This community group obviously has an agenda against games as a form of entertainment, but if what they are doing helps families to cope and forget about the tragedy for a moment, I really do not feel bothered by it.
His "we're not saying the use of video games causes people to become murderers" statement reminds me of 'birthers'.
Instead of adding more after the fact penalties, maybe we could focus on prevention. Seeing individual rights curtailed is troubling, no matter the situation. Being a child sex offender is possibly one of the worst things to be in our society, and rightfully so, but I'm not sure who's getting their kicks from all this punishing legislation: the perpetrators or the lawmakers.
@kingcole225 I should have began with this, but I loved Dark Souls. It was a truly unique experience and I believe it remains unrivaled in what it accomplished/continues to accomplish. The elements of Western fantasy in the hands of Japanese developers along with the deeply personal reflection throughout the game will be unforgettable to me and a lot of other people, including yourself.
I am not advocating accessibility at the expense of creativity. Nor do I want the subtlety of Dark Souls to become forced and contrived. Simplicity and universality in a story or work of art can coexist with creativity without compromising the artist's vision. More accessibility will not jeopardize the atmospheric and unforgiving world of Dark Souls. The best stories from literature and myth rely on archetypes rather than nuance and esotericism. The most unforgettable characters are the ones we relate to, whether in a good way or bad. The most unforgettable structures consist solely of posts and lintels. The most compelling prose depends on simple sentences rather than complex drawn-out ramblings. Good and simple writing/artistic direction, whether it be in books, movies, or games, does not hide behind a veneer of indecipherable rhetoric or dismiss critiques on account of ignorance or lack of understanding, hiding flaws behind pretension and intellectualism. Instead, leave that to academia.True works of art resonate with everyone, with humanity as a whole.
I'm not a communist. I'm a socialist at best. A particular vision should never be imposed on everyone. There should always be room for change, including for Dark Souls, lest it fall into stagnation like so many other unique and brilliant games.
@kingcole225 You mention the best stories are those "without words" and that have "infinite interpretations". I believe these are the kinds of narrative that allow the audience to take part and relate, that provide a resonance in our daily lives. Not stories that alienate and exclude, or become so bogged down by their own lore that they seem hospitable to a viewer trying to understand.
I don't want to know every aspect of a story. The mystery and lack of transparency are what make it unique and allow me to be a part of the narrative. Simply told and accessible stories do not limit interpretation. They open their characters and settings up to a broader audience. They are more universal.
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