We’re deep in prep for the launch of the GameCityPrize for 2012 at the moment, which means a lot of talking to very smart but mostly non-game cognoscenti people and hoping that they might get involved. This Wednesday at BFI Southbank we’re holding a launch-debate to kick things off, ‘What’s the point of videogames?’
As anyone who does any public speaking knows, it’s helpful to have some topical context to cast your remarks against – so I’m especially grateful to Jade Raymond for providing them. In an interview for Eurogamer, with pull-quotes highlighted on GI she cries out that it’s time for the industry to be kicked in the balls.
“Why is it that so many topics that are dealt with in other media are off limits or taboo in video games? Why can’t we deal with the things that matter? I can think of so many examples of topics that could be interesting, issues that could be addressed in games or that could be integrated into existing big IP if we don’t want to make them the centre of the experience.”
Martin Hollis was the first of many to draw attention to the potential hypocrisy being perpetrated here.
I’m saddened and fatigued by much of the discussion on the article, but then find myself also quietly grateful that this has happened as it so neatly illustrates the cultural backdrop for the Prize. Roll on Wednesday.