Uncomfortable Realism

Isaiah Taylor of Couchbound.net writes: "Violence in video games usually date the game itself. Clearly, violence will consistently escalate to feed the sadistic habits of consumers. Battlefield 3 [a game I'm looking forward to, may be venturing into a territory of uncomfortable realism, which may be what gaming needs"

[rabidpancakeburglar]

I've got no issue with seeing someone get blown to pieces in a game but if it was real life I'd be sickened. No matter how realistic games get the aren't real life, people realise that. I agree that realism is more vital in gaming as it just makes games better.

[morganfell]

To people that have actually been in a combat unit, not even the graphics of BF3 can provide realism. Devs always sabotage themselves with conventionality.

The BF3 reveal vid was good for about 8 seconds. Then the weapons carry immediately robbed you of the suspension of belief as they fell back on the same old tired positions.

At the briefing table the the marine on the far left was good MOCAP but the overly demonstrative body movements of the CO ruined it. Then the tactical movement began and it really choked. The "flag everyone doom weapon view" is the biggest detractor from realism in modern shooters.

Thank goodness an established shooter will change that next year with it's new mechanics. If developers are going to get close to realism, more than graphics are needed. Not every soldier, airman, sailor, or marine sounds like some juvenile. Body positioning and movement, including lack of it must be heeded.

Ragdoll physics need to be reformed. And what happens when a person is really shot or injured should be presented. It isn't pretty, especially when someone knows they are going to die, but that's realism. Sociologists say that games inure us to violence but it is actually the developers whose failure to present realism that sanitizes killing.

[MariaHelFutura]

I like realism in certain types of games.

Uncomfortable Realism (see video)

[TheKindRoost]

It's probably just me but I didn't find the vid that disturbing, it's perfectly natural(prey and predator). Now what I find disturbing is seeing the vid of children that are victims of war.

[SpLinT]

It's probably just me but I don't find that disturbing.

[MariaHelFutura]

I don`t find it distrubing, I love it. I find death intriguing. Things die, I`ve accepted that. I do feel sorry for the goat though, that`s a rough way to go.

[rabidpancakeburglar]

WTF was that??? That was one of the funniest things I've seen in ages

[e-p-ayeaH]

I like realism to a certain degree but BF3 is not one of those games that i should take seriously by any means.

I remember back in the day ( 1990´s ) not liking to shoot bad guys in the head because it felt to brutal and unnecessary but since that become such a normal thing in the shooter genre i got used to it like everyone else.

[HeavenlySnipes]

Battlefield isn't realistic COD isn't realistic none of the games out are. (Maybe Arma or whatever its called)

Reason being because then it wouldn't be fun.

You think if a car blew up 10 feet from you from an RPG you'd have all limbs in tact. Or that you could chuck a grenade with ease? Or even survive a grenade in close proximity? When you get shot in a game you are crippled then have to work in an office for the rest of your life because you are not fit for duty lol.

Games could have realistic elements to them to make them unique, but no, no game can be completely realistic.

[Ducky]

I don't think that's the side of realism they're focusing on.

This is more so realism on a visual level (i.e. the situations that the game tries to recreate and what it shows you) rather than a gameplay level.

[thugbob]

"Games could have realistic elements to them to make them unique, but no, no game can be completely realistic."

No duh sherlock. All you did was state the obvious.

[ForROME]

Games should be real and should be violent when its the point of the game, people who are effected by violence in video games, should not be playing video games

End of Story

[iamnsuperman]

It is a shame that these titles strive for realism but fall short. The whole one man army thing is why these games fall into the normal military FPS category and not the true military FPS. I know this guy is talking about graphics but what he really should be focusing on is the other usually forgotten realism. I want a game that involves company/platoon attacks not this recky patrol being sent in to take down a company, where the enemy AI is organised as always trying to get into cover while out flanking you, where your friendly AI are competent soldiers and where tactics actually matter and not this waves of enemies which can be beaten if you hit the deck and take what is being thrown at you. I think this is a step the FPS needs to go where you actually think about what you are about to do and how you will execute your objective

[blackhammer]

I want Six Days in Fallujah.

[BeastlyRig]

Wait till Arma3!!

[mamotte]

I want games to be fun, no realistic. Somehow, I dont like realism in games at all, I prefer Portal, and bulletstorm... not another military shooter, with more polygons.