Sex and Violence

[Fellfrosch]

Gamespot has a very well-researched look at the history of video game controversy.
http://www.gamespot.com/features/6090892/index.html

[Onion of Death]

That was a great article. I think I like Gamespot a whole lot more for it.

[Tage]

That thing was huge. I spent about two hours at work reading it (with distractions; I mean, I am at work after all). However, it was very good, and definitely well researched.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

I spent about an hour, and I dont' think I got even half way. But then, it was a busier final hour than I'm used to.

[wolverine_men]

Well I couldn't squeeze out enough to time to read the article, but I would like to make one point regarding the sex and violence potrayed in games. Take Blood Rayne as a case under observation. Every decent gaming magazine tried to ridicule it(and with quite humorous results too I may add). But what happened in the end? They decided to come out with a sequel. And this clearly indicates that Majseco had made a lot of dough on the first title. So what is my point exactly? Well its just that if everyone hates the concept of games brimming with S&V, then why the hell do these titles top the chart? And please don't paste a link to the gamerank or some such absurd website because the fact that a sequel is underway is reson enough to convince me that in an industry where its tough to release just one title, Majesco has managed to do it twice- and with title that received scalding reviews.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

well, you're still confusing different groups.

Sure it's making enough money.

But the people who complain are generally upset BECAUSE of that. They don't want this stuff accessible, and they certainly aren't BUYING it. They don't want anyone else to buy it either.

[wolverine_men]

LOL-Then who is buying the stuff?

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

presumably people who don't object to the material contained in it.

X=people who object to the game
Y= people buying the game
X != Y

[wolverine_men]

X != Y

well that certainly puts things back into perspective.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

I ever attempt at lucidity

[Fellfrosch]

One of the major points discussed in the article you didn't read, WM, was the fact that bad press is invariably good for the sale of a game. Games that would otherwise fade into obscurity become a part of gaming history simply because of their violent or explicit content--and games that are already good, like Mortal Kombat, do even better in sales because the controversy gives them notoriety.

Another point they made, though not as strongly, is that fact that the people who object to game content are quite often the same people who buy it--unconcerned or unobservant parents. For every two people who complained about BloodRayne, I'd bet that one of them bought the obviously M-rated game for their child and THEN started complaining about it after they saw it in action. Self-imposed ratings are the smartest move the game industry has made in terms of content, because it allows them to point at the box and say, "look, doofus, it says right here that it's for Mature audiences only. If you don't want your child exposed to this type of stuff, then don't buy it for him."

[wolverine_men]

Self-imposed ratings are the smartest move the game industry has made in terms of content, because it allows them to point at the box and say, "look, doofus, it says right here that it's for Mature audiences only. If you don't want your child exposed to this type of stuff, then don't buy it for him."

Very correct and thats why I feel that instead of passing legislations and bills against violent games, politicians should spend their time on tackling other serious problems and parents should realise that the rating system is there to help them make the right choice for little doofus.

[Fellfrosch]

Agreed.