Electronic Arts advertisement from the early 1980’s asks, “Can a Computer Make You Cry?” brings up an interesting idea about artificial intelligence and emotion in video games.  When I watch a movie that is touching, delivered through live action and a narrative that I can connect with, there is a chance that a lump may develop in a my throat if the main characters are facing death. This also happens when something in the movie makes me reflect back on something in my own life that I can connect with.

In video games, I have never had this experience. I have been frieghtened or startled by actions in the game, but have never felt like I would cry.  I think this is because the graphic capabilities in even the best games don’t fully represent the characteristics of human life as well as live action footage does.  Many games I play also take place in a fantasy or science fiction world.  Since I don’t live in that world, I can’t connect with it or the characters on an emotional level.  Perhaps as graphics move toward real life accuracy and if I play more games that I have real world relationships with, this will change.