Kenneth Leung

I emailed him. Prick! Here's what I sent him:

Dear Mr. Rueter,

Though you make some valid points about violence video games in your article "Degrees in Video Game Design 'Kidnap American Education'", you make some gross generalizations in your depiction of Interactive Entertainment degree programs. I am an MFA student in Interactive Media at the University of Southern California and I can tell you that not one of the current thesis projects in the works promotes violence.
My project is an interactive character drama about how obsession can lead to the downfall of an honorable man. Standing face-to-face with different characters and interacting with them is the only thing that takes place--there is no violence.
Other projects include: a digital confessional booth, a game that allows players to conduct the creation of the universe, and a game that encourages players to work to STOP the violence in the Sudan.
All of our projects are thoroughly grounded in research on game theory (i.e. Rules of Play by Salen & Zimmerman), interactive narrative (i.e. Hamlet on the Holodeck by Janet Murray), cinema, theater, and more. We are looking to take games & interactive media beyond the banality of shooters & hack-and-slashers, in the hopes of creating art that conveys deep themes and complex characters. Remember that there was a day when film was not widely considered a serious area of academic study, much as games are not today.
I can't speak for other game design programs--perhaps some of them are merely jumping on the bandwagon--but I am offended that you included the University of Southern California on your list of schools that are "kidnapping American education."

Sincerely,

- Michael Steffen

I took a Social Psychology class by Brad Anderson at Iowa State University in 1999, and participated in one of his studies where I was a subject. I was put in a room where I debated abortion with another subject via an electronic chat room. The "other subject" was actually a researcher working for Anderson that basically took the polar opposite of any argument I presented and tried to antagonize me. At the end of the chat I was asked about my perceived level of agression towards the subject.

There was a boxing bag in the room (that I didn't punch) but I guess was there for particpants in another version of the study to punch in order to gauge their increased level of agression as a result of some interaction. I can't remember all the specifics, but his argument seemed to say that violent games increased the level of agression in people, and that this translated into increased levels of violent tendencies against other humans.

Error on my part. His name was Brad Bushman, but his research is related to Craig Anderson's.

Brad, that's really interesting. To me it really speaks to the attitude of a game towards violence rather than the violence within the game (also a non-physical definition of violence). Most games I have seen that involve violence simply use it as a way to get through levels (WWII games, for example), not as a way to taunt or provoke the player into thinking that violence was a viable way to solve problems or release aggression.

Send more letters! Somebody from the dean's office should contact him and give him some hell for misinformation...

We, the devils children declare that we love playing Cloud and similar first-person-shooters, er I mean flyers, and other violent games such as Parcheesi and the ever so controversial Zuma and Tetris. Moreover, Bernie is Satan's angel and he secretly tries to train us in the art of warfare and violence against women. And don't even get me started on those steroscopy people: if students can be coerced in mono, imagine the harm and brainwashing that can be achieved in stereo! Alas, bring in the exorcists!

Games promote fun and we all know that promotes leisure and of course leisure is evil because it promotes slothfulness and we know what happens after that...Forget Sudan, ecology, justice for all, etc. We deep down want to make things explode and we are deeply inspired by GTA San Andreas, car theft and prostitution.

Man-oh-man will it be fun joining the rest of us in hell and boy-oh-boy will it be a cold lonely place to be in heaver with the likes of Dr. 'Rooter'...

This guy must be really desperate trying to appeal to the easily scared elderly and evangelicals voters. Way to go Rueter! You're a champ! Make grandma proud!

great letter Mike - thanks for taking such prompt and correct action on all our behalves!