Matthew Kaplan of GameCritics thinks games have a lot of growing up to do, especially as the median age of gamers inevitably gets older. His essay argues that games, which often involve superhuman or at least athletic protagonists capable of amazing feats, rarely deal with the issues of aging and if so, typically as a limitation only.

But placing a game in the context of someone’s advanced age would deepen both its story, its characters, and the relationships players form with them, Kaplan argues. He goes so far as offering Prototype as a theoretical example, and it wasn’t at all as silly as it sounded at first.

This isn’t an issue of inclusion to the degree that ethnic diversity is; the elderly, right now, don’t game in huge numbers, of course. But there is a difference between growing old and evolving, and for games, including the elderly more would be the latter.

Ah, to be OId and Fragging: Roles for the Elderly in Video Games [GameCritics, Oct. 27, 2009.]

As the median age of gamers continues to rise, I wonder how this will be reflected in the character creation choices made by players. I can only speculate that concern over the seeming physical disconnect between the actions demanded of that character and those we consider typical of the elderly will cause even the oldest players to mold younger, more “able” characters.

Yet this is precisely why we need to re-examine what it means to be “able” or an active agent in an escapist fantasy. I ask that aspiring designers consider the following questions with regard to roles for the elderly:

1. Why can’t physical trials reflect the obstacles inherent to growing older while still maintaining their end result of power in addition to experience/success? For instance, why couldn’t Prototype’s Alex Mercer be an elderly man or woman who must wrestle with the newfound power brimming inside them as it conflicts with what they previously considered to be an aging body? Certainly, that is a far more interesting set of physical boundaries for the player to immerse himself/herself in than simply playing as “generic, muscular young male X.” I think the only game that did this even marginally well was Metal Gear Solid 4, but that game addressed age as a constraint more than as a natural characteristic of its protagonist (which makes sense, given that Snake’s aging between Metal Gear Solid 2 and 4 was mostly artificial).

2. Why are the objects of desire in games typically younger males and females? Isn’t an older man or woman worth fighting for? Relationships don’t simply stop after youth.

3. What sort of interesting introspection and character development can come from the dilemmas faced by older men and women? Why can’t a journey of discovery be just as compelling if the character doing the discovering is elderly? More pertinently, why is growing older considered the end of a journey rather than the beginning of one?

Of course, there is always the question of whether an idea for a video game is marketable. However, I ask that creators and storywriters not fall into the trap of stereotyping for the sake of pushing what the nebulous and questionable “market” considers “attractive.” What I have found is most often attractive to gamers is that which most pleasurably defies their expectations.

And when it comes down to it, the word “pleasure” is at the heart of this issue. For all the patronizing glories we confer upon the elderly, we often associate growing older with a descent of condition, away from pleasurable activity and towards death. Surely the process of growing old is not always a pleasurable one, but there is nothing about old age that makes growing up and having fun mutually exclusive.- Matthew Kaplan

Weekend Reader is Kotaku’s look at the critical thinking in, and of video games. It appears Saturdays at noon. Please take the time to read the full article cited before getting involved in the debate here.

Characters include two versions of Old Snake, Raiden, Liquid Ocelot, Otacon and the exclamation mark. Voice samples include Old Snake saying “This is Snake. Can you hear me?” The exclamation mark, of course, makes the MGS exclamation mark noise — something to annoy your friends with! Endless fun.

The keychains are actually capsule toys and available through capsule machines in Japan. It is possible to pre-order a full set for import if you like. If not, well, then don’t.

Metal Gear Solid 4 Ration Sound Keychain Series 2 [NCSX via GameSetWatch]

Before you say anything, yes, we know Metal Gear Solid 4 has been out in select PAL territories for months now. Guess it’s now out in more territories.

So what better way to celebrate the season of weddings than with a quick look at some of the best wedding dresses shown off in video games? A lot of video game characters we know and love have walked down the aisle over the years. Ken got married at the end of Street Fighter II, the entire plot of Dragon Quest V centres around a bride and it looks like Aya’s getting down to marital business in the upcoming Parasite Eve: The 3rd Birthday.

But when it comes to that most important of wedding props — the dress — only a few video game characters and even fewer gamers really get it right. Here are a few fashionable examples:

Princess Peach, Super Paper Mario
Peach almost exchanged vows with Bowser at the beginning of the game, but even though the arranged marriage goes bust before the I dos, Peach is rocking that puff sleeved gown with the opera gloves. Observe how the pink ribbon on the bouquet accents the gem in her crown, too. Classy.

Meryl Silverburgh, Metal Gear Solid 4
The cool thing about Meryl’s dress is the story behind it. I fangirl’d out over speaking with Hideo Kojima at the Game Developers Conferences this year to tell him how much I liked her dress. He replied through his translator that the animators didn’t really know what a Western-style wedding dress looked like, so they had an assistant go out and rent a dress to model for the animators. Good thing the assistant picked a sleeveless number — Meryl is way too ripped to pull off bell sleeves. And kudos on the tiara, but could we loose the gun?

Princess Ashe, Final Fantasy XII
With it’s ruffled train and extreme gold accessory count, this is a gown fit for a princess. Sadly, though, the veil doesn’t quite fit the dress. The length and tiered lace fringe work well, but the giant blue feathers on top and golden cheerios that seemed to be hot glued to the cap scream “I let my little sister decorate this.”

Princess Ashe, Final Fantasy XII
Here’s a veil-less breakdown.

Aidra the Katamari Bride, Real Life
Never mind the nerd factor, look at the detail on that dress in the vines and flower pattern. It’s delicate, pretty and perfectly coordinated to her headgear. Plus the dress can double as a prom gown thanks to the modest cut and straight fall, if the bride should choose to let her potential future daughter wear it.

There are probably more weddings and even more gowns in more games than I’ve played. Leave a comment if you spot any. And before you start in on me about the default gown in The Sims 2, I’m not a fan; the Sims don’t know how to accessorize.

Sent in by a Best Buy employee, and confirmed by other BB employees, it’s an 80GB PS3 bundled with copies of two of the biggest games on the system: Metal Gear Solid 4 and Killzone 2. All that for the asking price of a standard PS3, $US400.

It’s one hell of a bundle. It’s like getting a Wii with Twilight Princess and Mario Galaxy, or a 360 with Gears 2 and Halo 3. But perhaps more importantly, it’s also one hell of an offer; perhaps Best Buy need to clear out their stock of 80GB PS3s for oh, I don’t know, a new PS3?

Yes, the Metal Gear publisher is once again prefacing actual video game announcements with a warning that it plans to make said announcements, a move that has become a Konami trademark. Konami notes today that it will release “exciting” Metal Gear announcements all week long aimed at fans of the tactical espionage action franchise.

Don’t expect all-new game announcements, considering that both Metal Gear Solid: Rising and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker recently had their existence confirmed. Instead, anticipate “game updates and other highly anticipated announcements” from Konami.

Well, scratch all that, because Metal Gear Solid 4 was a big hit for Konami and Kojima works for Konami. So no wonder he’s back lending his name and expertise to a couple new Metal Gear games — instead of spreading his wings and trying new, unproven titles or revisiting old franchises. (Snatcher, Zone of the Enders, anyone?)

The designer initially did not want to be involved with PSP title Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

“At first, I was just going to create the overall guidelines and concepts for the project, and leave it in the hands my excellent staff,” says Kojima. “I was going to have a hand in the project as a producer, and make titles other than MGS. But, I set the game in the South American(sic) country of Costa Rica and created a story with themes about nuclear deterrence and the cold war. It looked as if it might be very confusing to young people, because of generational differences. So, in the end I finally said, ‘I’ll do it.’”

Phew — because he obviously knows about Costa Rica and none of his other games are confusing. Peace Walker is in good hands.

Kojima was also dragged into home console title Metal Gear Solid: Rising as well, because “it’s a completely different kind of action than what has appeared in the series so far”. The MGS creator adds, “I’ll be working more deeply on the project then a normal producer.” Delightful if you’re ready for more Metal Gear, not so much so if you were looking forward to something else. Fingers crossed that after these titles are released, Kojima will finally be able to move on.

Kojima Explains Why He Took on MGS: Peace Walker, Introduces “Love Box” [GameCenterOnline via PS3 Center]

When the game was released, there was talk from the designer about leaving the franchise — like there is every time he finishes a Metal Gear game. But he always comes back. There must be pressure for him to make more of these titles.

“Yeah, there’s absolutely pressure there,” he told Develop magazine. “Maybe if I quit Konami that pressure might be a bit better, but since Konami handles the business side of our operations, yeah, there’s definitely a demand continue a series as successful as Metal Gear.”

Kojima does concede that what players expect from a Metal Gear “might only be possible from Kojima Productions”. The game creator, however, is possibly open outside studios tackling the series.

“I think in the near future it’ll be like Holywood — there’ll be someone who funds, and a creator. In the past the person who funded was the developer or the publisher,” Kojima said, “but I think in the future they’ll be a clear distinction between those who fund and those who create.” For now, Kojima’s employer Konami is funding.

New place for Hideo [Develop]

Konami’s profit dropped 40.7 percent to ¥10.87 billion. According to Konami, the company’s health and fitness segment faced depreciation. (Konami owns a chain of gyms in Japan.)

Though, its game division was healthy in an unhealthy economy. “In spite of this backdrop, Konami’s Digital Entertainment segment recorded steady sales of METAL GEAR SOLID 4 GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS,” the company stated, “which was released simultaneously around the world in June 2008.”

For the next financial year, Konami forecasts net profit to increase 47.1 percent and sales to inch up 0.1 percent.

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