FAI-Newstalk

Violent computer game

My first article for Newstalk is “Venezuelan anger at computer game” presented on Thursday, June 1, 2006. I read this aricle on BBC News. It was about Venezuelan Government accussed of the violent computer game named “Mercenaries2:World in Flame”, a production by Pandemic Studios, the game entertainment company.

Mercenaries 2 is developed for PlayStation 3 and dued to released next year. In the game, players act as soilders and drop into Venezuela to help settle an oil dispute, take on "a Venezuelan power tyrant", and sparking an invasion that turn the country into a warzone. Players have the latest and most dangerous in cilvilian and military technology, for example, satellite-guide bunker, sport car, luxury mobile etc. and can build their own private military.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chaves afraid that this game can motivate an invasion in Venezuela. His supporter think that this game is prepared for a real invasion in future and for use by U.S army. However, the company said that the company has no relation with U.S. Government and this game is only about entertainment.

I agree with Mr.Chavez that the game can motivate an invasion. Becase I think many computer games, including vedio and internet games, effect to our lifestyle at present. Many game entertainment companies have produced more realistic games. In a game, players can participate in the situation that look like they are staying in that situation. They can manage almost everthing in their game world. For example, in SimCity, a stimulation and city-building game, we can build and design our city. In another series of SimCity, we have a restaurant. We can decorate our restaurant, create menu, and manage our business. It seem to be the real situation that we can prepare for our business in a real world. In the same way, I think “Mercenaries2” can prepare us for a real world, too. It can possibly motivate the violence and prepare armed forces for war. Therefore, U.S. Government should have any policy to control these violent games.

Vocabulary :

invasion (n.) : entrance of an armed force into an area of land to win victory over

infantry (n.) : an army that trained to fight on foot

tyrant (n.) : person who has power in the country and use the power in unfair way

Question :

1. Do you think this game can motivate to have an invasion in the real world?

2. What do you think about computer game?

3. Do you think that computer game have any advantages?

posted by chamaporn @ 4:55 PM