[casual_games] slamdance competition

[Stephen Triche]

I'm not that familiar with the game, but I did find this article.
 
http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/feature/columbine-survivor-talks-about-columbin
e-rpg-171966.php

If someone who was shot and paralyzed during this ordeal can play this game
and say that it has positive things to offer, I'm inclined to give the game
the benefit of the doubt. Besides, it IS possible to consider a game on
merits outside of its subject matter.
 
Look at a film like Birth of a Nation. Certainly almost no one today would
condone, or agree, with the subject matter in that film, but we are able to
recognize it for its positive contributions to that medium nonetheless.

I doubt the judges at Slamdance are snickering children. Clearly, this game
did something well to be considered a finalist. We don't have to like it or
agree with the material. Heck, we don't even have to give it an award. It's
their contest and they can run it how they see fit (and reap the
consequences both good and bad of each decision made), but as a developer I
would be remiss to simply dismiss a game outright based solely on its
subject matter.

-Stephen Triche


-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Murray [mailto:jmurray at fuelindustries.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 2:47 PM
To: IGDA Casual Games SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [casual_games] slamdance competition

My burning two cents ...

Nope, to me it doesn't say anything other than 'hey, all us haxxors can
get together and protest against it after I finish doing chores for my
mum'.

As for 'the jury wanted it in, then decided not to' ... good! I'd much
rather they did *that* than give this kind of crap any awards /
undeserved publicity.

Games vs movies? I don't remember the last award winning true-story film
about how much fun massacring school kids can be ... perhaps you can
remind me? What a ridiculous argument / detour.

'I don't like that others can trivialize my chosen craft so easily.' -
Is that what this is really about? Basement-dwellers feeling like 'the
man' is keeping them down? Don't be silly. If enough people won't give
up their $19.95, it's not because of 'the man' it's because of the 'the
game'.

I totally agree with Slamdance, their sponsors, or whoever made the
decision to dump it. Let the 'kiddies out to shock their parents'
protest against it and hope that people out 'there' know that not all
indie games are produced by sociopaths with no conscience.

Jeff M.

-----Original Message-----
From: casual_games-bounces at igda.org
[mailto:casual_games-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of John Szeder
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 3:16 PM
To: 'IGDA Casual Games SIG Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [casual_games] slamdance competition

You should all read a number of the supporting links including Ian
Bogost's
site for more information on the backstory.

http://www.watercoolergames.org/archives/000718.shtml

Part of it stems from the fact that the organizers WANTED the game in
the
mix. Then suddenly they backpedaled, and it is unclear whether it was
sponsor pressure or personal morals of the founders.

In any event this was a jury voted finalist that was kicked out with an
explanation of one kind, and a public explanation presented of a
different
kind.

The general consensus among many is that this would have never happened
if
it was a movie. I don't like that others can trivialize my chosen craft
so
easily.

In any event, this is more than I wanted to say on the issue, I
apologize
for the second interruption to the general flow of job recruitment, game
promotions and other regular traffic with issues related to ethics and
the
games industry at large.

-----Original Message-----
From: casual_games-bounces at igda.org
[mailto:casual_games-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Jeff Murray
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 12:07 PM
To: IGDA Casual Games SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [casual_games] slamdance competition

That was my reaction, too. I wouldn't want to be associated with it and
I can totally understand their decision not to feature it. Maybe *I'm*
missing something?

Jeff M.

-----Original Message-----
From: casual_games-bounces at igda.org
[mailto:casual_games-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Lennard Feddersen
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 2:59 PM
To: IGDA Casual Games SIG Mailing List
Subject: Re: [casual_games] slamdance competition

Just taking a quick peek, maybe I'm missing something. - what would be 
unclear about yanking a game about Columbine?

Lennard Feddersen
CEO, Rusty Axe Games, Inc.
www.RustyAxe.com

Lennard at RustyAxe.com
P. 250-635-7623 F. 1-309-422-2466
P. July & August 518-863-2317
5014 Walsh, Terrace, BC, Canada, V8G-4H2



John Szeder wrote:

>

> For those of you who are not following the situation there are a 

> number of blogs reporting events happening to the slamdance 

> competition regarding a controversial game that was pulled from the 

> competition for unclear reasons. I am including a link to a blog of 

> one of the participants who pulled out of the competition due to the 

> implications of the SCMRPG game being removed, and his very well 

> articulated reasons why. This is linked to many other blogs and it 

> does reflect my personal position on what is happening.

>

>  

>

> I would encourage everyone to read about what is happening and I hope 

> that everyone feels a similar distasteful (or even disappointed) 

> reaction to the events of the organizers.

>

>  

>

> http://braid-game.com/news/?p=21

>

>  

>

> Warm regards,

>

>  

>

> John Szeder

>

>  

>

>  

>

>  

>

>

------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

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