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Gundam creator says games are still evil, but game hardware isn't

Posted Oct 27, 2009 at 12:11PM EST by Karl B.

Listed in: Tags: Game Conference, Gundam, interviews

EVIL! - Image 1

Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino thinks games are evil. He's said it before, and he's not afraid to say it again. This time, however, he does give credit to what he believes are technological advancements brought forth by video game hardware.

Here's an excerpt from a recent Anime News Network interview Tomino did:

You recently gave a keynote at a video game conference, where I believe you said that video games are evil.

Yes, they're evil. Because they just steal people's time.

Do you think the people who make video games could change them into something more meaningful or worthwhile?

I don't think they can. But in the twenty-year history of video games, one good thing is that the technology they've produced feeds back to the real world. Video game hardware is endurance-tested by hundreds of thousands of people, and that helps establish computer systems that can be used in the real world. So the fact that video game hardware still exists isn't meaningless.

I don't know much about technical things, but I think at the very least, it's thanks to computer games that we were able to develop the programs and hardware to make mobile phones as small as they are now. The fact that the game industry has taken on so many technological challenges has been a big help to the computer industry. Although the games themselves are worthless, in that sense they've been a good thing.

Games are evil - Gundam creator

Via Anime News Network

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He's not talking about monetary value. He's talking about how videogames aren't progressing society as a whole. I suppose he's right in a way. When is the last time a videogame developer won the Nobel Peace prize?

Be that as it may, he's very hypocritical. What a way to point the finger at the videogame industry, when he's the creator of a cartoon, which isn't bettering society in any way imaginable.

# @ TheRockness — T-Max Blaze 2009-10-27 14:24

2 THUMBS UP for spitting the truth

# still at it Mr Tomino? — Ryosuke 2009-10-27 14:26

Yes, they're evil. Because they just steal people's time.

Ok let's put some things into context. He created Zeta Gundam which is admittedly one of the best Gundam series ever created...for the time of course. He then made Wing (which I am STILL looking at why people liked this one) but SEED-Destiny and 00, the more politically complex Gundams were not made by him. He made Turn A, the (get this) CROSSDRESSING protagonist. It was good but very VERY weird.

SO to get back to the point. We have stuff like Animal Crossing where it subtly teaches you about consumerism in ways no one could ever imagine before. 16 classes of pokemon provide a rock-paper-scissor system that requires hours of strategical planning. Add to that IVs EVs and other class moves and you got one of the best brain teasers that a lot of kids are required to think about.

Really I could talk for hours on this, from point and click adventure games to RTS, even to the reflex improving FPS and driving sims, I highly doubt they steal anyone's time because you see, the mind tends to associate different things in order to provide solutions to problems so you NEVER know how an idea came up from an individual who plays games.

Now EROgames are stealing people's time yes. They teach you absolutely NOTHING (contrary to popular belief from people who have never come to contact with a girl) and MMORPGs can be classified as time stealers with everything that requires a lot of grinding and never ends.

# Say hello to Dr. Frankenstein — TruthSayer 2009-10-27 14:29

well, you're either part of the problem or part of the solution.

this guy says that he's part of the problem.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhh ... Susan. I just scared myself."

# Wow...hypocrite much? — Nineball 2009-10-27 14:49

From a guy that made a fortune off the backs of "otaku" by producing media and action figures that steal time and money, but the "otaku" learns no discernable skill, he really needs to think before he speaks.

At the very least, games stimulate fine motor skills, reflexes, spatial and temporal logic. Gundam stimulates buying more figurines....but it's the games that are "evil". Whatever. I don't see him refusing his cut from the hundreds of Gundam games made over the decades.

# Is he on drugs? — Lyonidus Bertt 2009-10-27 15:23

He's really a hypocrite because yeah some games are time comsuming (MMORPGs) but in the end mostly all have something you can learn from ex: Phoenix Wright makes you squeeze your brain by doing the cross examination and pushing the answers from people like you would do, braid makes you excercise our friend the logic beacuase to solve a puzzle sometimes you need to use the time power dance dance revolution makes you coordinate your eyes and feet easier, almost every single game you play has something you can learn from. Thank you, Your Honor.

# Hmph — psp2 2009-10-27 15:28

Hypocrite

# LOL — Torch 2009-10-27 18:04

N1. Truth.

# Huh? — symbal 2009-10-27 18:06

Saying games are evil and consoles are good is like saying cars are good but you not allowed to make them move.

# lol — TouchDaSkeleton 2009-10-27 18:57

what a bald *****ing *****ter lol

# u MO.RON — Tekkenlord 2009-10-27 19:08

he didnt create any game u idi.ot he created the series in wich the games are based wich of course are the real CRAP.

# he forgott to add — Tekkenlord 2009-10-27 19:13

That games are evil but watching virtual the same, pointless, stereotypical EMO crowded chars ANIME is not, so we should trade our play 3 and tekken 6 for a dvd player and tons of idi.otic plot anime with idi.otic gigantic robots of the 60's that are worthles against a nuclear bomb or a zillion megaton bomb than can destroy half the earth with someone just pushing a button and not dressing like a half-que.er queen inside a thing that most operated like a 70's bulldozer, thats what he forgott to say, so yes i'm going to go and run and trade my wii my ps3 and my 360 for ONE DVD player with tons of these wonderful ANIME EMO SH.IT (NO FU:CK:ING WAY LMFOL)

# LOL — Impuls3 2009-10-27 19:18

I agree with Tomino. Just look at that damn evil Italian plumber who uses stars, fire flowers and 1ups as a nice way to represent drug abuse.

# some tell need him gundam are evil — jazneo 2009-10-27 19:23

come on if going to say that. people should tell him gundam shows are evil it show teenage how to kill people lol

# He's right — lito2213 2009-10-27 19:37

but i don't give a f#uck i love video games :)

# Oh... — Woden501 2009-10-27 20:58

But I like Dynasty Warriors Gundam...

# Excuse me... — Silver_Infinity 2009-10-27 22:31

You might want to check your facts. Wing wasn't made by him. He didn't make any of the stuff between Victory and Turn A. Since you liked Zeta, it's probably why you don't find anything nice about Wing.

But of course, you are correct in your points about the games. Everything else *steals* time anyway, it's just a question of an individual values what he gets in return.

# correction — Ryosuke 2009-10-27 23:09

yeah I am sorry you are right Wing was not made byTomino (ok one less reason to fire at him lol) but Victory is better left forgotten and ZZ was an apology to all those who found Z too dramatic. Still he may have started one of the biggest franchises in history but the best gundam series (sans Z) like X SEED and I believe 00 as well were not made by him at all.

oh and to the guy who finds anime stereotypical, you are either ignorant or just dumb. There are so man different genres in anime so there are so many different stereotypes which kinda negates the characterizatio n altogether.

# I think... — Dark_Skai 2009-10-28 01:00

he should have used another word... but what is done is done, anything you do is going to "waste time" doesn't matter what you do, your going to waste it, but he doesn't realize that games can be very beneficial, lots of games now a days encourage players to get up and move around (wii, DDR, guitar hero etc.) and some are designed just to stimulate your brain (that DS game I forgot the name, any puzzle game), and RPG games provide story and yes as many mentioned strategy in battles. Anyway I just think he should have used a different word, or he's just ignorant in general and a hypocrite.

# Gundam Wing — Dark_Skai 2009-10-28 01:06

Had a great story, and great gundam designs, and I think its so popular is due to it being the first popular gundam series in america when it was released there really wasn't anything like it in america so its basically the DBZ of the gundam universe in america, I personally love Wing (Wing Zero Custom looked bad ass!) I think it had a great story, and it was the first I ever saw so it always has a special something for me when I see it.

# Not evil you can learn from them — HirogaX 2009-10-28 03:15

Not all games are evil you can learn from other games you can learn about justice, history, Believing in your self and those things... Like Dynasty Warriors its not just a game but it also can show us the history of china & samurai warriors alike about japan, and also Civilizations 4,3,2,1 those teach us history also like knights of Honor, SW Knights of the old republic can teach us the light side if you stick to the light side that it is, plus you can enhance some of your abilities...

# Video games have contributed there share — DrWho1980 2009-10-28 04:14

@TheRockness:

Many of the best algorithmes used in big applications that in there turn are used in the industry are first used in video games. As an example you could use the 3D algorithmes, great game programmers have found ways to speed up real time 3D rendering. This is later used in 3D packages that are used to make 3D movies, or 3D CAD.

Its wrong to say only the hardware contributed in today's society. Especially when every bit of hardware has to be supported by software to use it. You should also know that often hardware developers program little games on there hardware as a prove of concept. And if you ask why? you should ask them, but I guess it's because its less boring to do.

# lol — Walo 2009-10-28 05:48

If we take the context of his words, we can apply those to anime too. If playing games is evil because it robs your time, then what makes anime more time worthy?... Oh wait of course... if you watch anime you may be able to learn how to fly human shaped spaceships!!!. Really... what a sorry excuse to use for hating videogames. Don't take me wrong I love anime, but I just wanted to prove that he's just talking B.S.

# Yay! — TheRockness 2009-10-28 08:00

Tekkenlord for the reading comprehension win!

I never said he was the game developer.

# ... — TheRockness 2009-10-28 08:02

@DrWho1980

You're preaching to the choir.

# Try... — Silver_Infinity 2009-10-28 13:49

Try looking at all the Gundam VS games. Most of the other games based on the franchise aren't very good, or have lockouts against people who aren't really into the Mecha genre.

But the Gundam VS games? They're very enjoyable, and even non-fans can easily pick up and play.

You can start with the current Gundam VS Gundam, which will have a sequel come December.

# .. — unggoy 2009-10-28 19:23

maybe he sucks at videogames?..

# In that case... — Silver_Infinity 2009-10-28 22:11

Under the same reasoning, at the very least, the 'Action Figures' you speak of help increase one's attention to detail and creativity (particularly when you've become Hardcore), and the shows themselves teach people that War isn't always as clear-cut as it should be, and that 'right or wrong' isn't as simple as that.

That's why he thinks that television shows and movies count. After all, television and film have shaped a lot of how the people (and a culture) thinks, be it in Japan or in the US. Now you just think about that.

# well i dont — Tekkenlord 2009-10-30 10:43

i dont like anime i think the sh.it is really the evil one, creating sterotypes that dresses like a totally loser character just because they dont like their real selfs even if they are REAL and the characters they even fall in love WITH (imagine that) are just a bunch of irrealistic jerks so no i dont like anime even less cosplaying and even less japanese anime culture cuz thats no culture at all, period.

# Weak — Nineball 2009-10-31 20:53

People collect them mainly to show what a fan they are of the show. When people buy Transformers or G.I. Joes, the furthest thing from their mind is showing the small indentation in the left leg or the angle of an eye slit. Story, action, and ability go hand in hand with videogames. Hardcore "otaku" that pay attention to a small detail is a by product that very rarely has any real life application in the world besides ending a conversation with a non-"otaku" really quickly.

# Uh, yeah...? — Silver_Infinity 2009-11-06 01:02

Yes, the reasoning is weak. Because it was based on your earlier line of reasoning. Ironic thing is, you see the weakness in your own kind argument, but conveniently fail to see it in your statement. Double standard, much?

And the point stands. So far, video games have not shaped a culture in general, which is of course, a travesty. Print Media, Television, and Film have, but video games have not. So his point is *semi-valid*.

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