SLASH'S PROFILE

The Binding of Isaac is a good example of a game with a story directly tied to Christian subject matter, including morals and values (like Abraham being willing to kill his own son to please God). It doesn't speak outright against religion, but it doesn't sugarcoat anything, and I think it handles it well - although I'm sure tons of people have been offended by it as well.

Concerning capitalism and economics... one of my first major RPG Maker projects was about free market and economics - the final villain was a rival of yours that you had driven out of business by releasing a better product, and with that he had given up on life and sworn revenge. There was quite a bit of moral ambiguity, and frankly even the hero came off as kind of a dick at points.

Wish I had finished it... I think I'll revisit the story someday soon, especially now that I've recognized the idea of "scope".


EDIT: When you're young, sometimes those things are too big and weird for you to understand, so a game that approaches a more serious topic might seem "bad". But the best games usually don't shy away from these sorts of topics, and embracing them can be very interesting. Take a look at Final Fantasy 7... you spend half the game as an eco-terrorist, blowing up reactors and killing workers in the name of environmentalism, fighting against money-hungry tyrants.

That was the first game I remember that addressed such a down-to-earth issue... it was so fascinating.

An addendum - if you're already at college, don't just take a degree in game design and hope it'll get you far. Pick up useful related skills like scripting with C++, C#, or whatever, learn how to use a professional engine like Unity or Unreal, and learn how to make 2D or 3D art :D

That way even if you go out on your own, you're a one-man army. It's always so much nicer to work with a small team, though. The pressure is just way more bearable.

For every president this country has had, we could've had one more game designer. That's like 44 game designers! Think of all the games we've missed out on!

besides contributing nothing useful to society/the world

lol

Right now I'm fixing a whole bunch of bugs involving ladders. Lots and lots of ladders.

GAH LADDERS

Also I'm desperately trying to stop myself from coding more weapons, because I need to fix what I have first before I add more stuff to break, but they're so damn fun.

author=Jude
I don't think the world needs more video games, but it does need more scientists and engineers. If you are competent enough, I recommend pursuing a career where you can do something productive and meaningful. Many of the people who invest themselves into game design have a lot of traits which are useful for science and engineering, but choose the childish option anyway. This is unfortunate, but I suppose this is a product of western comforts where people dream of becoming celebrities and a culture that values self-gratification over advancement of its civilization.

Unfortunately, people are not purely logical computers, and indeed do require "playtime" and other enjoyable forms of mental stimulation to reach their maximum potential. It's a physical and mental need just like anything else, and game makers are just now joining the ranks of their predecessors in film, writing and any other form of media.

Someday scientists will cure some form of cancer, and everyone who suffers from that cancer will have a greatly improved quality of life. Video game developers simply provide a greater quality of life, in a different form.

Believe what you want, but the world would not be a better place if there was no entertainment.