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Thusian

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Keeping your message consistent

As gamers we all know the pain of main stream media confusing our hobby as "for children".  Problem is greed has lead publishers to add to that confusion.  Case in point Halo.  This is an M rated game, and whenever congressional hearings talk about kids playing murder simulators we point to the rating and say well they should not have it at all.  Parents should be reading the ratings, sure but what about Microsoft mixing its own messaging. 

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Case in point  above we see the toy marked 8+ and the game rated M so essentially 17+.  The message to an uninformed parent is that the franchise is for pre-adolescents and up.  Yes they should still read the rating on the game, but why confuse the message.  Why market the game to an audience which is not supposed to play it.  The answer is simple MS actually wants the game bought by as many people as possible regardless of their age.  Maybe I sound like a jerk.  Feel free to correct me.  Intentional or not the message is mixed and leaves the door open for critics of the medium to accuse MS of marketing violence to children.
 
You say "Dude its a toy its only judged by whether or not the kid will choke", not so.  Bioshock manages to keep consistent in its message to the audience. 
 
 
 
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  See the constancy?  The Rosie toy has a 17 and up sticker.  No room for assumption completely aligned with the game.  If game makers and publishers need to keep the message consent as 2K has done.  Don't give the impression that games are for kids and maybe people won't assume it as much.  At the very least we won't give ammunition to those who make that assumption.
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Thusian

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Edited By Thusian

As gamers we all know the pain of main stream media confusing our hobby as "for children".  Problem is greed has lead publishers to add to that confusion.  Case in point Halo.  This is an M rated game, and whenever congressional hearings talk about kids playing murder simulators we point to the rating and say well they should not have it at all.  Parents should be reading the ratings, sure but what about Microsoft mixing its own messaging. 

No Caption Provided
No Caption Provided
Case in point  above we see the toy marked 8+ and the game rated M so essentially 17+.  The message to an uninformed parent is that the franchise is for pre-adolescents and up.  Yes they should still read the rating on the game, but why confuse the message.  Why market the game to an audience which is not supposed to play it.  The answer is simple MS actually wants the game bought by as many people as possible regardless of their age.  Maybe I sound like a jerk.  Feel free to correct me.  Intentional or not the message is mixed and leaves the door open for critics of the medium to accuse MS of marketing violence to children.
 
You say "Dude its a toy its only judged by whether or not the kid will choke", not so.  Bioshock manages to keep consistent in its message to the audience. 
 
 
 
No Caption Provided

 
 
No Caption Provided

  See the constancy?  The Rosie toy has a 17 and up sticker.  No room for assumption completely aligned with the game.  If game makers and publishers need to keep the message consent as 2K has done.  Don't give the impression that games are for kids and maybe people won't assume it as much.  At the very least we won't give ammunition to those who make that assumption.
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TheDudeOfGaming

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Edited By TheDudeOfGaming

Point being? I don't generally give a shit about what the media says. If someone things gaming is a "kid thing", then i try to have a civilized debate with them, to try to convince them otherwise, and if I'm unable to do so, i shake hands and say farewell. 
Nah, just kidding, anyone trashing games should get a brick to the head.

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MattyFTM

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Edited By MattyFTM  Moderator

Yeah, it's pretty weird. On one hand they are trying to defend M rated games, saying that they are designed for adults and kids shouldn't be playing them. The next they are releasing action figures based on these games, which are clearly aimed at children.

I think I'm going to launch a business that sells action figures based on pornstars to children. It's a brilliant idea!!!! This time next year, I'll be a millionaire.

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Thusian

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Edited By Thusian
@TheDudeOfGaming: My point is that your ability to have the discussion with people about the merits of mature games is impaired by the very people who publish them.  This could potentially lead to over regulation in the games space and we could see M rated games go away due to the influence of the uninformed.  Remember all those hearings in California.  This is fodder for those pinheads to scream won't someone think of the children.
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TheDudeOfGaming

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Edited By TheDudeOfGaming
@MattyFTM said:


I think I'm going to launch a business that sells action figures based on pornstars to children. It's a brilliant idea!!!! This time next year, I'll be a millionaire.

Do you have some in stock now?
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MEATBALL

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Edited By MEATBALL

@MattyFTM said:

Yeah, it's pretty weird. On one hand they are trying to defend M rated games, saying that they are designed for adults and kids shouldn't be playing them. The next they are releasing action figures based on these games, which are clearly aimed at children.

I think I'm going to launch a business that sells action figures based on pornstars to children. It's a brilliant idea!!!! This time next year, I'll be a millionaire.

It's not just the videogame industry. I had action figures from films like Robocop and Aliens when I was a child, both films I was not allowed to see at a young age. Even so, these toys had huge appeal to me, ultimately these sort of action figures are going to appeal to children as well and I can't say I blame companies for taking advantage of that. I suppose it's a more concerning situation because people are still somewhat misinformed about videogames and their varied target audiences.

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Twisted_Scot

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Edited By Twisted_Scot

Toys don't kill people tho, video games kill...well...they could...maybe...if...perhaps....lets stop bickering, your making the spartan in the box sad :(

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Thusian

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Edited By Thusian
@Twisted_Scot: I never noticed he does look sad....
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Twisted_Scot

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Edited By Twisted_Scot
@Thusian: Probably because his Buddie just drove off alone in a warthog.