In 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, and now in 2004, the Fourth Wall is falling. The Fourth Wall of course is the barrier between the audience and the performers, and is sometimes referred to as the "magic circle" by game developers. This wall or circle or whatever you want to call it is supposed to facilitate the willing suspension of disbelief in theatrical and film performances. In sports, it is intended to prevent athletes from using games for political purposes and from jumping into the stands and assaulting fans, as well as vice-versa. Now it is falling in a new velvet revolution that may have a larger impact than the 1989 one. Interesting that the NBA was compared to Iraq. Seems a bit far fetched at first, but what if war becomes a game with robotically controlled remotely operated weapons being fired by teams of enthusiastic youth safe at home in their livingrooms in the U.S. (and perhaps paying for the privilege), with famous actors such as Arnie playing the soldier avatars. Certainly, the fourth wall would be broken down here in the same manner as in the NBA, especially if the Iraqis came over here and attacked young men manning their Playstations.
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