Latest campus shootings: Are violent TV, movies and video games to blame?

“Of course they are! Everyone knows that kids these days can’t think for themselves. This is why the media is able to pander to them so easily!”

If this were really true wouldn’t more people have been killed by now? Violent images have been available on Tv, in the movies, and in video games for decades (well, maybe not decades for video games but you get the picture). By now we should have had a few more mass murders on our hands. So far, I think I’ve seen a total of four or five of these “media inspired” killing sprees in the past ten years. We are way below the quota that our moral leaders tell us we should be at.

This reminds me of some statistics I saw a few years ago when some religious leaders were saying that all D&D players will go crazy and kill themselves. A study of teenagers showed how many played role playing games and how many committed suicide. The suicide numbers were much lower than the D&D players. I guess they needed more of them to kill themselves to help make them feel happier about their statistics.

Look, anytime something happens the media, parents’ groups, and religious leaders are all in a hurry to blame whatever pop culture icons that they do not understand.

These days, it’s games like Grand Theft Auto, Tv shows like “24″, movies like “Transformers” that people think that somehow drive children to violence.

In the 90s it was thought that Marilyn Manson, games like “Doom”, and any movie with Samuel L. Jackson inspired kids to go on killing sprees.

The 80s gave us metal bands like Metallica and Motley Crue inspiring kids to cut themselves and Tv shows like “Miami Vice” or “The A Team” were causing kids to shoot up every drug dealer they saw (if only they really were).

The 60s and 70s had all these hippies making music about peace and everyone knows nothing is worse than peace music in a time of war!

Before that there was this Elvis character that was ruining the moral fiber in which our nation was founded on.

We can keep going to the evil influences of Jazz and probably keep going all the way back to the days when the cave parents were upset that their kids were banging those rocks together too loudly.

It all comes down to this: The only reason kids tend to shoot up folks around them is because people aren’t paying enough attention to them. Parents tend to dismiss kids that are depressed as a random mental condition and they just cram medication down their throats instead of actually TALKING to them.

Most of the time these things can be avoided, but unfortunately, Tv, movies, and to a much lesser extent video games have become replacement for parents, therapists, and teachers. So, perhaps for this reason I guess they could be blamed.

 

Video games reviews: Transformers: The Game (Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, PS3) – Part 1

Video games reviews: Transformers: The Game (Wii)

From the block buster hit Transformers: The Movie, Activision brings Transformers: The Game to the Nintendo Wii, as well as other platforms. A war rages on earth between the Autobots and Decepticons, a battle between good and evil. Allowing you the gamer to decide which side you wish to fight for. Which ever side you swear your allegiance to you be put into essentially an open world. Where you can roam the surrounding area or accept mission objectives. Do not mistake Transformers version of a free roaming environment with the likes of Grand Theft Auto. Your progression through out the game is extremely linear. You will be assigned one new mission upon completion of the previous one. Although, most of the surrounding environment is interactive, allowing you pick and hurl items around. There is little satisfaction to be had with terrorizing the local inhabitants.

This all fails in comparison with the weak control system of the game. Transformers is a third person shooter using the analog stick on your nunchuck moves you bot around,

and the IR is used to aim. This is where most of my grumbling comes from in this game. Often, if an enemy is behind you it will take sometime before you will be able to turn a full 180 degrees and return fire. A major problem for a game brings plenty and fast action.

Transformers also proved to be a very shallow game. Missions eventually become boring and repetitive, shoot this blow up that. All without ever really changing how you have to play the game. A few things like bonus content or trying to find 100 energon cubes, provides a little more depth to the game. However, with the problems in controls and a lack luster story line, the same old recover the “Allspark” “protect the world” theme. I could only imagine why anyone would want to play this game other than to just beat it and be done with it.

Game Play Score: 6/10

Controls ruin what could have been a very enjoyable game. IR controls are very sluggish in responding to movement

Graphics Score: 7/10

The game looks pretty good in 480p with 16:9 wide-screen. Cinematic look great and the open worlds look pretty decent.

Audio Score: 6/10

Boring music from the movie and no use of the Wii Remote speaker makes the audio experience a dud.

Creativity/Innovation Score: 5/10

Transformers makes little use of the Wii controls. Waggle to throw a punch, point to shoot. both feel unresponsive and have been done better by other games.

Replay Value Score: 5/10

Bonus content, pictures and images of old transformers, does not make up for a lousy battles/missions that become boring and repetitive real fast.

Final Score: 5/10

A playable and passable game but I would not recommended it to anyone other than those die hard fans of the Transformers series.