PBS Game/Show

Why is Killing a Fundamental Game Mechanic? (1x75)

Air date: Mar 10, 2015

Violence and death pervade video games in a way that is atypical of most other forms of media, but why? Outside of the act of just shooting a gun or swinging a sword, the smallest moments of “winning” or “overcoming” in a game are marked by forms of violence and aggression — even Kirby is known to swallow enemies whole. But is it something deeper than just game designers that have a propensity towards violence? Maybe the system, or more specifically computers, favor violent acts at their most elementary building blocks?