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About this video essay:
What do video games really communicate to us about the reality of war? This in-depth analysis examines how our interaction with video game violence is contextualized through game design and storytelling, how they reflect and shape our perception of war, and explores the real purpose and meaning of immersing yourself in virtual warfare.

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction: A New Art of (Anti-)War
8:01 Part 1: Engaging the Video Game
16:44 Part 2: The Gamification of Combat
24:34 Part 3: In Search of Meaningful Gameplay
33:27 Part 4: Hero Simulators
43:44 Part 5: The Struggles of Narrative
53:58 Part 6: The Good Fight
1:03:00 Part 7: Righteous Warriors
1:16:18 Conclusion: A Liberating Ideal

Sources:
[1] “Is there any such thing as an ‘anti-war film’?” https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20140710-can-a-film-be-truly-anti-war
[2] Noah Caldwell-Gervais – The Complete Call of Duty Single Player Campaign Critique (For PC) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvN51r1o1Nc
[3] Footage by SmileLantern: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdZztjMEOG6iPnG5vyL0a2g
[4] Dr. Glenn Walters, in; https://wonder.ph/popculture/why-we-love-horror/
[5] “Is There Such a Thing as an Antiwar Film?” https://people.unil.ch/agnieszkasoltysikmonnet/files/2010/09/Antiwar-Film.pdf
[6] Footage by KahalachanGames: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-jTjE5kXCY
[7] Ernest Becker – Escape From Evil https://amzn.to/3koXV0a
[8] Donald Rumsfeld, in: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-108shrg96501/html/CHRG-108shrg96501.htm
[9] Ulrich Beck – World at Risk https://amzn.to/3s0zn1C
[10] Jacob Geller – Does Call of Duty Believe in Anything? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtCV421T52s
[11] William James – The Moral Equivalent of War http://www.uky.edu/~eushe2/Pajares/moral.html

Further Reading:
Like Stories of Old – The Complete Reading List: https://kit.co/likestoriesofold/reading-list
10 Books that changed my life: https://kit.co/likestoriesofold/10-books-that-changed-my-life
10 More books that inspired my thinking: https://kit.co/likestoriesofold/10-more-books-that-inspired-my-thinking

My Camera Gear: https://kit.co/likestoriesofold/my-travel-camera-gear

Media included:
Battlefield; Brothers in Arms; Call of Duty; Death Stranding; Metal Gear Solid; Hell Let Loose; Killzone; Spec Ops: The Line; The Last of Us; This War of Mine

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Rore – Etne
Chris Coleman – Reckoning
Hannah Parrott – Away
Katharine Petkovski – Avenoir
Cathedral – Winter
Lights and Motion – Tainted
Katharine Petkovski – Orion’s Shoulder
Hannah Parrott – Sacred Rhythm
Jordan Critz – A Ripple in Time
Katharine Petkovski – o.m.w.o.t.
Kollen – Constant Meditatiion
Ryan Taubert – Fool
Ryan Taubert – I’m Not a Tyrant
Alicia Enstrom – Voices

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