Zettaijin
03-06-2003, 01:02 PM
Videogames have a love affair with the idea of a post-apocalytic future. From the controversial Death Race 2000 to the politically charged Fallout II, videogames dealing with or set in a bleak, cynical future have a long history and, with each passing generation, a new wave will eventually come in and punch kick in the gut (that is, if it doesn't blow your freakin' head off first).
Face it, videogames tell you that you can't trust anyone. You think that your opponent in Pong was on the level? Ha! The bastard was lying through his teeth! You know as well as I do that you're the best Pong player out there - the only way they could have defeated you was through the use of immoral trickery!
Sure, E.T. suggests that Aliens are cute, friendly figures that fall into pit traps and get chased by evil scientists. The truth is, those fellows were merely an early incarnation of the American Government operative as seen in the hit TV show "The X-Files". But Aliens aren't the friendly sort either - Space Invaders anyone?
While videogames once seemed friendly and innocent, it's clear that they were hiding something - something dangerous.
Did you ever, even for a brief moment, ask yourself why Mario and Luigi were fighting Giant Crabs, Flies and Turtles in the sewers?
The signs were clear - something was seriously wrong with the world and there was no way you or anyone could stop it.
Mutated pets in the sewers, the Cold War, Aliens falling into weird pit traps - this ain't Kansas anymore.
It's no wonder then that people would grow cynical and enjoy the idea of running over other (innocent) individuals with their death cars (Death Race 2000) or, better yet, force their heads to explode by using some ancient martial art (the Hokuto no Ken/Fist of the North Star series). You knew it was all about the survival of the fittest and you couldn't let anyone stand in your way.
Jokes aside, fear and paranoļa make for classic videogames. The only question is, why hasn't the Sim City franchise taken full advantage of this yet? How long do we need to wait before we get The Sims - Cyberpunk Edition?
Face it, videogames tell you that you can't trust anyone. You think that your opponent in Pong was on the level? Ha! The bastard was lying through his teeth! You know as well as I do that you're the best Pong player out there - the only way they could have defeated you was through the use of immoral trickery!
Sure, E.T. suggests that Aliens are cute, friendly figures that fall into pit traps and get chased by evil scientists. The truth is, those fellows were merely an early incarnation of the American Government operative as seen in the hit TV show "The X-Files". But Aliens aren't the friendly sort either - Space Invaders anyone?
While videogames once seemed friendly and innocent, it's clear that they were hiding something - something dangerous.
Did you ever, even for a brief moment, ask yourself why Mario and Luigi were fighting Giant Crabs, Flies and Turtles in the sewers?
The signs were clear - something was seriously wrong with the world and there was no way you or anyone could stop it.
Mutated pets in the sewers, the Cold War, Aliens falling into weird pit traps - this ain't Kansas anymore.
It's no wonder then that people would grow cynical and enjoy the idea of running over other (innocent) individuals with their death cars (Death Race 2000) or, better yet, force their heads to explode by using some ancient martial art (the Hokuto no Ken/Fist of the North Star series). You knew it was all about the survival of the fittest and you couldn't let anyone stand in your way.
Jokes aside, fear and paranoļa make for classic videogames. The only question is, why hasn't the Sim City franchise taken full advantage of this yet? How long do we need to wait before we get The Sims - Cyberpunk Edition?