Do you think that games have become too violent?

Video games are video games. There are violent games and non violent games (among many many other types).

You as an audience member should seek out whatever games appeal to you and not have every game conform to some insane standard.

@GenocidalKitten said:

@Phatmac: A. Games are just as violent as other forms of media, and really idealizing a dude in a action movie who is killing people isn't that different from pulling the trigger yourself, and a lot of people don't even see themselves as the characters they play, they just think about is as another character in the narrative that they happen to be controlling.

B. Games are not exclusively for children, see those silly ratings, they actually tell you if a game is appropriate for your age or not.

C. No one is forcing to buy violent video games that aren't to your tastes, if you don't like it don't play them, simple as that.

I'll say it once again that you are the one pulling the trigger in games. That is exclusive to games only. If we want to have an academic discussion about this than please stop saying that I don't have to play violent games. That isn't the issue.

@Lukeweizer said:

I don't know why this thread made me think of this, but does anyone remember when the crew played Black Ops 2 during the Wii U launch stream? There was a part where someone was burning alive and your character was forced to watch it. Patrick seemed to have an issue with it, calling it gratuitous (I believe). I found that odd considering he's a massive horror film fan. Aren't those movies based off of trying to gross you out? Or showing you extreme scenes that try to shock you? What was so bad about a video game showing something like that?

Not all horror films are slasher films. Patrick seems to be more of a fan of scares as opposed to shocks. Also, I don't think he was completely serious.

@Rafaelfc said:

Video games are video games. There are violent games and non violent games (among many many other types).

You as an audience should seek out whatever games appeal to you and not have every game conform to some insane standard.

What insane standard? I guess my plea that games should stop having a lot of QTE killing scenes and torture scenes is some insane standard. How about games grow up a bit and stop trying to show me horrific acts of violence against another person simply because it's entertaining. How about you realize that many games these days have excessive violence that can be toned down. Is it really insane of me to ask for less acts of violence for once?

Haha that picture makes me laugh

I don't know. I'm mainly a pc gamer and my pc isn't good enough for some of the newest titles. I will say though that watching that guy burn during the wii U livestream gave me the same thoughts as the OP. I didn't need to see that.

Farcry 3 looks like an awesome game and I would play it. I'm not sure if the violence is crazy for that game. I will admit that the posted picture is terrible but I also have to say that the machete kills are like half a second long.

Those affected by violent video games in negative ways were already screwed up before sitting down and playing the games.

Yes they most certainly have; it's amusing that back in the day when they weren't even close to too violent it was a huge political issue and now it really isn't at all because Call of Duty is too popular/successful as a business and you are killing terrorists so it's all fine and dandy. Now granted this is mostly tied to every successful game being an FPS since Fantasy generally doesn't get overly gory or "realistic," the further you get from boring ass realism the more violent a game can become without being too violent by real standards. Spec Ops: The Line is the only pseudo modern game that has used violence in a useful fashion so far; in pretty much every other case it might as well be an old Arnold/Sly film without the amazing campiness and silliness and without any restrictions on age (6 year olds get Call of Duty as a christmas present).

@GenocidalKitten said:

@Phatmac said:

@GenocidalKitten said:

@Phatmac: A. Games are just as violent as other forms of media, and really idealizing a dude in a action movie who is killing people isn't that different from pulling the trigger yourself, and a lot of people don't even see themselves as the characters they play, they just think about is as another character in the narrative that they happen to be controlling.

B. Games are not exclusively for children, see those silly ratings, they actually tell you if a game is appropriate for your age or not.

C. No one is forcing to buy violent video games that aren't to your tastes, if you don't like it don't play them, simple as that.

I'll say it once again that you are the one pulling the trigger in games. That is exclusive to games only. If we want to have an academic discussion about this than please stop saying that I don't have to play violent games. That isn't the issue.

See point A, tell why I'm wrong rather than simply stating the fact that I am

It's easier to see someone doing something horrible than doing it yourself. Unless you are already comfortable with the constant violence and torture in video games already. If so, you aren't the person that i want to argue with. I'd to have people come out and express their concerns with excessive acts of violence in games instead of people that are okay with it come and tell me that I'm wrong.

@Phatmac said:

@Rafaelfc said:

Video games are video games. There are violent games and non violent games (among many many other types).

You as an audience should seek out whatever games appeal to you and not have every game conform to some insane standard.

What insane standard? I guess my plea that games should stop having a lot of QTE killing scenes and torture scenes is some insane standard. How about games grow up a bit and stop trying to show me horrific acts of violence against another person simply because it's entertaining. How about you realize that many games these days have excessive violence that can be toned down. Is it really insane of me to ask for less acts of violence for once?

The insane standard that "videogames" as a medium are too violent, which is preposterous. Is like saying films have too much sex because there are porn films being made. Become a more discerning customer and seek out games that appeal to your tastes, instead of whining that a few games are too violent.

@Phatmac said:

If so, you aren't the person that i want to argue with. I'd to have people come out and express their concerns with excessive acts of violence in games instead of people that are okay with this violence already tell me how wrong I am.

Well, but that's perfectly unreasonable. Then it's not a discussion, it's a rally. You've been saying that you want a discussion. A discussion where everyone just agrees is no discussion at all.

@Little_Socrates said:

@Phatmac said:

If so, you aren't the person that i want to argue with. I'd to have people come out and express their concerns with excessive acts of violence in games instead of people that are okay with this violence already tell me how wrong I am.

Well, but that's perfectly unreasonable. Then it's not a discussion, it's a rally. You've been saying that you want a discussion. A discussion where everyone just agrees is no discussion at all.

#1reasonwhy

....too soon?

@JasonR86 said:

@Little_Socrates said:

@Phatmac said:

If so, you aren't the person that i want to argue with. I'd to have people come out and express their concerns with excessive acts of violence in games instead of people that are okay with this violence already tell me how wrong I am.

Well, but that's perfectly unreasonable. Then it's not a discussion, it's a rally. You've been saying that you want a discussion. A discussion where everyone just agrees is no discussion at all.

#1reasonwhy

....too soon?

That one was meant to be more of a rally, agreed. Nothing wrong with a rally, but you need to be honest about what you're doing.

@Rafaelfc said:

@Phatmac said:

@Rafaelfc said:

Video games are video games. There are violent games and non violent games (among many many other types).

You as an audience should seek out whatever games appeal to you and not have every game conform to some insane standard.

What insane standard? I guess my plea that games should stop having a lot of QTE killing scenes and torture scenes is some insane standard. How about games grow up a bit and stop trying to show me horrific acts of violence against another person simply because it's entertaining. How about you realize that many games these days have excessive violence that can be toned down. Is it really insane of me to ask for less acts of violence for once?

The insane standard that "videogames" as a medium are too violent, which is preposterous. Is like saying films have too much sex because there are porn films being made. Become a more discerning customer and seek out games that appeal to your tastes, instead of whining that a few games are too violent.

How is saying that games are violent the same thing as sex movies having too much sex because of porn films? What? What point are you even trying to make with this?

Call of Duty really pissed me off with it's No Russian stage, it was so obvious they put it in their to get the inevitable news reports. that would make kids want to play it more. Really bad taste.

@Little_Socrates said:

@Phatmac said:

If so, you aren't the person that i want to argue with. I'd to have people come out and express their concerns with excessive acts of violence in games instead of people that are okay with this violence already tell me how wrong I am.

Well, but that's perfectly unreasonable. Then it's not a discussion, it's a rally. You've been saying that you want a discussion. A discussion where everyone just agrees is no discussion at all.

Yeah, you're right. I take back what I said.

@Bourbon_Warrior said:

Call of Duty really pissed me off with it's No Russian stage, it was so obvious they put it in their to get the inevitable news reports. that would make kids want to play it more. Really bad taste.

That's tame compared to the stuff that you do in blops 2. Seeing people being burned alive and slashing people's throats while they look at you uncomfortable for a couple of seconds is even more disturbing in a gory sense. Games have to grow up at some point.

It's about putting it into context such as what are we comparing these games to and who is the target audience when we say if it is too violent. Compared to games made by Nintendo then I would say yes and should it be played by children I would say no because it is too violent and it's earned it classification rating to say it is too violent for anybody under the age. But if I was to compare games to movies even of the same rating then I would say no because movies will always be more violent if you were to compare the two. All I will say is yes games have become more violent than past generations but that doesn't necessarily mean too violent especially for people old enough to play them.

I guess in my case it depends on what you mean with "too violent". I think things like Manhunt are disgusting and depraved. But I won't say no to some Kill Bill over the top bloodspraying decapitations and dismemberment. I don't think the question should be about the level of violence, but rather the realism of the violence. Planned and viciously graphic murder on an innocent is not nearly the same as using 300 armed soldiers as pinatas for your lightning katana.

I think for me, it's not really a draw anymore. When I was younger something like Soldier of Fortune appealed because of how nuts it was. It was fun to see how far some of those games took it, it didn't make me feel violent or anything crazy like that but when you're that age extremes are appealing. Now I don't really care that much about it. I don't necessarily have a problem with it and something like the eye needle scene in Dead Space 2 still makes me go "ohhh MAN", but a game with zero blood would be totally fine by me. I don't need devs to push the line to attract my attention. Could probably use less of that.

@Phatmac said:

@Bourbon_Warrior said:

Call of Duty really pissed me off with it's No Russian stage, it was so obvious they put it in their to get the inevitable news reports. that would make kids want to play it more. Really bad taste.

That's tame compared to the stuff that you do in blops 2. Seeing people being burned alive and slashing people's throats while they look at you uncomfortable for a couple of seconds is even more disturbing in a gory sense. Games have to grow up at some point.

No, they do not "have to grow up". There are immature films, books and games and things won't change as long as there's a market for it.

@GenocidalKitten: My argument is that games are becoming too violent for me at least. This trend keeps going up and up as game trailers mainly focus on showing you how much violence you can do to another human being. I'd like for it to tone down in some areas. I play violent games like most people on here. At some point, I'll have to stop since most of it sickens me.

@zels said:

@Phatmac said:

@Bourbon_Warrior said:

Call of Duty really pissed me off with it's No Russian stage, it was so obvious they put it in their to get the inevitable news reports. that would make kids want to play it more. Really bad taste.

That's tame compared to the stuff that you do in blops 2. Seeing people being burned alive and slashing people's throats while they look at you uncomfortable for a couple of seconds is even more disturbing in a gory sense. Games have to grow up at some point.

No, they do not "have to grow up". There are immature films, books and games and things won't change as long as there's a market for it.

The whole appeal for games that is being portrayed is harming one another. Books, movies, and other media have more than that. Games do too, but they aren't as popular as violent games that want you to do horrific things to other people.

No. The whole, Black Ops II decapitation thing is something that happens in the first level only, and it's only a melee attack that can be executed from a certain range, and even then, it's super quick so you can barely see any actual detail. And guess what? Those guys are trying to fucking kill you.

Also, to those mentioning the torture scene in Far Cry 3:

Also, why is nobody questioning The Walking Dead's use of terrible violence? Is that because it's "justified"? If you want to have this discussion then let's have this fucking discussion. Don't pick and choose your targets at will while ignoring other detractors, which are far more offensive. Some examples in The Walking Dead include:

Walking Dead has absolutely the worst shit in it that I've ever seen in a videogame, ever, ever. And you people wanna go, "ehhh is the decapitation in Black Ops II going to far?"

@Phatmac said:

@zels said:

@Phatmac said:

@Bourbon_Warrior said:

Call of Duty really pissed me off with it's No Russian stage, it was so obvious they put it in their to get the inevitable news reports. that would make kids want to play it more. Really bad taste.

That's tame compared to the stuff that you do in blops 2. Seeing people being burned alive and slashing people's throats while they look at you uncomfortable for a couple of seconds is even more disturbing in a gory sense. Games have to grow up at some point.

No, they do not "have to grow up". There are immature films, books and games and things won't change as long as there's a market for it.

The whole appeal for games that is being portrayed is harming one another. Books, movies, and other media have more than that. Games do too, but they aren't as popular as violent games that want you to do horrific things to other people.

I agree with you to a certain extent, but it seems to be selling, doesn't it? If it's selling there's only going to be more of that in the future.

@Napalm said:

No. The whole, Black Ops II decapitation thing is something that happens in the first level only, and it's only a melee attack that can be executed from a certain range, and even then, it's super quick so you can barely see any actual detail. And guess what? Those guys are trying to fucking kill you.

Also, to those mentioning the torture scene in Far Cry 3:

SPOILER WARNING: Click here to reveal hidden content.

You're torturing your brother, of course it's supposed to be uncomfortable and terrible.

Also, why is nobody questioning The Walking Dead's use of terrible violence? Is that because it's "justified"? If you want to have this discussion then let's have this fucking discussion. Don't pick and choose your targets at will while ignoring other detractors, which are far more offensive. Some examples in The Walking Dead include:

SPOILER WARNING: Click here to reveal hidden content.

Arm cutting, leg cutting (x3) , shooting two children in the goddamn face and cannibalism?

Walking Dead has absolutely the worst shit in it that I've ever seen in a videogame, ever, ever. And you people wanna go, "ehhh is the decapitation in Black Ops II going to far?"

Nah, most games these days have horrible acts of violence. I just used it as an example. Stuff in Spec Ops, TWD, The Darkness 2, Far Cry 3, AC3, and more made me feel sick with myself.

@zels said:

@Phatmac said:

@zels said:

@Phatmac said:

@Bourbon_Warrior said:

Call of Duty really pissed me off with it's No Russian stage, it was so obvious they put it in their to get the inevitable news reports. that would make kids want to play it more. Really bad taste.

That's tame compared to the stuff that you do in blops 2. Seeing people being burned alive and slashing people's throats while they look at you uncomfortable for a couple of seconds is even more disturbing in a gory sense. Games have to grow up at some point.

No, they do not "have to grow up". There are immature films, books and games and things won't change as long as there's a market for it.

The whole appeal for games that is being portrayed is harming one another. Books, movies, and other media have more than that. Games do too, but they aren't as popular as violent games that want you to do horrific things to other people.

I agree with you to a certain extent, but it seems to be selling, doesn't it? If it's selling there's only going to be more of that.

It'll have to slow down at some point or else all games will have to sell you on how violent it can be.

If anything they've just been getting tamer over the last decade or so, it's just now barely starting to pick up again.

short answer YES but i still love them :D

No.

@Phatmac said:

Nah, most games these days have horrible acts of violence. I just used it as an example. Stuff in Spec Ops, TWD, The Darkness 2, Far Cry 3, AC3, and more made me feel sick with myself.

Out of all of those you mentioned, I've played all of them minus Assassin's Creed III and beside The Walking Dead, I can't remember a goddamn offensive example of horrible violence in any of those, (Far Cry 3 excluded because we were just talking about it).

@Napalm: Are you sure you played Darkness 2? I'm pretty sure you rip a guy in half through his anus with a giant tentacle.

JUST SAYING.

Also I'm okay with that because its incredibly silly.

@TobbRobb said:

@Napalm: Are you sure you played Darkness 2? I'm pretty sure you rip a guy in half through his anus with a giant tentacle.

JUST SAYING.

Also I'm okay with that because its incredibly silly.

It's silly, but at some point I just had to stop.

It doesn't matter. It's just a game, and that's a valid opinion you can't ignore. Choosing to kill someone in a game is no different to me than watching someone else do it in a movie of fiction, none of it is real, there's no real consequence for anyone, it's just entertainment. I'm an adult and I can separate fantasy from reality. I wouldn't expose children to this stuff until they are mature enough themselves because they may have nightmares and feel very uncomfortable seeing such things, but as an adult I've seen so much fantasy violence in movies and games that I'm just numb to it at this point. I obviously would not be able to ignore real violence and would not discard it as easily because again, I know the difference between fantasy and reality.

I'm a 25 year old male if it makes a difference to anyone reading my opinion.

@Napalm said:

@Phatmac said:

Nah, most games these days have horrible acts of violence. I just used it as an example. Stuff in Spec Ops, TWD, The Darkness 2, Far Cry 3, AC3, and more made me feel sick with myself.

Out of all of those you mentioned, I've played all of them minus Assassin's Creed III and beside The Walking Dead, I can't remember a goddamn offensive example of horrible violence in any of those, (Far Cry 3 excluded because we were just talking about it).

Oh, also the gross face exploding death animation in Max Payne 3 was just sickening.

@Phatmac said:

@Napalm said:

@Phatmac said:

Nah, most games these days have horrible acts of violence. I just used it as an example. Stuff in Spec Ops, TWD, The Darkness 2, Far Cry 3, AC3, and more made me feel sick with myself.

Out of all of those you mentioned, I've played all of them minus Assassin's Creed III and beside The Walking Dead, I can't remember a goddamn offensive example of horrible violence in any of those, (Far Cry 3 excluded because we were just talking about it).

Oh, also the gross face exploding death animation is Max Payne 3 was just sickening.

I'm pretty sure there was no actual face exploding in Max Payne 3, even when I did send twenty bullets into some bad guy's face.

@Phatmac: Everyone has their own limits! One man's funny is another man's depraved. While I'm fine with the current state of violence in video games, I can totally see the standpoint that its a bit too much. Just don't advocate government controlled censorship. :D

@Napalm: Not really an explosion, but this is way more violent than a gib would be!

Not violent enough. Man, remember when in Half-Life you could take a crowbar to anyone and their body parts would fly? Or Unreal Tournament how you could blow up a person and their guts would fly everywhere. What happened man? Now its all about ragdoll and even the gears of war gore seems kinda subdued next to that.

Nah, most games these days have horrible acts of violence. I just used it as an example. Stuff in Spec Ops, TWD, The Darkness 2, Far Cry 3, AC3, and more made me feel sick with myself.

@Phatmac said:

Games have to grow up at some point.

What? No they don't.

That's really the beauty of the medium; they can do whatever the hell they want to do. Please stop trying to apply such a narrow judgement to the whole of video games.

I agree that some tropes are overused and juvenile, but if one game comes along and does something interesting with those tropes then the entire exercise is completely worthwhile. If a person has a problem with how something is portrayed in a game (violence), then that person should probably be more discerning about the types of games they play rather than crying for the entire medium to censor itself.

Soldier of Fortune 1 and 2 are over a decade old, no games have not become too or any more violent.

and some scenes in Sons of Anarchy (and many other TV shows & films) are far more unsettling than any video game has ever been.

I like how people say games have become too violent yet turn a blind eye to television and movies which are far 'worse'. I personally don't care, violence is violence, if you don't like it don't buy into it.

No. I'd in fact prefer if graphic violence would be more common in videogames. I'd just prefer to slay monsters, rather than man. A gory as gets Dark Souls, with strategic dismemberment gameplay? Sign me up!

Just today I watched some interview on the new Army of Two game - the Devil's Cartel - which looks as bland as games get, and I thought to myself, 'if only this game would embrace over-the-top graphic violence like Machete or Desperado, then I'd actually might be on board.'

I'd also love lots of meat-themed puns in the game, as well as a meat-centric marketing campaign. *Shotgun blast to the face* ---> *Meaty Explosion of Limbs* ---> *I'm pleased to MEAT you, Motherfucker!*

They always were violent. We just have an over-abundance of games focused around combat with melee weapons or guns. Also, many games fit a narrow range of interaction (shoot that guy, stab that guy et al) overall, given the plethora that could be created.

I think as a lot of people have already said, games were always violent but I do feel like im noticing it a lot more. Its not something that would ever stop me playing a game but I dont particularly enjoy that aspect of gaming anymore unlike when I was younger.

Well yall have to admit that this year's E3 was pretty pathetic with people cheering for white american killing nameless middle easterner or Kratos ripping out an elephant man's brain. It certainly feels like developers have to one up eachother in terms of gore and violence in order to wow gamers these days. Yeah, there are dumb movies with gratuitous gore, but those movies usually know that they're dumb. And then there are movies like Saving Private Ryan or Black Hawk Down that use violence as a way to portray the horrors of war. You'll never see anyone in a theater cheering for seeing someone's leg get blown off. I think videogames these days, more than any other medium, use violence to amaze and entertain. Games aren't doomed though. There are plenty of smaller studios trying to push the medium out of that general preconception that it's low culture. Videogames don't need to grow up, they just need more diversity. Big publishers need to take big risks like making a game where the primary action isn't killing stuff.