CONT.

Now, as much as I enjoy Dead Space saga, I can't help to feel that I'm playing a cat and mouse clash, where we have Isaac as the mouse, and the Necromorph as the cat, in a hopeless struggle that states "if you don't dismember them, you'll be dismembered, skewered, whatever". The game makes everything to not rely only on Necromorph massacre as its "reason to be played". It has very solid puzzles and missions that keep you entertained but also gets you alert that, sooner or later, you'll encounter one or a pack of Necromorph that need to be done.
And how not to get carried away by the possibility of not only dismember but also stomp on them, making a blood splatter mess around you? It's violence with cruelty what we have in Dead Space! OH, MY GOD!! Call the police?

Nobody says violence is cathartic. That this catharsis help people, more than they imagine, to not lose their marbles and it's even healthy in some level. I'm not defending that violence should be the driving force of a game because, at some point, it starts to get pointless, offensive and inevitably ridiculous. The industry should re-evaluate its ways to promote violent games. And we gamers should re-evaluate how much of violence we can take. For life. Nobody can only enjoy violent games.

All your points are very articulated and they fit together. I share with you the same positive points games have, I mean, I learned so much through games, I even developed the taste to study mythology, I just won playing games rather than finishing them. The thing with the image video games promote is that, by highlighting violence as the "main purpose" of  games, the industry completely run over the other aspects even violent games may have.

I don't know if you have played Resident Evil and Silent Hill games from the past but there were always a screen before these games that it was like a warning, saying "This game has violence, gore and such" but the whole experience around them wasn't all about gore and violence! They drew us to focus on puzzles and heavy atmosphere, and violence was kinda secondary. There was blood and graphic deaths used to shock but also to simbolize a character's punishment, it wasn't that gratuitous back then.

Unfortunately being more and more extreme and pushing the limit is part of the game (literally). At least for some titles it is a must to top their predecessors in terms of violence. It's like slasher films: there was Saw, and then Hostel, now Human Centipede and it goes on and on...

I couldn't disagree more; games like Manhunt and Mortal Kombat may have used violence as part of their appeal but (A) that's their developers' prerogative, (B) they're good games in their own right and (C) they're not representative of gaming as a whole.

As much as I miss the more cartoonish games of my childhood -- the nineties and Crash Bandicoot -- there's also nothing wrong with violence in games. It CAN be appealing, such as in Mortal Kombat. It's part and parcel of the series and, in spite of a number of failed copycats, MK is now the only fighting game that offers that. It's the series' USP. When they toned down the violence for MK vs DC, the fans complained. Was that because of "man-boy immaturity"? Not at all. It simply wasn't what fans of the series expected. So naturally, when MK9 came around, Netherrealm Studios pushed the fatalities and x-ray moves, both of which WERE very impressive; they really got the most out of the Unreal engine. Are you saying that shouldn't be praised just because ... ignorant outsiders will complain? That'll always happen, regardless of how much or how little violence is put into gaming. There'll always be certain parties looking to hang the blame for society's ills on something like gaming to avoid facing the real issues.

Gaming has done nothing wrong. Why should it change? You write "I'm not saying violence is evil nor that it should be eliminated from gaming" but that's exactly what you're saying. Rather than say "there's a place for violence", you shrug it all off as "man-boy immaturity". Frankly, I'm proud of the gaming industry for being the one form of media that doesn't shy away from violence but, at the same time, has the creativity to build imaginative worlds and incredible storylines. It puts the audience in the place of characters in a way that other forms of media can't, and Manhunt -- which, incidentally, doesn't glamorise its violence at all and treats it as the dark, mature subject that it is -- would certainly qualify for that. I'll keep the violence, thanks, and let's leave the stifling of creativity and imagination to the movie industry.

I'm inclined to agree with the author.

Great blog - and what the heck sort of tasteless video game is that screenshot of up there ._.

People complaining about video games are ignorant fools looking for excuses that is always what this stuff comes back to time and time again. Every single event like this comes out this same way just go check your history of columbine and all the other ones. You can look for tons of excuses/things to blame but it doesnt mean that is the direct cause.

How though are movies or other forms of media excluded from being in the discussion? If kids under age never got them would it still be a problem?

in the 19th century it was books, movies and the media for the 20th century, and now video games are at the precipice of yet another moral crusade of the new millenium. now my only wish is to live long enough to yell at dubstep listeners 100 years from now on.

in the dark ages, the inquisition led probably the biggest human massacre only losing to the holocaus. were there violent video games in that time? I don't think so

I don't think graphic violence is the main appeal of gaming. I don't think we should do anything differently, some people, myself included enjoy violent games, I enjoy violent movies and I even think violent thoughts sometimes. I am not a monster, I am human, there is nothing inherently warped or disgusting about violence, we just have an innate interest in combat and killing things, probably bred into us from our ancestors survival of the fittest mentality.
 

Anybody that really enjoys games and has an appropriately wide ranging perspective of the media knows that although a select few games and genres focus on graphic violence, that doesn't represent gaming as a whole. So my point is we shouldn't have to change anything because people who have no interest in the hobby at best, are ignorant to what games are really about and at worst, are just using it as a scapegoat to promote their own agenda.

Don't let the people who's knowledge of gaming extends as far as a scaremongering article they read in a right wing newspaper make you feel like you are doing any harm to anybody for enjoying violent media. Freedom of expression is one of the noblest rights you as a free person have so do not let these politicians dictate to you what you should think, read, watch, listen to or play.

It's so stupid to blame games! One of the games they blamed was Dynasty Warriors...There aren't even guns in that game!!! Idiots...

There aren't that many high level violent games.

It's always someone else's fault, the oldest excuse in the book.

Ocvourse there is violence in video games, this isnt new, games are going to differ from the movies world, I dont wanna play a love story game or a comedy game etc. If you take away violence in video game you take away 80% of the games and the gamers to go with it.

They jus need to stand there ground and the video game hater will run out of steam and quit hating.

I agree with all of this, it's truly a great article.

It's a shame so many people are judging the book by the cover in the gaming world these days. However, when all of the books show the same things, it's really easy to assume that's all there is to it.

Unfortunately it would be a huge waste of breath trying to get the same people judging the metaphorical books to actually give them a chance. As gamers we could give so much insight to the people, if they would just listen. There are so many amazing, and beautiful games created, however with that being said there is always another end of the spectrum.

I think if the ones so ready to judge the games would just play a game like ICO, or Shadow of the Colossus, Or Bastion they would see the gaming world isn't quite what it's always made out to be.

My take is that it is not so much the video game industry as American culture seems to accept violence in movies, TV, and in nearly all forms while often going into a frantic meltdown at the first sign of nudity. I have a friend who has no problem at all letting his son play the latest M rated games filled with violence...but if he learns that there is any 'sexual content' then his 11 year old is forbidden to play the game. 

I see the results first hand. A kid that talks all the time about blowing heads off, killing some kid (jokingly but still) that he doesn't like, and a very violent view of the world. Meanwhile he is the morale police and judges any and all around him that he perceives as being 'dirty' (sexual). Almost any question if you asked him on the appropriateness of using violence to solve problems... the answer would be yes. There are probably millions like him. I don't blame games... I played them as well. I blame parents that never confront their children when they are clearly exhibiting disturbing perceptions and willingness to become violent at the drop of a hat.

And the NRA has simply become to gun control like what PETA has become to the humane treatment of animals. I own guns myself and love animals myself but want nothing to do with either of these fringe groups.

A movie called "Bullet To The Head" is about to be released. That's as blatant as gun violence gets. Why don't people complain about that? Oh, right, because they're actually interested in seeing it. Hollywood is filled with senseless violence and killing. At the same time, people need to understand that most of these games aren't being marketed at kids. (OK, Dead Space 2 clearly was... And 10 year olds make up for 50% of BF3 and CoD players) It's up to parents to decide what their kids can play. Maybe politicians should target bad parenting instead.

This is absolutely true, i know that violence is not very important at all in a lot of games, and there is so much more to them, but when you watch the trailers, ads or anything like that, its a bloodfest.

I hate people who critize games not knowing about them, but i perfectly understand how easy it is to look at the gaming industry superficially and think its a twisted orgy of gore and murder, because while its not, it surely is advertised like that.

But we should also not forget that games this days are very primitive regarding story, mature and believable characters, or things like suspense, mystery, strategy etc.

Even RPGs from today are, except maybe The Witcher games, for advertising of pure violence to stop the industry needs to focus on improving other aspects than just action, violence, graphics and music, until that happens, graphic violence will continue to be the only thing in wich games have advanced so much that it can impress people in trailers and ads.

Older games were more complicated, had more strategy, better stories, much better dialogue, were more original and unique, no wonder how audiovisual quality and violent action is the only thing advertised, if its also pretty much the only thing that has improved over the years.

i'm not american, so the gun argument is lost on me, but i am an enthusiastic gamer. i agree with your points that the promotion of games should focus less on the violence and more on the story and and gameplay. i'm not a fan of horror films or horror games, but i enjoy some of the less over the top ones, like dead space.

anyway, imo, i'm less effected by video game gore than film/tv gore because it is computer generated.

i'm the kind of person that likes to have people on my side, so i think it's a good idea to change gamings perception and educate the ignorant, rather than ignore them and put up with their disdain.

On the contrary, the only way to go forward is to continue to push the envelope.  The problem is, those crying out still view video games as children's toys.  How many more violent games need to be made to get that message through their heads?  The only other direction is censorship, and that is not an option.  These games aren't being made for the people being offended by them, so honestly, the fact that they can't look away is their problem; the industry has no image problem.

Good points, although I might take issue with the assertion that the NRA is "deflecting blame." Guns and games are equally to blame for any mass killing, which is to say not at all. A psychopath is to blame. I'd prefer to see the NRA and the game industry find common cause, because at the end of the day, going after either games OR guns results from the same mistake - the idea that it's acceptable to violate the rights of millions of responsible citizens in the vain hope of making a few maniacs marginally less dangerous. If it's okay to weaken the Second Amendment in hopes that it "might save a single life" - why not the First?

I remember there was a debate on ESPN about Kobe Bryant being in a Call of Duty Black Ops commercial and most of the beltway media blamed Kobe for being in the commercial as if he made the game himself. The punishment the beltway media gave the  marketers was really just a slap on the wrist. Honestly I think parents don't care about the ESRB rating system because that is not where the price tag is located.  Its frustrating to see ESRB rating system having less clout than MPAA rating system. Hell I see Halo toys in the kids section at Wal-mart but Halo is intended for mature audiences. I am not trying to make a case against violent video games but I am saying its hard to defend it. 

When I look at it ... many ( if not all ) AAA games ( really I hate this designation ... ) are all about violence and they are like the only game we heard about. Last years, all the games that made it very far in the game of the year contest where AAA games and M.

This gen I only have Mortal Kombat, Heavy Rain, God Of War3, The Walking Dead and Fallout3 as M game. I feel he violence his justified somewhat. But game like COD is just about violence and make it cool. Maybe I'm starting to get old. I play more T games or E, some of them are more creative and not just use violence to cover every shortcoming.

I kinda feel insulted as a human when I realize what sells products to most people.  All hail the Lowest Common Denominator.  

This is a good idea. But I think  that stressing how gaming is good for you will only win over politicians and parents. As for gamers themselves and people who want to buy games, I don't think that that type of marketing will win them over to buy a game. It just isn't great advertising. And since gaming is at its heart a buisness, game companies will still use this  more violent type of advertising to draw in those who want an adrenaline rush from their games. Though I think it would be a good method for political ends.

This was a good read.

I don't think violence marketing is bad, except that it is used with probably 70% or more games advertised.  Those that aren't are usually Nintendo or The Sims or a racing game.

Excellent post, and I agree wholeheartedly. Marketers revel in the bad publicity; it sells more games. "Wait, you mean if we put in a sex scene it'll get on the news? Do it.". It's a part of capitalism, and that's fine, but it's hurting the industry and the gamers who enjoy the games. 

Yeah, I;d say that the industry really isn't helping itself, or us gamers, out with the marketing. I'm not saying that they should take the violence out either. But, being a gamer shouldn't be a stigma.