine? Hopefully, it'll be as fun to play as it will be enlightening. But, since development isn't necessarily happening with commercial considerations in mind, I'd just want it to be its own unique thing.
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7/9/2009 1:52:06 AM
@Killstring: So, I took that art from my column, which was written before the esteemed Mr. John Teti joined our ranks. When he read the blog post today, "TOP EYE OPEN" jumped out at him too. Makes you wonder at the other idioms that have fallen by the wayside.
7/9/2009 1:48:38 AM
@Killstring: Your points speak to exactly the place I was coming from when I wrote my column last year. If content creators don't want to risk big bucks on entirely new templates, then at least change up the palette a little bit.And, yes, the idea of gameplay as a sort of anthropological lens is a heady one but if there's fun to be had, it all becomes far less off-putting.
7/9/2009 12:47:54 AM
@Killstring: Also, I have immediate, and unrelenting love for anything telling me to keep TOP EYE OPEN all in caps. I'm going to integrate that into my vernacular, post haste.
7/9/2009 12:38:01 AM
I think we need more games like this - even if they do a shoddy job of handling the material. Hell, any commercialized property based on real events will do said shoddy job. But I want this, not only because it'd be important...but I also think it'd be good.There are so many real things that could be mined for interactive entertainment - and yeah, maybe this is just an Anthropology student talking, but wouldn't you rather run the railroad than ANOTHER WWII game? Wouldn't you rather explore the violent and mystical world of the Maya, or the Aztec, as opposed to generic JRPG fantasy setting #28?Wouldn't anything be better than more space marines and grizzled loners?
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