VIOLENCE IN GAMES: MASOAMERICAN BALL GAME (1500BC)

      Going as far back in history as I possibly can at this point (I'll most likely find earlier recordings), I have come across the insane sport named the Masoamaerican Ball Game - a central / south american ball game. It's actual goals and rules arent that bizzare when looked at as a closed system (in fact, theyre quiet similiar to ball games of today), but when looked at as a cultural system, the cultural importance and abnormalities reveal themself.

MASOAMERICAN BALL GAME - 1500BC
In-Game Illustration

     Yes, the game has teams, yes the game has a ball and yes, the game has goals, but what's important is its tendancy to become violent, as the Masoamerican Ball Game often served to faciltate cultural conflicts in the dawn of war (isolated or expansive).

    What I find interesting about this is it is clearly a 'game' in th eliteral sense at its core, but it serves to resolve conflict, rather than to purely entertain. It's cultural importance cannot be understated - it's a reflection of the values (honour, culture) of the civalisation's time. The striking detail I learnt, is that in some cases, sacrifices were made to gods before game - mental!

    It's crazy that the act of violence to win a 'game' determines which side is superior, both in-game and in cultural hierachy. But to be honest, it's not too disaimlar to modern games when you consider players use violence to succeed in a modern game to earn rewards, progress and feel strong adn 'awesome' (Gun Fire, Sword Fights etc). Violence in ancient games (blood sports) seems to highlight culture on some level and real life conflict while modern games use violence as entertainment and a means to feel 'cool'.

    Maybe this is a pattern I shall see in future reseach - the clear contrast between the and and now. Does  violence in games directly reflect culture and ideologies? Has its use and meaning changed? I'll find out as  trod down the timline until the present day.

For future reference, here is a quick over of this common game that has violent tendacies prompted through conflict.

The specifics of the ominously-titled “Mesoamerican Ballgame” aren’t well-known, and frankly, don’t matter that much. Two Central or South American teams would try to keep a ball in play in a long alley flanked by walls. Later, hoops would be added to the walls to serve as goals. The ball was moved with the Mayan players’ hips, but later their forearms or feet.

The game often served to resolve disputes in lieu of war, so the matches were taken VERY seriously. So seriously, in fact, that human sacrifices were made to the gods before games.

REFERENCE LINK

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