More Thoughts on a More Complex Form of Moral Choice in Video Games (Research)

by Eric Swain

link

"...the very idea of making a moral choice in a video game has become decoupled from the actual concept of it."

"Video games require players to take a lot of actions during their play time, and it is difficult to code individual situations and responses for each individual encounter when action is required."

"Games are sets of systems and borderline cases or exceptions don’t work well in a place where systems rule the day."

"Poor is the hero that makes their decisions against a predetermined checklist and yet that is what happens when a system is put in charge of every situation."

"It’s not a question of right or wrong, but a question of priorities. The player is offered up two rights and asked to make a choice between them."

"The truth of the matter is that systems that attempt to simulate moral choice don’t fail because they apply rewards of money or powers to the options but because they don’t properly set up any context or complexity for individual situations. Without any background, choices have to be as broad and bland as possible so that the player can understand them."