Aaron looks at why morality in video games rarely manages to achieve the lofty goals set by developers… some other group, such as a religion, orb.
accepted by an individual for her own behaviour or2.
Those with a rational disposition would also have no problems with this.
We also know that morality is far from black and white.
Other games tackles specific areas of morality, such asCatherines focus on being faithful in a relationship.
This is all well and good, and were all for injecting some moral choices and development in games.
Most games dont embrace this complexity, instead offering clear cut good and bad choices.
These choices will usually affect your character in either a good or bad, hero of villain way.
TakeMass Effectfor example, a champion of player freedom and moral choice.
Not so for the likes of Commander Shepard.
Take, for example, the parents of a murdered child.
No, of course not.
Occasionally, though, some titles do get a little closer.
Few prompts were given, the whole game left your choices and lifestyle in your hands.
You lived in the world how you saw fit.
It worked, as well as any game has managed thus far.
Similarly, another game that suffered criticism wasAlpha Protocol.
A persons actions and emotional state is far more important.
Psychologists know that its not so simple as a limited selection of possible choices.
This would mean a greater level of artificial intelligence, and even learning and adaptability.
So, what can be done?
As I pointed out earlier, not all games have relied on the same choice-based system.
Here choices werent obvious.
