The Influence of Ethics in Video Games
The real-world Law Enforcement Code of Ethics PDF is a set of standards for ethical behavior and operations which the gaming industry can take inspiration from. In video games, moral dilemmas and ethical decision-making are often the foundation for storylines or at least a subplot. As game developers strive for immersive narratives, academics and graduates view these processes as critical in character progression and development and how this will affect the gameplay. In this context, the game studios can look at the real-world guidance on ethical behavior and choose to incorporate it in an interactive manner. The following outlines standards or skills in ethical decision-making games developers can distribute among various characters in a game to help progress the storyline.
As gaming companies such as Jenney Games strive to include detailed game descriptions, the motive behind the gameplay is clear. The backstory and storyline are vital to fully appreciate what the game involves and which character traits players will experience. Ultimately, this both reflects and informs moral decision-making and builds character complexity. These themes can be felt in various PC and mobile games, including those found on Jenney Games. Blackjack – the classic gambling game instantly evokes questions of morality and ethics, do players have any obligation to return winnings to the unfortunate people who lost? We’re all aware of how it feels to lose money in different facets of life, responsible adults will honor their debts, do the right thing and pay. However, we also know others will not.
These players can then lose themselves in moral and ethical decision-making in game narratives, such as Paradox Interactive Entertainment’s The Realm. The game centers around handling the political affair of a nation, where your choices will determine the level of internal and external conflict the population – and by comparison, the players – will face. Then, there is Criminal Case, a social media game where players are detectives. There are various storylines, but each involves a murder investigation and the quest to catch the criminal. Various ethical dilemmas arise here in terms of how the investigation will affect the wider community both in game and outside of it. However, a more interactive way to draw on this theme is through games like the Battlegrounds – the player is hunting down other players to be the last one standing with a trophy in hand, whereas in Hades’ Star, the mission is to defend your territory and take down others in an online galaxy. As a result, this type of gameplay encourages the use of code of ethics as part of the decision-making process in the narrative.
The influence extends beyond ethics and morality, even to justice, with games such as Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. The title focuses on the relationship between humans and augmented individuals – those who took a drug to improve their personal capacities. This reflects a polarized society in which many parents would disagree with their children being augmented, thus, allowing for moral affinities and ethical decision-making to come into play. From the Justice Glossary, the word ‘justice’ denotes just behavior and treatment. The definition continues: “Justice is often associated with the law and fairness.”
In games such as Farming Simulator 17, actual machinery is used to accomplish tasks, and in doing so players can learn about the nuances of being a farmer. For example, buying a new tractor or combine will improve the job completion time or overall efficiency. However, ethical decision-making can be further integrated through the purchase process, where the credit-card will avoid transactions or various jobs are now unavailable because the credit is poor. Another dimension would be to connect the real-life person behind the avatar to encourage decision making, budgeting and ultimately, how and where the money was spent. A third option would be to offer rewards for ethical decision-making in-game.
In RTS games and arcade games, there are often decision trees, which channel decision-making into a certain category. A good example of this is in Stellaris, one of the many titles released by popular PC game developer Paradox Interactive Entertainment. The game uses decision trees to direct the game focus, such as a low character disposition towards warfare or a high character disposition towards trade. Through these small choices, the game will then respond accordingly with additional storyline elements. This can be applied to any game.
However, there is another dimension to this. My Summer Car, for example, is a simulator where you build and maintain a car in the role of an outsider – a mechanic. The decisions players will make are inherently moral and ethical as the game is based within the time constraints set by those who listen to pitch black radio stations and drive without safety precautions. Around this is a sub-narrative of ethical decision-making that can keep the game interesting. This example could be extended to RPGs by building on moral decision-making and consequences, ensuring players have to weigh the pros and cons of their decision.
How often have ethical dilemmas been featured in games like Final Fantasy VII, Soldier of Fortune, Kingmaker, Red Dead Redemption 2, Colonial Conquest, Blue Max, Heroes of Mighty Magic, or a classic DOS game like Leisure Suit Larry? Each forces critical thinking about decision making, potential outcomes and how it reflects on the individual outside the game. You can be sure that conscious learning is taking place, especially how it is influenced by morality variables collected into a decision tree format. Each of these games allows for the moral and ethical considerations of real-life to be reflected within the game through the decision of the player and the outcome of their choice.
The crossover between law enforcement or governmental decision-making is evident in the Rune Factory series, as well as various other Nintendo games, where duties and responsibilities are at the forefront of gameplay and progression. It has applications both in real-life and in-game where the ethical codes can be easily compared, allowing players an opportunity to grow in ethical decision making. Finally, it can be noted that no matter how you choose to implement ethics in video games one of the key rules should be that no one is allowed to revive or recover from death.