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Just How Powerful Are Games?

April 05, 2007

My green cartoon shirt needs to be washed.

I hope you're wearing a hat, because I've got a brain-buster for ya. Let's start with the anger, specifically this article in Newsweek warning of the dangers of Guitar Hero. The author (Steven Levy, who I normally like) wonders why anyone would bother to master a real instrument when they can jam like Van Halen in ten minutes with a videogame. That's right: Guitar Hero will turn our country into a nation of people who won't bother learning to play music.

My gut-reaction was one of outrage -- Levy's premise was demonstrably wrong. In fact, after getting the original Guitar Hero, I actually borrowed a sweet Gibson guitar and not-so-sweet Fender amp from a friend in order to try my hand at the real thing. I learned a couple chords and how to pluck out the song "Jingle Bells," albeit at the approximate tempo of a funeral dirge. And while I, personally, didn't stick with it, it was easy to imagine a gamer with more time -- probably unmarried and looking to score with the chicks -- mastering the guitar after being inspired by the game. Helping people discover the joy of music is the whole mission of game developer Harmonix!

It's hard to win Guitar Hero when you spend the whole song staring at the fret board buttons

Of course I commented earlier in the year about games as an educational tool, and I'm always referencing how much I learned about business by playing that Lemonade game as a kid (Yeah, the graphics aren't so hot in this version but you get the idea). Games are a powerful way to influence people... right?

But now, here's where I'm going to bend your noodle: if games can move people to learn guitar, and games can teach us things about the real world, then how can we also argue at the same time that Grand Theft Auto doesn't teach people the joys of crime? Can we really have it both ways? Studies about the effects of games on violent behavior are going on all the time, and nowadays either side of the debate can point to studies proving their own agenda.

There's a whole 'Serious Games' movement is dedicated to using games for health, education, and social change. (The gaming media doesn't do much coverage of Serious Games, but there are actually a lot of great things going on in that space.) Meanwhile, we gamers (myself included) always argue that ridiculous over-the-top games like good ol' whipping boy Grand Theft Auto are just harmless entertainment. Which is it?

Of course, the answer is, "It all depends on the context..." But that's a squirm. How do YOU draw the line? Mail me your thoughts! Also, I'd love to hear any of your stories about something you learned -- or were inspired to learn -- from gaming. Let's hear it!

-Fargo

[P.S. While we're on the topic, Danc from the excellent Lost Garden Blog posted a cool game design challenge: create a game where players will eventually, despite a competitive environment, learn to cooperate to win. He's got some neat ideas of his own drawn up, which triggers off a discussion of using games as a learning tool. A great read!]

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