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Killing. As Whitney once sang "It’s not right, but in games it’s ok." Alright, it’s a pretty sweeping statement but for most games killing, or at least some act of violence, is regarded as normal and, hey, it's fun!
Now, this isn’t going to be simply another post about how violence in games is wrong, but more of a look at games that perhaps could use a bit of violence in them. Remember though, it’s only a game…
Firstly sports. Take golf (no, please, take it!) You swing a piece of metal at a small white ball made with loads of elastic bands, and for what aim? Why, to put it in a small hole with a flag on, of course. Well, forgive me for interrupting here, but surely this game would benefit from some violence? Try introducing some target to aim for. How about that person crossing the course? 10 points for a head shot, 5 for a body shot. There, no isn’t that more fulfilling? Now add the moving targets like birds, getting an Eagle would REALLY mean something then, and dogs and you have a much more fun and fast paced game.
How about basketball. Try dunking that ball in the hoop for the 30th time in a game and tell me how you feel? Why not try dunking the other players instead? How about introducing a ball that explodes once it has bounced a set number of times for that explosive finish.
Football may seem violent already to some, but how about using weapons to really cut through that defence? And how about a rugby scrum over a grenade? It wouldn’t just be the ball that was flying over the post.
Now we move to motor racing. Though fast cars and twisty circuits may seem to be pretty exciting, wouldn’t it be so much better with exploding tracks and the added thrill of dodging the incoming fire from the stadiums, audience participation has never looked so good.
Finally we take the realm of the platformer. Now stomping on heads may well be enough for some, but surely the platform game could get tooled up that little bit more? Mario may well look better with a sub-machine gun placed in his white gloved hands and Spyro the dragon, while not needing a flame thrower, would more than benefit from several sawn-off shotguns or a grenade or two to supplement his own gasses.
Now, as you can see, some game genres would really do well with a little added violence, who said that all this killing was affecting the minds of our society? Just remember that a bit of firepower goes a long way.
Now, this isn’t going to be simply another post about how violence in games is wrong, but more of a look at games that perhaps could use a bit of violence in them. Remember though, it’s only a game…
Firstly sports. Take golf (no, please, take it!) You swing a piece of metal at a small white ball made with loads of elastic bands, and for what aim? Why, to put it in a small hole with a flag on, of course. Well, forgive me for interrupting here, but surely this game would benefit from some violence? Try introducing some target to aim for. How about that person crossing the course? 10 points for a head shot, 5 for a body shot. There, no isn’t that more fulfilling? Now add the moving targets like birds, getting an Eagle would REALLY mean something then, and dogs and you have a much more fun and fast paced game.
How about basketball. Try dunking that ball in the hoop for the 30th time in a game and tell me how you feel? Why not try dunking the other players instead? How about introducing a ball that explodes once it has bounced a set number of times for that explosive finish.
Football may seem violent already to some, but how about using weapons to really cut through that defence? And how about a rugby scrum over a grenade? It wouldn’t just be the ball that was flying over the post.
Now we move to motor racing. Though fast cars and twisty circuits may seem to be pretty exciting, wouldn’t it be so much better with exploding tracks and the added thrill of dodging the incoming fire from the stadiums, audience participation has never looked so good.
Finally we take the realm of the platformer. Now stomping on heads may well be enough for some, but surely the platform game could get tooled up that little bit more? Mario may well look better with a sub-machine gun placed in his white gloved hands and Spyro the dragon, while not needing a flame thrower, would more than benefit from several sawn-off shotguns or a grenade or two to supplement his own gasses.
Now, as you can see, some game genres would really do well with a little added violence, who said that all this killing was affecting the minds of our society? Just remember that a bit of firepower goes a long way.
And Super Monkey Ball Junior. F*** me that's addictive.
½pint wrote:
> although I think if we start seeing rocket
> launchers in the latest telletubbies game I don't think the BBFC, the
> Daily Mail or all of these children's parents will be best pleased.
Probably the best use of the Teletubbies licence ever though. Imagine Postman Pat in Pataggeddon or Tweenies Terror....
But yeah, I agree that part of it at least is about the rush from the violence, although tetris still managed to get damn addictive without any violence.
> although I think if we start seeing rocket
> launchers in the latest telletubbies game I don't think the BBFC, the
> Daily Mail or all of these children's parents will be best pleased.
Probably the best use of the Teletubbies licence ever though. Imagine Postman Pat in Pataggeddon or Tweenies Terror....
But yeah, I agree that part of it at least is about the rush from the violence, although tetris still managed to get damn addictive without any violence.
Well done pb, another well deserved Gameaday. Quickly catching up on Meka Dragon :~}...
Fantasmical...is that a word? Violence is a major part of games and without it we would be tetris loving freaks who didnt have the urge to run into a library and scream, "Put your hands on your head." Oh, so im the only one?
Good post :-)
Good post :-)
Heh, it goes without saying that violence would make a game more fun. I for one would like to see Gran Turismo spiced up with flamethrowers and spikes, a la Carmageddon :-).
I suppose that the argument that violent games are good is because they are cathartic. You can easily drain your own anger by thrashing away at Yoshimitsu in Tekken 4, and it is a much more legal way than pounding the hell out of somebody.
But anyway, great post pb, although I think if we start seeing rocket launchers in the latest telletubbies game I don't think the BBFC, the Daily Mail or all of these children's parents will be best pleased. Heh heh. Bye bye, Po. Boom.
I suppose that the argument that violent games are good is because they are cathartic. You can easily drain your own anger by thrashing away at Yoshimitsu in Tekken 4, and it is a much more legal way than pounding the hell out of somebody.
But anyway, great post pb, although I think if we start seeing rocket launchers in the latest telletubbies game I don't think the BBFC, the Daily Mail or all of these children's parents will be best pleased. Heh heh. Bye bye, Po. Boom.
A very funny post and an excellent point. Some games just need more violence. One of the things that annoyed me about Mario Sunshine was that when I got really annoyed with it, there was no way of taking out my frustration within the game. Except kicking fruit around. Which isn't at all satisfying for the angered man about town.
Anyway......good post!
Anyway......good post!
Killing. As Whitney once sang "It’s not right, but in games it’s ok." Alright, it’s a pretty sweeping statement but for most games killing, or at least some act of violence, is regarded as normal and, hey, it's fun!
Now, this isn’t going to be simply another post about how violence in games is wrong, but more of a look at games that perhaps could use a bit of violence in them. Remember though, it’s only a game…
Firstly sports. Take golf (no, please, take it!) You swing a piece of metal at a small white ball made with loads of elastic bands, and for what aim? Why, to put it in a small hole with a flag on, of course. Well, forgive me for interrupting here, but surely this game would benefit from some violence? Try introducing some target to aim for. How about that person crossing the course? 10 points for a head shot, 5 for a body shot. There, no isn’t that more fulfilling? Now add the moving targets like birds, getting an Eagle would REALLY mean something then, and dogs and you have a much more fun and fast paced game.
How about basketball. Try dunking that ball in the hoop for the 30th time in a game and tell me how you feel? Why not try dunking the other players instead? How about introducing a ball that explodes once it has bounced a set number of times for that explosive finish.
Football may seem violent already to some, but how about using weapons to really cut through that defence? And how about a rugby scrum over a grenade? It wouldn’t just be the ball that was flying over the post.
Now we move to motor racing. Though fast cars and twisty circuits may seem to be pretty exciting, wouldn’t it be so much better with exploding tracks and the added thrill of dodging the incoming fire from the stadiums, audience participation has never looked so good.
Finally we take the realm of the platformer. Now stomping on heads may well be enough for some, but surely the platform game could get tooled up that little bit more? Mario may well look better with a sub-machine gun placed in his white gloved hands and Spyro the dragon, while not needing a flame thrower, would more than benefit from several sawn-off shotguns or a grenade or two to supplement his own gasses.
Now, as you can see, some game genres would really do well with a little added violence, who said that all this killing was affecting the minds of our society? Just remember that a bit of firepower goes a long way.
Now, this isn’t going to be simply another post about how violence in games is wrong, but more of a look at games that perhaps could use a bit of violence in them. Remember though, it’s only a game…
Firstly sports. Take golf (no, please, take it!) You swing a piece of metal at a small white ball made with loads of elastic bands, and for what aim? Why, to put it in a small hole with a flag on, of course. Well, forgive me for interrupting here, but surely this game would benefit from some violence? Try introducing some target to aim for. How about that person crossing the course? 10 points for a head shot, 5 for a body shot. There, no isn’t that more fulfilling? Now add the moving targets like birds, getting an Eagle would REALLY mean something then, and dogs and you have a much more fun and fast paced game.
How about basketball. Try dunking that ball in the hoop for the 30th time in a game and tell me how you feel? Why not try dunking the other players instead? How about introducing a ball that explodes once it has bounced a set number of times for that explosive finish.
Football may seem violent already to some, but how about using weapons to really cut through that defence? And how about a rugby scrum over a grenade? It wouldn’t just be the ball that was flying over the post.
Now we move to motor racing. Though fast cars and twisty circuits may seem to be pretty exciting, wouldn’t it be so much better with exploding tracks and the added thrill of dodging the incoming fire from the stadiums, audience participation has never looked so good.
Finally we take the realm of the platformer. Now stomping on heads may well be enough for some, but surely the platform game could get tooled up that little bit more? Mario may well look better with a sub-machine gun placed in his white gloved hands and Spyro the dragon, while not needing a flame thrower, would more than benefit from several sawn-off shotguns or a grenade or two to supplement his own gasses.
Now, as you can see, some game genres would really do well with a little added violence, who said that all this killing was affecting the minds of our society? Just remember that a bit of firepower goes a long way.