Over the Line: Violence in Video Games
 

This is an interesting editorial from a writer over at 1up.com
I would bump the editorial thread, but thought this was worth the read.

http://www.gamespite.net/verbalspew/...entry_1604.php

I'm not opposed to violence in games, but I do think we're getting to the point where it is just becoming a bit much.

Re: Over the Line: Violence in Video Games
 

There's been violence in video games since video games have existed.
Especially after video games stopped being targeted solely as 'Little kid' things.
It's just that since technology progresses, that violence can be construed more realistically.

Re: Over the Line: Violence in Video Games
 

I don't have a problem with gratuitous violence, but I think it's funny how much more accepting we are to violence than we are to sex in media.

Re: Over the Line: Violence in Video Games
 

I don't think violence is the issue, but a lack of creativity in the shooter genre. It seems developers are so invested in creating a sensory overload they forgot about the "less is more" philosophy. Violence is not effective if you are inundated with it at all times, but when it is used to enhance the story and experience.

Violence in video games is an inevitability, especially in shooters (they are called "shooters" after all) but I think shooters are due for a switch to more thoughtful gaming.

Re: Over the Line: Violence in Video Games
 

I'm gonna just go out there and say that most shooters are getting tired and boring. They have to be just phenomenal in story or concept to be able to wow me. A lot of them are just throwaways.

Re: Over the Line: Violence in Video Games
 

I think that's actually one of the main problems with the "emergence" of violence in games is that shooters have become the dominant genre of gaming.

Personally, violence really depends on the victims. I find stuff like Gears of War okay since you are fighting essentially monsters who they don't really try to humanize at all. But if its a game that has me mowing down innocents for a kick, well who knows.

Re: Over the Line: Violence in Video Games
 

Well it's just like everyone forgot about Borderlands, or maybe no one considers it a shooter?

<3 Borderlands

Re: Over the Line: Violence in Video Games
 

I am confused.

What did we forget about Borderlands? Or what does Borderlands have to do with this conversation?

Re: Over the Line: Violence in Video Games
 

I think there's a bigger philosophical question at stake.

Violence exists in videogames because (almost) all videogames are adversarial in nature. The goal of the game is to defeat somebody or something and try to prevent them from defeating you somehow. I'm not sure how sports games or something like The Sims would fit into this, but if we set those aside for a second, I think we got where we are because games are just giving us more of what they've historically given us in the past. They've always given us something to kill. Now there's more things to kill. And we keep buying them, so why should anyone stop?

Re: Over the Line: Violence in Video Games
 

I don't think violence is emergent in gaming. Just ask a Space Invader of Koopa Trooper if they think old school gaming is violent. Technical advancements has just allowed us to be more graphic with the violence.

Re: Over the Line: Violence in Video Games
 

I don't know if you see the flaw in your logic.

Video games were always violent they just appear more violent now because we can make em more graphic.

Which is exactly the problem. Is all people use tech for is to enhance the type of violence you enact.

And did you really compare Space Invaders and Mario to something like Call of Duty or God of War?

Its like comparing the fight in I don't know, Aladdin to the sword fighting in Kill Bill.

Re: Over the Line: Violence in Video Games
 

that's what borderlands was in response to.