Common Sense Media's Reply

I emailed Common Sense Media about their previous fearmongering, and here's what their likely automated response said:

Thank you very much for writing and sharing your concerns. Our mission is to give parents the information they need to make decisions about what media is right for their family. We do hope we can influence the choices kids make, and as an added precaution, we can raise awareness with parents and also within the industry. By raising awareness with parents, by reinforcing what an M-rating means, and by recommending that M-rating sales policies are enforced at stores, we felt we were helping to keep violent games from children. Our aim was to show that change can happen, if the conversation continues.

Again, thanks for writing. We appreciate your feedback.

Not especially enlightening, was it? Oh well.

Echochrome Video Walkthrough

Well, in my new-found discovery of recording video game play, I have now begun work on a new video walkthrough of my recent obsession, Echochrome. As of this posting, you can see both A and B courses solved fairly efficiently on my YouTube channel. I've got D nearly done (C is harder for some reason) and I'm going to keep adding to the walkthrough as days pass. Just trying to give back to the community...

New Legal Arcade YouTube Channel (also, free Echochrome puzzle)

I've started up a new YouTube channel for the Legal Arcade. Why not? Friend me or subscribe there if you happen to follow me on this site. At some point, I'm going to post a video of my custom Legal Arcade Echochrome puzzle there. If you'd like to get that Echochrome puzzle, tell me either here, there, or anywhere what your PS3 ID is, and I'll send it to you.

BBC Newsnight Sort Of Covers Positive Aspects of Gaming

The aforementioned BBC Newsnight did indeed happen, but it didn't focus on gaming as much as the ad suggested it would. The program explained the Flynn effect, describing the 14-point rise of childrens' IQ since 1950 (which doesn't totally mean gaming years) but they still had on Steven Johnson, author of Everything Bad is Good for You, and he named games like Civilization IV that help make "complex problem-solving fun" for this new generation. However, the program barely touched on gaming itself, only showing some footage of Battefield 2, which isn't necessarily the best example for what they're talking about. Oh well, it was still theoretically positive coverage for gamung.

BBC Newsnight To Cover Games' Effect On Learning

I've just seen an ad(vert) for tomorrow night's BBC (America) program(me) on the telly(vision) at 10 that will apparently cover video games' effect on learning. This is apparently going to frame them positively, though I'm not sure yet. The ad mentions children's rise in IQ over the years, and apparently gaming is part of the reason. Cool. I'm recording it and will report back after I've actually seen it.

Common Sense Media Scares Parents for Donations

I signed up with Common Sense Media a while back in hope of writing a few reviews and pointing out exactly how violent certain video games are so that parents can know without any sensationalism spliced in. This allowed me the privilege of receiving their newsletter, (which interestingly enough wound up right in my spam folder every time), which this morning gave me this (click the image for a size large enough to actually read):
This bit was followed immediately by a large "donate now" button, and an offer of "free" summer tips for media management that would come with your donation. A few things here: Number one, right at the top, is the claim that violent video games have been proven to make kids more aggressive. If you'll look at my earlier post here, you'll see that every result possible has come out of tests on kids' aggression with violent video games. There is absolutely no conclusion, so you can't claim anything.

Second, the claim that a donation to Common Sense Media could completely stop kids from buying violent video games, ever. Zero. Not even a flea market or an independent gaming store would ever sell an M-rated game to a minor, ever. Parental involvement couldn't possibly be the solution, but more money for Common Sense Media is. Also, I'm sure that adult gamers have had enough trouble buying games for themselves with Wal-Mart and Best Buy turning into complete Nazis over the age limit. Even when the buyer is old enough, just having a kid standing next to him can prevent the employee from selling the game.

Third, the awful fear-mongering the email uses for donations. Your children will be psychologically screwed up for life if you don't give us $25-$1000 today. That's the message coming across. Give us money or else kids can play Grand Theft Auto and they'll spend their entire lives having sex with prostitutes and then killing them afterwards. The email claims that "Grand Theft Auto promote[s] murder, sexual exploitation, and violence towards women." Anyone who has actually played the game will know that's not true. You don't "score points" for offing grandma and people of both genders in the game are equally repulsive, bad, and flawed people. The older generation is never going to understand video games if this crap is allowed to go on, so go ahead and take a little time to talk to Common Sense Media about this.

Because communication is the solution.

Museum of Virtual History: Las Meninas Play Wii Bowling

Item #2: Las Meninas Play Wii Bowling

As has been documented by the likes of Penny Arcade, the seventh generation console race has been characterized by a need to place one's console in the pole position as far as history is concerned. For this, Nintendo needed only to point out Diego Velazquez' Las Meninas Play Wii Bowling to immediately prove that the Wii had been enjoyed by people from a simpler time.

I Did It: GTA IV 100% Club

I successfully completed the Grand Theft Auto "Key to the City" challenge of getting the game 100% complete within the first three weeks of its release. Time remaining when I finished: around 55 minutes, so I shaved it pretty close. Anyway, I'm very excited and can't wait to see the key that Rockstar apparently will send you.

Museum of Virtual History: Starry Night After 4 Hours of GTA Pigeon-Hunting

This is a new series detailing recent gaming news through classic art. I'll try to keep the words to a minimum.

Item #1: Starry Night After 4 Hours of GTA Pigeon-Hunting

Police Brutality: the "Don't Taze Me, Bro" Game

Jason Rohrer recently wrote about his game project influenced by the famous "Don't Taze Me, Bro" YouTube video, and uh, event, at the Escapist. There you can download his simple game, which forces the player to take a stand against the police brutality rather than meekly sit around and watch it happen. Through shouting and blocking the police, the player can prevent the neutralized subjects from being carried out and win the game. This is a good example of a newsgame for you, though perhaps a bit late. Anyway, Jason tried to explore realms of possibility for standing up to such police brutality and actually making something happen.

I Have Now Beaten GTA IV

*Huge Spoiler Warning*


It was fun. Now I'm going to go get 100% done so I can get those keys to the city.