Four Recent Games that Hurt Gaming's Reputation
by Jake Weston, posted on 03 August 2011 / 8,264 Views
The recent decision by the United States Supreme Court to overturn a California law banning the sale of violent video games to minors has been nothing less than a huge victory to not only gamers around the world, but free speech in general. That being said, though, for the first six months of this year, that decision was still very much in the air. This year, many games came out that made our argument for us. Games that have both violence and sexuality in them, but used them in a mature, adult manner, such as L.A. Noire and Catherine. However, we have also seen games release this year that do the exact opposite; that have hurt this medium's reputation, and were also just in very poor taste, given that most of these games were released when the Supreme Court were still contemplating their decision. I'd never suggest in a million years that the games below be banned, or not made at all, just that the timing of these releases could have been better thought out.
4. Dead Space 2
This isn't necessarily about the game itself, but the way EA went about marketing it. The now infamous "Your Mom Hates Dead Space 2" ads featured mothers' appalled reactions to extremely violent and bloody footage of the game. This was the ad's main selling point of the game, at one point outright saying "It's revolting, it's violent, it's everything you love in a game." So basically, the ad implies a target audience of pre-teen and teenage boys, and also implies that the only thing they like in a game is violence, quality notwithstanding. Dead Space 2 is a great game, but EA's marketing of the title was horribly timed, given it was during the heat of the Supreme Court hearings.
3. Mortal Kombat
I love Mortal Kombat, who doesn't? Other than its well-known characters, its gratuitous violence has always been the series main-selling point, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, given the fact that gamers everywhere were holding their breath on the Supreme Court's ultimate decision, Mortal Kombat 's release certainly couldn't have helped our case. Of course, Mortal Kombat is one of the best fighting games in years, so at least it has quality to back up its "violent for the sake of humor" approach, which unfortunately our next entry does not have...
2. Duke Nukem Forever
Duke Nukem Forever, one of the most anticipated and hyped games of the last 15 years, couldn't have picked a worse time to come out. On one hand, it's everything gamers wanted in Duke: Rude, crude, vulgar, and misogynistic, all with its tongue in cheek. Well, sort of in cheek. In reality, Duke Nukem Forever was downright embarrassing, not only for Duke himself, but for gamers everywhere. While it tried to hide behind parody, the fact the of the matter it was still offensive, derogatory towards women, and even featured rape in a comedic sense (which is never okay). Also, well, it's just a really crappy game. But not nearly as bad as...
1. Call of Juarez: The Cartel
Here we have a game that has no value, artistic, gameplay, or otherwise. Rather than being an intelligent commentary of the racial tensions and drug problems of modern day Los Angeles and Mexico, Call of Juarez: The Cartel instead purposefully plays up unfortunate racial stereotypes at face value. The story takes the very serious drug problem of Mexico and makes light of it, using it as a backdrop for one-note characters to shoot up racist caricatures. I'm all for the freedom to make a game about whatever you want, but in this case, the insensitiveness of the subject matter and the timing of its release so soon after the Supreme Court decision makes this not only one of the worst games to come out in recent years, but easily the most worthless.
36 Comments
SHould have listed some fitness and dancing games, gamers have a reputation for being lazy and fat, those games are hurting that reputation.
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Umm Modern Warfare 2??? That game completely didn't help the Games promote Mass murder case that has been banged on about by opposition groups for ages. It was basically adding fuel to the fire who's wood consists of gta games.
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yeah the COD games are probably a lot more publicized as games of war than any of these ^^
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I disagree. While certainly controversial, the "No Russian" scene had a merit of artistic value. It was supposed to conjure up powerful and disturbing feelings and did just that. It served to show how horrible terrorism really is and is the closest thing many of us will ever get to experience an event such as that. Plus, it gives more power to the interactivity of that scene. Do you shoot the civilians with the terrorists? If so, why? For the fun? To keep your cover? Or you could just not shoot them. The power in that scene is that it's your choice in how you respond.
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I'm sorry but the "No Russian" scene might be said to have artistic value or to try to conjure emotions, but that game really was not a medium for any of that... heck there is no rationalization of the event afterwards, you just jump to a manhunt in Brazil... not very artistic of the plot writers ^^
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It didn't help gaming with its complete and utter bullocks storyline based on implausibility.
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Mortal Kombat was a great game! I understand Duke Nukem and Call of Juarez were horrible games but Mortal Kombat was great and I haven't seen any "bad adds"
I don't think that's what he was going at. When most people think of "violence for violence sake" when it comes to games, Mortal Kombat is usually the first to come to mind. So having this game come out while the Supreme Court was still deciding didn't help our side of the argument.
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I have to admit, the Dead Space 2 ad really doesn't look good for games. Yeah its a funny ad...but think about it. Violent video games are intended for mature audiences who likely do not have to ever show their mothers this game. Given that, saying that "your mom will hate it" explicitly markets the game to younger kids in that particular ad (most of which would have little difficulty getting the game). It is no different than marketing a movie like Saw underage viewers. Otherwise I don't see anything wrong with the actual violence in these games, they are properly rated by ESRB.
I respect anyone's opinion, and it's your list. But seriously, on MW2? After that airport scene? I think that alone caused more controversy than all the games above put together.
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I agree the DS2 marketing was kinda bad, but MW2 should be in the list instead. "No russian" made much more of a fuss.
How is that a victory for gamers. I'm sorry to say, but common. Does a 12 year old boy really need to play the most recent version of Dead Space? I agree that we shouldn't banned free speech, but does that have any positive outcome when 14 year old kids are watching ultra violent killing sprees? I understand that videogames are a work of art, but what sort of art are kids aspiring to when they see a rape scene in Duke Nukem? Michael Angelo's David is provocative, but there is subtlety, it implies one to think of the human condition. And are we all ready to flag a game, any game, a work of art? In the world, there are products that are solely out there for the piece of the pie. Anyone can argue that a can of soda is the epitome of social freedom, that one can quench their thirst and is a symbol of this a Generation. But can't a can of soda just be a can of soda? Aren't video game producers exploiting these kind of games as sports teams sell their jerseys? And if this is art, why are there so many different versions of Call of Duty, an annual product. If we're so starved for art, why aren't museums pact to the teeth with starving teenagers for the sake of culture? Let's not call this victory, let's call it what it is. Consumerism.
How is that a victory for gamers. I'm sorry to say, but common. Does a 12 year old boy really need to play the most recent version of Dead Space? I agree that we shouldn't banned free speech, but does that have any positive outcome when 14 year old kids are watching ultra violent killing sprees? I understand that videogames are a work of art, but what sort of art are kids aspiring to when they see a rape scene in Duke Nukem? Michael Angelo's David is provocative, but there is subtlety, it implies one to think of the human condition. And are we all ready to flag a game, any game, a work of art? In the world, there are products that are solely out there for the piece of the pie. Anyone can argue that a can of soda is the epitome of social freedom, that one can quench their thirst and is a symbol of this a Generation. But can't a can of soda just be a can of soda? Aren't video game producers exploiting these kind of games as sports teams sell their jerseys? And if this is art, why are there so many different versions of Call of Duty, an annual product. If we're so starved for art, why aren't museums pact to the teeth with starving teenagers for the sake of culture? Let's not call this victory, let's call it what it is. Consumerism.
Is the author saying that we should all be hiding under a rock and keep quiet while the mighty supreme ct. is debating our fate? Come on people, don't be THAT afraid. I'm not saying that we are still 'the land of the free' because we're not but we're not BECAUSE many of us have turned from proud and free citizens into fearful and obedient 'consumers'.
Hold on, Duke Nukem was legitimate bad and tasteless but Call of Juarez is no such thing. It was a bad unpolished game but it introduced really creative gameplay mechanics with the co-op where each co-op member had really cool and unique objectives which made co-op both cooperative and competitive at the same time. I really hope to see these mechanics presented better in a more polished future title. Duke Nukem is a far worse game, relying on nostolgia while having ho'hum gameplay and visuals. And Bulletstorm may be crass but it's artistic style is vibrant and presents really creative FPS gameplay while doing so. Where is Call of Duty on this list? I don't think it was a particularly horrible game (though definitely overrated) but I've seen Fox use Call of Duty as a way to argue against government funding of indie games.
Dead Space 2 = bullshit. Mortal Kombat= Bullshit. Duke Nukem = Agreed. Call of Jurez = Can't comment as I haven't played
wait, was MK highly publicized with bad adds? I personally haven't read any news complaining about it... but then I don't watch TV so i do miss some of the sensational press ^^
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@ Tammi The proposed bill never really gave a detailed description on what kinds of games were to be deemed violent. If it did pass our good ol govt. could have labled games that are currently rated appropriate for kids like Super Mario Bros. Thats why its just best if the ESRB stepped it up a bit and educated parents for once to tell their kids no.
I have to disagree. If you can ban the sell of alcohol and tobacco from minors why not violent video games? Tobacco ads are banned from the tv in America and the use of animated animal mascots for tobacco/beer is also frowned upon. Why can't they ban the sell of violent games to minors, too?
For the same reason you can't ban the sale of violent movies and books. Either way, it's a parents job to be censoring what their children are watching/doing, not the governments.
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The difference is that video games are an art form while alcohol and tobacco is seen as a luxury.
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come to think about it, san andreas is the only game that really hurt reputation because of the little rating error.... but still i stand by what i said, none of these games hurt reputation of people who play games. games are a fantasy, much like cartoons and movies.
well if you do go into older games, then MK had a bad reputation with it's "photo realistic" graphics and gore. But wasn't Manhunt one of the most controversial games for the media? though yes the hot coffee is probably the most well know incident ^^
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I completely agree. However, the focus of this article was that the content of these games were somewhat counterproductive, given at the time of their release we were fighting for game's right as an art-form (the Supreme Court case).
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Hold on, Duke Nukem was legitimate bad and tasteless but Call of Juarez is no such thing. It was a bad unpolished game but it introduced really creative gameplay mechanics with the co-op where each co-op member had really cool and unique objectives which made co-op both cooperative and competitive at the same time. I really hope to see these mechanics presented better in a more polished future title. Duke Nukem is a far worse game, relying on nostolgia while having ho'hum gameplay and visuals. And Bulletstorm may be crass but it's artistic style is vibrant and presents really creative FPS gameplay while doing so. Where is Call of Duty on this list? I don't think it was a particularly horrible game (though definitely overrated) but I've seen Fox use Call of Duty as a way to argue against government funding of indie games.
I don't need the good opinion of a bunch of liars, thieves, cheats, and sex offenders in Washington, the Faux News Network, or a disgraced and disbarred Florida lawyer. When people talk down about gaming and gamers, consider the source.
Talking about gaming rep? It has to have street cred now? Downvote for you!!
I didn't realize that I misspelled caricature. Fixed now, thanks for pointing it out to me.
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after re reading the article -deadspace 2's advertising was clever, i wanted to get the game, but i hate horror games, was almost convinced about getting it -mortal kombat has always been violent and bloody, im glad they stuck to their roots -Duke Nukem again, is classic with the sexuality violence and everything, shame the game was horrible. -i never played or cared abot call of juarez, but it sounds interesting if its takes serious problems and real life and makes light of it.... maybe games can be an escape or an extreme view? u know, like games are meant to be... a fantasy?
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