Thematic and Philisophical Story Telling in Games Media

Why System Shock 3 will be about gender identity in general and the philosophical nature of games as media.

Why wouldn't it be? or more specifically why wouldn't it be about identity? System Shock 2 was also about identity, It was also about masculine conflicts with the feminine. Not only played out with in Shodan and represented in the struggle between Shodan and Soldier but also between Shodan and the many. At the same time there was also conflict between biology and technology. Also represented in much the same way.

Arguing that having this in the game now is some how too political is not really a fair statement as those themes in Ss2 are what made it so good in the first place. Remove them and the game may still be good but will be much more shallow for it. Shodan represented as more male is fine. It is an interesting take on it. Why change it? Change the design slightly sure if it can be improved. But I am generally interested in the story that is being told and want to see how it can lead to possibly disturbing (out of comfort zone) and deep discussions. Which is frankly the realm of dystopian Science fiction

"Is this still something science fiction is for exploring, or not?" (quoted from anon) This is spot on. With out these elements in the game it will take away one of the main thematic uses of story telling and philosophical discussions that was one of they key factors of the game being so great in the first place. Though it seems it may be under appreciated or overlooked. It is the realm of science fiction to take us further from present reality to discuss themes and ideas we would not otherwise even think of or often may not even want to.
If you want to call that politics in a game and that it should not be there well you end up with Call of Duty or some other such mundane game.

Good work should disturb us. And I dont mean in the form of gratuitous gore but in ways that make us think about things we would not otherwise. Ethics, identity, environment, corporate capitalism, violence, technology, sexuality........

It s why David Croneburg films such as Existenz, VIdeodrome, and Deadringers are so good. You can even take Carpenters the Thing as a prime example. With out the political ramifications of the film and the story it is based on the novella Who Goes There it would not even come as close to being disturbing or good It was a prime example of identity lines blurring and was also a critique on the Cold War between the US and The Soviet Union.

Saying there is no room for philosophical discussion in media makes for weak and mundane games.