Fistfights in the Conservatory

I’m just going to keep punching you in the face until I win. Failing that, you’re going to get shot in the stomach. It’s nothing personal, that’s just how we do things around here. Okay, we can talk a little first, maybe even negotiate a peaceful solution. Then I’m going to punch you in the face.

You might have noticed that there’s a lot of violence in video games.

I’m not referring to the usual macho bloodfests which come up in these discussions - the Gears of Duty: Call War Splatterhouse Electric Chainsaw Boogaloo Bullet Edition type of game that appeals to the repressed, psychotic 12 year old boy in all of us - because we all know those are stupid. They’re over the top and way too violent and that’s why they exist - so people can do stupid, violent and anti-social things they normally aren’t allowed to (or don’t want to) do. I’m not opening that can of veiny man-worms. No. This is about misplaced violence. Sometimes you’re happily playing a game - running, or building, or talking to NPCs - when suddenly you’re fighting. Fighting for your life. Fighting because someone didn’t like your shirt. Fighting to get from A to B. And it feels weird, because just a moment ago you were playing a game about dispelling political tension in a medieval city-state. Or maybe it’s much worse. Maybe you didn’t even notice, because you’re so used to every game kicking and punching that you just expect it now, to hell with context.

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