The Pattern

From this small research towards the mindset of Malaysians towards computer and console games, I could say that there has been no real pattern towards the mindset, as there have been mix opinions towards games through a perspective called age barrier. Even gender difference has been ruled out as a pattern, as there have been some female who do play games which are violent and blood-thirsty while there are few male who do not like to play games. The only pattern I could see is probably the lack of knowledge amongst Malaysians towards games, as most of them have no idea of the importance of games in a particular community as an economical tool or a socializing tool. This kind of thinking have caused the typecast towards games in our society in Malaysia and the only way we could change this situation is by adding awareness and revealing the importance of games amongst our communities in this country to have a nation united towards the growth of gaming industry in Malaysia.

The Summary

After some question and answers sessions with almost 70 people (mostly not posted due to almost similar answers) to find out the true mindset of Malaysians towards computer and console games, I could easily say that the society is divided into two groups that have completely different views towards this kind of games. There are a group of people who are completely against games with reasons such as waste time, increase violence amongst society as games have been used by military, health problems such eyes and headaches, decrease in moral values amongst society and many others. There were some who stated that they just hate games without any reason.

The second group is a little conscious towards games, therefore supports this activity. Their reasons are that games improves hand-eye coordination, improves economies, thriving industry waiting to reach its full potential, improves a persons capabilities in many ways such as doctors and army, it also helps other industries such as the hardware industry to improve and set standards, as well as many other reasons.

What I could safely say is that all of them had their own yet logical views towards games no matter if it supported or did not support games which were founded with good examples.

Lord of the Room

Do you want to know exactly why my roommate is the MMU Voices president (MMU debate club)? Then, you must read what he told me about games industry. He says that computer games evolution has closely paralleled the larger “digital revolution”. This rapid progression had been driven by the symbiotic relationship between hardware/software and gamers demand for ‘realism’ in games. This single reason had made game characters such as Lara Croft to be cult hero (trans-media phenomenon). But this hero (or heroin) was a male-orientation of game design and marketing fosters a "gender gap" in computer access, because game playing boys had earlier access to technology rather then girls who used to play games such as Barbie (from Mattel) or diary-keeping even when there were innovative contributions by smaller female-run start-up companies. That changed as online gaming was introduce to the public, as more and more girls are beginning to play games. The Chinese government spent US$ 620,000 on research to tap up on game industry potential on gaming engine based on a reusable software core. Whereas companies such as Samsung, Sony and Microsoft have heavily invested on the Indian gaming software development market just based on its potential to gain profits in this industry. Increased realism in games has also increased the sales of hardware products as to be sufficient enough to play the games released. Even though the gaming industry is frequently beset by oversupply, poor supplies and technology compatibility problems, it has been a fairly stable backbone in beginning of the last decade, growing steadily. Even then, there is a considerable threat to this growing yet economically stable industry, as there have been many critics going against this industry despite acknowledging its capabilities. Its advancement has led some politicians and citizens to worry about the special effects as children’s spend time playing games especially blood-thirsty games such as the First Person Shooter’s to lead towards violence amongst it’s next generation. These kinds of situation in the US have resulted in the introduction of a rating system for games, administered by the Interactive Digital Software Association and this kind of rules has leaped into the Malaysia. Even then the games industry is at a pivotal point, and whilst the industry undoubtedly faces great changes during the current cycle, few would doubt that growth is not assured. (I have no idea why did I post this conversation on games, because I think it has completely ran out of topic, but I do know one thing, through this facts he gave me, we all can agree on one thing, he deserves to be the MMU Voices president undoubtedly, don’t you think so?).

Fragments of Thought

Yesterday, while talking to Mr. Hilmi, he gave me an idea, that is to find out why the people I chose to play wouldn’t want to play the game or enjoyed the game? Sadly, I can’t call them up to find out why did they give those kind of reason (I don’t have their phone numbers, low on hand phone credit and lack of time). So, I think will I voice out my own views as to why this reasons were given to me. To start with it, the negative reasons that were given to me is because, as adult, their trial and error period is over compared to a teenager. The other cause might be that there is a lack of knowledge, understanding, and experience towards games in this part of the adult society. But this contradicts when I get a positive reason, as these groups of people are the people who would like to experiment or rather learn and understand something new. I could even say that, a tired day in office (in short, a hell of a day at work), would interest someone playing a game like Counter-Strike to release their pressure through killing.

Over and Out

Mind works extra ordinarily, don’t you think so. After asking Mr. Hilmi, on his views, I was wondering had I asked my teachers from high school on their views towards games, what would have been their reaction and answers. So, I called up my former chemistry teacher to ask on her views towards games. As usual, she started by nagging on games and me, and after that she even told me that she doesn’t have time to talk on games (I had to explain to her why I wanted her to answer this question before she agreed). Once she got in the mood to explain, like all teachers and lecturers, she kept on going without any stops, so I would only post the points I think was the best.

• through playing this kind of games, lots of reading time is wasted, which causes grades to fall.

• an outdoor activity decreases, because those slots have been taken away for playing games.

• recent craze of hand-eye coordination amongst the society through computer games is pure stupidity as on hand experience is more important then hand-eye coordination.

No comments from me teacher, but don’t you think that what you said towards games is a little bit harsh?

Meeting the Architect

Have you ever wondered, we were given this task to be fulfilled by one person, and that is Mr. Hilmi, but we never took some initiative to go up to him and actually ask him on his views? This particular thought had been bugging me for some time now, so I got some courage to go up to Mr. Hilmi and ask him about it (although I am really sorry that I told him about it two weeks ago but only went up to him for his views yesterday, due to some India versus Pakistan cricket fever). So, what does Mr. Hilmi thinks about computer and console games? According to him, these kinds of games have been a new breed or new way of entertainment. It can give its users a unique kind of experience or pleasure dependent on their background. Games also provide improved hand-eye coordination which has been proven with an increase interest from doctor’s constitution and the army constitution, to enhance the hand-eye coordination while creating new professionals of the highest quality.

Response from the Field

The Reason
To see the response of people who are counted adults (in short, elder then me) after playing a computer game (they do not know why I asked them to play a game so that I could get a neutral view).

The Chosen People
People around my housing area in Bangsar and Bukit Beruang.

The Chosen Game and Reason
As you all know, on my previous post, I said that I chose Counter-Strike: Condition Zero, because it’s a low requirement game and it has a game tutorial for starters who doesn’t know how to play the game (which is what we are going to let them play).

The Negative Response
These are the negative response I got from people before playing this game.

• computer is not my cup of tea.
• want to lead a good example to their kids by not playing computer games.
• my father just passed away.
• our age to play games has passed.
• i don’t want to waste my time on games.
• i am too busy.
• games are for kids.
• there is nothing for me to gain from games.

There were more, but I lost the note I made, I am so sorry.

The Positive Response
These responses are from the people who agreed to play this game after actually experiencing it.

• improves reflex actions.
• improves computer knowledge of some part of the society who doesn’t know how to use a computer.
• this game gives army training.
• releases tensions.
• gives some entertainment time other then movies and songs at home.
• increases activeness of mind.
• give me a month and I will challenge you in this game (mom, you are great).
• would like to increase our knowledge in games.
• where and at what price can I buy a game for myself?

Rest, I kind of loss the paper, sorry.

Underneath the Rug

Yesterday, after having a horrible morning (going through a lab test and receiving a huge 0 for it), I decided to get out of my personal depression and have some fun. So, I decided to join my friends (all Multimedia University students) for a Saturday night clubbing at Bangsar. By, the time we all finished our clubbing ritual the clock was showing 2.30 am, and most of my friends were drunk (but not me coz I don’t drink). Once, we were all out on the road, my silly mind started to play tricks again (since I might not get a clear view of games from my friends when they are sober, why don’t ask them when they are drunk). I chose one of my friend randomly (wouldn’t want to reveal his name) and brought him to one corner and asked him on his views towards games. He feels that it is completely no use to play games as we Malaysians and generally MMU students have no time at all to play games. We are pressured to please our parents with good grades, getting good job’s, settling down with a beautiful wife, have some kids and leave happily ever after but they keep forgetting that entertainment is a very vital part of our growth and without it there will always be a loop hole in our growth. This single pressure has been the biggest factor which has caused us to stray.

By now, I was thinking what a drunken friend would be thinking of game developers. He thinks that, game developers should be brought to public gatherings to be tortured and killed alive (Ouch! he is pretty harsh isn’t he). Some of them might have created master pieces in gaming world, but they lack in one dimension, explaining to our parents of the importance of games in our lives. This lack of knowledge has built a relational gap of understanding between parents and their child. What about his child, will he give them the space he craves about? He thinks that, why should he suffer this parental flaw alone, his child should also feel exactly what he feels now and therefore will treat them exactly as how he is being treated without any difference (I thank god my parents have always given me my rights to decide on games, and hopefully this space will be felt by my children’s).

Boy, am I Pissed!

Today, I asked someone very close to my heart of her views on games and games developers (to add some spice). She simply answered games are very stupid as there is completely no benefit that a person could get from it, instead it can affect its gamers health (eye sight) and would never waste time playing them. Whereas, games developers for her are murderers of the highest qualities (serial killers who kill its victims slower then drugs), in other words games developers are born to spoil the lives of our society (should I revise my decision on this course? Naah...). Due to the incredible feed back I got from her, I felt there was no reason to ask her more on games (I am stunned).

Let the Games Begin!

Since the feedbacks toward games has not been satisfying (for me on a personal point of view), I decided that it would be better if I would take a different approach towards it. I got this idea from a personal experience (read my post ‘Slightly Out of Focus’). This approach is actually aimed at the older generation (age 35 to 75), where they would have to play a game of my choice (Counter-Strike: Condition Zero) on the computer. They will not be told, why they are supposed to play games. If they agree to play it, they will be thought the basic game-play of this game, sufficient enough to win this game.

They will be judged on:

1. Willingness to try playing computer games.
2. Willingness to take games seriously and understand it.
3. Game-play.
4. Their personal views on games after experiencing it.

I will post the so called judgment hopefully, earliest by Sunday (March 6^th, 2005).

Women, What Goes on in Their Heads

Another day, another female’s view on games (I am just starting to feel I should start hosting a reality based show called who’s line is it anyways just for females on their views towards games). This time, I caught up with someone whom I actually know (an MMU student and a former classmate of mine during my foundation years). So, what does she think about games? She says that games might be entertaining (as she does play games at times), but she thinks that games makes its gamers procrastinate (neglect their promises). Why did she give such a remark? To my surprise, her answer was that gamers are bad boyfriends as they neglect their promises towards their girlfriends (weird, but interesting). After a remark worthy of a hall of fame award, does she have any respect for games? To my surprise, her answer was yes. Why yes? Because it kills time, make her get over rotten mood and makes her lazy (and she was blaming the guys of procrastinating). She also has a very high respect for games due to it’s enhance graphic ability, vast programming influence and the developers creativity towards creating an interesting game (only a female can have a completely different view on something and yet have a different opinion on it, common ladies, make your mind up).

Accusation

Recently, I was introduced to a girl (a form 4 student) from south of Malaysia (which part of the south, I don’t really know) in an online chat room by a close friend of mine. While, talking to her, I started a conversation on games with her, and thought I could well find some interesting views from her towards this particular topic. I soon found out, I finally met someone who hated games so much. According to her while computer has become the most important tool for the current lifestyle of advance technologies in our society, games has been the negative influence on our society in almost every angle. Why does she think so?

• money wasting (spending money to play games in cyber-café’s and buying a game install compact disc or consoles)
• time wasting (skipping schools and neglecting studies)
• adopting a wild lifestyle (if money was a problem, then, a gamer could resort to stealing and etc).

Anyways, does she respect games amidst this accusations (I would say false accusations) towards games? Unsurprisingly, her answer was no. Why no? Well, her answer was pretty straightforward, because she thinks that there should not have been violent games as it corrupts its gamer’s minds and guide them one step closer towards violence (I guess she has no idea that there are many different genre’s in games other then violence). She also added that, she does not respect games developers too, because they prefer developing games on violence as their genre’s rather then peace (thank god she didn’t know that I am doing a course on games developing).