https://padlet.com/myer2300/c8qnri25qjrh791h en-us 2022-12-06 15:05:51 UTC 2022-12-12 12:00:48 UTC hello@padlet.com myer2300 https://padlet.com/myer2300/c8qnri25qjrh791h/wish/2410910561
In many games with humans being the main character, they usually have an animal companion of some sort. Some of them are actually horses such as Assassin's Creed, Red Dead Redemption, Zelda, and The Witcher 3. These animals are basically used as gadgets in these games to assist humans. When examining how the animals are treated in the game they are just used by any means necessary. Take Dogmeat from Fallout, for example, he is a K9 used to take out enemies and also to trade items found by Dogmeat. They seem to be used to be the first attack source to defend the human character. While there are also animal protagonist games that represent their powerfulness alone  

]]> 2022-12-06 16:09:35 UTC https://padlet.com/myer2300/c8qnri25qjrh791h/wish/2410910561 myer2300 https://padlet.com/myer2300/c8qnri25qjrh791h/wish/2410929057 This book dives deep into the relationship between animals and humans through video games. It brings attention to how animals are represented in games and how they should be treated equally just as well as humans. Players should take into consideration that they are just playing a game and not take violence so seriously. The animals used in games should help create peace because of nature in real life. In many cases, animals are placed into games to serve the human character possibly for transportation and responding to given commands. The animal companions make players feel empathy towards them because they are a companion that helps them out. If an animal gets hurt, for example, they have now lost its buddy and an extra helping hand. 

]]> 2022-12-06 16:21:43 UTC https://padlet.com/myer2300/c8qnri25qjrh791h/wish/2410929057 myer2300 https://padlet.com/myer2300/c8qnri25qjrh791h/wish/2417223008 Simon Coghlan, The Conversation. “Why It Is Not Okay to Hurt Animals Even in Video Games.” Scroll.in, Animal Cruelty, 30 Sept. 2020, scroll.in/article/974118/why-it-is-not-okay-to-hurt-animals-even-in-video-games.

Kennedy, James. “The Best Animal Companions in Gaming.” TheGamer, Lists, 17 Jan. 2022, https://www.thegamer.com/best-characters-animal-companions/.

English, VOA Learning. “Animals like Video Games, Too.” VOA, VOA - Voice of America English News, 13 Aug. 2017, learningenglish.voanews.com/a/animals-like-video-games-too/3980345.html.

Tyler, Tom. “Game.” University of Minnesota Press, Books, 3 Nov. 2022, www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/game.

King, Darryn. “The Unbearable Lightness of Animal Crossing.” Wired, Conde Nast, 8 Apr. 2020, www.wired.com/story/unbearable-lightness-animal-crossing/.

Swistara, Michael. “How Animals Are Portrayed in Video Games.” Medium, Medium, 20 May 2021, michaelswistara.medium.com/how-animals-are-portrayed-in-video-games-89f433526161. ]]> 2022-12-12 02:54:50 UTC https://padlet.com/myer2300/c8qnri25qjrh791h/wish/2417223008 myer2300 https://padlet.com/myer2300/c8qnri25qjrh791h/wish/2417260507 A 17-year-old student who posts videos related to video games was suffering from crippling depression. He had a hard time going out and interacting in the real world. When he came across Animal Crossing he gained happiness from playing the game. This warm-hearted game is a well-known mood booster that allows players to create a town with animal friends to join their community. It is a wholesome video game with no violence. The animals in this game serve the purpose of being integrated into the community where the player and animals reciprocate the help. The animals are represented by human qualities and they are able to do activities around the island such as fishing, collecting fossils, and finding insects. They are allowed to do the same activities that humans do. ]]> 2022-12-12 03:48:19 UTC https://padlet.com/myer2300/c8qnri25qjrh791h/wish/2417260507 myer2300 https://padlet.com/myer2300/c8qnri25qjrh791h/wish/2417284351 In aquariums, zoos, and other wildlife places they are using games to see how animals react to it. Some of these games may help them learn new tricks with treats to reward them. The penguins at the aquarium are so easily distracted by the games shown to them that the workers are able to slide a scale underneath their flippers. These devices are a different form of communication that can help animals train themselves and more. It is interesting to see forms of media being used in animal lives because of the difference in communication. There is obviously a divide between animals and humans but this step into the virtual world can show our similarities in a way.]]> 2022-12-12 04:30:41 UTC https://padlet.com/myer2300/c8qnri25qjrh791h/wish/2417284351 myer2300 https://padlet.com/myer2300/c8qnri25qjrh791h/wish/2417631500 While normally it is brought to our attention that violence in video games against humans should be looked into. It is barely brought up how animals are subject to violence in many video games. Whether it has to do with hunting, for food, or simply just violent acts in an open-world formatted game. This can raise concern for real-world problems having to do with animal abuse. Some players have admitted they felt weird killing animals in video games. Others say it is no different than killing humans. In games where a human is targeted while riding a horse, some players try their best to not kill the horse while others do not care. The problem is that in the real world, animals are almost invisible to society due to their inferiorness to humans. 

]]> 2022-12-12 11:30:34 UTC https://padlet.com/myer2300/c8qnri25qjrh791h/wish/2417631500 myer2300 https://padlet.com/myer2300/c8qnri25qjrh791h/wish/2417635648 Video games allow animals to be expressed in different ways. The graphics used can be so visually appealing, that they almost may look too real. These tactics used by creators are essential in making the virtual world to another level. Take Sonic the speedy blue hedgehog who wears shoes, his creator has given him human characteristics. While in the game Stray, the player is playing as a cat. Through different tactics to depict animals in specific games, there come different emotions towards the animals. Players tend to empathize more with adorable furry animals rather than animals who are being hunted for survival. Depending on the style of the game, an animal is going to be represented differently. Gaming can overall make players have more empathy for animals when used correctly.]]> 2022-12-12 11:34:54 UTC https://padlet.com/myer2300/c8qnri25qjrh791h/wish/2417635648