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It's nearly Halloween! Time to get scary.
And what's scarier than videogames? How about deadly ones!
Killer Videogames, a thread
And what's scarier than videogames? How about deadly ones!
Killer Videogames, a thread
As with many forms of New media, videogames have often been culturally demonised as a life destroying habit.
Whilst this Luddite-esque concern has been mostly ridiculed in the media, there have been some glorious cases of ownership and leaning into the absurdity.
Whilst this Luddite-esque concern has been mostly ridiculed in the media, there have been some glorious cases of ownership and leaning into the absurdity.
One of the best things to come out of this demonisation, is the trope of the ‘killer videogame’ – essentially, a video game that if you play, it will literally attempt to kill you in some way or another.
Terrifying, in theory. Less so in practice, as we'll see.
Terrifying, in theory. Less so in practice, as we'll see.
Of course there are some big name examples of this: Tron (1982), Sword Art Online (2002/2012) and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) among many more.
But here are some fun, more overlooked examples:
But here are some fun, more overlooked examples:
Arcade (1993)
In this science fiction horror movie of the early 1990s, virtue reality will steal your soul!
This came out during the 90s fascination with VR, just a couple of years before the release of Nintendo's Virtual Boy.
In this science fiction horror movie of the early 1990s, virtue reality will steal your soul!
This came out during the 90s fascination with VR, just a couple of years before the release of Nintendo's Virtual Boy.
Stay Alive (2006)
In what is technically Disney’s only slasher movie, Stay Alive tells the story of an online PS2 game of the same name, whose players get killed off one-by-one in both and game and real life accordingly.
In what is technically Disney’s only slasher movie, Stay Alive tells the story of an online PS2 game of the same name, whose players get killed off one-by-one in both and game and real life accordingly.
Food Court, PaRappa the Rapper 2 (2002)
In a sweet meta-twist in Parappa the Rapper 2, Parappa must travel inside the ‘Food Court’ game in order to stop the noodleization of the world by the evil Noodle Syndicate. Not explicitly deadly, this one, but still counts!
In a sweet meta-twist in Parappa the Rapper 2, Parappa must travel inside the ‘Food Court’ game in order to stop the noodleization of the world by the evil Noodle Syndicate. Not explicitly deadly, this one, but still counts!
FPS, X-Files (2000)
In what is potentially the most dated episode of X-Files, FPS tells the story of a killer VR game called... FPS.
In it, Mulder and Scully must travel inside the game to uncover how it’s players are mysteriously dying by virtual gunshot wounds.
In what is potentially the most dated episode of X-Files, FPS tells the story of a killer VR game called... FPS.
In it, Mulder and Scully must travel inside the game to uncover how it’s players are mysteriously dying by virtual gunshot wounds.
Virus (1998), by Neil Gaiman
Not a TV show, movie, or a game this. This is actually a short story!
In this, a terribly addictive videogame forces everybody to keep playing, no matter what. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52397712-virus
Not a TV show, movie, or a game this. This is actually a short story!
In this, a terribly addictive videogame forces everybody to keep playing, no matter what. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52397712-virus
Polybius (198?)
Okay so this one could actually be real*.
Polybius is an urban legend, that tells of an arcade game designed by the US government to produce psychoactive effects in its players.
This eventually led to side effects such as insomnia, amnesia, and even death...
Okay so this one could actually be real*.
Polybius is an urban legend, that tells of an arcade game designed by the US government to produce psychoactive effects in its players.
This eventually led to side effects such as insomnia, amnesia, and even death...
(*it's not real)
What KiLlEr ViDeOgAmEs did we miss off this list?
Share with us your favourites!
Share with us your favourites!
