Occasionally, one comes accross an unexpected find. I was in an odd mood a month ago and on a whim bought a used x-box and star wars: knights of the old republic 2, I had already played through the first one (it would run on my computer) - and both of these games have amazed me in what information they present. Of course it is watered down, but, what a way to present both Machiavellian concepts, as well as ideas of STO/STS.
In the first game the Machiavellian ideas are mostly infered, except for a few places - like when one finds the star map on Kashykk - that scene inspired me to go track down my copy of "The Prince" to re-read. Likewise, there are obvious correlations between following either the light side or the dark and the STO/STS concepts ...
The second one however, has already gone into much deeper concepts and I haven't hardly played it. In the second, concepts connected to being STO or STS are much more fleshed out, though obviously it's in star wars terms rather than language common to the fourth way, nevertheless - what an amazing way for someone to be exposed to these concepts who wouldn't otherwise be - especially the younger generation. It also kinda presents a pseudo form of networking if you play light-side, in that you have to find the jedi masters in hidding on other planets and forge connections with them and help them, or conversly, infiltrate the planets they hide on to destroy them like a cointel agent. Also - if you are light side you can influence and help your fellow party members to see beyond thier issues, help heal them of those issues and the like - kreia being one of the exceptions it seems - I might be wrong on that (haven't gotten far enough to be sure) and her character being the way it is, it will take longer to get information or influence her anyway. Conversely you can manipulate/corrupt them whatever, to make them not just dark and evil, but also subservient to you. Networks v.s. hierarchies (though even on the light side your party technically is a hierarchy too, because being the main character you gotta make all the major choices for your party regardless). Still, excellent for a game that is all pre-programmed events and options ...
Also, I've just barely gotten far enough in the game to discover just how "powerfull" the second sith lord is (the 2nd you learn about) ... the one that has the face plate that looks like a skull - he is a perfect example of the most powerfull 4D-STS creature imaginable ... he is a black hole that consumes life, he can consume entire planets of life quickly - leaving nothing but dead rock behind. Even Kreia (who's all twisted, jaded and cynical) points out that this sith lord's power has become something primal - he is always hungry and his ability to consume planets of life will only sustain him for awhile, and goes on to say that the sith lord is already dead - it's only a matter of how many more he'll kill before he finally falls. Kreia herself is an interesting character though I am annoyed by what she says - She shares with Jolee (from the first game) the distinction of being a grey jedi - but she is a lot like a canidate for 4D STS, whereas he was like a canidate for 4D STO. Also, it seems kreia fell into one of the traps a lot of esoteric historians do (she was a historian for the jedi) - she was corrupted by some of the information she became aware of - but being a jedi she didn't just fall to darkness, but became one of the most powerfull sith lords for a time, only latter to be striped of that power and left the creepy bizarre character you meet at the beginning of the game ...
There is so much I am impressed with these games, and I highly recomend them. Particularly, to my fellow forumites who have kids ... but I suppose it's a rather dated recomendation being this game has been out for quite awhile - your kids probably already got the game. Perhaps this recomendation is more for forumites that are like me and barely ever play video games anymore, yet still have a soft spot in their heart for such things ... especially if you love star wars.
There was something else - I was wondering if anyone has seen/played any video games that may in some way be benificial towards understanding the work - even if it is like these two games that are just sorta "primers" for kids or those that would't otherwise come across such info. Inversely, any thoughts why this game is bad for the work (aside from the basic things that go with vegging out in video-game-wonder-land) are welcome too. Oh and a caveat about this game I haven't gotten very far on either my light side and dark side game, and my view my be "off" ...
note: I didn't find this thread when I searched for knights of the old republic, so I'm moving this post here. I originally posted it under the title of "video games and the work ..." oh, and I removed the first line, cause it had to do with that title rather than monkee's ...
[edit] - added a couple words and changed the punctuation a little on the initial post so it's a bit clearer
