Monday, February 25, 2008
First Topic - World of Warcraft
For the first post that you all do I would like for it to be specifically about the world of warcraft episode. Just click on the title of this blog to access the link for this episode if you need to refresh your memory, or want to see it again. I want the first post to be centered around this topic because this is something that has come up in discussions multiples times in my Narrative and Technology class. We have talked about the good and the ugly that results from this game. Yes! Many in the class have argued that this game teaches all kinds of lessons and in fact depicts certain characteristics reflecting the past. One examples is that when the ogres go to prison it is similar to and has some of the same characteristics as the concentration camps run by the Nazis; so it is in fact teaching a player a lot about the past in some ways. Others brought up the fact that mostly all videogames are in some way teaching lessons and that there are many studies the academia world that are dedicated to studying and researching videogames. The ugly side that was brought up was the usual stories about how many lives, marriages, and other relationships that this game has ruined. Through the addictive nature of the game some players just cannot seem to stop playing, as so wonderfully depicted in this episode of South Park. A took note of a philosophical question that is presented in the episode concerning the man who just sat and played the game 24/7, which is "How can you kill that which has no life?" That would be an interesting topic to explore within the topic of world of warcraft, videogames, technology, or life in general. Another theme that we talk about in class is the interactivity that has increased in videogames and other modern forms of narrative in our time. What do you think about the interactivity of South Park or the lack of? These are just some questions and comments to get you thinking about what you want to discuss but feel free to talk about other things as well.
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3 comments:
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So I thought the episode was hilarious. I have not played the game and don't think I want to if it's that addictive. I have however had co-workers who did play the game and discussed it very often to the annoyance of others in the room. They talked about how addictive it can be and that they have only alloted themsleves a certain number of hours each day to play.
The episode also in a hilariously crude way shows how others close to the players enable their obsession. Cartman's mom respnds to an intercom system and brings him what ever he asks for including a bed pan because he can't miss one moment in the game to relieve himself.
I've also heard about how addictive World of Warcraft, as well as other video games, can be; although I have not played it or know of anyone who has. I don't agree with the statement that video games such as this educate in any way. I think that when someone becomes addicted to these types of games it ruins their familial, social, and professional relationships. Of course, leave it to South Park to make it funny. We've discussed South Park in my Pop Culture and Politics class, and how they take serious issues and make them humorous. I think South Park is trying to show how ridiculous it is when people get addicted to these games and how they act as if the characters are real people.
There have been news reports that talk about how people let this World of Warcraft game take over their lives. Even though it is not real, to the people that are addicted it is very real. South Park has always been able to talk about issues going on in the world in a funny and interesting way and they did it again with this episode. Video games are okay in moderation, but when taken to an extreme, problems arise and that is what this episode was trying to show.
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