What if someone did a takedown of Pokemon that fully explores the implications, but the thing is that a takedown of Pokemon cannot be fun. If its fun then its just grimdark Pokemon. Its “do not do this cool thing” ludonarrative dissonance. Youre not getting anything truly cool out of that.

We it would need to be a pain to play. Like Spec Ops: The Line, but Pokemon. Or maybe Undertale: Genocide Run but Pokemon specifically instead of JRPGs generally?

Palworld is definitly not that lol. It revels in the fucked upness as far as i can tell. It doesnt even shame you so you dont even get the “do not do this cool thing” aspect. And it endevors to be fun (ymmv on success).

But Im wondering if a game that says to Pokemon what Spec Ops: The Line said to military FPSes is possible?

  • WithoutFurtherBelay [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
    3·
    5 months ago

    It’s basically people screaming “THE CURTAINS ARE BLUE” at the top of their lungs, but instead of being unable or unwilling to see nuance and metaphor in storytelling, they’re unable or unwilling to accept the idea that when people play games they are aware of the distinction between fiction and reality.

    Wtf are you talking about, literally no one is saying you’re a bad person for playing Pokémon or that Pokémon is harming the youth or something, it’s just a funny and somewhat insightful conversation. The fact we made a game about monster cockfighting SAYS something about our own culture even if no one intended it to

    • Frank [he/him, he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
      3·
      5 months ago

      This has been a constant source of social strife for, as far as I can tell, all of human existence. Whenever a new medium for story telling is developed moral scolds scream from the rooftops that it will destroy society, ruin the sexual morality of women, and turn men in to murderous beasts. It really doesn’t matter what it is; Tik-tok, video games, television, radio, movies, rap music, opera, stage plays, novels; A certain faction of society always claims that fiction will somehow destroy the morality of the people and turn everyone in to debased hedonistic monsters who know neither right nor wrong. And they’re always wrong. It always turns out to be an unfounded combination of a reactionary hatred of youth and the accusing party projecting it’s own inability to distinguish between fiction and reality on others. My observation is that the people who condemn play and imagination most loudly are themselves incapable of either. To them any interest in or enjoyment of a story demonstrates real and enthusiastic support of the concepts in the story and the actions of the characters. They don’t seem to be able to grasp the idea that people could read about (or play) a character doing something bad and recognize that the story is fictitious. Whether it’s moral watchdogs screaming that FPS games will turn kids in to school shooters or religious freaks screaming that D&D players will sell their souls to satan they’re very consistently wrong.

      It’s basically people screaming “THE CURTAINS ARE BLUE” at the top of their lungs, but instead of being unable or unwilling to see nuance and metaphor in storytelling, they’re unable or unwilling to accept the idea that when people play games they are aware of the distinction between fiction and reality.

      These two paragraphs go together. And it’s discussing how people viewed and discussed Undertale, not pokemans.

      • WithoutFurtherBelay [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
        3·
        5 months ago

        Oh

        Well, that makes a lot of sense. Only thing I can add is that I highly doubt Toby Fox (someone who literally made earthbound rom hacks) actually thinks RPG’s are some sort of morally inferior art form

        • Frank [he/him, he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
          3·
          5 months ago

          Oh yeah I don’t want to put any of this on the designers. Whatever it’s flaws, Undertale is a very clever and well made game that got people to sit down and think about gaming in a critical way. That’s pretty cool however you look at it.