[mm/teen] McDonalds Game at Media Masters
Today I played the McDonald's video game at mcvideogame.com but this wasn't the first time i saw or played it. I can across this came I think about a yea ago with my sister. At the time I wasn't thinking about the point of view or message behind it, I only wanted to win, and to win you had to bribe important people, lie and steal. I don't want to think that this is what McDonald's had to do to get to where they are now. Basically the game made it seem like McDonald's was bad for the people and in more ways than one. They steal land, they produce and sell unhealthy products, knowing the food is unhealthy but still selling it, treating worker unfairly, all while CEO's tried to figure out how the keep groups who were against the quiet. It really is a shame if McDonald's is really like this. But its hard because even as I tried to play fair the only way to keep things going to to not play by the rules.
This game definitely had a point of view. It was clearly created by a group who is against what McDonald's has been doing. But how could they have known all the aspect? I don't complete trust it. The entire McDonald system can't be so corrupt at every level and not have been caught and stopped. The game, like all others, allowed me to take control and see things from a different point of view. However how much of a choice you get to make is up to the makers of the game. Games are different from other forms of media because they allow you to take control and make the choices where as other forms to media, like documentaries or new articles just allow you to see what going on. With games their are choices but the understanding that each of those choices have consequences.
Comments
Hi, my name is Michael Filsecker and I come from Chile and now I study at Indiana University.I think that your comments on MacDonald’s video game are quite thoughtful. I have thought similar things too. But I would like to encourage you to explain what it means to you to “play by the rules” (you said:“…I tried to play fair the only way to keep things going to to not play by the rules”).
The other thing is that as you well said the group that created the game is biased against MacDonalds. As everyone seems to have biases, what are yours in relation to McDonalds?
Finally yet importantly, you asked yourself “how could they (the creators) have known all the aspect?”…Do you think the creators made these things up? What might be truth and what might not? What would you ask to the creators of the game?
Well, I hope to hear from you soon!!
Posted by: Michael Filsecker | April 8, 2009 6:45 PM
That's an interesting analysis of the McDonald's game! It's a good reminder that games with a political agenda need to also allow the player's to come to their own conclusions instead of hitting you over the head with it.
Posted by: rik | April 13, 2009 11:30 AM
Thank you Amana. It is so interesting that you had played the game a year ago but had a difference experience now. It seems that this time you were thinking about the issue in the game, because the program encouraged you to. I wonder if, in the future, when you return to finding games on your own, if you will still think about the point of view or message behind them. What do you think? Or will that not be important to you?
Posted by: Barry Joseph | April 13, 2009 2:52 PM