The front porch from which I’m opining is symbolic of one of our most familiar stereotypes: the grumpy old man who sits on his porch at yells at the neighbor kids to, “Get off my grass!”
This is me – for this week’s post.
As I’ve “matured,” I’ve noticed that I’ve become increasingly critical (mostly in my own head) of what passes for entertainment these days. After months of feeling that low-grade frustration, I’ve decided to dedicate a little cyberspace to my latest old person beef.
There are a couple of video games entitled Royal Match and Royal Kingdom, both produced by a company called “Dream Games.” I have never played either game, nor do I know anyone who has. However, their ads pop up constantly on my phone and iPad. They’ve even made their way onto television, complete with well-known celebrities promoting them..
All well and good in the world of consumerism – doing whatever it takes to get your attention.
Here’s where this particular set of video games goes off the rails for me. In virtually every ad, poor King Robert is facing a high probability of a horrific death – unless, of course, the gamer intervenes and rescues him in time.
Here are a few of the ways King Robert could meet his demise. Death by:
- Drowning
- Being burned alive (sometimes by a literal hand of fire reaching for him)
- Being crushed by moving walls
- Being crushed by piles of stones and boulders
- Being Impaled by a wall of sharp, spear-like protrusions
- A fire-breathing dragon who will either barbecue him or kill him some other way
Doesn’t that sound like wholesome entertainment for our kids and youth today?
Curious, I asked Google whether there were any age restrictions. Here’s the answer I received: “While not completely blocked for kids, parental involvement and awareness of in-app purchases and chat functions are important for younger players.”
Stick with me here as try to get my head around this. The parental caution and suggested involvement aren’t because of the violent nature of King Robert’s demise. Oh no, the caution is because of potential in-app purchases and chat functions. Seriously?!
I realize the topic of violence in video games is already decades old. But I’ve never been a gamer, so this world hasn’t been quite so in-my-face until these Royal games started showing up everywhere.
What disturbs me most is how cartoonish and playful these games appear while repeatedly exposing young minds to horrific scenarios. Even for older kids or adults, games like this can normalize images and ideas that shouldn’t take up residence in anyone’s thought life.
What to do about it?
I’m not a parent so I certainly can’t speak from that perspective. Nor am I suggesting boycotts, petitions, or letters demanding that Dream Games stop poisoning minds, young and old.
What I do hope to accomplish – for myself, and by extension, all of you – is to simply raise awareness. Some of these seemingly harmless games are far more devious and insidious than they first appear.
I don’t plan to start a big anti-Dream Games campaign. But as Christians, I believe it’s important to remain alert to how easily – and how gradually – we can become more accepting of moral decline around us.
One way to counter all this garbage is by intentionally speaking truth. Talk with your kids, grandkids, neighbor kids, Sunday School classes, and anyone else God places in your path, about the things of God. We can’t remove every secular influence from the world. But we can bring balance by speaking God’s truth whenever the opportunity arises.
That’s my rant for the week, from a front porch that’s seen a few things.
I think I’ll slowly get out of my rocking chair, step off the front porch, and get back to my life – with just a little less “grumpy” in it.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence,
if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:8
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