I just read an article that states that there is a facebook application video game called "Mafia Wars" that is now using dogs as weapons.

http://animals.change.org/blog/view/mafia_wars_and_video_game_violence_against_animals

I can't believe this. These things give the WRONG ideas to people out there...

Your thoughts and comments please.

It's not the first video game to do it and will not be the last. Personally I'm of the opinion if you don't like it don't play or pay for it, it's not like anyone pays money for Mafia wars anyways. IMO this is just attention seeking behavior similar to Rockstar games with Bully and the entire Grand Theft Auto series.

Other games featuring dogs as weapons/tools
Final Fantasy 6
Okami
Call of Duty 4
Dead to Rights
Shadow Dancer
cabelas trophy bucks
Rule of Rose
Haunting Ground

I'm not sure what moral messages people are suppose to be deriving from video games. I can read about horribly objectionable material, watch some of the most violent dark TV and movies out there, and yes, play some pretty violent video games. I still volunteer at the shelter, have compassion for dogs and other fuzzy animals, and like to believe I know right from wrong.

Seems kind of hypocritical to me. They can base things around corrupting and killing cops and people are fine with it but, the fact that criminals do use animals as weapons is somehow offensive? I also enjoy hyper-violent games like Manhunt (Rockstar game) and am currently enjoying my newbieness in America's Army 2. Some of the stuff you do in Manhunt is, quite honestly, horrendous if you stop and think about it as anything other than lowbrow entertainment. But, it's also the kind of stuff that people actually do to each other in the real world. In the real world, gangstas have pitbulls that they use as "protection" from other criminals...wrong as it is. Personally, I think the more important issue is that this is yet another black eye for the breed.

As far as Melissa's question about what moral message games are supposed to be sending. I think it's the same as any other form of entertainment like music and movies. Some agrees with you and some doesn't but, at the end of the day, it's all just entertainment that should be kept in perspective and, when applicable, the discretion of the parent.

 Quote: melissa thom

It's not the first video game to do it and will not be the last. Personally I'm of the opinion if you don't like it don't play or pay for it, it's not like anyone pays money for Mafia wars anyways. IMO this is just attention seeking behavior similar to Rockstar games with Bully and the entire Grand Theft Auto series.

Other games featuring dogs as weapons/tools
Final Fantasy 6
Okami
Call of Duty 4
Dead to Rights
Shadow Dancer
cabelas trophy bucks
Rule of Rose
Haunting Ground

I'm not sure what moral messages people are suppose to be deriving from video games. I can read about horribly objectionable material, watch some of the most violent dark TV and movies out there, and yes, play some pretty violent video games. I still volunteer at the shelter, have compassion for dogs and other fuzzy animals, and like to believe I know right from wrong.

Don't forget that the very first person shooting game "castle wolfenstein" used evil nazi GSDs. don't really care. just a silly game

 Quote: dennis jones

Don't forget that the very first person shooting game "castle wolfenstein" used evil nazi GSDs. don't really care. just a silly game

I can't count the number of games that use dogs as shooting targets just by adding a little twist. The evil zombie dobies in Resident Evil or the mutated GSDs in Parasite Eve are great examples. Again, I'm not sure what the issue is exactly besides people looking for something to be pissy about.
If a game about being a criminal which features dogs used in a criminal way is a problem you probably shouldn't be playing that game to begin with. I'm not ready to say that other people shouldn't play or that this somehow encourages bad behavior. If someone can't distinguish between video games and real life behaviors then there is really an absence of parenting at a crucial point in that person's life or they were morally bankrupt or lacking to begin with.

This is the same kind of crap that was used to argue that poke'mon was encouraging dog fighting.

Edited by Melissa Thom (05/04/2010 05:20 PM)
Edit reason: pselling

Hey now...those evil zombie Dobies give me nightmares. Wait, most of that game does. Doom 3 is way worse but I don't remember dogs in that....probably 'cause I was closing my eyes! ;0

Hahaha. My wife can't play Doom 3 either.

 Quote: scott garrett

Hahaha. My wife can't play Doom 3 either.

"Half Life" and "Call of Duty" are the only real games, "Halo" is OK

This is why I only play the "Hello Kitty" game!

 Quote: dennis jones

 Quote: scott garrett

Hahaha. My wife can't play Doom 3 either.

"Half Life" and "Call of Duty" are the only real games, "Halo" is OK

I play Gears of War with my hubby I enjoy playing it, gruesome and strange. Not what you'd expect to hear from a girl, I'm sure, hehehe