Violence in Video Games

[Lightwing]

I have recently discovered that "Idle Thumbs" is probably the best on-line review/preview source out there. It's not afraid to speak its mind and it shows great appeal to games that aren't all about button-smashing / advanced graphics (like Beyond Good and Evil).

One of their older articles (1 year old) touches on the subject of violence in Video Games. But, while most of you will think that this is a rant about how video games cause people to kill, this is far from that.

http://www.idlethumbs.net/display.php?id=39

[Illumina]

Like what I heard of the theories of the facts, violent video games makes that people in reality chooses not to directly make a fight with others when angered. That was difference in the past times.

[Lightwing]

Well, what the article really pressed for is not so much that violence in video games is bad.

I mean, in my opinion, violence is just an intriquite part of life. BUT, when 98% of video games are ALL about smashing people and things (senselessly or not), it means that there is a great lack of originality.

" While we're on the subject, Beyond Good and Evil is an example of a step towards the kind of games I want to see. It still relies heavily on combat, but I almost feel like the combat only exists because it has to, as if the developers were thinking "Without combat it wouldn't be a video game! We've gotta put in there!" " -->Article

[Rex_Hollywood]

I actually don't think it's a good thing to feel developers force things on themselves, instead of making what they feel is right (like MGS2, that had loads of cut-scenes, and people complained about that but personally I loved it, because it felt like it was meant to be like this).

[Atresica]

Originally Posted by FireBall2K

I actually don't think it's a good thing to feel developers force things on themselves, instead of making what they feel is right (like MGS2, that had loads of cut-scenes, and people complained about that but personally I loved it, because it felt like it was meant to be like this).

Yes but the contrary also happens, you can't tell me that the worst violence games out there really need the violence, more often it's just to make the game more appealing than that it really adds to the gameplay.

[Rex_Hollywood]

Well, ofcourse.
And Rockstar even made it more or less the company's goal to make violent game.
That's a wrong attitude.

[Bomba!]

Rockstars owns all. k?thx.bye!

[the_angry_monkey]

Nice article there and very interesting reading however I feel there were a few notable - non-violent omissions, for example Animal Crossing, Nintendogs, any of the RollerCoaster/Transport Tycoon or ThemPark games, all of which were hugely influential.

[Rex_Hollywood]

Originally Posted by Bomba!

Rockstars owns all. k?thx.bye!

I don't see the big deal about the GTA games.
They bore me after a few days of playing.

[Reek]

Yes, GTA 1 was cool, and the idea is very nice, but GTA3 indeed gets boring.
As a shooter, it sucks, so once you get tired of driving really fast, and beating pedestrians with a baseball bat, there not much to do in the game.

[ChaosFish]

GTA1 was awsome!! Especially with mods and with intranet... when nobody was watching we (students) installed GTA1 on all school computers and played with each other in breaks.
And then when we got home we played with each other with phone conference calls (internet was more expensive back then).

GTA2 was also really nice.

GTA3 and up sucks. It isn't the same anymore.

[the_angry_monkey]

I agree - the shooting perspective and controls in GTA3+ are appauling. The only real fun is in doing wheelies on motorbikes....it still all feels rather limited in its entertainment value

[Illumina]

Now you know me, I was acting as civil as possible in GTA games.

[Reek]

Originally Posted by Illumina

Now you know me, I was acting as civil as possible in GTA games.

I am very relieved!
Finally someone who is considerate to the non-existant feelings of people in video games!

[Lightwing]

Actually, I'm always reluctant to just go on a killing spree in games. I mean, sure, they're not real, but at the same time, what does that reveal about you when you go around wanting to slaughter peeps?

[Rex_Hollywood]

It doesn't have to reflect on you in real life.
If you think that, it seems like you're just like those people than want to ban GTA because some kids are easily brainwashed.

I can have a good time killing a lot in games because it makes stuff more interesting. If it bothers you, I'll kill squares and triangles with no relation to a living life form.

[Lightwing]

I'm not against violence in video games and I'm not for any game being banned. A lot of people say that violent games make violent kids. But, what I believe is that the kids who are used in those statistics to prove that violent games are bad, are already messed up in the head. Those games are just an outlet for them and perhaps an expression of their aggressive psyche. That's all I meant to say by the above post.

[the_angry_monkey]

http://www.nisute.com/article.php?id=93

[Purple Sheep]

Originally Posted by the_angry_monkey

Nice article there and very interesting reading however I feel there were a few notable - non-violent omissions, for example Animal Crossing, Nintendogs, any of the RollerCoaster/Transport Tycoon or ThemPark games, all of which were hugely influential.

Making rides crash on Rollercoaster Tycoon is so much fun.