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INTERVIEW WITH...
Cast |
Crew |
Interview
Robert Curran
Executive Producer
Why did you want to produce a series on video games?
It seemed like the perfect time to tell this story. The people
Involved in the early days were still close enough to recall the events and
remember the details. But those early days weren't so long ago that a kind of mythology was built up around the reality. I wanted to tell the story now because video games have already become a true artistic form of expression, but are constantly advancing technologically. In some ways, they've become more influential than films and television, especially to a younger generation. I thought it was important to see how it all came to be and where it's going.
What is your first memory of playing a video game?
I never really liked video games until the Atari 2600 home console.
Before that, I would have to blow my entire allowance feeding quarters into a machine just to master the basics. The "reset" button is greatest invention of all time.
What is your favourite game?
Madden NFL. Can't get enough of it.
Who is your favourite video game character of all time?
Master Chief from Halo, but my classic favourite is Pac Man.
Do you think it is or will be possible for a computer game to make you cry?
I think I've come close to crying after getting killed deep into a
Level and having to go back to the beginning a few times. But I think it will take a deeper storyline with rich characters to ever really move an audience like great literature, film and TV can. The fact that you can always hit restart and give new life to characters will always keep the audience from getting too emotionally involved. I believe it's possible - and really want it to be - but for me, it just hasn't happened to yet.
What is it that gets people addicted to a game or interactive experience? What is so compelling about video games?
I think the sense of control and order that video games provide keep people engaged and can even be addictive. In a virtual world, if you work hard and follow the rules, you tend to advance and be rewarded. In real life, that doesn't always happen.
What are the implications of a society living in a virtual world? Do the lines between reality and the virtual reality blur?
Video games mean different things to different generations. For me, growing up during the Cold War and part of the TV generation, it was the first time we could take control of "the button" and also take control of the TV set. That was very empowering. Today, all of youth culture is virtual. That's not a good thing or a bad thing - it's just how it is. I don't know if anyone can place a value judgement on the difference between real and virtual experiences. As a kid, all of my friendships and experiences occurred within a radius of where I could ride my bike. Today, kids can have virtual relationships and experience different cultures from all of over the world. Can anyone really say which is better for the future of our society? All I know is that every time a new technology has come along to make the world a little smaller, it's been a good thing. Maybe virtual worlds will help save the real one.
What is your favourite episode of the series?
That's a hard one. The first episode makes me very nostalgic and was a great trip down memory lane. I could really relate to those primitive graphics and sounds. But the final episode really makes you think about where this can all go and how unlimited this form of expression really is.
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