More games should focus on real-world issues and events says Jade Raymond

Video games can be used to focus on real-world issues and provoke intelligent debate. That’s according to Ubisoft Toronto boss Jade Raymond who suggests the Arab Spring, class divide and internet freedoms could be a part of this.

[Jadedz]

Beautiful people and their opinions...

Am I right? :P (not me though, I'm moderately unattractive ;-;).

[ATi_Elite]

We have have War therefore war video games

We have sports therefore sport video games

We have real world Zombies therefore Zombie video games!

"Some people" see Rainbow Colored Unicorns after eating Magic Mushrooms therefore we have Super Mario!

We have people like Jerry Sandusky therefore Rapelay.

how many more real world issues does this chick need!

[Tuxedo_Mask]

I'd say no, because either way there's going to be bias presented and it won't give a clear or accurate portrayal of the events it deals with.

Video games should be an escape from the real world.

[sonic989]

exactly dude

[darthkai]

You mean like how Bioshock talks about scientific and artistic freedom? Or how Metal Gear Solid 4 talks about the war economy? How Deus-Ex focuses on the political power of corporations? Or how the entire X-Men universe is about racism and discrimination?

@Tuxedo_Mask: Just because you LIKE video games that offer an escape from reality doesn't mean that's what all video games SHOULD be.

I like video games that are over the top crazy and give you a holiday from reality. But I also enjoy games that stimulate your brain and give you something deeper to think about. As a matter of fact, the later are my favorite kind of games.

[WeskerChildReborned]

True, we shouldn't have to see politics or anything like that in games.

[ABizzel1]

@Tuxedo_Mask

I kind of agree, but at the same time. There are a lot of issues going on in "The Real World" and people aren't spending the time, nor have the awareness to see that these REAL issues are fixed or being handled correctly.

Most of us live in our own little "slightly selfish" worlds, and don't care about the problems of the world until they affect our "slightly selfish" world.

I agree with the bias being the main cause for concern, but more current issues whether they be political, world-wide causes, or something else, can be used to at least make people aware of events outside of their little box.

[Gigawatt25]

Mmm...Jade Raymond.

[jagstatboy]

she's hot.

[sonic989]

ohhhh please
of course no not video games or any other medium should touch a very sensitive subject i mean it could insult a whole nation or damage their image whether in games or movies i mean i would be very pissed of if i was russian simply because every game highlights them as a bad guys ( i think you got the idea )
EDIT : movies too

[Grimhammer00]

While I think gaming is a medium for escapism
.....from time to time current events or simply realism in politically incorrect ways is good.

To bad most publishers and devs won't take chances.

[Mutant-Spud]

Politically incorrect games? I can't think of any besides all those awful RPG's which give you contrived "moral" choices. Imagine what they could have done with Far Cry 2 if they'd had the guts to portray Third World civil wars as they actually are?

[Xof]

Well, maybe Ubisoft should start making some games that focus on real-world issues and events.

You know, like their flagship series, Assassin's Creed, which ignores reality in favor of A) pseudo-history, and B) pseudo-science.

Think about how much better the AC games would have been if all of the crappy animus/desmond crap was cut out.

[StayStatic]

A lot of people play games to escape realism, not to be reminded of it.

[Frankfurt]

Says the producer making Splinter Cell Blacklist.

[zalanis]

i dont agree with tackling real life issues cuz that would leave the developers to implement their own opinion as to how the real life issues should be solved. like they would actually know. besides i need to play games for the fun factor not more depressing real life issues. ill watch the news if i want to b depressed

[b_one]

Eureka, she got it...!!!!

i hope she dont want to make games about weewee or pooop

[omarzy]

Boo Hoo, we get to learn about real word issues in a more engaging way than sitting through a lecture, reading a text book, or the news paper(people sill read them. much better than the tv news) Now it will never be a substitute for actually learning about the issues from an academic source, but get the people interested and engaged. Let them know that this crap is happening. I'm just ranting, but somewhat educational video games are really not the worst thing(actually, it is not bad at all) that could happen to the industry.

[Enigma_2099]

This is stupid. Games should do just one thing... BE GOOD.