NEWS
by Mark Barley
'Dishonored' developer thinks it's time to re-evaluate the 'violence in games' discussion
Dishonored dev Joe Houston, in a recent interview, stated that gamers need to carefully look at the relationship between violence an video games.
Speaking with Rock Paper Shotgun, Houston stated that gamers shouldn't stop standing up for video games.
“In light of the recent gun violence in the U.S. and the resultant anti-game talk that has stemmed from it, it’s important as gamers not to simply retreat to the easy reaction, that games aren’t a part of the problem,” he said. “While I think that might be true…I think it’s a pity to stop there.
“Too often we think about what we might lose as players and developers if forced to engage in that conversation, becoming blinded by the fear of censorship. As a result we miss out on more creative and effective ways to be a part of the solution."
“Linear games that have a lack of personal ownership in game violence actually do so at the disadvantage of society.”
“I don’t believe that game violence causes real world violence, but I do believe that it does little to prevent it. And games with meaningful – and potentially distasteful – choice just might do better because they stand a chance of making the player think about what they’re doing on screen.”
Houston used the example of the Germany government allowing Bethesda and Arkane to release an uncut version of Dishonored in the country. He said this was possible because the developer and publisher both put emphasis on the player's choice in the game to kill or not kill. “Too often we think about what we might lose as players and developers if forced to engage in that conversation, becoming blinded by the fear of censorship. As a result we miss out on more creative and effective ways to be a part of the solution."
“Linear games that have a lack of personal ownership in game violence actually do so at the disadvantage of society.”
“I don’t believe that game violence causes real world violence, but I do believe that it does little to prevent it. And games with meaningful – and potentially distasteful – choice just might do better because they stand a chance of making the player think about what they’re doing on screen.”
“One could argue this is largely because the game can be played without killing anyone,” he said. “This doesn’t change all the things you might do in the game, but simply by knowing that it allows non-violence you find that every violent act you choose in cast in a sobering light.”
Houston is no longer employed at Arkane Studios (not to fret, this interview had nothing to do with his unemployment) but has formed his own independent studio - Roxlou Games. His first title is going by the name of 'Unwritten'.