Individual research topic

Topic: The ethics of videogames

Case study: The Sims (series)

Introduction of The Sims

The publisher is Electronic Art which is an American video game company. The sims is a strategic life simulation video game. The game is for single-players.The series of The Sims is the best-selling computer game in the world because it is an open-ended and indefinite gameplay The series include The sims(the first found), The sims 2 and The sims 3.

Attractions of The Sims

Keep upgrading the quality

The sims series keep upgrading and having better amendments. The quality of the frame and details in the game are upgraded. The newest series, The Sims 3, is in a very high quality. The  character's bady and facial details has been promoted.

Various expansion packs

The sims keeps releasing many expansion packs. Items and funiture can be downloaded and uploaded on the Internet. It attracts more and more players to play the game and maintains the sense of freshness.

The Sims's expansion pack

Open a virtual world to each player

 players can make an ideal city and create whatever they want. They can interact with every building and city and master all the limited control in the Sims world.

Create a sim(a character in Sims)

3-D models of Sims can be modified. Player has ability to create a character and change any parts of the body when player building a character. You can change their facial details, dressing and body type etc.

Creating a character

Moreover, player can design different traits to the character, e.g. the moodlets, interactions and behaviors.

Then, the game can be started. Player can give orders to characters.

Players can adjust character's body type


 Selecting ages




Healthy tendency

Every character has own lifetime wishes

Character's job can be adjusted. He/She can become a doctor, scientist or a famous football player and whatever. Every character would like to achieve their lifetime goal. If you attain his/her wish, his/ her mood will become higher. It can help to increase him/her motivation to achieve lifetime goal.

Educate children to establish a wonderful world

Parents and teachers can apply this game as a teaching tool, for the sake of inculcating some moral education to youngsters.

Realizing player’s dream

People can make their dream come true and accomplish what they didn’t have in the real life.

Temporarily depart from the reality

Players can enjoy the game as an entertainment and do something impossible in the real world. Help players to release stress.

Positive ethical influences

The game encourages players to work hard for reaching goals

Establish a healthy and positive attitude under a peaceful social environment and learn to plan for future

Harmful tendency

The Sims creates a world of moral ambiguity. Players can perform their psychological experiments in the virtual world without caring the ethical judgement. Therefore, some crimes exist in The Sims, they are similar to the real world. The crimes might lead teenage and children to build up some harmful tendencies.

Stealing things

Stealing can be a hibit on character's characteristic. 

Sex relation

A person can have sex with anyone, included their family members. It depends on their desire or personality character.

Nudity

In The sims 2, player can see naked roles on the screen. Although the system has automatically mosaic on the nude, the system still allow players to remove mosaic. 

  "Child molesters might use the game as a sort of virtual practice arena.”

                                                                                                 by Miami lawyer Jack Thompson 

Killing/murder

5 methods of killing characters in The Sims 3:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rUenxJedt8&feature=related

Some players even teach others how to kill their game characters.

 http://www.cracked.com/blog/exploring-the-mysteries-of-the-mind-with-the-sims-3/

A player takes use of The Sims to achieve his evil ideas. He created a man who represents a Japanese guy. And then maltreats him and finally kill him. To release his dissatisfaction to Japanses.

Negative ethical influences

Ignore the moral principles

 homosexuality can be accepted in the game, guy and lesbian couples can get married.

 Lover or couple relations can be all ages-an old man can have sex with a teenage. 
Lesbian

 Encourage violence and crime

killing, bullying and murder always happen in the game. Players are easily influenced by these behaviors and produce an anti-social mentality.

Encourage to kill baby, children and teenage

It is the most controversial issue which arouse many parents concern. They afraid that they children will imitate it.

However, some people disagree with certain videogames, like The Sims, would arouse moral degradation.

"I have no problem with murdering, raping, curb stomping atc. Anyone in a game because games are ways to 'experience' thing you don;t in real life."

                                                                                                              by forum user, Sarah Kerrigan

Reference List: 

http://www.cracked.com/blog/exploring-the-mysteries-of-the-mind-with-the-sims-3/

 http://www.games.net/article/feature/102822/madness-moral-crusaders-attack-the-sims-ea-responds-update/

http://thesims.ea.com/

Is it reasonable to consider computer games as art?

a) How does Adams define art? Do you agree with his definition?

According to the article written by Adams, he divide art into three types: literary art, fine art and decorative art.  In fact, I don't think that nowadays art can be simply definited. Contemporary art is a good example to show this fact. In the 20 century, artworks are no longer  be sorted out just painting, sculpture, dance and music etc. Art today can be mixed with different elements and medium. Some art can be overlapped in two types. Such as some artwork in the movement of conceptual art. The three types definited by Adams seems ambiguous. Besides, I agree with the point that Adams quoted from a novelist, Leo tolstoy. He stated that the function of art is to pass on cultural values from one generation to the next, to serve a sort of moral purpose. Whether art can be definited, it has no doubt that art has a function of educating new generation. Art in different periods can reflect the social state and history.
According to Adams, what is needed for videogames to be considered as art?

The ethics of digital games

a)According to the film, what are some pros and cons of playing videogames for individuals and societies?

According to the film of Gamer Revolution, playing video games have many advantages but
also disadvantages for individuals and societies. Let's talk about the advantages first.


Nowadays, the types of video game are abundant and various. Consumers can
choose the games they are good at or interested in. Playing video games even can be a job or
successful business for players and make profits from them. For instant participating such
video game competitions, like the film showed, or selling virtual stuff and game account to
buyers. Based on the film, we can see that there are some video game competitions in Koren.
The players who participated in the competition even have their own fans. Video
games somehow establish players' confidence and sense of self-esteem. In the virtual game
world, they found an ability that they can pound of themselves and forget who they are in the real
 life. Just like the shooting game,"American Army". Video games is not just entertaining, they
can help people to re-understanding themselfves.

However, addicting to playing videogames is one of the
disadvantages. Especiallysome Onlinegame nowadays are too  popular and be welcomed
from teenagers and children. Even more and more adults lapse into the game. They might start
ignoring the reality and addicting to the virtual world. Gradually, they would lost themself. Further, they may neglect their health and work in the real world.


The other concern must be the exaggeration of violence,  and erotic masseges transmitted
from some videogames. Many videogames today are involved with  factors of violence and
sex. Most games are targeting to teenages and children. Though some may not allowed for
under or 18 year-old. Most of them are indistinctly include those elements of bad behavior.
These may bad to youngsters' mental growth.

 

b)   According the film, is there any evidence that digital games can encourage aggressive values and anti-social actions in the real world? Do you agree?

Games in the film are normally about shooting and military strategy. They are encouraging players to the thought of killing and using violence to solve obstructions. These are impossible to carry out in the reality. Players strive to get a higher scores or the winner of the game. It is somehow inspiring them to involve to the game and to do something different from daily life, especially some war game and strategy game exposed in the film. I have heard about some news that people imitated some condition from the digital game and hurt their family member at home. The fact from news can proof that some aggressive values and anti-social actions can be influence by the trend of digital games. 

c)   Should governments have the right to ban certain games? Why or why not?

I don't think that banning games should be the best solution to prohibit encouraging aggressive values and anti-social actions. In fact, most games aims at provide an entertainment platform to people to relax. It is hard to be avoided certain games to contain some elements about violence and anti-social actions. If they are completely prohibited, it would lost the meaning of entertainment or certain advantages they have. However, even though some video games may comprehend certain unhealthy tendency, they still have the value of education and cultivate player's self-esteem. In my view, educating youngsters a healthy tendency when playing videogames, should be a better method to avoid them build up aggressive value and anti-social actions.

Technologised bodies in art

Kazuhiko Hachiya's  Inter-Discommunication Machine is the most interesting one. Actually, I am not interested in science and technology. That's why I am not appreciated the other two works compared with Hachiya's work. I like the concept of Hachiya's work. He made a pretty good use of technology. After wearing the head-mounted displays, two players can exchange their sense of seeing and hearing in order to break the borders of defining "you" and "me". Such interesting idea can be easily achieved when people trying this machine, however, it is impossible to experience it without using technology. I think it is a great work to bring happiness and new experience for people. I can imagine how excited it is.

Moreover, the installation is full of uniqueness. The wings which they are wearing are communication system.  There are transmitter and TV to be install inside.  The feather is another commuication system. After wearing the visual glass, participater can see what other participater see. It can confuse their visual perception. To aim at arising participater's "double identity self" and "mutual identity". Participaters would have double idendity when they are playing with this machine. They would start thinking of the question of self-idendity.

 The appearance of this artwork is beautiful. Every parts of the machine are designed in a well quality, included the use of color and the decoration on it. The floor is designed with a Chinese-like sign. It is a sign of "TaiChi". The artist has added some elements from Chinese philosophy. The sign means something like "negative" and "positive". Therefore, I guess the artist would like to explain an idea of fusion and separation. It is relevant to the concept of this artwork.

Mouchette: a digital artwork that explores identity

Description of Mouchette


Mouchette is a website which is created by an artisit. The website with a big picture for background. Most web pages have flower's picture. There are some sentences and words on each page. In the first page, a few sentences introduce who Mouchette is. Each sentence with a box for visitor to tick. I guess it aims at asking visitors whether they believe the sentences. Also, a young girl's picture appears on the upper left corner. It is very strange to see that some ants are walking around the page. Also, visitor can hear a sound of crying.
The colour of each page is different but all are vivid and bright. Some pages have repeating a same picture to create pattern and movements.


The work is about....In fact, the true identity of the artisit is unknown. Mouchette(the website) is based on Robert Bresson's 1967 film, Mouchette(film). It is about a girl who is raped at night and then she committed suicide. So that Mouchette(website) is expressing some feelings from the girl(The film character). The website arouses a controversy of child sexuality. Somehow the content and the sound in the website would provoke visitor's sexual sensation. To me, the first impression is very strange. The sounds are quite thrilling  and erotic. The repeating, huge and vivid background on the pages make me feel unsafe and horrible.


Reference from: https://wiki.brown.edu/confluence/display/MarkTribe/Mouchette

Online identities

A class member has an interesting set of online identities which is not same as mine. She has about 10 online identities, include forums, facebook, blogs, Twitter, msn and online games etc. These identities can be different to their personal identities in the reality. She added some fake personal datum or created certain different online identities. For some online games, she created a figure with fake gender, appearance as well as adding some features that she does not have in the reality. Pet Society is a famous online game on facebook. It is a funny online game for players to make a figure with an animal face and body. She can pretend to be a dog or bear with a pretty face inside this game as well as doing something impossible. For example, buying a lot of stuff and dressing up with different styles.


The fake identity on the Interent can conceal the real identity in the real world. My classmates  mostly purpose to make a joke to others, such as using a forum identity to express some anti-social comments or pretending someone to chat with others. These hidden identities can show different sides of themself. Also, they can exploit these identities to show-off themself, like exaggerating their success and ability.


Besides, having online identity has to burden certain risks. Some people may put their real identity or data on the Internet. Such as facebook or some online bank account. User's personal data could be stolen by cracker, and then to be used for criminal  act. As a matter of fact, it exposes the disadvantage of online identity. It cannot be totally safe and protect each user's privacy. In the net world, almost every data can be searched as long as typing the key words on google, all relevant data can be found. So that, it is easy to reveal user's real identity to strangers. User should bear these risks and make a serious decision before creating an online identtity.

The ethics of Videogames

Topic:The ethics of Videogames
Case study: The Sims series


a) Key quotes:
"Child molesters might use the game as a sort of virtual practice arena."
Miami attorney, Jack Thompson
(http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.232468-Should-you-be-allowed-to-kill-children-in-games?page=8)


I have no problem with murdering, raping, curb stomping etc. Anyone in a game because game are ways to "experience" thing you don't in real life.
Sarah Kerrigan
(http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.232468-Should-you-be-allowed-to-kill-children-in-games?page=8)


b)Key links:
http://thesims.ea.com/
http://www.cracked.com/blog/exploring-the-mysteries-of-the-mind-with-the-sims-3/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fIY_GZ6In0&feature=related


c) Key books/articles:
http://www.games.net/article/feature/102822/madness-moral-crusaders-attack-the-sims-ea-responds-update


d) Case study
Publisher: Electronic Art(EA)
Name: The Sims(Series)
First release: January 31, 2000


Describe it in details:

The sims series keep upgrading and having better amendments. The quality of the frame and details in the game are upgraded. Also, The sims keeps releasing many expansion packs and games. Items and funiture can be downloaded and uploaded on the Internet. It attracts more and more players to play the game and maintains the sense of freshness.

players can make an ideal city and create whatever they want. They can interact with every building and city and master all the limited control in the Sims world. Moreover, 3-D models on Sims can be modified. Player has ability to create a character and change any parts of the body when player building a character. You can change their facial details, dressing and body type etc.

The Sims's characters are as real as human in the real life and behave like a humankind as well.

The newest series of The Sims, The Sims 3.

The power of Youtube

Youtube clip-"BUS UNCLE"


1.How many viewers are estimated to have watched the youtube video?


More than 1 million viewers have watched this youtube video. Viewers are not just HongKongers, include many foreigners.


2.   How would you rate the video?

A) Is it of high quality in technical terms? Is it interesting aesthetically eg camera angles, use of light, the narrative, and so on?

I rate this video as quite a high rate. It was very famous and controversial since few years ago. This video is not taken by a professional camera or cameraman. So that, it is not of high quality in technical terms, even no much aesthetic value is invested in this video taking. In this video, we can see that it is taken by a cell phone's camera. The quality of the video is low and the sound is unclear as well. It is obviously taken in an immediate moment.

B) Does it raise interesting socio-cultural issues? 

It arouse a big controversy and social concern after uploaded this clips on Youtube.  People are attracted by the conversation between "Bus Uncle" and  the young man. The clip arose hot topics in forums and media. Almost 1/3 Hong Kong people knew this issue. A group of netizens even made some creative videos, photos and topics which are related to "Bus Uncle".  The most well-known topical subject is the dialogues from "Bus Uncle". Such as " We both have persure" "not settled". These dialogues are joyful to most people, also this clips helps building a common subject or language for Hong Kong people. It is a kind of new public culture in this modern age.


A few sentences which are famous from "Bus Uncle":

A song mixed with the clip of Bus Uncle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v48tRk-Yy8&feature=related


3.   Do you think it deserved the attention that it received from the internet community?


Yes, it deserved the attention from the internet community due to the rude attitude on Bus Uncle. Many netizens blamed on Bus Uncle that he was too rude for just a little bit issue. They criticise what Bus Uncle said to the young man and his brutal words spoken from his mouth. By contrast, a part of netizens feel sorry for Bus Uncle. They agree that he had a huge persure on him and think that we should sympathize his flushed behaviour. He just same as other HongKongers, finding a way to express his bad mood.

4. Do video-sharing sites such as YouTube enhance or worsen creative culture? Comment.

It is no doubt that video-sharing sites help enhancing creative culture. Those sites create a platform for anyone to share ideas and video works. In this modern age, such great quantity of video/digital media producers are neccessary. Some talent video makers could take use of these sites for showing their works. These sites do attract many excellent producers to engage in creative culture. They also encourage people to create and join the business of creation.

On the other hand, this kind of video-sharing sites beat the development of creative culture. Acorrding to  an essay I read from reading, the writer pointed out that "user" should be divided into professionals and amateurs. professionals are used to create works for goals or busniess. But, amateurs could be producers, consumers, visitors or whatever. After video-sharing sities appeared, the identity of professionals and amateurs seems exchanged. Professionals became more and more unimportant, on the contrary, amateurs are going to be appearciated. They works are almost for fun and enjoyed by vast viewers. Therefore, those non-commercial works start replacing what professionals designed. Professionals even imitate those amateurs' works. It really ruin the market of creation. They help worsen the "copy culture", no profile to the market finally.

Mission to Earth

Using “Mission to Earth” as an example, note what is new or different about digital cinema compared to traditional filmmaking? Consider the story and appearance of the film.
What other art forms (eg film, digital art, painting, websites etc) does this film remind you of? Explain the similarity.

This kind of new digital cinema has a lot of differences compared to traditional filmmaking. As Christian Metz stated that most films shot by traditional filmmaking, whether it is good, original, commercial, they tell a story. Filmmaking can be a kind of new art form and also a genre. "Mission to Earth" has its story, just like other traditional films.But it seems that the meaning behind the film is more important than the story. The charateristic of this film is the persentation and the artistic effects exhibit on the screen. It found a totally new art form for film making. Soft Cinema expands a field of making film with computers and datebase. It is a sort of super-genre.

The story is about a women living in the earth who is not a human. The story doesn't have many obvious difference with the traditional fiction films. However, the only difference I recognised  is the voice over. The voice over tells us the story with the random clips. Without the voice over, I would not understand the story.

The appearance of the film is unique and simple. It  has a soft tone colors and adds some simple pattern and lines for the background. The presentation of the screen is also different from the traditional filmmaking. It divides the screen into at least 3 frames with sqaure shape.Each frame is playing a different clips. By contrast, traditional  filmmaking cannot do that because all clips are recorded into plates. So, traditional filmmaking has no post production, every clip is shot in front of the lens. However, As Lev Manovich 's essay about principles of digtal filmmaking, pointed out that all visual elements are made from the same material, "pixels". Pixels makes all visual elements to be played, included all 3D grahics, videos and images etc. It is a great technique that only digital cinema can achieve. It combines all visual elements into a same frame.

 What is more, the appearance of this film reminds me of Romanesque art in the 11-13 century. Such as "Morgan Leaf", is a painting related to a religion story. The frame with pattern is for decoration. Every square has different pictures, it seems similar with "Mission to earth"'s frames. Although these frames represents different scenes, the theme is same and united.














The "Morgan Leaf", detached from the Winchester Bible of 1160-75. Scenes from the life of David.

Digital VS Analog technology

Using digital camera for taking photos, the environmental restraints are less important than analog technology.Photos can record by a piece of memory card, so that, the number of photos that you can take is no to be a limitation.Also, photos can be adjusted by digital technology,.included color, hue, luminosity, image size, texture etc. We can change any parts of the photographic easily as long as using some computer softwares, such as Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.

It is an amendment of photo by Photoshop.

The characteristic of analog photography is based on chemical process, like using plates and developing photos from plates. Using the gelatin-silver process makes images to be visible and insensitive to light. Those plates can be recorded but can not be amended.

 A photo taken by analog camera

We should admit that some photographic techniques that can only be done using digital technology. So that, it is what a big advantage that digital technology is common nowadays and develop so quick.

Digital technology can modify any parts of the photos that you dissatisfy. You can change it to be what you want. However, using analog technology as taking photographic, you can't delete some photos that u don't like, but digital technology can.

It is also easy to combine two or more objects into a picture. It makes impossible to be possible in digital world.

Digital cameras which we are using today, are automatic and user friendly. Most functions are already set into cameras. Their functions includes many new and interesting filters. People need not to arrange any properties or change the environment to suit the photography effect that you want.