(Editors note: the views expressed within this article do not necessarily reflect the opinion of everyone on We The Nerdy and is one person’s view on it)
Upon browsing the internet, I discovered a distressing trailer released today, which clearly depicts a man claiming he “hates this world.. and it’s time to kill and to die.”. The trailer then goes onto show horrific scenes of seemingly mindless violence, innocent men and women being shot, stabbed and mutilated while trying to run from their painful and needless deaths.
In my opinion, this trailer is in very bad taste. From what I can gather from the trailer, it is purely violence for the sake of violence – no goals, no rewards- and your only aim is to go on a murder spree and kill as many innocent people as possible before you off yourself. Personally, I don’t see how anyone could defend such a “violent for the sake of it” game. Heck, even the developers haven’t tried to defend this game, dubbing your reign of terror as a “Genocide Crusade”. One question comes to mind, “Have Video Games Crossed The Line?”
Well, this trailer is reminiscent of some of the prominent “murder-suicides” of recent years and to a casual viewer, or even to a hardened gamer, it is impossible to look at this trailer and not think of the “Games are responsible for violence” arguments so often brought up by the media. This game will now give gamers an even shakier platform to defend the gaming industry if that question is ever brought up. Speaking of the media, no doubt they will have a field day with this game. Now, I wouldn’t have a problem with them tearing apart the trailer alone, in fact I would be slightly happy to see this game being devoured. However, as so often is the case, the whole video gaming industry will be pulled down to this game’s level despite such games as the GTA franchise not showing as much graphic detail as what was shown in this trailer. The game literally looked at a bunch of sales stats, saw violent games sold well and went completely insane with the amount of it they put in, hoping to cause controversy and publicity.
While watching this trailer, I stared at what was being shown in front of me in absolute disgust. I really was waiting for a child to be shown on-screen being brutally murdered. Now, it would have been highly unlikely they would have went this far, but with this trailer, nothing could surprise me.
The trailer has since been taken down, due to what I am assuming was massive backlash from the trailer itself. I will be interested in seeing if this game ever comes to light, but incredibly disgusted if it does come to fruition. This game has most certainly crossed the line of what violence is tasteful in games.
Sales will speak for themselves. This is freedom of expression just like foreign films being overly pervy and rapey. We even give high scores to Uncharted a game where the HERO kills about 1000 people during the game. We support torture games with realistic concepts like Evil Within and Dead Space. Doors it play well? Graphics? Story? Does it connect with you? If it connects with that’s all that matters . I won’t play it or support this studio because of the idea but I respect a person’s right to make a game however they want.
Excuse me? Foreign films are pervy? Americans are prudes dude…
Yeah Americans are prudes but foreign films are great but at the same time SOME OF THEM go over the edge. My problem is film gets a pass and games get the blame for things that’s all. Live me some French and Japanse film brotha.
How do they go too far?
Have you seen Ichi the Killer, Hostel the non American version, Nymphomanic,Grotesque, A Serbian Film, Audition, and a host of other movie that show raping of boys, women, and men with foreign objects. movies CAN but not always go a little too far on the foreign side. As long as I see what the director was trying to convey I can most of it WITH ONE EYE OPEN. See Human Centipede..
So because they show that it goes too far? These things happen… Maybe they WANT you to see it?
That’s the point of film and the freedom of expression. You are getting away from the actual argument cause I think both of us enjoy movie that some would not watch cause of what they MIGHT SEE. I am saying games cont get the same pass on there expression and creativity as other forms of media such as TV and film. Especially when all formats are so accessible.
This comes up any time a controversial game is out. And to be perfectly honest I think it is very derogatory of what games is, or at the very least what most of the gamers want games to be considered.
How can anyone of us expect video games to be considered art when we keep trying to censor it.
First off none of us have played hatred and it could have a much deeper meaning, but even if it doesn’t it should still be protected by the freedom of expression and artistic freedom.
And as people have already mentioned there are many examples of voilence used in sickening degrees in other medias. Art has a history of being controversial, but
I want to remind you of a great american author by the name of Edgar Allen Poe. Incase you are not familiar his most famous work is “The Tell Tale Heart”. A short story depicting the thought process of a murderer in fear of getting caught. It is quite dark, but it is also a great work of written fiction.
We also have more modern examples like “Darkly Dreaming Dexter” which was adapted to the tv-series “Dexter” exploring the mind of a serial killer.
I don’t know if you have experienced either of those, and as Hatred is not even availible at this time, both of these could have, and probably are, better works of art. I just don’t think we should take away Hatred’s chance to prove us wrong. And again even if Hatred, or any game coming in the future, doesn’t live up to that. It would still not justify censorship.
You ask if Video Games has crossed the line. I ask you back. What line? Should there really be a line?
I understand that people can feel sickened by themes that are portrayed in any media or art, but just as you have the freedom to express your sickening feeling. Art should have the freedom to be sickening and ugly. Because even something ugly can be beautiful.
I completely agree. My thoughts on this matter are going up on the site today. Please feel free to return and comment. I ask a lot of the same questions and make some of the same points you do.
i love how the stated reason for this “outrage” seems to be ‘think about what the media will say!’…either you believe violence in video games matters in relation to actual life,or not…the exact details about how the pixels you control hurt the other groups of pixels is completely irrelevant as far as im concerned
God your a Pussy man, Who gives a crap about violence in video games I’m now 20 years old next week and have been playing “Violent” video games since I was a kid. Oh and hey look I’m most likely the least violent person so your stupid piece is invalid.
Johnny, please refrain from using such language in the comments. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and calling someone names does not help the matter.
Furthermore violence in Video Games is a real issue sometimes and these games are meant for MATURE people, over the age of 17. Children should not be playing these types of games.