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What makes a game ‘adult’?
Is it a massive amount of blood and gore? Is it the ability to shoot or run down everything in sight? Whilst your perception of ‘adult’ games may fit that profile, I don’t think that it is. Whilst the content may certainly be adult in that it is not suitable for children, I think that even a child can point a control stick in a certain direction and press a button to shoot someone. You think you have to be an adult, or have a certain intellect and intelligence to do that? Think again.
I myself can’t give you an exact definition of what makes a game ‘adult’. I think it may have something to do with ‘feel’ (stop giggling at the back), and what you perceive to be ‘adult’. One thing I am pretty sure of though is that it has absolutely nothing to do with the amount of blood, guts, guns, puke, crap, swearing or naked flesh involved. You know what I think are two games are prime examples of ‘adult’ games?
Mario and Zelda.
You’re probably laughing at me now, thinking ‘but they’re kiddies games’ but hear me out. If you examine the demographics of Mario sales against a game like Soldier of Fortune, you’ll probably find that 18 rated games sell best amongst youngsters (who can show off to their mates about their latest game where you can shoot individual limbs off etc.) whereas games like Mario sell in both. When your’re an adult, you want a little more than just mindless killing. I think that Nintendo more than anyone, and especially though their two flagship titles, understand how to treat a proper gamer They seem to be the only ones who understand what makes a game great, treating players with a healthy respect, and rewarding intelligent, thoughtful play with intelligent (and often ingenious) set pieces. You are required to think – both literally and laterally – and use a large portion of your brain to work out the taxing problems that always seem achievable despite their difficulty.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not criticising FPS of games like GTA3, because they have their own merits and their own particular uses, I just don’t see them as adult games. In the right context, a splash of claret and the chance to fire off a few rounds is fine, but increasingly developers are hiding behind mindless violence and controversial topics as a smokescreen for the fact that, behind the blood and the press outrage, the game isn’t actually that good, its just included in a pitiful attempt to boost sales. Games like Carmageddon have always been unmitigated rubbish, but have always sold stacks of copies off of being controversial. It’s a shame really – games like Ico will probably be undeservedly outsold by trash like that Hooligan game.
With the next generation of games upon us there is a real opportunity to move gameplay forward, but it seems that few developers are content to do that. With skill, dark content can be dealt with effectively, as shown by Metal Gear Solid 2 and Perfect Dark. But to me ‘adult’ games are not ones with blood and guts but contain proper puzzle and gameplay more befitting of an adult.
Thanks for reading
Russell
Is it a massive amount of blood and gore? Is it the ability to shoot or run down everything in sight? Whilst your perception of ‘adult’ games may fit that profile, I don’t think that it is. Whilst the content may certainly be adult in that it is not suitable for children, I think that even a child can point a control stick in a certain direction and press a button to shoot someone. You think you have to be an adult, or have a certain intellect and intelligence to do that? Think again.
I myself can’t give you an exact definition of what makes a game ‘adult’. I think it may have something to do with ‘feel’ (stop giggling at the back), and what you perceive to be ‘adult’. One thing I am pretty sure of though is that it has absolutely nothing to do with the amount of blood, guts, guns, puke, crap, swearing or naked flesh involved. You know what I think are two games are prime examples of ‘adult’ games?
Mario and Zelda.
You’re probably laughing at me now, thinking ‘but they’re kiddies games’ but hear me out. If you examine the demographics of Mario sales against a game like Soldier of Fortune, you’ll probably find that 18 rated games sell best amongst youngsters (who can show off to their mates about their latest game where you can shoot individual limbs off etc.) whereas games like Mario sell in both. When your’re an adult, you want a little more than just mindless killing. I think that Nintendo more than anyone, and especially though their two flagship titles, understand how to treat a proper gamer They seem to be the only ones who understand what makes a game great, treating players with a healthy respect, and rewarding intelligent, thoughtful play with intelligent (and often ingenious) set pieces. You are required to think – both literally and laterally – and use a large portion of your brain to work out the taxing problems that always seem achievable despite their difficulty.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not criticising FPS of games like GTA3, because they have their own merits and their own particular uses, I just don’t see them as adult games. In the right context, a splash of claret and the chance to fire off a few rounds is fine, but increasingly developers are hiding behind mindless violence and controversial topics as a smokescreen for the fact that, behind the blood and the press outrage, the game isn’t actually that good, its just included in a pitiful attempt to boost sales. Games like Carmageddon have always been unmitigated rubbish, but have always sold stacks of copies off of being controversial. It’s a shame really – games like Ico will probably be undeservedly outsold by trash like that Hooligan game.
With the next generation of games upon us there is a real opportunity to move gameplay forward, but it seems that few developers are content to do that. With skill, dark content can be dealt with effectively, as shown by Metal Gear Solid 2 and Perfect Dark. But to me ‘adult’ games are not ones with blood and guts but contain proper puzzle and gameplay more befitting of an adult.
Thanks for reading
Russell
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Nice post there RM18
I don't think children under a certain age can't have access to a game just becauase it has things in it which may influence them to do things. It all depends on the maturity of the child in question. Because you could get say an 11 year old, and give them a game rated 18. They could either get deeply involved with the game, and think it's right and cool too do what they have just done on the game, and then try to re act that in real life. Or they may be the type of child who is mature enough too see it's just a game, enjoy it, and then go away having enjoyed the experience, and not have been influenced to do things as in the game.
I agree with the rating system to stop youngsters buying any game, but i think it should be up too their parents what they can see/watch. And i don't mean letting your 10 year old son/daughter watching XXX movies. But things like GTA 3. For some children they may want too do exactly as they have seen in the game, but some may me mature enough not too. And the parents should decide whether they think their child can just enjoy the game, and not be influenced by it.
As for Games for Adults. It just depends on their taste of games. They may have grown up playing Doom, and Wolfenstein 3D in their earlier years, and now want something more challenging and rewarding. But perhaps they still get the same amount of fun by running around mowing down Nazi's. It all really depends on their prefered type of game.
I hope this makes some kind of sense, it does to me anyway..
And this is the shorter version, i wrote a longer reply, but as i was coming to the end of it, my internet explorer crashed, so this is what i can remember of it.
Once again, Nice post RM18
I don't think children under a certain age can't have access to a game just becauase it has things in it which may influence them to do things. It all depends on the maturity of the child in question. Because you could get say an 11 year old, and give them a game rated 18. They could either get deeply involved with the game, and think it's right and cool too do what they have just done on the game, and then try to re act that in real life. Or they may be the type of child who is mature enough too see it's just a game, enjoy it, and then go away having enjoyed the experience, and not have been influenced to do things as in the game.
I agree with the rating system to stop youngsters buying any game, but i think it should be up too their parents what they can see/watch. And i don't mean letting your 10 year old son/daughter watching XXX movies. But things like GTA 3. For some children they may want too do exactly as they have seen in the game, but some may me mature enough not too. And the parents should decide whether they think their child can just enjoy the game, and not be influenced by it.
As for Games for Adults. It just depends on their taste of games. They may have grown up playing Doom, and Wolfenstein 3D in their earlier years, and now want something more challenging and rewarding. But perhaps they still get the same amount of fun by running around mowing down Nazi's. It all really depends on their prefered type of game.
I hope this makes some kind of sense, it does to me anyway..
And this is the shorter version, i wrote a longer reply, but as i was coming to the end of it, my internet explorer crashed, so this is what i can remember of it.
Once again, Nice post RM18
I dunno what everyone elese has sed but this is what i will sed...maybe there should be two different ratings...kinda a difficulty rating and a adult content rating. The difficulty rating could show a gamer how difficult the game is but if they are too young not prevent them from playing. I've seen on sites where it rates a game for diffculty giving a kinda 'IQ required' rating. The only problem i saw with this is that if a game has to put on the box is easy then people are gonna think....'Too easy...not habing that'.
So if ya see what i mean then thats ok.....good post AGAIN RM18.
So if ya see what i mean then thats ok.....good post AGAIN RM18.
ok you guys stop arguing.
Ive explained what i think in good reason and you both have explained what you think in good reason o i think we should call it quits eh?
Good post anyway RM18.
:)
Ive explained what i think in good reason and you both have explained what you think in good reason o i think we should call it quits eh?
Good post anyway RM18.
:)
Read all your feedback - it was very thought provoking
I think that influence does have a lot to do with things, whether you like it or not. Children of an early age are impressionable and if they are subjected to something enough at an early age they will begin to believe its the norm. Unfortunately, many 18's sell so well because the majority of people that play them aren't actually 18. We can't stop this hapening, so I propose a different form of classification for games like GTA3, so rather than just saying '18' on the box, actual content is described for the benefit of the purchaser and especially parents so they no exactly what their child is seeing
I think that influence does have a lot to do with things, whether you like it or not. Children of an early age are impressionable and if they are subjected to something enough at an early age they will begin to believe its the norm. Unfortunately, many 18's sell so well because the majority of people that play them aren't actually 18. We can't stop this hapening, so I propose a different form of classification for games like GTA3, so rather than just saying '18' on the box, actual content is described for the benefit of the purchaser and especially parents so they no exactly what their child is seeing
But me and Hercules were basically arguing the same thing anyway
WELL you did say this:
'But that wasn't my argument at all grapo'
and all i said is that i wasnt talking about your post!
'But that wasn't my argument at all grapo'
and all i said is that i wasnt talking about your post!
About what? I've been away
WELL LA-DE-DA!
Treguard wrote:
> G®åpô²ºº² wrote:
> hmmmm sure - i think
> there are some games totally unsuitable for younger gamers
> - ie. strip
> poker on the PC!
But that wasn't my argument at all grapo i said that most
> games shouldn't be classed as adult and i gave the examples GTA3 and MGS2
> because i don't believe that they do give a wrong impression to gamers just as
> long as the gamer themself is mature enough in the mind to understand it. I
> never said that hardcore XXX adult games should be allowed under certain ages
> but then again i agree that 14 or over wud be a sensible age for such a person.
> But the current level of violence on the shoot em' up genre of game is kept
> pretty much to a minimal level i mean they don't have people disecting others
> and that, it just plain old shooting. But obviously they should carry a warning
> for younger gamers, so they don't get offended, that they are quite violent but
> they shudn't been banned from the younger gamers. I think that only a handful of
> games shud be certified atm.
yeah ok, but i was commenting on Hercules's post not yours.
> G®åpô²ºº² wrote:
> hmmmm sure - i think
> there are some games totally unsuitable for younger gamers
> - ie. strip
> poker on the PC!
But that wasn't my argument at all grapo i said that most
> games shouldn't be classed as adult and i gave the examples GTA3 and MGS2
> because i don't believe that they do give a wrong impression to gamers just as
> long as the gamer themself is mature enough in the mind to understand it. I
> never said that hardcore XXX adult games should be allowed under certain ages
> but then again i agree that 14 or over wud be a sensible age for such a person.
> But the current level of violence on the shoot em' up genre of game is kept
> pretty much to a minimal level i mean they don't have people disecting others
> and that, it just plain old shooting. But obviously they should carry a warning
> for younger gamers, so they don't get offended, that they are quite violent but
> they shudn't been banned from the younger gamers. I think that only a handful of
> games shud be certified atm.
yeah ok, but i was commenting on Hercules's post not yours.
thanks for the feedback everyone - I'm glad it provoked some serious discussion
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