After experiencing the EXPO for all it had to offer, I came away fairly pleased with the service provided. Aside from a few hickups in relation to waiting times etc, the atmosphere was friendly and it was overall a load of fun. However, One thing i witnessed left me shocked, disappointed and angry. Nerd internet rant angry.
For those of you who did not attend. Inside the expo were various gaming booths, basically sections that allowed users to view and play various upcoming titles. Each studio or platform getting their own section. One booth however, left me feeling very frustrated and angry. This was the booth being run by the Navy.
Basically, You could come to the booth, play some games that were already released, and sit through a 2 minute commercial on the Navy. This commercial, started with a montage of COD style graphically generated scenes, then cut to a relatively young person inside a war ship commanding fleet and aircraft. There were also dressed naval officers interacting with expo attendees.
Firstly, War is a very terrible and unforgiving complex. It is absolutely nothing like any video game,(despite what the officers on the day tried to tell me) nor should it be advertised as so. Hundreds of videos can be accessed online that can really open ones eyes to the reality of war. Not only was the Navy clearly exploiting the fun of virtual violence and first person shooters to push their own agenda. But this was a clear example of how the government is willing to misrepresent the truths of war in order to enroll more numbers.
From a gamers perspective, I think that treating instances like this in a relaxed fashion is the wrong approach. I think the gaming industry is brilliant, i support it, and its impact on future technologies even more significant. A large part of todays public think that violence in video games is directly related to real world violence. A large proportion of parents think that allowing their child to play violent games will reinforce and encourage their children to participate in violent behaviour.
This idea, however flawed and unproven, undoubtably effects the gaming industry from both a creative and financial standpoint.
It makes no sense to me why a large portion of the gaming industry, its retail sector, would support a government department clearly aiding this broken mentality. It's groundwork like this from government departments, religious groups and zealot community groups that effect just how much companies like EB actually make! And yet, its allowed to go on, at their! expo.
Before i get flamed, i'd like to state that whilst i don't agree with the decisions being made in relation to where and why we are deploying our troops in certain regions, I do support our troops and naval personnel. Unfortunately, in todays global political climate, defence is essential. What i don't support, is blatant lying by groups of individuals in order to enrol more people to risk their entire existence in todays industrial military complex.
I love gaming, and for as long as i can remember have supported EB. I go to EB over anywhere else, their staff are usually well informed and friendly, their prices are fairly competitive, and ultimately, they support the hundreds of developers that create the art i know and love.
Which is why I could not be more disappointed in EB. How was this lunacy was allowed to go on? Why was a government depart, Let alone the NAVY!, allowed to have a booth at the expo.
I thought this kind of thing only went on in Simpsons episodes.
-SOLID CK