R3 'Game' theory?

[ahinton]

I suppose that there would have to be many Services before Game, set and match is reached...

[jayne lee wilson]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/oct/09/fear-video-gaming-fans-addiction

[doversoul1]

I'm not really interested in listening to film music outside its original context, but plenty of people are, witness the large numbers of CDs devoted to film music. Surely the music composed for games deserves a similar degree of respect. Most music composed for video games is formulaic and dull but then so, to the non-aficionado, is most film music. There's no need to assume it should all be "filed under trash". Whether it belongs on Radio 3 is another question. It should depend on the extent to which it can stand on its own as something to listen to, surely. But plenty of concert music that's played on Radio 3 fails that test as far as I'm concerned.

Is this not the very question this thread is asking (i.e. not about the value etc. of the games or its music)?

[Serial_Apologist]

https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...fans-addiction

Maybe I'm missing out somewhere, but I don't understand how equipping oneself with competitive skills involving fast dexterity and mental agility while tied to a computer screen can build any kind of meaningful kinship with others who are not physically present. Surely concentration on only one facet must make kinship false, one-dimensional and evasive if it avoids the multilevelled in relating to others, i.e. discovering, relating and interacting with them as real, rounded people, as opposed to reduced to cyphers somewhere out there in cyberworld? Surely these games merely re-inforce one of the foremost problems of the modern world - the machinations of distancing for illusory personal gain through which in so many aspects of living and being people, especially the young people of today, are pressured to relate to each other?

[Richard Barrett]

Is this not the very question this thread is asking (i.e. not about the value etc. of the games or its music)?

Yes, but I thought the other points that had been brought up deserved some comment.

[gradus]

I don't play computer games but I do listen to music. If I don't like the music I turn it off but I don't want to stop others from enjoying it. I'm at a disadvantage when it comes to games music exposure as I've never listened to it for any length of time, other than when Matthew Sweet has featured it on his film music programme when I didn't think it at all bad. I don't see why the genre differs significantly from film music which (to the disapproval of some) retains a regular dedicated programme on R3. It may yet produce -perhaps already has - it's Korngold, Waxman, Morriconi etc
R3 is very unlikely to revert to a Reithian model or to it's style as it was realised in the 50s and 60s and it is hardly surprising that it tries, albeit unsuccessfully in the eyes of many here, to 'relate' to younger people and those that haven't yet discovered classical music. An ageing audience needs replenishing.

[gradus]

Maybe I'm missing out somewhere, but I don't understand how equipping oneself with competitive skills involving fast dexterity and mental agility while tied to a computer screen can build any kind of meaningful kinship with others who are not physically present. Surely concentration on only one facet must make kinship false, one-dimensional and evasive if it avoids the multilevelled in relating to others, i.e. discovering, relating and interacting with them as real, rounded people, as opposed to reduced to cyphers somewhere out there in cyberworld? Surely these games merely re-inforce one of the foremost problems of the modern world - the machinations of distancing for illusory personal gain through which in so many aspects of living and being people, especially the young people of today, are pressured to relate to each other?

I agree and the apparent emphasis on killing and war is loathsome, but aren't some of these games collaborative needing players to form teams to win and hence, in a sense, not as isolating as might be supposed? Are there popular games that encourage things like generosity, forgiveness, altruism etc...I have no idea.

[teamsaint]

Widening the scope of music on R3 could be a win-win if handled properly, bringing mew music to diversified audiences.

But it is too often done in a weaponised way, viz the negative comments from Suzi Klein and others about "gatekeepers" who are in fact just the core audience. All music stations and genres have their conservative core ( tune in to 6Music during the day for evidence) and an open minded fringe. In a world of endless listening opportunities, but where certain outlets retain great power ( linear daytime BBC radio) care is needed on all sides.

[doversoul1]

Yes, but I thought the other points that had been brought up deserved some comment.

Yes, I agree they do. And if it is about computer games, there is this:

NHS opens clinic to help child addicts of computer games

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/oct/08/nhs-opens-clinic-to-help-child-addicts-of-computer-games

The World Health Organization last year recognised “gaming disorder” as a medical condition for the first time.
[...]
“Gaming disorder is a mental health condition which can have a hugely debilitating effect on people’s lives, both for patients and their families

[jayne lee wilson]

Well, you can get addicted to many things...usually by doing too much of the same thing.... which you may or may not seek treatment for...
All life is risk. What if you never took risks...? It's quite liberating to say "oh to hell with it" sometimes.. and go too far, and regret it later...

Here's Emily Gera's conclusion again....

"Their popularity may be about to eclipse traditional sports, but they actually perform a surprisingly similar function, for a younger age group, to the one fulfilled by football terraces for their parents and grandparents. Because what draws us to these games isn’t the need to feed a compulsion. In most cases, it’s kinship – a very ancient and tribal desire to be part of a group, and one that forms the basis of any team sport".

Emily Gera is a video games journalist.... and knows much more about this than most of us here....I get the feeling she (and most of her friends) will be OK....

[doversoul1]

Well, you can get addicted to many things...usually by doing too much of the same thing.... which you may or may not seek treatment for...
All life is risk. What if you never took risks...? It's quite liberating to say "oh to hell with it" sometimes.. and go too far, and regret it later...

Here's Emily Gera's conclusion again....

"Their popularity may be about to eclipse traditional sports, but they actually perform a surprisingly similar function, for a younger age group, to the one fulfilled by football terraces for their parents and grandparents. Because what draws us to these games isn’t the need to feed a compulsion. In most cases, it’s kinship – a very ancient and tribal desire to be part of a group, and one that forms the basis of any team sport".

Emily Gera is a video games journalist.... and knows much more about this than most of us here....I get the feeling she (and most of her friends) will be OK....

Would a wine expert write an article about alcohol addiction?

[jayne lee wilson]

Would a wine expert write an article about alcohol addiction?

Why not? I've read such things several times...... as long as you make the crucial distinction between dependency and alcoholism...

There are quite few high functioning addicts about.... you might know a few without knowing....

[Edgy 2]

My son showed signs of a cordination disorder when he was about 5 years old.
He was encouraged to spend some time playing computer/video games by a consultant and this certainly helped him.
We even now (he’s 27 btw )have the occasional 2 player session,usually football,racing or a retro game like PacMan.
There was a time when I might have included the Rainbow Road theme tune from Mario Karts in my desert island discs

[MrGongGong]

As someone who has no interest whatsoever in video games I have a similar interest in this alien genre - I’ll file it in trash together with all the other stuff I don’t want to waste my ears on!

Always good to have an informed opinion IMV

[Jonathan]

I was looking at things in u-tube some months ago and ended up listening to some music from a game, I can't remember which one and I was rather surprised by a) how good it was and b) that it was game music. I also have no interest in gaming but what I heard was actually rather impressive and might perhaps lead some players towards classical music.