buyer - be informed

one of the greatest problems faced by consumers in our culture is the MASSIVE amount of choices available to us. because of this overwhelming amount of choices and thus information, we often decide to sit back and just go with our instincts, our first impulse, our gut feelings when deciding what to buy.

the assumption there is that we've developed reliable guts.

the way i've seen this play out recently is in the context of video gaming. Parents, and young adults and teens, are buying games without much research or awareness of the content - rather, because the game is hyped, marketed well, or simply on sale, the game gets bought. Because there are SO MANY games and SO MANY systems available, it can definitely seem like a daunting task for parents to even BEGIN to get a handle on the content of the games being released, much less the huge library of games already available.

personally, i've been having to tighten up our family's budget a bit, and in doing so i've been forced to consider the things on which we spend money. in this consideration, i've been forced to come to terms with the amount of media i purchase (another discussion for another time), and also forced to consider the content of this media. Music, Movies, Books, and Video Games...

when Grand Theft Auto 4 released early in the year, i was amazed at the rating it received - a perfect 10 from IGN, one of the best-reputed game reviewers in print or on the web. My first thought was "man, i've GOT to play this game. it got a perfect 10 from IGN!"

i fought my instinct, though, and did a little digging before forking out $60. in the course of my research, i found some unfortunate plot points and some very unfortunate gameplay features that changed my perspective on the game. I realized that there was very, very little in the game that would encourage me but rather very, very much that would cause me to consume images of murder, prostitution, drug abuse - but more than a movie or book, i would be actively CHOOSING these activities through the medium of a game.

Paul's challenge to me (and all followers of Jesus) is to think on things that are deeply valuable, not merely entertaining. we are to consider the things that are "true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and/or praiseworthy."

it is my opinion that not all these characteristics need be present in a particular medium, but at LEAST 2 or 3 of these should be obvious in any media that we put in front of our eyes and thus in our minds. if NONE of these characteristics is present, then what ultimate value is present...?

when i held this up to GTA4, it was left sorely wanting, so i decided to hold off. ultimately, the multiplayer portion of GTA that was so highly acclaimed dropped to only a handful of players online at a given time, and in today's highly connected video gaming world, multiplayer is almost a must-have, and if you attempt it, you better do it WELL. but, i digress...

i also realized that as a follower of Jesus, i couldn't really recommend a game like GTA4, and i began considering the other games i've played/am playing, wondering which ones i could let a youth from my church borrow, and which ones probably would need to be screened by their parents first... but i quickly realized that so many parents, and their consuming teenagers, are woefully misinformed or underinformed when it comes to the media content in front of their kids!

With all that said, here's what has prompted this whole train of thought:
in the new xbox360/playstation3 game Modern Warfare 2, a new line has been crossed by game developers at Activision and Infinity Ward. this game is rated M for "mature," meaning you can't buy it unless you are 17 or older, but that won't stop most parents from being suckered into getting it for their whiny 12-year-old who wants nothing else in this world besides that one video game that all his friends are playing (i was that kid, so i'm not hating).
If you are a parent considering this game for your child, or if you are a parent whose child has already beaten the single-player campaign for this game, or if you are a conscientious young adult who wants to consider carefully where your money goes - do some research on the content of this game.
i did, and found out something very troubling.
as usual, i went to IGN.com to read the review... most of what was said indicated that this game is a significant step up from COD:MW, and poised to be one of the "best" games of the year. the multiplayer is layered with customizable and unlockable features, and a new co-op mode promises hours of interesting gameplay. Nowhere in the review, however, did i find mention of the Moscow Airport level.
During a portion of the single-player campaign in the game, you play the part of an undercover agent in a terrorist cell that decides to attack an airport filled with unarmed civilians. This puts the player in position to end the lives of nameless non-combatants.
let that image sink in...
Now, this may not strike you immediately, but put yourself in the shoes of a young teenager who has never been exposed to this level of violence... put yourself in the position of a parent who has sought to protect their child from such images... put yourself in the position of a person who might encounter real violence like this in their place in the world. (how ridiculous this must be to someone who has lost their family to a terrorist attack - we are playing games that effectively mock their experience).
the argument from Infinity Ward may be that they intend to shock the gamer into recognizing the horrible, dark side of war... but this level is not the way to do that, no matter the story's context. this is a gratuitous, insulting use of the gaming medium to perpetuate pointless violence. a child should not be given the option of choosing whether or not to shoot unarmed civilian characters (which is why GTA4 can be a dangerous game for kids).

so, what do we do with this? already, MW2 is being referred to as the 'best selling entertainment property' of the year, with a HUGE number from release sales. so, our kids and friends are already being exposed to or have been exposed to the content from this game.
this is an opportunity for parents to engage with their kids in meaningful conversation. it's a chance for college students and young adults to pause and reflect on the things we purchase, the images we take in, and the stories we consume. How did/does this level make the player feel? How do these images make sense in light of the Gospel? What value is there, if any, in experiencing this kind of level in a video game?
If the player didn't feel anything particularly notable while playing this level... it's time to turn the video games off for a while. If the only way we connect to violence in the world is through a simulation, we are VERY disconnected from reality. If the player has no idea how to reconcile this level/these images with the Gospel, or if the player can't articulate whether or not there is value here... maybe the $60 could be better spent elsewhere. Maybe there is some room for many more conversations to happen, outside of the living room with the TV in it. Maybe there are some more important things into which the gamer could invest their time, emotional energy, and thoughts.
it's so very important that followers of Jesus be willing to hold up the things we consume to the Gospel, and let the teaching and life of Jesus help us filter out the things that are going to be destructive in the long run...