Okay, guilty indulgence time. After two years of me dropping thinly veiled hints and waiting for the price to drop (not to mention those bugs), AverageSis finally bought me a PlayStation 3 for Christmas. Except for AverageToddler, this was prolly the bestest present I've gotten since I was in like primary school or something.
I'm not too big on playing anything other than sports games with the limited time I do have (specifically NBA 2K8 and College Hoops 2K8), which means I don't really really take prime advantage of the real power of the system. But I'm just not really into those shoot em' up and fighting games. Or so I thought. The other day I found myself in my local GameStop, which is more or less a used video game store. While perusing the shelves for a pre-owned copy of Madden 08' (games for this thing are like $59, so why not buy a used copy for much less?), I stumbled across Def Jam ICON, the latest in a series of rap music influenced fighting games branded by the actual music label. The game allows you to choose popular rappers like Ludacris, T.I., Lil' Jon, Big Boi from Outkast, Mike Jones, Fat Joe, etc. and put them in typical hip-hop environments (the club, the trap, but sadly not the mall) where they duke it out Fight Club-style.
Righteous dude that I am, I just couldn't resist the temptation of bringing motion picture styled black-on-black violence right into my own home. I mean, it was only $17!
Check this out. Warning: NSWF Language and Violence, so cop those headphones first.
Wowzers!
Even better is the Build A Label feature that allows you to design your own low level henchman, work your way into an A&R job by beating up paparazzi and shady management for rappers like Paul Wall, and eventually juggle the day-to-day operations of your label, allocating funds for airplay, promotions, etc. As you work you way up you can "date" groupies, and amass material goods, outfitting your character in the latest gear, jewels, and tatts. It's like a 50 Cent album come to (virtual) life.
Awww hell, who are we kidding: This is all about the fighting!!!
Black men run over other black men with 64 Impalas on 30 inch rims. Black men throw other black men against a wall of speakers in a strip club. Black men slam other black men's heads into baby grande pianos. It is sensationalized, over the top intraracial violence at it's best (worst?), and I am SOOOO addicted to it.
But as soon as I turn the game off, I start feeling really, really guilty. Of course my son (nor for that matter wife) is never around when I'm playing it, but something just feels soooo wrong about the whole thing. Would I feel differently if the game was Asians beating up Guatemalans or something? Maybe, but I can't really say since I'm not well versed enough in other similar fighting games to make that call.
Since I know many of my AverageCommenters are non-gamers, two questions today.
1. Non-Gamer's Question: Do you have a potentially questionable guilty addiction? If so, share it you know where.
2. Gamer's Question: Should I feel a tinge of regret at playing this ultra-violent game, and if I don't, what does that say about my (or anyone else's) regard for the value of a black life? In short, should I stop playing this game or is it merely harmless fun?
Weigh in early and often, you know where.
Def Jam ICON Website [EA.com]
Friday, February 15, 2008
My New, Very Guilty Addiction: Def Jam ICON
Tags Popped: Crap Music, Raise Your Own Damn Kids
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13 AverageComments™:
I don't have Icon yet, but I do have Fight For New York. I love it, no guilt at all.
But the true enjoyment is playing Saints Row, wearing a pimp suit and using the pimp cane as a shotgun.
It's just a game. It's theraputic in a fantasy sense (after you've had a 'Negro Moment' in real life), just don't act out that fantasy in real life. You'll be alright. As for your son, let him get some age on him before he watches you play it. Kids have to understand the difference between fantasy and reality.
EG
Take it back and trade it towards Guitar Hero, you'll be hooked!!! I guarantee.
Trying to figure out a last gift for my husband for his birthday and I think this will be the ticket. Thanks for the tip, the video you posted looks pretty good.
There is no guilt necessary. Its just fantasy. I remember my brother and I watching Daffy Duck getting shot in the face every Saturday, afterwards we would shoot each other with various home made guns. I still have yet to kill anyone. So, have fun. Run down a few black people. I do it playing Grand Theft Auto every day.
I agree with everyone else... Have your fun Bro. No guilt needed. I need to save up some dough to get that PS3. I've been holding our so far. The Blue-Ray player alone almost makes it worth buying. I think once Grand Theft Auto IV comes out I'll have to jump on it.
Right now I'm stuck with the Wii. Don't laugh... Don't sleep on the Wii that sh*t is fun as hell... Especially if you have kids (3) like me... That thing keeps their little butts busy for hours..
Tiger Woods for the Wii is fun, Wii Sports is awesome and Super Mario Galaxy is top class.
AB, keep a lookout for Soul Calibur IV later this year for the PS3, the special character this year in non other that Darth F'N Vader!
I have a 360, and Master Yoda will be on that platform. Yoda is cool, but he's not the MAN like Vader is.
EG
I played this game too along with other games like it and felt the same sense of guilt as you AB. Something about the black on black crime, the ignorance. I don't know, I just didn't feel comfortavle playing them. SO I don't play them. I think its up to you. If you wanna play then play. If you don't then don't. Damn if other people don't like. And I co-sign with blackand married. Get that Guitar Hero 3 and you'll doped out on nit in no time!
I've never been much of a game player. Not even back when Ms. Pac-Man was all the rage. I had better things to do with my allowance than giving it to the arcade. I don't even play Lotto.(I think it's evil and designed to take advantage of ignorant,less fortunate people who should be taking that $50-100+ in tickets they buy weekly and put it in an interest earning account of some kind) I think I'm the only black person I know who doesn't play Spades. The only "games" I own are for my Nintendo DS--Brainmass, Suduko, and NYT crosswords.(I play those to exercise my brain!)
My only guilty pleasure is TV watching--I'm addicted to Lost. I hunt for clues on the internet, and in books. I'm kind of a nerd, I suppose.
However, even if I played PS, I would never, ever, play this Icon ish. I thought the music and some of the images we see in videos were bad...this takes the cake! (LMAO @ the thought of Luda (AKA Chris Lova Lova) ever beating anyone's ass!)
I bet half the "artists" in this game wouldn't let their own children play it. But it's okay for our kids. That should let the "stans" know exactly how much their idols care about them. Sad how people sell out for the dollar.
AB, I love you and to each his own, but maybe you should consider trading this for something else before AverageSis sees it. LOL!
Are yall serious about Guitar Hero??!! I just can't believe that game could possibly be fun.. Don't you just try to move the switch up and down to match notes? Do they even have any black songs?.. I guess I'll have to see it to believe this game is fun.
It's just a game, folks! Sheesh.
I live on the Internet. Looking at furniture, jewelry, window shopping, buying used stuff, bidding on eBay. Read some newspapers, a magazine or two, and in general just enjoy myself. Kids are grown. Husband is at work (we don't work the same schedules) or watching TV. Do most of my shopping online. What can I say? Listen to that "still small voice" that tells you something ain't right about those b-on-b violent games. No, I don't play video games, but I'll bet if you researched, you could find some video games for your PS3 that are just as rewarding and as satisfying, as the ones you currently play now which your conscience is gently urging you to avoid. Just my take on things. You are a great guy and you do a great service with your blog! Heard you on NPR.
@eg
Saints Row? Pimp Cane? Uhhmmmm...
I'm with you though, it's just a 'release'.
@B&M/YellowFellow
Saw this little girl jammin' out to Guitar Hero in Best Buy the other day. I can't say it looks like my kinda game, but thanks for the recommendation.
@WizNill
Not hatin' on the Wii at all. My nephews have Wii Sports. It IS pretty addictive, not to mention a halfway decent workout.
@ebw
The Mrs. knows about the game. She doesn't like it, but I could be doing faaaar worse things. Our agreement is I'll only play when the kid's asleep/away. We'll stick to this.
On a related note: The game is already getting boring after just one week.
Even if a compulsive gambler made many mistakes, they can get and you can move forward. It is human nature to learn from their mistakes. Nobody will give the player the death penalty for the game. Many players feel that way when your world crumbles.
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