I’ve noticed a real hypocrisy in the gaming community. On one hand, many gamers want video games to be seen as an art form, but on the other, they often reject serious critiques of those games when they arise. For example, years ago, French politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon criticized Assassin’s Creed Unity for its portrayal of the French Revolution, suggesting it could mislead young players. Instead of engaging in the conversation, many gamers jumped on him ironically, dismissing his concerns and making fun of the whole situation instead. This made me think: why can’t we acknowledge that games convey messages and engage in thoughtful discussions about their content? Am I overreacting here?
3 Answers
It’s all about nuance! Criticism should allow space for analysis, but not every critique needs to imply that the game is bad art. Reporting on historical accuracy versus critiquing artistic style are totally different conversations, and gamers need to appreciate that distinction.
That’s a fair point! It really seems like there’s no single voice in gaming. Some gamers are all for discussing games as art, while others completely shut down critique, mistaking it for an attack. It’s a mixed bag for sure, and people need to realize that disagreement doesn’t imply hypocrisy.
Honestly, I feel you on this. Critiquing a game doesn’t mean you hate it. Like you said, games can and should be discussed on multiple levels, including art. Mélenchon had a valid point about the impact of storytelling in games, even if his delivery was off. We need to be more open-minded!
Exactly! It’s okay to love a game but still discuss its flaws, just like with movies or books. Having a conversation about a game’s themes doesn’t mean you think it’s garbage.