While some would expect a certain number of negative reviews for any new game brought to market, I can honestly say I didn’t expect the far-right (or the far-left for that matter) to have an opinion on Watch_Dogs ‘ release.
Former FOX news host Glenn Beck took to the airways via his internet show and criticized a myriad of things about Ubisoft’s title; not the least of which included the games main characters, the company itself and the possible effects that video games have on our brains.
During the broadcast, Beck asked the questions, “Why must everyone be an anti-hero,” after holding up Superman as a healthier alternative. He then suggested that the game itself was “…teaching you to hack and then become the ultimate voyeur in other people’s lives, including their bedrooms, by hacking into their phones and everything…What the heck is wrong with us? What are we thinking?”
While Beck’s comments may seem a bit uniformed (as I’m sure his experience with the industry overall is quite limited) he does state that blaming games (or other forms of media) regarding violence is a bit unfair to those who actually make them. “Everybody wants to talk about guns; everybody wants to talk about Hollywood movies; everybody wants to talk about the guys who made these video games. It’s not their fault. Yes, it’s really hard to avoid video games…and then once you start, it’s hard to put them down.” Beck also draws comparison to other addictions, claiming that a chain-smoker was more likely to stop this unhealthy habit than give up the vices of their digital lives and social media.
What do you think of Glenn Beck’s comments? Is he on point or completely off the wall? We want to hear from you!