Second, and I definitely agree with you on this, is that content-wise, gaming is still stuck in the 70’s or 80’s, even as the imagery and animation is creeping towards photorealism. Every once in awhile we get something poignant or solidly constructed like Shadow of the Colossus, Portal, Half Life 2, or Metroid Prime, but for every one of those, there are a 100 hack jobs like Ubisoft Paris’s schlocky attempt to make a Yakuza shooter with Red Steel, or Capcom (Japanese) unintentionally duplicating racist imagery in Resident Evil 5.

I think the saving grace for gaming, though, at least in its current state, is that game developers lack the agenda and incentives of other traditional media companies, so while it often may be a “highly addictive cocktail of cultural garbage” as cnulan writes, it lacks the sinister edge that is present in movies, music, newspapers, and ABC presidential debates. It’s no ringing endorsement, but I think gaming has by far the most potential and best chance to be utilized progressively.

Moreover, there has yet to be any substantial racial tribalization or stratification in the gaming world. Gamers of all genders, colors, and nations can dig FF3. It doesn’t matter who you are or what your beliefs are, you can still have Tetris in common. And it is precisely for this reason that I hope gaming remains untainted.

but let me say this about that brah. my eight year old boy has been on a weeklong gaming moritorium. he has a PS/2 which he’s sometimey about playing, but his real enthusiasm is for disney MUD’s – and he can spend hours on his computer playing those joints every day if we let him. Most recently, pirates of the carribean – which is nothing but a first person shooter.

the hiatus was brought on by his unconsciously chewing through the collar of his wushu shirt during his last gaming session this past tuesday following wushu. the first couple of days into the ban, brougham was fiending like a straight up crackhead. I mean morning, afternoon, and night – begging and finegling to get the ban lifted so he could fire up a bowl of his beloved rocks.

it was pathetic. by friday he was fairly calm and resolved to the situation, but still trying to negotiate a reprieve for good behaviour. saturday, he read johnny mnemonic by himself and took copious notes. (cause he knew he was going to be quizzed on it, at least a little bit)

this morning, there wasn’t a peep about gaming. I sincerely believe that his little nervous system has gone cold turkey, (kinda sorta) and the positive effect on his behavior has been tremendous. wifey and I have agreed that when he gets off the hiatus wednesday, going forward, he won’t be allowed more than an hour a day at gaming tops.

as one who only ever took up video arcade gaming as a hustle for a while during my late teens and early twenties – figuring out and mastering several games and playing strangers for money – I never became addicted to it. once I put it down, I never once felt compelled to get back into it in any way at all.

now that I’ve witnessed first hand the overpowering effect that it has on the developing nervous system, my take on it is decidedly negative. while it’s clearly a mainline into the subconscious, and I think it’s possible for some folks to deliberately use it for just that brainteasing purpose, I believe the overwhelming majority of gamers are simply being entrained, habituated, and fed a toxic and highly addictive cocktail of cultural garbage.

that they might even jones for that shit when cut off? HELLSNAW!!!!!!!!