What is your take on violence in videogames?

[Vy'drach]

WARNING: DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE BOTHERED BY VIOLENT MENTAL IMAGES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF INTENSE VIOLENCE!

I was just sitting here, taking a break from writer's block on my fanfic, reminiscing about playing the Aliens vs. Predator demo, thinking about my favorite execution kills, such as my favorite for the Predator, where he stabs the marine in the stomach, reaches through his abdomen, and I'm not sure how he does this with the head, but manages to pull the bloody spine with head attached, complete with skin, through the stomach wound, and he holds up the head to admire the trophy, and the marine stares back mouth open, and eyes blank, and then I remembered an article about AVP in Official Xbox Magazine last year where they tested an earlier version of the game that was apparently much bloodier, where an execution like that would have the marine's eyes and mouth still moving, as if he wasn't quite dead yet, even after that happening, and made me think, "Why did they reduce the gore, this game is CLEARLY not meant for small children or squeamish people?" Personally, that amount of blood and gore wouldn't bother me, I'd expect nothing less from a Predator or a Kainde Amedha A.K.A. Xenomorph A.K.A. Alien. I mean, I remember playing Turok 2, and shooting a raptor that jumped out at me suddenly with a shotgun loaded with explosive shells, and it flew 20 feet into the air, and its head, tail, arms, AND legs were blown off, and the body was flailing about on the ground, gurgling, that didn't bother me, and I was 8, does the higher graphics mean that a game should be any less excessive with the blood and details? It just doesn't seem right to me that an M rated game should be held back from the details that make it truly M rated.

[Guest FoXXX]

WARNING: DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE BOTHERED BY VIOLENT MENTAL IMAGES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF INTENSE VIOLENCE!

I was just sitting here, taking a break from writer's block on my fanfic, reminiscing about playing the Aliens vs. Predator demo, thinking about my favorite execution kills, such as my favorite for the Predator, where he stabs the marine in the stomach, reaches through his abdomen, and I'm not sure how he does this with the head, but manages to pull the bloody spine with head attached, complete with skin, through the stomach wound, and he holds up the head to admire the trophy, and the marine stares back mouth open, and eyes blank, and then I remembered an article about AVP in Official Xbox Magazine last year where they tested an earlier version of the game that was apparently much bloodier, where an execution like that would have the marine's eyes and mouth still moving, as if he wasn't quite dead yet, even after that happening, and made me think, "Why did they reduce the gore, this game is CLEARLY not meant for small children or squeamish people?" Personally, that amount of blood and gore wouldn't bother me, I'd expect nothing less from a Predator or a Kainde Amedha A.K.A. Xenomorph A.K.A. Alien. I mean, I remember playing Turok 2, and shooting a raptor that jumped out at me suddenly with a shotgun loaded with explosive shells, and it flew 20 feet into the air, and its head, tail, arms, AND legs were blown off, and the body was flailing about on the ground, gurgling, that didn't bother me, and I was 8, does the higher graphics mean that a game should be any less excessive with the blood and details? It just doesn't seem right to me that an M rated game should be held back from the details that make it truly M rated.

Nothing worse than Doom lol

[Vy'drach]

I remember when people got pissed at Doom because of its horrible graphic images of gore, then Duke Nukem came out where you fought inside strip clubs and porn shops, and could tip exotic dancers, they got pissed at that too, what was the big freaking deal? Its an M rated game for a reason, do not play it with children present, if you want a fun activity for all, play something less mature like SF64, or actually *gasps* go OUTSIDE and play with them.

[Guest FoXXX]

I remember when people got pissed at Doom because of its horrible graphic images of gore, then Duke Nukem came out where you fought inside strip clubs and porn shops, and could tip exotic dancers, they got pissed at that too, what was the big freaking deal? Its an M rated game for a reason, do not play it with children present, if you want a fun activity for all, play something less mature like SF64, or actually *gasps* go OUTSIDE and play with them.

Duke Nukem 64 <3

Yeah, I don't understand it either :|

[Vy'drach]

Duke Nukem 64 was actually the less excessive remake of Duke Nukem 3D, he didn't swear, and the places were changed to be less sexually provocative.

[Mr. Krystal]

Normal levels of violence ("We're at war. I will shoot you to save myself and my forces.") is fine, even to the extent of a little blood, though in real life people take several minutes to bleed out enough blood to look like the pools so commonly seen in games.

Gratuitous, excessive violence makes no sense to me. It is somewhat disturbing, unappealing, and possibly sickening. People simply don't contain 50 gallons of blood, and they certainly don't spray it like a fountain. Also, their internal organs are not self-launching projectiles.

With regard to what should be allowed, I understand the necessity of rating systems, and they work fine as they are, so long as people actually follow instructions. However, gratuitous levels of violence aren't fit for human consumption, no matter your age. I think the restriction should be made personally, with people choosing not to view such material, not censorship.

[Vy'drach]

Indeed Mr. K, but I was talking more about the game being realistic, AVP actually has little human blood, lots of Predator blood gets sprayed, and some Alien blood does (especially since the Alien's acidic blood is a source of damage and can actually kill you), but the only human blood I've seen in game is whats on the body in the executions, but between the realism of the nerves still activating after death, or the brain not being totally dead yet, is it so bad that they need to remove the eye and jaw movement, does that really raise the level of violence by so much?

[Asper Sarnoff]

As long as the violence is as realistic as possible, I'm fine.

When someone explode in a fountain of blood, and organs keep raining down for minutes on end, I don't find that to be cool, just annoying because the developers either doesn't know anything about fighting, blood and gritty realistic violence, or that they think those who play those games don't know.

[Vy'drach]

Indeed Asper, although the exploding bodies in AVP 2 did make me laugh at times, they had those "spring loaded" organs that Mr. K dislikes, but the types of organs that flew out and how they were perfectly undamaged (such as kidneys still connected together) made me laugh when they popped up.

[Sabre]

I dont have any problem with any element of violence. It's funny you mention gore as the only messure of a mature game. Not plot, detailed gameplay or even sex. That's a very narrow view to have.

Given the Saw games aren't anywhere near as violent as the films, there is still a long way to go for games in the gore department.

[Kursed]

Nothing worse than Doom lol

I donno that resitdent evil stupid video was pretty bad even though blood isn't  the consistancy of pancake batter  trust me I know..

[Guest FoXXX]

I donno that resitdent evil stupid video was pretty bad even though blood isn't  the consistancy of pancake batter  trust me I know..

Doom violence is pretty bad lol

[Vy'drach]

I dont have any problem with any element of violence. It's funny you mention gore as the only messure of a mature game. Not plot, detailed gameplay or even sex. That's a very narrow view to have.

Given the Saw games aren't anywhere near as violent as the films, there is still a long way to go for games in the gore department.

Never heard of anyone getting pissed at mature plots, other than when the dialogue involved lots of swear, actually, even then they don't get pissed, The Suffering, I believe, still holds the record for most swearing in a video game, and no one had a problem with that game. And people having problems with sex in a video game *coughmasseffectcough* is on a level all its own for people freaking out. I personally find none of them wrong in a video game, as long as its appropriately marked. Also, look at the hot coffee mod for GTA, it was consensual sex between two adults, in a game that people and kids under 18 should not be playing, and people freaked at that because it was, "Corrupting our children!" Two things are wrong with that statement 1, What are the children doing playing Grand Theft Auto, and 2, since when is something as natural and normal as sex considered "corrupt" and is to be avoided and them sheltered from?

[SPEAKERnight.]

I don't really care about stuff with blood and gore and stuff as long as the don't go overboard like explicitly cutting someone with a chainsaw in a very realistic (graphic-wise) game.

[Vy'drach]

Then stay away from the Gears of War games Speaker.

[Guest DRL]

Normal levels of violence ("We're at war. I will shoot you to save myself and my forces.") is fine, even to the extent of a little blood, though in real life people take several minutes to bleed out enough blood to look like the pools so commonly seen in games.

Gratuitous, excessive violence makes no sense to me. It is somewhat disturbing, unappealing, and possibly sickening. People simply don't contain 50 gallons of blood, and they certainly don't spray it like a fountain. Also, their internal organs are not self-launching projectiles.

With regard to what should be allowed, I understand the necessity of rating systems, and they work fine as they are, so long as people actually follow instructions. However, gratuitous levels of violence aren't fit for human consumption, no matter your age. I think the restriction should be made personally, with people choosing not to view such material, not censorship.

Same.

Personally, I just do not find "blood" in a game to add something to the gameplay.

And you hear this from someone whose game´s taste is varied and random.

For example, in Clock Tower: The First Fear, you only see blood once, slipping below the elevator because supposedly the bad guy got Jennifer trapped there.  And the game was heck scary at the time I played it, and it considering it was a survival horror game, you would expect blood with some frequency. And yet, you only see it once.

In Counter Strike, yes, there is a considerable amount of blood, but that level I do not find it to be exagerated. Half Life 2, however, I did found it to contain some places with execive blood. For example, Ravenholm (I did not play it, but my brother did and so I know something about the game).

I just do not really care about it as long as it does not annoy me.

[Kursed]

Doom violence is pretty bad lol

I donno i've seen worse..

Same.

Personally, I just do not find "blood" in a game to add something to the gameplay.

And you hear this from someone whose game´s taste is varied and random.

For example, in Clock Tower: The First Fear, you only see blood once, slipping below the elevator because supposedly the bad guy got Jennifer trapped there.  And the game was heck scary at the time I played it, and it considering it was a survival horror game, you would expect blood with some frequency. And yet, you only see it once.

In Counter Strike, yes, there is a considerable amount of blood, but that level I do not find it to be exagerated. Half Life 2, however, I did found it to contain some places with execive blood. For example, Ravenholm (I did not play it, but my brother did and so I know something about the game).

I just do not really care about it as long as it does not annoy me.

honstly yeah Ravenholm didn't bug me at all ,but resident evil where someone get's their head cut of  now that bugged me because honeslty I'd rather not see my player charater's death all the way through.

[Vy'drach]

The blood doesn't really add to the game to me either, just in AVP, one of the attractions to it is supposed to be spectacular displays of blood and gore to enhance the game play, especially in multiplayer.

AGAIN, don't read this if you don't like gory, violent descriptions!

I mean, my friend's favorite execute in AVP as an Alien is where he stabs his fingers (and they have four fingers, but six digits, in that they have a thumb, the index and middle finger are fused, the ring and pinky are fused, and then another pinky), anyway, he stabs the fused fingers into the marine's eyes, grabs the head with his hand, and violently shakes it back and forth until he decides to rip it off. It makes the kill that much more satisfying when you kill someone that's excessively annoying, or one of your friends, in that way, as opposed to just smacking him with your claw, he flies about 2 feet, and lays sprawled out on the floor. And surprisingly, that execute has little blood. But my favorite execute on an Alien for a Predator is extremely tame, I could post a gif of it as my avatar if there was one, and it would be fine, all he does is grab the Alien by the neck and arm, life it up, and bring its waist down on his knee while twisting its neck, worse thing about this execute is the Alien goes all rag doll, and the waist and neck are a little flatter than they used to be. I don't need the excessive violence to enjoy the game, I'm just wondering why they should tone it down when it was always going to be an M-rated game, is the little bit more that was originally coded THAT excessive that it needed to be toned down because adults couldn't handle it?

but resident evil where someone get's their head cut of  now that bugged me because honeslty I'd rather not see my player charater's death all the way through.

I think they did that, Kursed, to enhance the fright level of it, which was a stupid idea since it was no longer a "survival horror" game, something Resident Evil should never of steered away from. Don't get me wrong, Resident Evil 4 was fun, but it could of been a brand new game series by Capcom and still just as fun.

[Sabre]

Let me stop you people there. First off, a chainsaw doesn't make a realistic weapon. It's heavy and kicks when it hits bone, making dangerous to use.

In AvP and other aliens games, gore is a good thing what with the acid for blood. The best example is in Turok 2. If you turn off the blood, the zombies couldn't hurt you because they threw body parts at you.

Blood can be alot of fun. RE2, blasting off a zombies knees, or using the super shotgun to blow the top half of their body off. Well sweet.

Never heard of anyone getting pissed at mature plots, other than when the dialogue involved lots of swear, actually, even then they don't get pissed, The Suffering, I believe, still holds the record for most swearing in a video game, and no one had a problem with that game. And people having problems with sex in a video game *coughmasseffectcough* is on a level all its own for people freaking out. I personally find none of them wrong in a video game, as long as its appropriately marked. Also, look at the hot coffee mod for GTA, it was consensual sex between two adults, in a game that people and kids under 18 should not be playing, and people freaked at that because it was, "Corrupting our children!" Two things are wrong with that statement 1, What are the children doing playing Grand Theft Auto, and 2, since when is something as natural and normal as sex considered "corrupt" and is to be avoided and them sheltered from?

Mass Effect and Hot coffee are pretty tame. Both PG rated sex scenes. There are more graphic sex scenes in games, but they are really bad. It's as titalating as banging 2 dolls together.

Half Life 2, however, I did found it to contain some places with execive blood. For example, Ravenholm (I did not play it, but my brother did and so I know something about the game).

I disagree. Headcrabs are messy things anyway. Add to that the traps made from car parts (that include dropping a whole car on some of them) and saw blades, things will get messy.

No, the real bit that gives you nightmare is when you play the zombie sounds backwards

[Guest Julius Quasar]

It's ridiculous how dumb post modern parents can be.  If they're too lazy to sit down and explain to their kid the difference between fantasy/pixellated violence and the real thing, and the ramifications of real violence/criminal behavior, etc., then they shouldn't be so upset by the violence in video games, movies, etc.  Also, if the kids are too dumb to understand the aforementioned concept of fantasy vs. real violence, they shouldn't be allowed to have any video games of their own, nor should they have a TV in their own room.

The ESRB rating is a load of...

These damn stupid do-gooder helicopter parents use the law to try to dictate how everybody else should raise their own kids by pushing for passage of all kinds of ass-backwards legislation and regulation (like ESRB Ratings), sometimes to try to compensate for their own shoddy child rearing.

There was this asshat attorney who was from Alabama/Florida/Georgia who lost his Bar License after trying to harass the video game companies that sold and created "violent games".  Serves him right.

No limit on violence, I guess a warning may as well be issued to indicate the amount of violence "So some cwybaby doesn't get fwightened".      :P

[Guest FoXXX]

It's ridiculous how dumb post modern parents can be.  If they're too lazy to sit down and explain to their kid the difference between fantasy/pixellated violence and the real thing, and the ramifications of real violence/criminal behavior, etc., then they shouldn't be so upset by the violence in video games, movies, etc.  Also, if the kids are too dumb to understand the aforementioned concept of fantasy vs. real violence, they shouldn't be allowed to have any video games of their own, nor should they have a TV in their own room.

The ESRB rating is a load of...

These damn stupid do-gooder helicopter parents use the law to try to dictate how everybody else should raise their own kids by pushing for passage of all kinds of ass-backwards legislation and regulation (like ESRB Ratings), sometimes to try to compensate for their own shoddy child rearing.

There was this asshat attorney who was from Alabama/Florida/Georgia who lost his Bar License after trying to harass the video game companies that sold and created "violent games".  Serves him right.

No limit on violence, I guess a warning may as well be issued to indicate the amount of violence "So some cwybaby doesn't get fwightened".

"Cartoon violence" XD

[Guest DRL]

Like I said, I do not mind if it does not affect gameplay. In fact, I often ignore it, as if it was not there. I do get annoyed with it when there are exagerated things like cutting someone´s head only to observe a bath of blood. I do not how do you react to that, but I find it annoying.

And regarding to kids, well, remember that my brother is younger than me. Yet he does like all that exagerated bloodbath stuff. He has some games that exagerate blood such as Prototype and God of War 2. He knows it is just a game, but he likes it.

If people do not want their kids playing these types of games, simply do not buy them. It is just as easy as that.

But, like I said before, I just do not find it to be an important factor in a game, but if it is there, I ignore it, because after all what I like of a game is the gameplay, maybe it´s plot, maybe also it´s music/sounds, but not the after-death effects (well maybe some effects such as the huge explosions like in FreeSpace 2, but you get the idea).

[Kursed]

It's ridiculous how dumb post modern parents can be.  If they're too lazy to sit down and explain to their kid the difference between fantasy/pixellated violence and the real thing, and the ramifications of real violence/criminal behavior, etc., then they shouldn't be so upset by the violence in video games, movies, etc.  Also, if the kids are too dumb to understand the aforementioned concept of fantasy vs. real violence, they shouldn't be allowed to have any video games of their own, nor should they have a TV in their own room.

The ESRB rating is a load of...

These damn stupid do-gooder helicopter parents use the law to try to dictate how everybody else should raise their own kids by pushing for passage of all kinds of ass-backwards legislation and regulation (like ESRB Ratings), sometimes to try to compensate for their own shoddy child rearing.

There was this asshat attorney who was from Alabama/Florida/Georgia who lost his Bar License after trying to harass the video game companies that sold and created "violent games".  Serves him right.

No limit on violence, I guess a warning may as well be issued to indicate the amount of violence "So some cwybaby doesn't get fwightened".     

I can take any level of it I just prefure not to get too gory.

[ThePointingMan]

It really depends on the game, I like excessive amounts of blood in some, and blood makes me cringe in others. Really, I prefer it when everything explodes, but sometimes having blood shoot out of everything is just *sniff* beautiful.

[Guest FoXXX]

It really depends on the game, I like excessive amounts of blood in some, and blood makes me cringe in others. Really, I prefer it when everything explodes, but sometimes having blood shoot out of everything is just *sniff* beautiful.

Only gore I like is Quake 3 gibs :D