Intelligent commentary on Columbine video game
Here is a most excellent article discussing the disappointing response of the general press and wider public to the release of Super Columbine Massacre RPG. Yeah, that title lends itself to immediate criticism, but if anyone would take the time to look, they'd see that the game was written specifically to engage the public on the tragedy, not to mock, exalt, or idolize it.
(In fact, someone did take time to look: 1) Good balanced article on the game; 2) Interview with the game creator; 3) Interview with a Columbine survivor (shot and paralyzed) who played the game.)
But the original article I linked explores the knee-jerk response to the issue and talks about the notion that video games about controversial subjects are inherently bad or off-limits, whereas books and movies are somehow ok. I haven't been keeping up on The Escapist lately, but they've often talked about this issue, mostly in the abstract. I hope that they pick up on this game and story (if they haven't already), since we really need to be pushing the boundaries here. He also talks about how just because victims of an event are deeply affected emotionally doesn't mean that they get to determine the scope of the discussion. Does Todd Beamer's wife have any claim to how we use his image: "Let's Roll"? While of course we must respect their emotions, just because it hurts to talk about what happened doesn't mean we shouldn't do it. In fact, there are pretty good arguments about why we should engage the difficult topics. Ignoring the pain doesn't really solve anything and is actually kind of a chickenshit way to deal with it, if you think about it.
Video games offer such potential for dealing with emotional issues. Some people criticize the medium because it puts people in the driver's seat, but it is precisely this perspective that gives games the power to go beyond the passive delivery of, say, a movie. SCMRPG intentionally does this in fact. The author was a Coloradan high school student during the Columbine event (different school) and the event really impacted his life. He wanted to make people think about the perpetrators perspective, not to glorify or justify it, but just to get that perspective into the discussion. I can't think of any good reason why the perspectives of all parties shouldn't be included in an attempt to understand an event, whether that event be a childhood fight, diplomatic summit, school shooting, or 9/11-scale terrorist event.
The games industry has long lamented its inability to move past the pursuit of better blood-splatter algorithms and more detailed graphics and realize the potential of the art form. And gaming is indeed an art form, every bit as much as texts and moving pictures, albeit in different and unique ways that provide different and unique opportunities to engage participants.
I applaud the creator of SCMRPG and the coverage of it that I linked above. I decry the sensationalization of it by the press and ignorant commentary by those who've never played it or considered what the game stands for. And I respectfully set aside the opinions of the bereaved, for their bias should not be allowed to speak for the rest of society, especially when it is an event of the scale of Columbine which struck at the core of our society.