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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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btw great post AFX i totally agree with that view.
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.
> 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.
a few years back an 8 year borther and his 9 year old sister decided to play fun house (pat sharpe, itv kids show) in their parents living room, they ended up trashing the place cause thounds of pounds of damage, windows broken, tv, video, hi fi, sofa and chairs etc....
i think anything can influence young kids, as for the news, u should the news in france germany and holland, ours in the uk is tame compared to them
its just the sick and twisted world we live in, you just need to be able to understand the difference between make believe and reality.
i think anything can influence young kids, as for the news, u should the news in france germany and holland, ours in the uk is tame compared to them
its just the sick and twisted world we live in, you just need to be able to understand the difference between make believe and reality.
but things like that are definately unsuitable for a youngster yes
actually,
i dont see the real bad thing about that either.
i wouldnt show anything like that to a youngster but from the ages like 14 i suppose it would be ok.
just as long as they dont show TOO much if you know what i meen.
nothing hardcore yah
i dont see the real bad thing about that either.
i wouldnt show anything like that to a youngster but from the ages like 14 i suppose it would be ok.
just as long as they dont show TOO much if you know what i meen.
nothing hardcore yah
hmmmm sure - i think there are some games totally unsuitable for younger gamers - ie. strip poker on the PC!
G®åpô²ºº² wrote:
> dont think that games are exactly "adult" games if they are rated 18
> or something like that.
I dont even think that games are "adulty" or
> even supposed to be made for "adults".
Games are rated 18 because
> some people are stupid enough to do the things they see on games but most of us
> know that it is just a game
so you would be happy for your 8 year old
> daughter to play GTA3? (and yes i know you dont have one!)
--------------
id be quite happy for my 1 year old brother to play GTA3 because i know he isnt stupid.
If i could trust someone because they are sensible and everything then id let them play it.
I dont think its that bad really.
> dont think that games are exactly "adult" games if they are rated 18
> or something like that.
I dont even think that games are "adulty" or
> even supposed to be made for "adults".
Games are rated 18 because
> some people are stupid enough to do the things they see on games but most of us
> know that it is just a game
so you would be happy for your 8 year old
> daughter to play GTA3? (and yes i know you dont have one!)
--------------
id be quite happy for my 1 year old brother to play GTA3 because i know he isnt stupid.
If i could trust someone because they are sensible and everything then id let them play it.
I dont think its that bad really.
dont think that games are exactly "adult" games if they are rated 18 or something like that.
I dont even think that games are "adulty" or even supposed to be made for "adults".
Games are rated 18 because some people are stupid enough to do the things they see on games but most of us know that it is just a game
so you would be happy for your 8 year old daughter to play GTA3? (and yes i know you dont have one!)
I dont even think that games are "adulty" or even supposed to be made for "adults".
Games are rated 18 because some people are stupid enough to do the things they see on games but most of us know that it is just a game
so you would be happy for your 8 year old daughter to play GTA3? (and yes i know you dont have one!)
dont think that games are exactly "adult" games if they are rated 18 or something like that.
I dont even think that games are "adulty" or even supposed to be made for "adults".
Games are rated 18 because some people are stupid enough to do the things they see on games but most of us know that it is just a game
so you would be happy for your 8 year old daughter to play GTA3?
I dont even think that games are "adulty" or even supposed to be made for "adults".
Games are rated 18 because some people are stupid enough to do the things they see on games but most of us know that it is just a game
so you would be happy for your 8 year old daughter to play GTA3?
I understand what your saying and agree.
I dont think that games are exactly "adult" games if they are rated 18 or something like that.
I dont even think that games are "adulty" or even supposed to be made for "adults".
Games are rated 18 because some people are stupid enough to do the things they see on games but most of us know that it is just a game.
Also, little kids (7-11) wouldnt really be "clever" enough to be watching all this violence we see in games and parents dont want them to see it all.
Games are made and some are rather tricky and involve you solving puzzles that arent really as easy as they make out.
Most games are created for everyone though apart form the obvious ones like GTA3.
Games like Mario are even too hard to complete for youngsters and even GTA3 makes some over 18's sick.
It all depends on your taste and stuff.
Anyway,
Good post, read it all and enjoyed.
I dont think that games are exactly "adult" games if they are rated 18 or something like that.
I dont even think that games are "adulty" or even supposed to be made for "adults".
Games are rated 18 because some people are stupid enough to do the things they see on games but most of us know that it is just a game.
Also, little kids (7-11) wouldnt really be "clever" enough to be watching all this violence we see in games and parents dont want them to see it all.
Games are made and some are rather tricky and involve you solving puzzles that arent really as easy as they make out.
Most games are created for everyone though apart form the obvious ones like GTA3.
Games like Mario are even too hard to complete for youngsters and even GTA3 makes some over 18's sick.
It all depends on your taste and stuff.
Anyway,
Good post, read it all and enjoyed.
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