Rainbowkisses

@flindip: If that's how you feel than more power to you. I completely agree with the idea of people voting with their wallet and that nothing is free from criticism and to be offended by something. I like dumb movies with over the top violence like Commando and more introspective disturbing films like Requiem for a Dream. If anyone said that they don't like one of those films because they find them offensive or disturbing I wouldn't try to change their mind. I would simply want to know what about the film bothers them.

There's one youtube video game reviewer, Storm Dain, (who if you don't know him, you should really check out his channel) who is fine with games like God of War but is bothered by crime investigation shows because of the way they deal with death. I have no problem with him holding this view, I simply don't share it. I would like to know why it bothers him so much, but I would never try to tell him he shouldn't be offended

@darji: I can see where you're coming from, but I don't think that anyone is making the argument that no game can ever include rape. The writer of the original article is simply saying that the scene in this game made her uncomfortable. Rape is a very sensitive subject and so including that in your story is considered a risk. You are usually met with people criticizing the vulgarity of the scene or people showering it with praise for covering the subject tastefully, depending on the person perceiving and how the scene was executed. Some people would rather not have anything to do with a story that involves rape. There is nothing wrong with any of these views in my opinion.

@raethen: You didn't come off as combative. You're fine.

I feel like I'm in the minority when I say I actually really like Hitman: Absolution. On the other hand I feel like Jak 2 really ruined the Jak and Daxter series to me. The first game did a great job of updating the formula that Banjo Kazooie and Super Mario 64 had used. Jak 2 had way too many poorly done vehicle missions and too few platforming sections. Also, while I really enjoyed Batman: Arkham City I felt like it was the lesser of the two games. The first game got everything so perfect, that rather than improve upon the mechanics of the first game they simply added onto it and the game felt bloated as a result. Getting around the city was tedious and very un-Batman-like and the side missions were often difficult to find.

@darji: Except she didn't know that scene would occur. She was just playing the game when she was unexpectedly met with a scene that disturbed her.

@raethen: I did read the article and understand that. I would never make the claim that someone does not have the right to be offended or distubed. I understand her point of view about the matter. I was simply explaining why I didn't find it offensive. I guess I worded that poorly in my original post.

I can certainly understand people having a negative reaction to this, since this is a very sensitive subject. The thing about the scene is that does have a meta-commentary to it. Where the game is critiquing it's own sensationalist attempt to show the worst of the worst by showing how strange and twisted the whole idea can really be.

Whether the inclusion at even the suggestion of a rape scene is necessary depends on whether you think it serves a purpose to the game as a whole. Plenty of people have made the valid point that Hotline Miami is meant to be disturbing. Even the original game's boxart was a dark, twisted version of classic video game boxart like Double Dragon 2. The question is whether the viewer thinks it's enough for something to be disturbing for the sake of it or whether it needs to have some deeper message to validate it's inclusion.

I think as far as the basic violence in the game goes, Hotline Miami does a great job of pointing out how strange and disturbing it is that so much of our entertainment revolves around the horrific act of violence. I can understand someone thinking that it's hypocritical in it's criticism and that is certainly a point worth discussing.

I feel that if this was simply a rape scene, and not a staged scene that I would be better able to understand people's outrage. This isn't because it' "less real" but because it shows how the entertainment industry can exploit such a sensitive subject with little reason other than shock value.

I kind of view this as an indirect critique of the type of mentality that lead to suggested rape scene in the latest Tomb Raider. Sure, a situation like that is bound to happen, but I personally feel that if you are going to touch upon the subject of rape it can't just be for shock value. That scene could have easily been replaced with something less controversial to invoke the feeling of fear in the player. It's a game where you kill people all throughout, but unlike the rape scene, that part of the game can not be easily replaced, unless you want a game where you shoot and hit them with magic sleepy dust.

Since no one else mentioned it I'm going to say The Secret of Monkey Island. It has some of the most memorable lines in video game history and Guybrush Threepwood has to be my favorite video game character.

I've watched a few episodes. It seemed like an average kid's show. There is the occasional pop-culture reference or a brief instance of slightly dark humor, but those moments are few and far between. I don't see how this is radically different than any other children's show. I understand the idea that it's supposed to go against traditional age and gender roles, but I think if we lived in a world where that thing wasn't perceived as weird the fandom would be extremely diluted. I have nothing against bronies. I understand that like any other social group they have their moderates and radicals. Those radicals aren't much worse than those for any other fanbase. But please stop ponifying everything. Remember what happened with Star Wars?

I was going to reply but @jakob187 already said everything that needed to be said. People are free to choose to spend their money on what they wish. To believe that they are blind to the practice of free to play games and that you need to show them the light seems a bit condescending. There is nothing wrong with spending money on things you enjoy.