Colin Redwood, a fellow Teen Radio Project participant, created a segment on whether violent video games actually promote violence among those who play them.
Redwood's mother's reaction to the video game was very informational. Before playing the video game, she asks her son whether he would ever utilize the violence depicted in the games in real life.
The narration is spot-on, though a bit monotone. The active tape of playing video games and isolated sounds make the segment very visual. The phone interview was an excellent addition, providing an expert's viewpoint on violent video games. The sound quality of the phone interview was a bit off from Redwood's sterile narration, but it transitions nicely.
The ending of this segment was very thoughtful; how many times have politicians pointed the finger at violent video games for the increase in crime rates among teenagers, while simultaneously ignoring other issues that Redwood mentions, such as gang wars, culture wars, and the war in Iraq?
Colin worked as a Teen Radio Project participant over the summer and this segment was the capstone of the internship. As an initial effort, this is an outstanding segment done in a very short period of time, while overcoming many obstacles (ie. difficult editing program, short timespan.) This is a wonderful, inside look into the issue without being overbearing, politically correct or cliche.
Having played video games myself since youth, I wanted to know what a fellow teenager would have to say on the subject of violence in video games and how it affects those who play them.
I was excited before hearing it, but it quickly diminished once I actually started listening to the piece. I was largely confused to what his actual point was. Was he supporting video games? The only clue to that was that he himself admitted to playing them. Put simply, I had no idea where he was coming from.
Then there was his voice; he has a great voice for radio, but the entire time it sounded scripted, and he stumbled over many of his words. I thought that the piece would have been far more powerful if only he had edited out and re-said a few of those sentences.
I think that this piece is a great idea, and I'm all for a story about video games, but it just seemed.... lacking.... It's not too bad of a radio story, it just needs a more professional suit.
I?m glad that he added statistics and sociologists? perspectives. Had he not done that, I?m not sure if I could have forced myself to listen anymore. Someone like me has to have good sound to stay focused on a piece ? whether it?s a dramatic speaker or a group of children playing Miss Mary Mack in the background ? and sad to say, this piece had neither for me. The interviews were much too low compared to the narrator?s audio level and he sounded like he was reading a script because he paused a few times to pronounce words. The introduction is good, but then I was turned off by the lack of interest that the narrator portrayed. His tone was monotonous and boring during the narration, but during the interview part with his mom, he sounded like a true journalist ? conveying passion and ingenuity when teaching his mom how to revert to the dark side of video games. (LOL.) It was confusing for me? making me wonder where that went to once he was on the mic.
I thought that this piece would be a score for the youth who like to play violent video games such as Grand Theft Auto, WWE Smackdown, and Def Jam Vendetta. Unfortunately, I had to chalk this one up as a loss since I took it as just another kid complaining about adults not liking his games.
Comments for Video Game Violence
Produced by colin redwood
Other pieces by colin redwood
Rating Summary
3 comments
Minhal Baig
Posted on January 31, 2008 at 11:09 AM | Permalink
Review of Video Game Violence
Colin Redwood, a fellow Teen Radio Project participant, created a segment on whether violent video games actually promote violence among those who play them.
Redwood's mother's reaction to the video game was very informational. Before playing the video game, she asks her son whether he would ever utilize the violence depicted in the games in real life.
The narration is spot-on, though a bit monotone. The active tape of playing video games and isolated sounds make the segment very visual. The phone interview was an excellent addition, providing an expert's viewpoint on violent video games. The sound quality of the phone interview was a bit off from Redwood's sterile narration, but it transitions nicely.
The ending of this segment was very thoughtful; how many times have politicians pointed the finger at violent video games for the increase in crime rates among teenagers, while simultaneously ignoring other issues that Redwood mentions, such as gang wars, culture wars, and the war in Iraq?
Colin worked as a Teen Radio Project participant over the summer and this segment was the capstone of the internship. As an initial effort, this is an outstanding segment done in a very short period of time, while overcoming many obstacles (ie. difficult editing program, short timespan.) This is a wonderful, inside look into the issue without being overbearing, politically correct or cliche.
Zoe Bossiere
Posted on January 29, 2008 at 04:20 PM | Permalink
Review of Video Game Violence
Having played video games myself since youth, I wanted to know what a fellow teenager would have to say on the subject of violence in video games and how it affects those who play them.
I was excited before hearing it, but it quickly diminished once I actually started listening to the piece. I was largely confused to what his actual point was. Was he supporting video games? The only clue to that was that he himself admitted to playing them. Put simply, I had no idea where he was coming from.
Then there was his voice; he has a great voice for radio, but the entire time it sounded scripted, and he stumbled over many of his words. I thought that the piece would have been far more powerful if only he had edited out and re-said a few of those sentences.
I think that this piece is a great idea, and I'm all for a story about video games, but it just seemed.... lacking.... It's not too bad of a radio story, it just needs a more professional suit.
KaMeisha Jerae Hodge
Posted on January 26, 2008 at 10:35 AM | Permalink
Review of Video Game Violence
I?m glad that he added statistics and sociologists? perspectives. Had he not done that, I?m not sure if I could have forced myself to listen anymore. Someone like me has to have good sound to stay focused on a piece ? whether it?s a dramatic speaker or a group of children playing Miss Mary Mack in the background ? and sad to say, this piece had neither for me. The interviews were much too low compared to the narrator?s audio level and he sounded like he was reading a script because he paused a few times to pronounce words. The introduction is good, but then I was turned off by the lack of interest that the narrator portrayed. His tone was monotonous and boring during the narration, but during the interview part with his mom, he sounded like a true journalist ? conveying passion and ingenuity when teaching his mom how to revert to the dark side of video games. (LOL.) It was confusing for me? making me wonder where that went to once he was on the mic.
I thought that this piece would be a score for the youth who like to play violent video games such as Grand Theft Auto, WWE Smackdown, and Def Jam Vendetta. Unfortunately, I had to chalk this one up as a loss since I took it as just another kid complaining about adults not liking his games.