Do Politics Belong in Video Games?
This past week, Final Fantasy XII was released in the US. I had been eagerly awaiting an opportunity to play the game specifically to see how well the new combat system worked, so I began my journey in the world of Ivalice the same day I had it in my hands. After a few hours of playing, I noticed something a bit odd about the plot: I couldn't quite figure out who were the protagonists and who were the antagonists. On the one hand I was angry at the country of Archadia for invading Dalmasca, but on the other hand I was angry at the Dalmascan's who were involved in resisting of the occupation since Archadia claimed their intent was peace.

It wasn't until I was wandering around in the underground section of Rabanastre that I suddenly realized the significance of the plot. Underground Rabanastre has a moderately Arabian style which reminded me that the original designs for FFXII had distinctly Arabian architecture and costumes. Everything clicked into place and I suddenly realized that the plot at the beginning of the game was a thinly veiled reference to America's (and its allies') war on terror.

I have not written this to discuss the war on terror, the correctness of liberals or conservatives or how much intelligence I lack for not sooner realizing this game's connection to current events. I have written this to ask the question that arises. The fact that Final Fantasy XII covers current political events that strongly polarize the world begs me to ask the question:

"Do politics belong in video games?"

It seems like a rather simple and straightforward question with a simple of straightforward answer, but after careful thought, my answer becomes a muddy mess of "I don't know." Do politics belong in video games?

Since Final Fantasy XII places players in control of Dalmascans involved in the resistance, it immediately makes one more sympathetic to their cause while placing Archadia as the well meaning but imperialistic enemy. In other words, the game is, at least at the very beginning, very much critical of America and its war on terror (perhaps the tone or message of the game changes later on, but I haven't played long enough to say for certain). Video game-playing adults who do not agree with the message of FFXII might get upset at the plot and might not purchase the game, but what will happen with parents who do not like this message but bought this game for their children?

ESRB ratings have absolutely nothing to do with a political message in a game. Most parents don't have the slightest inkling of the actual content of games they buy for their children. I can imagine parents getting upset at discovering a video game their child plays has a political message with which they do not agree. Cries of "corrupting our youth" and "subversive messages in video games" come to mind. Perhaps some letters to congressmen over the "anti-American" content of games, maybe even a press conference from Mr. Jack Thompson.

While the message in FFXII is most likely to upset conservatives, video games with anti-liberal messages could just as easily pop up. What would happen if the new Trauma Center for Wii took a position firmly against euthanasia? I can imagine many parents who believe in the right to die would be extremely upset to discover their children playing a game espousing the contrary view.

Liberal or conservative, communist or democrat, atheist or religious, human or intergalactic alien, there are enough messages that could easily show up in video games to anger people of all political persuasions. Now more than ever, video games are being criticized for their content that some people hold offensive and throwing political messages into the fire will only increase the ire of critics, but just because video games are the media on which is currently focused the "ire du jour" does not mean that self censorship is excusable. This is particularly important to keep in mind if one considers, or wants video games to be at some point in the future considered art.

The argument of classifying some video games as art has been going back and forth for years now. Games developed by designers such as Tetsuya Mizuguchi and Fumito Ueeda would seem to indicate one way, while the professional critic, Roger Ebert, states another. Whether or not a person considers video games as a viable art form, if developers were to begin censoring the messages of their games it would be impossible to ever consider video games art.

Once censorship begins, every aspect of a piece of art becomes compromised or watered down, often losing the actual purpose of the work. William Randolph Hearst was unsuccessful in completely preventing the release of Citizen Kane, but what if he successfully sued to have its plot changed? What if J. D. Salinger's publisher said they wouldn't release Catcher in the Rye unless he removed all the curses and references to sex? What if, while Michelangelo was creating David, he was ordered to chisel the statue wearing clothes? I am not trying to claim that there are any video games that are anywhere on par with these peerless works of art, I am merely trying to demonstrate that censorship can only harm them. Asking video games to censor their message, even if it is self-censorship, would forever deny them the right to exist as art.

So what can be done? Without censorship, there are bound to be complaints when people realize there are political message they don't agree with in video games. If we censor video games, or allow them to be censored, we restrict them to mindless time-passing entertainment and ensure they will never be able to reach the form of art. Neither option will make everyone happy.

I think the only successful option is to have parents more involved with their childrens' entertainment. Video games should be not be used as a babysitter. Parents playing video games with their children can be an amazing bonding experience. If parents encounter something they feel strongly against, it is a great opportunity to discuss the issue with their children. Parents should not immediately condemn a video game as soon as they see a message contrary to their own, but use it to show their children what they believe is right.

Unfortunately, many parents cannot sit and play video games with their children. Many don't have time for a calm peaceful dinner at the kitchen table, or even time to talk to their children about their days were. Does this mean that we should start expecting complaints about political messages in video games? Does this mean we should start expecting more censorship? I hope not. What do you think?

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