Game Ethics - Homo Ludens as a Computer Game Designer and Consumer
Gordana Dodig-Crnkovic
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Abstract
Play and games are among the basic means of expression in intelligent communication, influenced by the relevant cultural environment. Games have found a natural expression in the contemporary computer era in which communications are increasingly mediated by computing technology. The widespread use of e-games results in conceptual and policy vacuums that must be examined and understood. Humans involved in designing, administering, selling, playing etc. computer games encounter new situations in which good and bad, right and wrong, are not defined by the experience of previous generations. This article gives an account of the historical necessity of games, the development of e-games, their pros-and cons, threats and promises, focusing on the ethical awareness and attitudes of game developers.
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Formosa, P., Ryan, M., & Staines, D. (2016). “Papers, Please and the systemic approach to engaging ethical expertise in videogames,” Ethics and Information Technology, 18(3), 211–225. DOI: 10.1007/s10676-016-9407-z.
Papers, Please, by Lucas Pope (2013), explores the story of a customs inspector in the fictional political regime of Arstotzka. In this paper we explore the stories, systems and moral themes ofPapers,Please in order to illustrate the systemic approach to designing videogames formoral engagement. Next, drawing on the FourComponentmodel of ethical expertise from moral psychology, we contrast this systemic approach with the more common scripted approach. We conclude by demonstrating the different strengths and weaknesses that these two approaches have when it comes to designing videogames that engage the different aspects of a player’s moral expertise.
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Reasoning .07 .06 Emotional Stability .18 .11 Rule Consciousness -.27* -.21 Utilitarian versus Personal Focus -.10 -.05
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