An Ode to Computer Games part 2
In Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Kojima questions abstract ideas like a "national identity" and "Patriotism" and examines how these themes have been utilised to manipulate citizens and servants to achieve their own ends. In this game The US government sacrifice their greatest operative (The Boss) as a double agent, dishonouring her name for all time in order to secure a top secret account with $100 billion in it. Playing as Naked Snake (a.k.a Jack) you are assigned to recover this account and assasinate your former mentor The Boss. By the end of the game Snake discovers how his government manipulated him through ideas of "duty" and "Patriotism" to go so far as even assasinating the woman who he respected, loved, and fought beside for 10 years.
"Enemy? We were together for 10 years, and now you tell me she's my enemy?"
-Snake
This is an especially relevant issue to us today in a time when the "enemy" is changing as government interests and policy change. The United States involvement with Iraq and Iran since the post WW2 period till the present is a real life example. Once the shah of Iran was removed to establish a fundamentalist state Iran, formerly supported by the CIA, became an enemy of the US. Iraq who was warring with Iran therefore became the new favourite supported by the US. That is until they invaded Kuwait and they became evil again.
"Just because soldiers are on the same side right now doesn't mean they always will be. Having personal feelings about your comrades is one the worst sins you can commit. Politics determine who you face on the battlefield. And politics are a living thing. They change along with the times. Yesterday's good might be tomorrow's evil."
-The Boss
The Boss makes an interesting point when she identifies the living nature of politics. Snake is asked to choose between his loyalty to the Boss and his loyalty to his nation.
"Which will it be, Jack? Loyalty to your country, or loyalty to me? Your country, or your old mentor? The mission, or your beliefs? Your duty to your unit, or your personal feelings? You don't know the truth yet. But sooner or later you'll have to choose."
-The Boss
But what constitutes this nation he is loyal to? Is it defined by geographical borders, race, religion, citizenship? This abstract idea of a national identity is constructed and propelled by the government to control a large group of diverse people to achieve their goals. Snake realises too late that he has killed the only thing he ever cared for, and for what, a medal of honour and a government concerned with money that would soon as do the same thing to Snake. You only have to think back to Vietnam and the governments rabid campaigning for the young fit men of the USA to go abroad and defend her from Communism. Yes they were heroes at the time but soon government policy changed and you can see it in the lack of care they provided for their war veterans who were widely viewed as warmongers by a new free loving generation.
Kojima questions the sensibilty of a soldier giving up their personal opinion and sense of morals to follow orders or "point and shoot". Is it right to have an army of men and women to go to war for politicians under the guise of "Patriotism" when that government and their allies/enemies may change within a few years?
"People's values change over time. And so do the leaders of a country. So there's no such thing as an enemy in absolute terms. The enemies we fight are only in relative terms, constantly changing with the times."
-The Boss
Kojima forces people to question what they are told by the media and government and make their own decisions based on their morals, because the minute one gives up their right to choose they have given up their freedom. I guess this is what soldiers do when they join the army, they give up their "personal beliefs" to follow "duty" and effectively become a human weapon. Personally I believe its important to follow your personal beliefs because in the end you are responsible for your actions but at least you know you chose to instead of being ordered to. In 1966 Muhammad Ali refused to go fight in Vietnam because it conflicted with his personal beliefs. This resulted in Ali being banned from fighting in the US. Things have changed alot since '66 and Ali is respected for being a conscientious objector to an unjust war but at the time he was considered a coward and "un-Patriotic".
"I ain't got no quarrel with those Vietcong"
"no Vietcong ever called me nigger."
-Muhammed Ali
Kojima's game lends credibility to the idea that Computer Games have great narrative potential on par with both Film and Literature. So for those of you who are searching for a Computer game with more story than Pacman I recommend you check out the Metal Gear Solid series, (even if they are a little confusing at times).
Other recommended Games:
- Max Payne 1&2
- XIII
- Half Life 1&2
- Halo 1&2
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Majoras Mask, Twilight Princess
- Fallout 1&2
- Shen Mue 1&2
just to name a few, but there's a game out there foor everyone.
Ok enough with the ramble, time to play some PSP wi-fi Tekken DR
-Caleb (is hungry)
"Enemy? We were together for 10 years, and now you tell me she's my enemy?"
-Snake
This is an especially relevant issue to us today in a time when the "enemy" is changing as government interests and policy change. The United States involvement with Iraq and Iran since the post WW2 period till the present is a real life example. Once the shah of Iran was removed to establish a fundamentalist state Iran, formerly supported by the CIA, became an enemy of the US. Iraq who was warring with Iran therefore became the new favourite supported by the US. That is until they invaded Kuwait and they became evil again.
"Just because soldiers are on the same side right now doesn't mean they always will be. Having personal feelings about your comrades is one the worst sins you can commit. Politics determine who you face on the battlefield. And politics are a living thing. They change along with the times. Yesterday's good might be tomorrow's evil."
-The Boss
The Boss makes an interesting point when she identifies the living nature of politics. Snake is asked to choose between his loyalty to the Boss and his loyalty to his nation.
"Which will it be, Jack? Loyalty to your country, or loyalty to me? Your country, or your old mentor? The mission, or your beliefs? Your duty to your unit, or your personal feelings? You don't know the truth yet. But sooner or later you'll have to choose."
-The Boss
But what constitutes this nation he is loyal to? Is it defined by geographical borders, race, religion, citizenship? This abstract idea of a national identity is constructed and propelled by the government to control a large group of diverse people to achieve their goals. Snake realises too late that he has killed the only thing he ever cared for, and for what, a medal of honour and a government concerned with money that would soon as do the same thing to Snake. You only have to think back to Vietnam and the governments rabid campaigning for the young fit men of the USA to go abroad and defend her from Communism. Yes they were heroes at the time but soon government policy changed and you can see it in the lack of care they provided for their war veterans who were widely viewed as warmongers by a new free loving generation.
Kojima questions the sensibilty of a soldier giving up their personal opinion and sense of morals to follow orders or "point and shoot". Is it right to have an army of men and women to go to war for politicians under the guise of "Patriotism" when that government and their allies/enemies may change within a few years?
"People's values change over time. And so do the leaders of a country. So there's no such thing as an enemy in absolute terms. The enemies we fight are only in relative terms, constantly changing with the times."
-The Boss
Kojima forces people to question what they are told by the media and government and make their own decisions based on their morals, because the minute one gives up their right to choose they have given up their freedom. I guess this is what soldiers do when they join the army, they give up their "personal beliefs" to follow "duty" and effectively become a human weapon. Personally I believe its important to follow your personal beliefs because in the end you are responsible for your actions but at least you know you chose to instead of being ordered to. In 1966 Muhammad Ali refused to go fight in Vietnam because it conflicted with his personal beliefs. This resulted in Ali being banned from fighting in the US. Things have changed alot since '66 and Ali is respected for being a conscientious objector to an unjust war but at the time he was considered a coward and "un-Patriotic".
"I ain't got no quarrel with those Vietcong"
"no Vietcong ever called me nigger."
-Muhammed Ali
Kojima's game lends credibility to the idea that Computer Games have great narrative potential on par with both Film and Literature. So for those of you who are searching for a Computer game with more story than Pacman I recommend you check out the Metal Gear Solid series, (even if they are a little confusing at times).
Other recommended Games:
- Max Payne 1&2
- XIII
- Half Life 1&2
- Halo 1&2
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Majoras Mask, Twilight Princess
- Fallout 1&2
- Shen Mue 1&2
just to name a few, but there's a game out there foor everyone.
Ok enough with the ramble, time to play some PSP wi-fi Tekken DR
-Caleb (is hungry)
posted by Anonymous at 12:08 pm
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