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I’m not who you think I am

January 27, 2012, Author: Ray Willmott

I take great pride in my affiliation with the Dark Brotherhood. Judge me all you want, I can honestly say that between Oblivion and Skyrim, they have given me the most satisfaction while playing the Elder Scrolls games. Perhaps it’s their mysterious nature. Perhaps it’s the whole cloak/dagger aspect of their approach. Perhaps it’s being stowed away in some underground sanctuary, acting out a sordid religion in secret, or perhaps I just like murdering people.

Games allow us to do crazy things, and the more immersive and real they become, the more choices we’re given, the more our actions are truly defined by us within that game. When the player is actually put on the spot and asked to think about what they’re about to do, assessing the consequences of these decisions,  and they choose to kill virtual avatars in compromising positions, what does that say about their genetic makeup?

Perhaps the tabloids are right. Perhaps games do encourage us in ways they shouldn’t.