Warren Spector: "The ultraviolence has to stop"

"The veteran designer talks about disturbing trends at E3, and how Epic Mickey 2 is different

Disney Interactive Studios
Warren Spector has created many much-loved games in his long career, but Epic Mickey is one his proudest moments. Now he's working on the sequel, and he was busy at E3 showing the game to the world. GamesIndustry International caught up with him after the show to get his thoughts on E3 and the response to Epic Mickey2: The Power of 2.

Full disclosure: I've known Warren since the early 1980's, when we were both working on tabletop games. It feels odd to schedule an interview with an old friend, but then it's about the best way to get a chance to talk to him these days.", writes GamesIndustry.

[PopRocks359]

So how many insecure frat/CoD gamers wish to call him out as an idiot who doesn't know what he's talking about?

I don't think super violent games need to stop, but they certainly have become the bulk of the industry. Halo, CoD, Gears of War, Killzone and other such M-rated shooters are some of the most popular games in the industry. I don't think games make people killers but just like any movie, it can desensitize a person from death and gratuitous violence. No two cases are the same; it depends on the person.

Warren Spector may be jumping to an extreme with that quote, but he is definitely on the spot in starting this debate.

[StarFox]

mainstream appeal, is all i gotta say. the maistreaam loves all this "Ultraviolence" but in the end eventually the appeal will die off at least to casuals. as the saying goes "what goes up, must come down" its impossible to avoid even COD will meet that end its just of matter of time. not to say i don't like violence in my games.

as for epic mickey 2 im not at all interested in that game but epic mikey power of illusion for 3ds has my attention. that game reminds me so much of the disney side scrollers i used to play on the snes. that game is a must buy for me.

[Gaming101]

Mainstream appeal may be what companies are after, but at the end of the day you shape your audience.

When you play State of Emergency, you're not so disturbed the next time you see a game with someone shooting up a shopping mall.

When you play games with adolescent approaches to sex and violence and calling them mature (as opposed to actual mature approaches), it's hugely distasteful and really shows the immaturity of the medium, both on the developer standpoint and the consumer standpoint. It's the reason noone takes the videogames industry seriously, because we're all a bunch of noodnicks buying into all this crap.

It appeals to the lesser sophisticated part of us, and people by and large aren't very sophisticated so of course this approach works from a money standpoint with sales - to the detriment of actual sophisticated people who want their hobby to be taken seriously.

[darthv72]

perhaps but games are becoming like movies and tv. Mostly filler with the stuff that is used when there lacks a deep involving story.

Violence, sex and vulgar language are overly used in mainstream media that it is overshadowing the really good stuff underneath.

I like my fair share but when you have to resort to using those as selling points then you really have nothing. The finished product becomes stereotypical at best.

Games used to be about fun and enjoyment but now they are about frags and ....ing.

[nukeitall]

I have no problem with violence, sex, vulgarity or anything else. It's free expression and if that is what people like, that's fine.

Who am I to judge others if they aren't doing anything harmful towards others!

In later news, the crime rate has been declining in major cities for ages as violence has increased on TV!

[pixelsword]

I'm not against non-violent-violent video games, I just want the sex back then. :)

[Diver]

sorry but hes a dude making a game about a animated character an he sounds like a puppet. fact is this is part of his epic mickey 2 sales pitch an he needs it after epic mickey 1.

also he needs to take a deep swig off the ole hypocrite wine bottle considering some of the games he made. maybe not as violent as those today but that's just splitting hairs over how much violence is allowed how do we decide that? with a panel of spector apologists?

[MysticStrummer]

"Warren Spector may be jumping to an extreme with that quote, but he is definitely on the spot in starting this debate."

You must be very new to gaming. This debate has gone on for a loooooong time, at least since the early 90s with Doom and Mortal Kombat. Those were the first games I remember reading about that caused this debate anyway.

[Bimkoblerutso]

It was a very different debate back then. Those games were not a normal occurrence back in the 90's, so the mere fact that they even existed was very controversial.

The debate has shifted more toward the realization that a very, VERY large portion of our games these days hinge on the same ultraviolence that was so controversial in only one or two games way back when.

For the most part, it's not a condemnation of ultraviolence (everyone likes blowing some virtual heads off every now and then), but it is a condemnation of it's near omnipresence in the industry. It has essentially come to define gaming as a whole, and given the mediums unique properties and potential for creativity, it's more than a little sad that so many developers nowadays simply stoop to the "kill, kill, kill, repeat," aesthetic.

[Flavor]

I remember walking into the arcade at Disney world when i was a kid and playing Mortal Kombat.. with the blood turned off. that about sums it up.

[Drake117]

I don't mind violence in video games but it is making it seem like the industry has lost alot of the charm it had in previous gens. Like what happened to the good old platformers or adventure games. It seems like most big devs these days go for the realism and ultra violence instead of the sort of imaginary and creative. I still do like violent games and most of the good games this gen have been very violent, i just wish they had more variety like they used to.

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

The thing is even those old games had the violence there, but as graphics evolved, we expected a more real approach.

When a crocodile got you in Pitfall, it wasn't simple biting you 'till you blink and disappear, it was violently killing you for food. It's just natural that if it was done today there would be some gore.

Just like that, there's deliberatelly killing in games since forever... What you think mario stomp goombas for? Just cause there wasn't a gooey plast left behind doesn't mean it isn't violence.

Violence is just a visceral form of interaction. Gore came from the natural evolution of graphics... Hence "ultraviolence" is not necessarily a catch to sell as much as it's natural evolution of games towards a more realistic presentation.

Don't get me wrong, I also want more creativity in gameplay beyond just killing everything that moves. But I also don't want to go back to text based adventures just to avoid "ultraviolence".

[Drake117]

Yeah i def don't want to go back to text based adventures lol and i do think, like you said that alot of the violence you see in video games is because of the evolution of graphics but i def think devs these days just try for the realism. Take Naughty Dog for instance, i absolutely love their games this gen with uncharted, and The Last of Us seems to be like it will be one of the best games this gen but they are both pretty violent and realistic video games compared to what they did in the past with Jak and Daxter or Crash Bandicoot. Devs this gen (Like ND) still make great games, its just that it seems like they are shooting for a more realistic/violent style.

[TekoIie]

"Warren Spector may be jumping to an extreme with that quote, but he is definitely on the spot in starting this debate".

You havent heard of Fox News have you? Just look up the MW2 No Russian controversy and you'll find that just about everyone who calls out video games for violence doesnt know what they're talking about.

When these people who criticise gaming become intelligent and informed people i will take them seriously...

[theDECAY]

He's been developing and creating games for years. I feel like that makes him informed.

[JaredH]

All he's talking about is violence where there's no rhyme or reason for it. If there's context he doesn't care.(he uses Deus Ex: Human Revolution as an example) Judging from most of these comments I'm guessing people never even read any of the interview.

I'm okay with ultra-violence but I do agree with him in that context should make it meaningful.(The Last of Us e3 demo for example)

[extermin8or]

Are you saying it had no meaning in The Last of Us deom or that it did, because in what we saw as far as were could see Joel started the violence however clearly it was infact started prior to that point by various survivors attacking you :p

[JaredH]

I'm saying that it's a good example of meaningfully using extreme violence since Naughty Dog is making the game very violent just to make the dire post apocalyptic and kill or be killed world more dramatic and emotional.

[SilentNegotiator]

I'd really like to stab this man in the face. And call an airstrike on his next of kin.

It would be nice to see less games where offensive (Not "I'm so offended!", taking the "offensive"), violent actions are the ultimate goal.

Punching, shooting, and stabbing can't always be the end of it. That's not the solution, maaaan! Violence doesn't solve anything, bro!

How about more games with stealth? Something where I'm not a badass with two ballers or blades. Why would I even be stealthy if I had those things?

How about more games with strategic and psychological means of meeting goals?

[asmith2306]

I don't get this 'violence in video games' argument. Its as simple as having an M rating on the box, just like movies do. I'm an adult and I should be allowed to decide what games of any rating I want to play. Likewise, developers should be allowed to make they game they want without being criticised as long as the correct rating is on the box. After that its down to parents who let their kids play M rated games. And if thats where the problem lies then call out parenting problems in society, not the games. Nuff said.

[mysterym]

Epic mickey can shove it. i'll keep the violence thanks.

[avengers1978]

There has been violent video games since video games started, atari 2600 had games were you shot people, its basically the fact that now we have the graphics to back up what you are seeing is more real life.
That's why there is a rating system

Warren spector makes non-violent video games, and shocker he wants violent video games(that out sell his by a lot) to come to an end.

As long as there the top selling games then they will continue to keep coming out, and thank you consumers.

[NYC_Gamer]

I enjoy violence in my video games...I was amazed when first played MK in the arcade and was able to use Johnny Cage and knock the other characters head off..That was just so wow for me since was used to fighting games like SF...

[PopRocks359]

A game can be incredibly fun, even without violence. Portal is a critically acclaimed non-violent game that was written for adults. I think you're just looking at the wrong non-violent games.

[NYC_Gamer]

I have no problem with non- violent video games...I'm just not gonna jump on the bandwagon and claim violence in video games should end...Both violent and non-violent games have there place in the industry....

[OmniSlashPT]

So you're comparing a puzzle game to a fighting game?

That's like comparing chess to MMA. That's just ridiculous.

[PopRocks359]

Did you read my comment? I never said you should jump on any bandwagon. My personal belief is that violent games have become excessive and abundant. After a new CoD, Halo and Gears of War come out, it's nice to be able to play something more mellow or even just more down to earth.

It's like listening to one genre of music for too long. I'll eventually get bored of it.

[solidjun5]

Did you read his comment? He said both have thier place in the industry. Violent games have become excessive and abundant in your view, but you choose not to play them. However, there are other games you can play and do play. But a lot don't share your personal belief.

[DarthJay]

They are in excess and abundance because that is what people want to play. Supply and demand. When I want mindless fun of the non-violent persuasion, I throw in a LEGO game or Minecraft. There are options there. But companies are going to appeal to what the market dictates.

If someone creates a beautiful story that provides the excapism necessary to capture the minds of the masses, people will buy it regardless of the context.

[-Gespenst-]

@NYC_Gamer

That's troubling though. Games make violence seem like it's some sort of attractive and impressive thing. Which it definitely isn't. The idea of violence is redefined in a false manner by games, and this can effect how a culture understands violence, effect that understanding in a highly unhealthy (for want of a better word) way.

[TekoIie]

"The idea of violence is redefined in a false manner by games".

That went right over my head. I understand what your sort of saying but i dont see how.

I think what your getting at is that we have control over how the violence is unleashed which has never been done before. But at the same time why is it that we cant argue movies and TV do this too?

When i was VERY young i watched an episode of power rangers and afterwards went jumping round the house like they do in the show. Did it on the stair jumped and nocked my head on the banister after landing on another step badly and knocking two teeth out (baby ones thank god). Now did my Mum or Dad go on a media crusade to ban power rangers and any form of violence from TV? NOoOoOo they didnt....

The real answer is to all this is that Violence in video games isnt going too far. People are just look for something to bitch and whine about nowadays althought there will be a select few who really believe that its wrong and i will have faith that they are intelligent enough to do research and prove there points/beliefs properly and if they have a legitimate argument then i will respect them for that.

[AWBrawler]

I get what he is saying. Tho I will be buying Resident evil 6 and zombiu this year, I don't want my entire library to be bloody gore games. What happened to the days where something like Mario, Spyro, Psychonauts, and Beyond good and Evil could win game of the year?

[Kurt Russell]

Ahhh my first fatalitie... it changed my life! Now I am spoiled for blood and violence. No complaints from me, let the bodies hit the floor.

[metsgaming]

Wonder if hes seen soul sacrifice yet lol

[STONEY4]

He made one of the last games which allowed you to kill children. And probably the only one where you can blow them up into gibs.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[Skateboard]

Nothing needs to stop, I like both.

[Zhipp]

I think there have been way too many M rated games these past few years. I mean, kids play games too. Maybe there would be fewer obnoxious 12 year olds playing CoD if there were more T and E rated games for them.

[Hicken]

And the reason M rated games are rated "M" is so you know not to let kids play them. There are plenty of games NOT rated M that they can play. More, in fact, than those that ARE.

The problem is that people BUY M rated games for their kids to play. After all, unless they're breaking the law- and thus subjected to being fired/arrested- no one can sell a person under 17 an M rated game; most places, like GameStop, even require ID to purchase said titles.

Don't blame the abundance of kids playing games they shouldn't be playing on the games. Blame it on the people who LET them play: the parents.

On topic: The violence does not need to stop. It's just as relevant as a game like Flower, which has no violence at all. The wonderful thing about gaming is that there are dozens of genres and hundreds of thousands of games, all designed to cater to SOMEBODY.

Don't like porn games? You don't have to buy em.

Not a fan of shooters? Skip em.

Motion gaming not your thing? That's A-okay.

There's still something out there that will appeal to you. And chances are, there are a dozen or more just like it.

Leave the "ultraviolent" games to those who want to play/make them; you do your own thing. Nobody's gonna be upset, so long as there's a balance.

[MysticStrummer]

No. There would be fewer kids playing M rated games if their parents didn't buy the game for them. Those ratings are there for a reason but they're ignored.

[BrianC6234]

It's dumb for this guy to say the violence has to stop. Why should he have any say? Does he want every game to be the same? Just shut up.

[PopRocks359]

Because he has the free right just as you have the free right to argue against it?

[StanSmith]

"Does he want every game to be the same?"

They already are all the same. There are too many FPS games on the market and not enough games like Mario, Sly and Ratchet & Clank.

[TheLyonKing]

NO...no it doesn't.

Thats what entertainment medium is for.

Look at it this way, books are very diverse theres that really shit nove 50 shades of grey out which is about bdsm and then you get childrens books.

The same is said about video games, thats the great thing you can get games like epic mickey which are fun to play and others like god of war which are intensly bloody its all about your target market.

[-Gespenst-]

So you'll just lap up anything the entertainment industry puts in your bowl without being even remotely critical of it? That's pretty troubling.

Instead of damaging effects on a culture it's all about "target markets"? That's a very dangerous relativism to be convinced of.

It's not about censorship, it's about avoiding a culture adopting an unhealthy attitude towards violence and the portrayal of it. Violence should be portrayed for what it is: Disturbing. Not "impressive" or "cool".

[Kinect]

close your mouth .

[TheLyonKing]

So your view is to limit what people can play so as to avoid anyone feeling like the game is too violent?

Bottom line you don't like it then the game wasn't meant for you and you don't play it.

The fact that there is variety is great for the industry it means it can reach out towards more people and the games industry will continue to exist.

If that's your view then you would also want to ban horror films, death metal and gore books.

[theDECAY]

I gave you a bubble. I think your right. I like games like The Last of Us, but if that was a little less violent, I don't think it would ruin the game for me. I am a huge fan of Dark Souls and Demon Souls and I am not sure if there is blood in that game, or anything too ultra violent, for that matter. I think we do fantasize the violence a bit too much here. In the states especially.

[shackdaddy]

I prefer non-violence but I really don't care if games are ultraviolent.

Nowadays I see it (and the M rating) being used as a gimmick to boost sells though. For example, I highly doubt GoW would be as popular without all the violence in it...

[StreetsofRage]

Violence has gotten out of control and their is something that needs to be done....but in the meantime, somebody needs to put a bullet in this guy's mouth.

What would you prefer? Streets of Rage? or Streets of Butterflies and cupcakes?

[ozstar]

Just some variety please

[solidjun5]

Streets of Raging Butterflies.

[Kinect]

black butterflies is wat i like

[DEATHxTHExKIDx]

Ultra violence isn't out of control. Ill play pokemon then switch to gears of war EZ

[-Gespenst-]

"I just don't believe in the effects argument at all, but I do believe that we are fetishizing violence, and now in some cases actually combining it with an adolescent approach to sexuality. I just think it's in bad taste. Ultimately I think it will cause us trouble."

Warren has it down. People should read this article before sounding off about how much of an "idiot" he is. He's NOT arguing the tired old nonsense suburban mom Fox news conservative "video games make people kill other people" BS. He's making a much more intelligent argument on the cultural effects of violence in videogames and it's symbolic power.

Think about how ridiculous some games are. Assassin's Creed follows the so called "hero" who executes people in the most excessive, gratuitous fashions ever. I'm thinking when he absolutely perforates some anonymous foe with his hidden blades like a dozen times. The problem is that it's made to look "cool", but he's being depicted just savagely murdering someone, it's psychopathic. It's the slow motion, the choreographed mass murder and a hundred other videogame trends that are just really disturbing on a cultural level. It's not cool, but it's trying to be.

We fetishize violence when we find ourselves thinking that this shit is cool; that it's "impressive" or something. It doesn't matter that it's not real, it's the fact that violence in the videogame becomes a reward, something to salivate over and to be in awe over. It's bad for a culture and how it understands violence. And it's not only this, games are guilty of similarly immature treatments of most things, including but limited to, gender and sexuality.

I'm tired of people thinking they're so aloof when they call people who make arguments like this "idiots". They reveal themselves to be the idiots.

[ShaunCameron]

Well said.

[theDECAY]

Very well said.

[-Gespenst-]

This guy's mind is the reason Deus Ex is one of the best games of all time. Sure it suffers from the slightly immature super sci-fi "wwoooow coool" factor, but at it's heart it's a very intelligent and, dare I say it, by video game standards anyway, a very mature game. Human Revolution too (minus the boss fights, they really hurt that game's credibility)

[J86blum]

It dosent need to stop, what needs to start is parents better controlling, and monitering what their child is playing, and if they see it making the child an ass (pointing to the kids playing COD and shit talking) then the parents need to step in. In the end its how the parents raise their kids to an "exstent". If they are smart enough when they are able to purches blood and gore games on their own they will know the diffrence and be able to seperate it from reality.

Least thats how I plan on raising my child. And co-op with him down the line on resident evil 9 (just rhymed).

[Bathyj]

Appy-polly-loggies Warren.

Theres nothing wrong with a bit of the old Ultraviolence.

[CrzyFooL]

I spent forever scrolling down these comments to find a Clockwork reference. Thank you!

[Bathyj]

Yeah, I cant believe I was the first one.

[belac09]

i do think there are too many ultra violent games, but we shouldnt stop them all together, i like a good angry violent game to take out my frustrations on.

[MasterD919]

I'm not defending all games as some games intentionally go over the line, but this article is in regards to someone who can't relate to the average gamer nowadays. Not saying everyone, but just the average gamer who wants to play these games regardless.

Blame the Publishers, not the fans.

[omarzy]

sadly, it will not stop with the new laws.In california(not sure where else) M rated games MUST be sold anybody as long as strong sexual content is not present in the game. so gamestop has to sell a 13 year old an M rated game if it does not have sex. the problem is just getting worse.

[ALLWRONG]

I agree with him

[DwightOwen]

He's right in a way. After you've been gaming long enough, the over-the-top violence doesn't "do it" for you anymore. In fact, you just find it plain pretentious and annoying, like Bulletstorm.

Eventually, you start looking for games which have some redeeming substance, such as great gameplay, story, etc.

By the way, if you want to get all the stupid teens off of CoD, change the ESRB rating to "T" and watch those annoying shits avoid it like the plague, LOL. After all, it's not "cool" if its not rated "M".

[ALLWRONG]

I agree, have a bubble

[DwightOwen]

Thanks, you too.

[ShaunCameron]

Agreed. Mature really just means whatever teenage boys like. It's been that way ever since Mortal Kombat came out and gamers abandoned Nintendo for Sega all because Nintendo didn't wanna show real blood. Mortal Kombat pioneered the (ESRB) rating system. It pioneered the gratuitous violence/sex/vulgarity/realism = mature/hardcore philosophy that the video game industry has a hard time letting go of out of fear of being looked at as "kiddy", hence its rabid obsession with trying to look mature to the wider audience and Hollywood who ironically prefer social games, "casual" games and some of Nintendo's games.

" I think we’re just appealing to an adolescent mindset and calling it mature. "

This is exactly what video games have been reduced to.

[Neo-Axl]

Clockwork Orange :3

[CanadianTurtle]

Guys relax, its not like anyone is actually going to listen to him...

Violence sells, and believe me I buy lots of it. And I will continue to buy them.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Coming from a Mickey Mouse creator....

Get the violence out of our games = no games sales period. Games are already starting to struggle in the market, taking away the violence spells death on the gaming world. x_x

[PerpetualMathx10]

it's all subjective, how much violence is too much violence, and what constitutes as violence? and violence is only ok "if it has context" sounds like he thinks he is qualified to start a rubric for a medium of art and entertainment. ever heard of grindhouse films, they're are overly violent and sexual and that was what made those films such classics and art in the film industry. it was the creativity put into making some great props or special effects, and the campy appeal was what tied it all together. no one ever has to justify in their work why they did or did not do something.

and as to the user who said it changes our perception on how society views violence, i agree. but i also think society as a whole has always had an ever changing perception and understanding of violence, so i think you have to look more closely at what the game is trying to accomplish by using or not using violence, and also who the game is aimed at. in all reality i think media portrays violence as glorified fantasy because anyone whos witnessed real graphic violence in person can easily tell you it is profoundly different than anything you see in a movie or game.

[RememberThe357]

Not on your life bub.

[OldSnakePS3]

games are rated M for a reason
dont want your kid playing em?
dont buy em for them
be a better parent

[bluedash3r]

as much as i hate to admit it he is right we need to stop with all the viloence in games really..having said that we grow up watchiing tv with guns and stuff it is litarly buildt into us at a very young age so i love shooters not becouse of the volence but its just something about running around a big map and shooting people idk

[MiamiACR21]

Well, this ought to make a few house wives struggling with middle age hot for some Warren Spector cock! You the man!

[Megaton]

What ultraviolence? Manhunt 2 was the last "ultraviolent" game, and they censored the crap out of it.

[Bathyj]

Id give up GTAV to have a Manhunt 3.

[gcolley]

100% agree

[KontryBoy706]

Why should violence in video games end? If you are going to try to make this happen then why are you not saying violence in movies should end or music or art even. This is pointless games have ratings for a reason. It's not the game industry's fault that parents allow their kids to play whatever they want.

[stuntman_mike]

I think it's a case of developers not taking risks so they stick to what has been selling previously. but the problem with that is, it's turned in to a vicious circle. e.g we can only buy what they game makers put out and they only make what sells.

their needs to be some compromise.

[Kos-Mos]

I remember the word "ultra-violence" during the release of A Clockwork Orange. The bastards thought the movie would inspire kids in the wrong direction. Instead it`s one of few movies we`ve learned bloody much about human nature.

[MilkMan]

I'm an older gamer and I love my Nintendo kid friendly games, but I'm afraid that Mr. Spector is a little out of touch with what sells and with what has transpired in the world of gaming.

If he thinks that this billion dollar industry can be sustained and given any credibility on the backs of Mario and Epic Mickey I think he needs to re-think what he does for a living.

Hell, even Miyamoto has considered doing an FPS. Maybe not violent, but something with the FPS mechanics.
So, although I can appreciate the sentiment, its just not realistic.

Makes for nice PR though, especially for his up and coming game.

[Warj]

I don't mind violence, but it has gotten to the point where it is used in place of creativity.

And not to start a war here, but reading through many of the comments people are kind of proving him right.

Before you argue, the question I pose is if you took the blood and violence out of a game you love, and you no longer enjoy it or it now sucks, what does that say about the real game? The core concept beneath the glossy red sheen. What does that say about you?

[MadMen]

This guy needs to GTFO of gaming and advice

[Kidmyst]

I have my copy of Night Trap on Sega CD which Toys R Us and KayBee Toys pulled from shelves because of blood. I laughed during that time but look at how games changed. Night Trap is nothin compared to like God of War.

[stumpa]

whilst it is true that subjecting people to violent video games and movies etc does desensitize people to such things unfortunately history proves that wars and murder has existed since time began and will continue until time stops it is in our nature to destroy ourselves for all sorts of different reasons oil , money , power , religon etc etc. Hence the constant battle of good versus evil and that depends on your point of view. Peace out man i'm of to play COD

[LFC1EE]

Yeah mickey mouse yes ho no ho yes 81 comments ho this is getting better and better! for f#ck sake.

[WeedyOne]

We need MORE ultraviolence!

Seriously I want games to be on the same standards as movies and there are some freaking gory violent movies out there...

Hmmm Faces of Death:The Game!

[ShaunCameron]

And this is exactly what's running the industry to the ground. Hollywood envy.

[WeedyOne]

And people like you are exactly the reason why my favorite games like Diablo are turning into unicorn smashing fairylands....

We are headed to a gaming industry that only caters to the casual crowd... Now THAT is whats ruining the industry!

[smashcrashbash]

Sorry but you can't tell me not to play ultraviolence. I am 32 years old and you can't tell me what i can and cannot do. Try harder to keep the violence away from the people who aren't supposed to have it but you can't deny my right to play what ever I want.Kratos was a Spartan barbarian from an ancient time.Kratos was what he was. He is supposed to be violent. If he wasn't then it would run the immersion.

People are violent. Wars are violent. Fighting crime is violent.If I shot someone blood will come out, their organs will splatter.If I put that in a game it is more realistic. Joel in TLOU is a guy who lives in an apocalyptic world where monster exist and he has to fight for his life against scavengers who would blow off his head if he didn't blow off theirs.

In real life there is a possibility you would become this way after years of despair and fear.Just because someone decided to show the darker side of a situation instead of sugar coating it doesn't make them wrong. Just because people want to hide it and bury the fact that violence exists won't change that fact.It's like the people who constantly complain about women in games wearing clingy clothes or short skirts or having big breasts or acting over sexed. There are women like that in this world and if I make a character like that I don't see why i should be hounded and attacked for it.

As with Kratos people start to run from any situation, scene or personality in a game as soon as it gets too extreme. Kratos behaved exactly how any barbarian from his time would and yet people call him names for being what he is. There are women who want sex constantly and wear short skirts and revealing clothes. But as soon as any game character leans that way, we are disrespecting women and are perverts. The women like this don't think you are disrespecting them.These characters and personalities exist in real life but people don't like to think about them and instead prefer to hide and point fingers.Do you think Samurais, Vikings and Mongols didn't split up open or crack your head open or spill your guts ? So why is what Kratos does bad?

[frayed]

What's interesting is that violence sells so well in the first place. There's been a lot of good stuff written on it. The idea that it plays to part of human nature that is scarcely exercised in the modern, comfortable, western world. The idea of fighting for your life is instinctive. Evolutionary. We just don't need to do it for real that much any more. Games are one of the few places we can scratch that adrenaline itch safely and without doing harm to others - people enjoy it in all forms of media for similar reasons.

So it's understandable to an extent. I think violence is a tool for evoking certain emotions and states of excitement. It's a simple one to use, at that.

However, the difficulty for creative mediums is to find other ways of expressing themselves in order to fully explore the possibilities they offer. Spector is worried about the limits it places on creativity - nothing more. And I'd say he's right, probably.

I've just finished Max Payne 3. It was a lot of fun. But thinking about it, there's not much to it other than violence. Violence is the theme. It's the gameplay. It's the glue that holds narrative and challenge together. It's the same with the original Max Payne and the whole series. Creatively, it's seen to be 'better' than many other action games as it tells a story with some relatively well fleshed out characterisation and emotional content. However, let's face it, the original was also just the coolest way ever to shoot people in slow motion. Then the second one added ragdoll and so it was an even cooler way of shooting people. Then the third one pumped up all the gfx and added incredibly realistic animation systems and bullet wounding mechanics that made it the DEFINITIVE shooting in slow mo game. And, you know what? Even while I was playing it part of me was thinking. Really? More waves of bad-guys? Is this it? Sure it's fun but since the first game I've played about 100 violent Max Payne wannabes and games that improved on Max Payne's violence so now... well... I felt like it was the same old violence in another new package.

Some part of me just wanted a bit more. Even Uncharted has some plat-forming, stealth and puzzle solving elements between shooting 1000s of baddies. And it has a story that doesn't just provide a thematic justification to the killing. But that's not to say Uncharted isn't guilty of the same basically fight or flight/ animal instinct adrenaline junkie gameplay. And so is basically ever action game available.

I still love these games. Still play them. But part of me questions whether there shouldn't be MORE offered by the experience of AAA titles. Even action/adventure titles. Portal was mentioned and is a good example. Also classic adventure games. The gameplay and experiences are there. But they simply have fallen by the wayside and haven't been picked up and utilised in today's top selling games. Why? Because violence is enough for most people? I hope not.

[razorshadows]

personaly i had enough of blood gore games....not that i dont like but seriously...i had enough for now...

cant wait for more games like that jrpg ps3 exclusives coming out after summer Ni NO Kuni...that will do

[ThatEnglishDude]

I often like to viddy some of the ol' ultraviolence. Especially whenever some bolshy davotcka is involved.

But really, this guy helped design Deus Ex - listen to him. Right right?