It was such a fun and enjoyable event.  But during the course of DragonCon I couldn’t help but reflect on the reasons why an event like this is so compelling to so many people?  And why do these sci-fi/fantasy, superhero genres fascinate so many people?  Here are just a couple of my thoughts on why that might be:

We Want to Belong.

Throughout the entire event the fans and the stars talked about the wonderful community of DragonCon.  An eclectic bunch of people, from all over the country and from all ages and walks of life, connected at DragonCon over their shared passions and interest in sci-fi/fantasy, anime, comics or gaming.  What knit everyone together was a shared experience and a sense of mutual acceptance.  I believe people fulfill a need at these conferences (or any group, club or organization) to connect with others who have shared interests, loves and passions.  It is important for us to be and feel affirmed.  We want to know that we are not strange or weird just because we like fantasy and sci-fi.  There is power when like minded people come together. We all have the need to belong, somewhere and with others.  A conference, like DragonCon, helps people fulfill that need to belong.

We Love to Imagine a Better World.

Several times during the convention I heard mentioned that this show or that show imagined a world the way it was “meant to be”.  I believe that there is a sense in each of us that knows that this world is broken and that there awaits us something much more.  Deep in our soul, we yearn for that. Sci-fi/fantasy attempts to imagine and picture how the world was “meant to be” and attempts to imagine a pathway towards that end.  Often this genre desires and hopes for a better and brighter future (there are exceptions to that rule).  I believe that there is an “eschatological hope” in the human soul that this genre is attempting to address.  None of the conclusions that artists and authors imagine of the future even come close to the real hope and future that resides with the Kingdom of God.  They picture and imagine but mere shadows of what the world will be when it is fully restored and put to rights under the reign and rule of Jesus, our King.

The Power of Story.

All the great sci-fi/fantasy had one great thing in common - it was built around a great and compelling story.  The reason people love this genre is that most of the time the stories are compelling and they reflect the human drama that we all face.  One fan discussion on Battlestar Galactica revolved around what is morality and what it means to be human.  The stories from these sci-fi/fantasy shows were driving these incredibly thoughtful questions forward.  Fundamentally, as humans, we love story.  The reason for this is that are lives consist of story.  We are a people with our own individual story or narrative, and we live within the framework of a larger story or meta-narrative.  That larger story binds us all together.  It is God’s story.  It is a story of our Creation to our Fall to God’s Pursuit of Us that moved to Reconciliation through the Cross and is moving toward the time when all of creation will be Restored.

I will always be a fan of great sci-fi/fantasy not only because it provokes and is fun to read and watch - but also because it resonates with the human experience.  I will probably go back next year to DragonCon.  And who knows, maybe I’ll be brave enough next year to suit up in my own costume.

• CGI Storytelling: Why WALL-E Works and Kung Fu Panda Doesn’t
• The Chronicles of Narnia… Read First!
• Netflix on your Xbox 360: New ways to watch

Rich:

“Should [MadWorld] really be the sort of thing that is universally embraced by hardcore gamers everywhere?”

Alan:

“Personally, I’m excited to see a game take on this issue. . . in a way that so masterfully uses visuals.”

The aptly named “MadWorld” looks to me to be another stunning title from ex-Clover Studio developers. Clover Studios was known innovative art styles and gameplay, particularly in Okami and Viewtiful Joe. After the studio was closed, many of the team members went on to work for Platinum Games, the developer that is making MadWorld for Sega. As at least one preview has already noted, the premise of MadWorld is really centered on an aesthetic rather than a gameplay mechanic or a plot.

The “plot” of MadWorld is that you are in a game show which forces contestants to kill each other. The more gory (read bloody) the kills, the more points you get in the game show. As the trailer shows, the game looks like it will feature an sports announcer giving play-by-play descriptions of your kills. Part of the way Platinum Games makes the killing stand out in the game is that red blood is essentially the only element of color in the world. The art style is very Sin City-like, with the characters and world drawn in black and white, with almost no shades of gray. When you kill someone in the game, their red blood spills (or splatters) onto the screen, giving the player a vivid yet satisfying visual of the death. It is this visual that is the real premise of the game.

I agree with you that it shouldn’t be outlawed, but in general I have mixed feelings about this title. If I set aside the fact that your goal in the game is to mercilessly (and pointlessly) kill people in the most gory manner possible, I think I’d say that the visuals are stunning. I love the fact that this game is built around colors and what those colors often represent. We are given a black and white world were the only thing that is vivid (important? meaningful? significant?) is blood. Unrestrained violence is the lust of the world, in MadWorld. Both the plot and the visuals seem to be suggesting that in our own world, violence has become something lovely, thrilling, commercial, and entertaining. Personally, I’m excited to see a game take on this issue (not that it is a new theme) in a way that so masterfully uses visuals.

However, as with the satire of Grand Theft Auto, I can’t help but think that any commentary on the American lust for violence is utterly drowned under the visceral thrill of playing the game. And I think Wii Fanboy’s preview demonstrates this problem. The use of the sports announcer also seems to trivialize the action to me. There’s no sense that what is happening is wrong, or that you should feel that it is wrong. It’s just a game about a TV show. Violence is shown to be so banal that it must be absurdly exaggerated in order to regain its force. And this aspect of the game deeply troubles me.

At this point I’m very curious about the plot of the game. So far we only know the basic idea of the game. If the game never goes beyond this gladiator motif, then I would agree with you that this is a game hardcore and casual gamers should skip. If, however, Platinum Games toys with the player’s emotions–teaching us to love the ultra-violence before exposing it as the horror that it truly is–then I think they might have a great game on their hands. An extremely mature game, but a great one nevertheless.

So what’s your take on MadWorld? Is this the kind of game Christians, or gamers in general, should be praising or playing? Is this game a triumph of style or merely another way to glorify violence?  [If constructive and helpful, we may use some of your comments as the basis for the second half of this E3 dialogue on MadWorld].

• Nintendo’s Casual Focus at E3: Epic Fail or Good for Families?
• “Mommy, what is that alien doing?”
• The Dangers of Video Games

It is a documentary about two modern day warriors battling it out in the arena of classic video games.  The two adversaries consist of a suburban middle-school science teacher and a hot sauce mogul both vying for pride, honor, bragging rights and the Guinness World Record for the highest score on Donkey Kong.

The hot sauce mogul is Billy Mitchell. While a teenager in the 80’s, Mitchell, who held the World Record on Centipede, also became known for his unbeatable Donkey Kong score. In front of the 20 best gamers in the world, Billy scored 874,300 points, a record many thought would never be broken.

Fast forward to 2003. 35 year old family man Steve Wiebe, after losing his job at Boeing, found his only solace in Donkey Kong. Steve stumbled upon Billy Mitchell’s record online, and sought out to break it. He began perfecting his game every night after his wife and kids went to bed by playing the machine in his garage.  Not only did Steve surpass Billy’s record, but ended up with a thought-to-be-impossible 1,000,000 points.  But the story and the drama doesn’t end there.  You’ve got to watch this fascinating documentary to see how it all plays out.

King of Kong invites you into the unknown world of competitive video gaming.  Honestly, as I watched this movie, most of these gamers from the 80’s, who are now in their 40’s, look like the guys I used to play Dungeons and Dragons with in high school and are still probably living in their parent’s basement.  But these are guys who love these games.  They celebrate the way video games used to be.  They are still obsessed with all the classics; Pac Man, Centipede, Asteroids and Donkey Kong.

But this movie is more than just a bunch of guys playing games.  It is also a study of human behavior and of discovering what really matters in life.

For these competitive gamers, it seems as if their whole identity is wrapped up in their score.  All they seem to live for was the high score.  Their whole world is classic video games.

Billy Mitchell, considered the Gamer of the Century, had what people thought was an unbeatable score.  From his interviews within the film it is clear that his whole identity and life is wrapped up in his gaming escapades.  Billy comes across as an arrogant, mean jerk.  And throughout his video gaming celebrity a cult of followers has grown up around him.  His identity is so wrapped up in his video game accomplishments that you watch Billy scheme and plot on how to undo Steve’s attempts to accomplish a new record at every turn.

Steve comes across as a man of integrity, honor and humility in contrast to Billy’s brazen personality.  Steve is the David fighting against the Goliath of Billy and the whole competitive gaming system.  In the end though, it is Steve’s character, perseverance and tenacity that wins out.  His efforts are redeemed and he gains the respect of the other gamers, while Billy looks more and more like a two-bit thug and bully.

Billy’s whole identity was wrapped up in his accomplishments, but like so many things we put our identity in, it was built on shifting sand. His records and accomplishments couldn’t last forever.  And in the end, when stripped of all the honors and accolades, Billy is but an empty shell, with a bottle of hot sauce in one hand and his trophy wife in the other.  Life has got to have more purpose than a fleeting score.  I am reminded of when Jesus talked about what we build our lives upon will matter in the future (Matt. 7:24-27).  When we build it on Him and His word, it is a sturdy foundation and it will last.  But when we build it on scores, records and other’s acclaim, it is a foundation build on sand that will not persevere.

Unlike Billy, Steve doesn’t fall prey to wrapping up his entire identity into a video game.  Even though Steve gets obsessed and tunnel focused in his attempt to beat the Donkey Kong record, he never seems to lose sight of his love for his family (except perhaps for perhaps of the most harrowing scene featuring the video footage of Steve taping an epic, record braking game of Kong, the camera is poised on the screen, and from off-screen the voice of his young son begging his dad to come wipe his butt all the while yelling,  “Please Dad, stop playing Donkey Kong!”)

I recommend spending a couple of quarters yourself to rent this movie and enjoy seeing a world of gamers that you never new existed.

• Nintendo’s Casual Focus at E3: Epic Fail or Good for Families?
• The Dangers of Video Games
• The New Leading Man in Video Games

After dropping hints that hardcore gamers would be pleased with the announcements at today’s speech, Nintendo proceeded to completely ignore any concerns that Nintendo is getting a little too cute and accessible. Instead, they showed us more of the same cute people playing sports, playing music, and walking around towns and cities. Wii Sports Resort, Animal Crossing: City Folk, and Wii Music are all super casual games that will most likely lack depth and challenge: two things hardcore gamers demand.

In the past on our podcast I’ve made my affinity for the Nintendo Wii and what it represents clear. I’ve praised Nintendo for encouraging family and friends to play together and “keep the world smiling” as they’ve said today. Nintendo is clearly committed to that goal and they’re accomplishing it. I applaud this.

The problem is that as more and more families and friends try video games, they will want to try them even more. Many of them will become the very people Nintendo seems to be ignoring: hardcore gamers. You might point out that the future hardcore gamers will be used to the sorts of games Nintendo is offering, but this can’t be the case. There’s only so much you can get out of Wii Sports before you start wishing it had levels, unlockables, and online play. It’s not just that games become less fun: it’s that the Wii becomes this generation’s treadmill, bought in a blur of optimism and abandoned after bowling and throwing frisbees at a dog gets a little too old.

Of course, for Christians the question here is whether spending significant amounts of time playing video games with your family and friends can be time well spent. I think it can. And if so, we have to ask whether we’re willing to settle for a few minutes of pretending to play the saxophone and the cowbell before everyone heads off to do their own thing.

• The Dangers of Video Games
• E3 Dialogue - MadWorld
• To Watch or Not to Watch?

Social technology is usually a mixed bag, opening up new ways of interacting with people while generally encouraging us to have less meaningful interactions, and Microsoft’s latest announcement is no different. The experience of watching a film or TV show with someone and discussing it afterward is very enriching. And as Christians, a post-viewing discussion is often necessary. Taking the time to verbalize, interpret, and digest a film with someone else gives us a chance to sort out the worldviews, ideas, and quality presented. One of the most practical ways to truly be in the world but not of the world is to identify with other believers what is “the world” and why (this kind of discussion is one of the main goals of CAPC). If we use this new XBox Live feature to regularly watch movies and shows with our friends instead of having them over, I fear that we might be passing up an extremely encouraging time of dialogue and sharpening each other.

On the other hand, there are some great possibilities this partnership opens up. Personally, this announcement is exciting because my wife and I are about to move out of state, away from all our family and friends. Since we both have many friends who play on Xbox Live, it will be neat to be able to watch movies “together” via Netflix, even if the only conversations we have afterward are through our headsets. In addition, this gives us just one more good reason not to have cable in our house. While there are ads on Live, it is relatively marketing free compared to cable TV.

Considering the great opportunities (if used properly) this new partnership offers Live users, the only frustrating aspect of the announcement for me was that no release date was given.

• Embracing Truth in Fiction
• Out With the Old? Netflix and Rethinking Film
• 5 Ways to Avoid Pop Culture

Because of these controversies, no one is stranger to the dangers of video games, but many are ignorant of the root causes, or ways to guard against them. This post is simply an attempt to get both those who write video games off and those who play video games regularly to stop and consider exactly what it is we are facing.

(Of course, video games aren’t all bad. Check out my post on the Benefits of Video Games)

Video Games can Distract from Real Life
The most well-known problem with video-games is also the most foundational. In fact, this flaw is really the reason for the rest of the flaws listed.
The stereotypical video-gamer who rarely goes outside, showers, or interacts with the opposite sex is very real and can be found in any Gamespot near you. And here’s a news flash: you’re not far from becoming him. Sure, it’s possible to become a video game enthusiast without becoming the stereotype, but it takes some real work. One must think hard about the way one plays video games and what they play, as well as how they react to them. There’s nothing wrong with loving video games, but the key is balance: let nothing become your master.

Video Games can Reward Obsession
One debate in the gaming world right now is whether or not casual gaming is killing off all of the “good” (aka “hardcore”) games. The Nintendo Wii has demonstrated that regular people are willing to play video games if they aren’t forced to spend hours learning special moves and what the 20 various buttons do before they can even begin to succeed. This is why classic games are so attractive to regular people: Pacman takes a total of 20 seconds to figure out.
But then came Street Fighter 2, which added “special moves,” which were activated by button combinations that no one could guess on their own. Inside knowledge was required. Street Fighter 2 and games of its kind actually required study time to excel. Most people agree that right about this time is when people started their exodus from playing video games. They claimed that they just “didn’t have time,” and what they meant was, they only had time to play, not to practice or memorize. That’s probably a pretty healthy attitude toward video games.

Video Games can Alienate you From Others
Just ask my wife: you may be really excited about Super Smash Brothers Brawl, but not everyone feels the love. No one is able to appreciate your favorite game simply because you want them to. People appreciate the people in their lives, not the games in their friends lives and they really just want to spend time with you. Don’t treat people as a “2nd player” (this is something that sounds ridiculous but is a common problem for many gamers) and instead treat them as someone you’d like to hang out with and get to know. Use video games as an opportunity to break the ice. Horror of horrors: You may want to let them win a couple of times. This is exactly the reason I let my wife win every single game of Dr. Mario Rx against me. Yeah, that’s why.

Video Games can Discourage Deep Thought About Critical Issues
Admit it: when you’re playing Doom, Quake, Unreal Tournament or Call of Duty, you’re not thinking about why you’re doing what you’re doing. You’re simply trying to do it better. This is simply one example of how video games can subtly distract us from moral questions that ought to plague us. While recent games have drawn attention to these moral choices, for the most part games are still in the early artistic stages and designers show little real concern for causing us to stop and think about what we’re doing.
My suggestion: Especially for narrative based games that deal with heavy issues, pause the game and think about what is being simulated. Ask why your character is considered the “hero” of the game. Ask whether or not he should be considered a villain. Most important, probe yourself and ask God to shine a light onto any way that might be being affected by the game.

There are two extreme sides of the video game issue: one side claims that they are too addictive, too violent, too risky for the believer to take part in, and that they must be avoided. The other claims that video games are just plain fun, that they don’t affect our thought patterns, and that they ought to be treated in the same way as film or television.

Both sides are guilty of the same sin: underestimating the power of the video game to affect how we see the world, how we exist in the world, and how others see us. Video games ought to be enjoyed, but they ought not to dominate our lives. The worldviews presented in video games should be considered carefully. Finally, gamers need to stop clamoring for games to be treated the same as every other medium. Video games are not just any other medium: they are innovative, full of potential, immersive. These things, coupled with the fact that they are made and played by a depraved humanity makes them wrought with danger.

See Also:
In Praise of Film
The Dangers of Film
In Praise of Television
The Dangers of Television
In Praise of Video Games

• In Praise of Video Games
• Nintendo’s Casual Focus at E3: Epic Fail or Good for Families?
• The GTA 7 Step Program

So, as a part of my ongoing “Benefits and Dangers” series, I present to you three unique benefits of the video game medium. Maybe now you’ll feel justified buying that Wii (good luck finding one).

Forces the player to actively consider the actions on screen - not simple passive entertainment
It may seem like the average video game player is merely sitting zombie-like in front of their television moving their thumbs, but there is much more happening in the mind of the average video game player than meets the eye. Video games compel the player to take an active role in what is happening on-screen, unlike television and film which often seeks to lull the viewer into a general acceptance of whatever may be paraded in front of them. Video games acknowledge that what is on screen may not be what should be on screen. The player is challenged to do something about it. This challenge results in the average gamer solving math, physics, social and even ethical problems throughout their gaming experience.  The best games force the player to ask the question, “Is this a good idea?” or, “What should I do in this situation?” and the best players choose to dwell on these questions.

The opportunity for social interaction
The unexpected success of the Nintendo Wii has demonstrated that video games actually excel at bringing people together. Video games, just like board games and party games, have the potential to bring our guard down. Fun causes people to cast down their inhibitions and embrace one another, and video games are now at a point where they often encourage this sort of reaction.

As a result, video games are just one in an arsenal of ways to get to know fellow believers and nonbelievers in a way that is nonthreatening and welcoming.

Reinforces the concept of delayed gratification
Anyone who’s played a video game has experienced being frustrated while playing. Even the greatest games seem to test our patience in all sorts of seemingly evil ways. Unlike nearly all other mediums, video game designers see it as critical that the player is challenged. In short, we are forced to work for the pay-off. This is the sort of thing that Christians can embrace.

Of course, video games have a long way to go. Because the medium itself is so young (it was literally born around the same time I was born), it is only now finding itself able to claim artistic relevance. However, as more and more seriously artistic games come to fruition, we will find that not only are the existing benefits amplified, but new benefits will arise.

The medium of video games is blowing up right now. Sales are through the roof and developers are making some of the most fascinating  and artful games yet. One of the more exciting developments is the rise of the independant video game developer, enabled most notably by online distribution services like XBox Live and WiiWare (coming this May). Christians cannot simply ignore or condemn this phenomenon. Instead, let’s come to terms with its dangers (which I’ll address in our next installment of the series) and embrace its many benefits.

See Also:
In Praise of Film
The Dangers of Film
In Praise of Television
The Dangers of Television

• The Dangers of Video Games
• In Praise of Television
• In Praise of Film

• You can sleep with a prostitute and then beat her to get your money back.
• You can drive drunk, and it’s fun.
• You can perform drive-by shootings.
• You can carjack.
• The game is a cop killing simulator.
• It contains drug use, extreme violence, strong sexual content, profanity, and partial nudity.

While each of these bullet points accurately describe what players can do in the game (except for item #5), by presenting these gameplay elements without context, many conservative commentators have been dishonest in their appraisal of GTA IV and its past versions. What appears to be clear from the press, interviews, and previews is that this latest iteration of Grand Theft Auto is intent on exploring the relationships and characters of violent criminals and the morally depraved. So does this mean an end to the glorification of degenerate, depraved, and criminal lifestyles in the GTA series? Should believers boycott this game or embrace it?

Satire and social commentary

GTA has always had a satirical edge to its humor and gameplay, drawing attention to American’s fascination with guns, fast food, and stereotypes. Take this ad promoting the “Liberty City Gun Club” or the fact that the gun shops in the games are called Ammu-nation for example. But the core mechanic of the game that has made it one of the most popular game franchises of all time is the ability to play in the sandbox world with little to no consequences. Rockstar might have peppered their games with satire and witty pop culture references, but most of us played them because we could run over pedestrians, steal a car, get chased by the cops, fly off a bridge, and then reappear outside the hospital with only a few absent dollars to testify to our criminal adventure.

It’s always been hard to take GTA games serious as social commentary when they’ve made being a soulless criminal so darn fun! In past games there was no sense that the crimes that were committed meant anything in the game world. Murdering a rival gang member or betraying someone was merely a part of the plot, since the relationships in the games were fairly wooden and predictable. As a player there was no compelling reason to connect to the characters, and therefore, when they died it was not tragic.

But comments like this have me wondering if this new game will give a more balanced view of criminal life: “Criminals are an ugly, cowardly lot more worthy of pity and disdain than admiration. This is what you’ll learn playing through the single-player campaign in Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto IV” (IGN’s GTA IV Review).

The real world of organized crime?

The word coming from Rockstar and the critics who have been lucky enough to play review copies of the game is that there is a stark difference between GTA IV and previous iterations. Rather than treat the murder and violence of the game as trivial or merely comical, GTA IV attempts to show the reality of organized crime.

According to Rockstar Games founder Sam Houser, “We’re a long way from having just sort of a great big, white, alpha-male dude running around with a bazooka. Our games aren’t really set up like that. We want to have a character that makes you ask questions — that can be a little confusing in terms of how you empathize with them and how you relate to them….”

Serious moral dilemmas in a video game? In a Grand Theft Auto game? As unlikely as it seems, if IGN’s reviewer is to be trusted, it seems that Rockstar was able to pull off:

“You play as Niko Bellic, an Eastern European attempting to escape his past and the horrors of the Bosnian war. He arrives in Liberty City to experience the American dream, only to discover his cousin, Roman, may have fibbed a bit in his tales of success. Starting from nothing, Niko makes a living as a killer and enforcer, a bad-ass foreigner who appears to have no morals. The longer we stay with Niko, the more we see that there is a broken human being inside, one who would give anything to escape the person he once was. As Niko becomes mired in the death throes of American organized crime, he begins to become more self-aware. Niko’s struggles with his ruthless nature never inhibit the gameplay, but instead enhance the emotional gravity of a brilliant storyline. The more absurd the action becomes, the greater we feel the very real pathos of Niko Bellic.”

What this all seems to suggest is a very real moral center to this game. Where previous GTA games existed in essentially an amoral universe where judgment was as irrelevant as punishment, GTA IV’s storyline shows how truly ugly and sad these gang members are. This sense of realism was the creator’s intent, and critics who have played review copies have confirmed that the intent was successfully realized in the game. Which leads us to our final question: if Rockstar has made a game which realistically portrays the tragic and pitiful effects of violence and crime by having the player take control of a depraved character, should we support it or should we boycott it?

To hit and run, or not to hit and run?

As any of our regular readers know, here at CAPC we rarely (if ever) make universal statements concerning what is and what is not acceptable for believers to watch/play/listen to/read in pop culture. It is our hope to encourage believers to use biblical discernment about these matters rather than relying upon man-made laws to keep us from sin. So instead of offering a simple condemnation or recommendation for Grand Theft Auto IV, I would like to present a few ideas for believers to consider:

1. Although the game strives to present the ugly truth about organized crime (which indicates that the game exists in a moral universe), players can pick up hookers and receive lap dances. Any believers who struggle with lust should probably avoid this game. However, it should be noted that to my knowledge these sexually explicit scenes can be avoided in the game (much like in Mass Effect) simply by choosing not to pursue them. Since I do not have a review copy of the game, I am not sure if any of these scenes are a part of the single player story or can be skipped.
2. Just as the previous’ games use of satire failed to justify (for me at least) the glorification of senseless violence, GTA IV’s serious look at the criminal underworld fails to strike me as a genuine example of social commentary, since all the reviewers seem to agree that being a ruthless killer is so darn fun in the game. If the story and characters are telling us that criminals are “more worthy of pity and disdain than admiration” but playing a criminal is exciting, fun, and invigorating, what message exactly is being expressed?* Specifically, this has me wondering about Proverbs 3:31: “Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways.” Will playing this game make me envy a violent lifestyle?
3. And finally, in what way will playing this particular game glorify God? Is it a good use of your time? Will it tempt or cause you to sin? Will it help you cultivate righteous thoughts, attitudes, and actions?

These issues are not easy to sort out, and for anyone who is seriously considering purchasing this game, I would strongly encourage them to prayerfully consider each of these.

I applaud Rockstar for creating a game which deals with gang culture in a serious manner, showing the tragic effects of such lifestyles instead of merely romanticizing them. It is very likely that Grand Theft Auto IV will be considered an important moment in gaming history, and particularly games as art and storytelling. While I firmly believe that there are some very praiseworthy aspects of this game, for myself, the irreverence, disregard for human life, tasteless sexuality, and pleasure in senseless violence will keep me from dropping $60 on GTA IV tomorrow.

How about you? Are you going to buy Grand Theft Auto IV? Why or why not?

*To be fair, I don’t have a review copy of the game myself, so I cannot say for certain that it is fun to run people over and pull drive-bys as in the past GTAs, but frankly, I can’t imagine that Rockstar would release a GTA where the core gameplay mechanic isn’t focused on wrecking havoc on innocent people.

• Grand Theft Auto: A History of Violence
• The GTA 7 Step Program
• The surprising narrative richness of Grand Theft Auto IV

TV: Star Wars: The Clone Wars

The Details: In Fall, 2008 Lucas will debut his first attempt at a TV series (lets just forget Young Indiana Jones). The all-CGI show will focus on the events that took place during the Clone Wars and will span 100 episodes. Currently the series does not have a network to carry it.

What I’m Excited About: The word is that Lucas has really been putting a lot of effort to make this show a success. One of the reasons, or so I’ve heard, that the show hasn’t been picked up by a station is that it’s targeted to teens and adults. The networks can schedule adult cartoon comedies and kid’s cartoons, but an adult cartoon drama is difficult to place. The good news is that it won’t be another Droids. The show promises to be dark, dramatic, and epic.

What I‘m Afraid of: Lets not kid ourselves here, Lucas hasn’t really pulled off a good Star Wars story since Return of the Jedi. The last thing I want to watch is CGI, Space CNN. In addition to the potential the show has of being a dialogue and plot galactic train wreck, there’s the issue of CGI graphics. Shouldn’t computer graphics allow us to get beyond blocky, Christmas-Special-claymation style character models? I understand that Lucas had to stylize the characters to make them work with as CGI, but there has to have been a better style than what they came up with.

Film: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

The Details: On May 16th we get the second installment in Disney/Walden Media’s Chronicles of Narnia adaptation which promises to be darker, more epic, and have more battles (including an all-new battle scene created just for the film!).

What I’m Excited About: What excites me most about this entire series being adapted is the prospect of millions of people reading Lewis who wouldn’t otherwise. Even when he’s writing for children, Lewis’s wisdom and understanding of the Christian faith is astounding and tremendously beneficial to readers of all ages.

What I‘m Afraid of: As much as I don’t want to be a crusty old English major, I keep coming back the stance that most books are better off as books. I felt The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe presented Aslan, and therefore Christ, as a grandfatherly god who only the evil, bad guys feared, unlike the Aslan of Lewis’s novel who quite rightly strikes the fear of the LORD in all people. I’m very much afraid that this next installment will continue to present a very human, although heroic, Aslan while over emphasizing the action/adventure portions of the story. Those that read the book will be introduced to Lewis’s stunning portrayal of our relationship to an almighty God, but those who only watch the film might only see Aslan as an otherworldly hero–which scares me.

Politics: The Presidential Elections

The Details: On November, 4th the elections for the next president will be held. The top contenders are Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards for the Democrats and Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, and Mitt Romney for the Republicans.

What I’m Excited About: I’m most excited about getting a new president. I’ve never been as torn up and confused about the abilities and honesty of a president as Bush. Without getting into a debate about the war or Bush’s record as a president, there are certain issues that are very important to me that I want the next president to address, for example: Global Warming, even if there is debate about whether or not the earth is getting hotter and why, I believe that as good (and extremely wealth) stewards we should do the wise thing and do whatever we reasonably can to protect the environment–even if we have to drive less or ride the bus; Iraq, I have no solutions, but something needs to be done there ASAP; and Globalization, I want a better policy of rewarding countries who don’t violate human rights and who do support the rights of workers.

What I‘m Afraid of: I have no idea who to vote for.

Music: Sufjan Stevens’ Next Album

The Details: Okay, so he hasn’t officially announced a new album yet, but since he didn’t release a Christmas EP this year, we know he’s busy working on something. Potential candidates for the next entry in his 50 states series (which will probably never be finished) are Oregon, Rhode Island, California, and Minnesota.

What I’m Excited About: Hands down, Stevens is the one musician making music from a Christian worldview who I believe really does it right. The music is played well, the arrangements are moving, complex, lush, and original; the lyrics are well-written and witty; and the singing is sincere. As believers I firmly believe that we should be supporting people like Sufjan Stevens who strive (and succeed) at making excellent art to the glory of God.

What I’m Afraid of: While Stevens makes amazing music, I do believe that at times he is more in love with the strangeness of his music than anything else. He seems, at times, to oscillate between intimate, sincere story telling and utterly detached musical experiments. Experimental music which is made just to be experimental is a pet peeve of mine. One of my biggest fears is that he’ll release an album that favors the experimentation over the sincerity of, say, Illinoise.

Books: Cormac McCarthy’s Next Novel

The Details: As with Stevens, we don’t have an official announcement that McCarthy will release anything this year, but I think it highly likely. First, we have the New York Times blurb last July stating that the author signed a new two-novel deal with Alfred A. Knopf. Second, he released a novel in 2005 and both an novel and play in 2006, and given his age it seems like he’s trying to get as much out while he still can.

What I’m Excited About: Having read and study McCarthy extensively, I’ve always noticed Christian themes, imagery, and ideas in his works, but in his last two, The Road and The Sunset Limited, he has directly engaged the question of God’s existence, particularly in relation to the inherent meaningfulness of relationships we have in this life and how they seem to reflect some transcendent Truth. In addition, his writing style has gotten less and less difficult, which means that more people have been able to read and engage McCarthy. It’s my hope that his next two novels will continue to develop these Christian themes and thereby encourage other people to ponder the more important questions in life.

What I’m Afraid of: McCarthy will turn 75 this July, and while we have not heard any indication that he is in poor health, old age is catching up with him. One of my biggest fears is that McCarthy will pass away before he edits and publishes his last two works. I’m not very concerned that these novels will be sub par; he has yet to disappoint me.

Video Games: Fallout 3

The Details: To be released in Fall of 2008, Fallout 3 is an RPG by Bethesda Game Studios (the developer who created the very successful Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion), which presents the story of a character who wakes up in post-apocalypse American. You begin the game in a sealed fallout shelter and journey to find your father in the wastelands outside of the vault.

What I’m Excited About: Oblivion was an amazing open-world game which allowed you to truly feel as if you were exploring and interacting with a living world. But the art style felt like circa 1982 D&D with the walking skeletons, goblins, and evil enemies that look like they were taken off of the cover of a bad heavy metal band. Fallout 3 promises to give the open-world game play of Oblivion with an art direction that highly appeals to me with its representations of a fallen world. But perhaps the most exciting aspect of the game is the prospect of a post-apocalypse American. The nature of post-apocalyptic tales is to take us out of our comfort zone and to force us to question what is meaningful in life and whether or not our society is just. Such tales form the perfect setting for exploring human nature in all its corruption. If properly done, this game could be both entertaining and intellectually compelling.

What I’m Afraid of: While games such as Bioshock have shown that video games can both entertain us and cause us to question our own sense of morality, Bethesda is not know for its clever plots. My guess is that Fallout 3 will be an extremely interesting and addictive game, but will fall short of asking players to question things like human nature.

2008 looks to be an interesting year on all fronts, and I look forward to discussing these things with all of you throughout the year. In the comments, I’d love to hear what pop culture events you’re most looking forward to this year.

• E3 Dialogue - MadWorld
• 4 Reasons Country Music is Actually Kind of Good
• Golden Globes

 Is it wrong to punch a random pedestrian in Grand Theft Auto? Or to steal a car? If I purchased the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 4, would I have to obey all the traffic laws in order to avoid sinning?

I have Mass Effect preordered. Lord willing, on November 20th I will be exploring space and trying to save the galaxy in what looks to be one of the best RPGs (and maybe even one of the best stories) of the year, but what I won’t be doing is watching video game characters have unnatural relations. So am I going to avert my eyes when that scene comes on? No. I just won’t let my characters act or talk in a manner that will lead to the scene. In Mass Effect, the characters are not predetermined to be fornicators, the player has to have conversations and do things to encourage the other characters be alien, lesbian, lovers. And I won’t do that. So it’s okay to play and enjoy the game, right?

I tell myself that a game which gives players the option to sin in the game world is no different than the options we have to sin in the real world. I’m not in sin just because I have the opportunity to punch someone in the face in my real life, so if I have the opportunity to punch someone in the face in a game, but I choose not to, am I sinning to play the game? I don’t believe so.

I’ll go so far as to say that it is alright to play and enjoy a game which gives you the option to view sexually immoral acts, but that still leaves a much bigger question: at what point (if any) is it a sin to act a certain way in a game?

Is it wrong to punch a random pedestrian in Grand Theft Auto? Or to steal a car? If I purchased the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 4, would I have to obey all the traffic laws in order to avoid sinning? This is far from an easy question to answer for sincere Believers, but if we are to take every thought captive, then it is important that consider this issue.

Does it matter what I do in a game? To some extent, I have answered this question “no” for my own gaming. I don’t think it’s wrong to run people down on a video game; but what’s interesting is that I rarely choose to play the “Bad” character. If given an option in a video game to save someone and get less points or kill them and get more, I nearly always save them–even though I don’t think it’s “wrong” to “kill” them. It may be permissible in my mind, but it’s not profitable (or comfortable) in my heart.

So where does this leave us? Although it seems pretty clear that games such as Mass Effect, which merely allow players to make immoral decisions are not necessarily sinful to play, we are still stuck with the question of whether or not it is a sin to steal a car in a video game (and what if you’re stealing it from Nazis?). In other words, does a sin committed by a digital character constitute a sin on the part of the player?

There’s no quick and easy answer to this outside of legalism. Rather, we must use discernment. Instead of quickly deciding that a particular game is “good” or “bad,” we should be testing all things to see how they line up with Scripture, what God commands, how it might cause a hindrance to our walk or a stumbling block to others. The relationship between digital immorality and real-world transgression might not always be clear, but we can know that as long as we sincerely and diligently choose to test all things against the Truth, God will give us the grace to discern between alien fornication and speeding to win a race in Need for Speed.

• The GTA 7 Step Program
• Should I play Grand Theft Auto?
• Perfect…