Signs of getting old...getting frustrated with the vulgarity of games

[vi edit]

So I just turned 30 a few months ago. Celebrated the birth of a my first child this year. And I've been gaming on consoles and PC's for about 20 of those 30 years.

But I'm just getting frustrated with the constant envelope of obscenity and vulgarity that is pushing it's way into games.

I rented GTA4 over the weekend. I knew it wasn't a kids game. Having played GTA3 & Vice City (didn't get to San Andreas) I was expecting a fantasy world of violence and sexual perversity.

But I really wasn't expecting this.

From the TV commercials, to the radio stations, to the billboards, to even the cops arresting a mugger on the boardwalk you simply can not escape the over top assault of obscenity and sexual suggestions. The developers went out of their way to smear it in your face every chance they could.

It's just interesting looking back on video games and how they have progressed.

I remember being like 10 and seeing the Hitler looking guy say "Damn" at the end of Bionic Command and that being a big thing. They cussed in a video game!

And then moved up to Duke Nuke 'Em 3D when I was 15 and that being one of the first games that really put adult language into games. And from there you had little milestones in gaming obscenity that made a bit of a stir. "Kingpin" on the PC being one of the most memorable for being the first to drop "F" bombs like they were going out of style.

To today...where games are very much "R" rated material, if not worse.

I've got a subscription to Playboy and drop "F" bombs every now and then so I'm not a prude. But I just have troubles with the profanity being every other word used in a video game. Same goes for the sexual themes. My mind is in the gutter quite a bit, but at some point it just gets old. In games like GTA4 you can't even escape it in the cab. They must be pumping in Liberty Cities version of uncensored satellite radio because the discussions and DJ's on there would make a sailor blush.

I'm probably just getting old and crusty...but I'm just disappointed that games like this sell 5 million copies some of which have to wind up in the hands of a 10 year with oblivious parents. And then we wonder why they grow up like the little thugs that they are.

 

[AstroManLuca]

It's realistic. I for one actually welcome the increased use of "bad" language in video games. They need to earn those M ratings. For a long time an M-rated game was about equivalent to a PG-13 movie. Now, M = R, so if you don't want R-rated material, don't get M-rated games.

I'm not a little kid either, I'm 24.

Oh yeah, did you ever see the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie? Remember how Raphael says "Damn!" near the beginning? Yeah, I was shocked. But I've grown up now... if I want cartoony violence and people saying "gol dang this bull crap" I'm sure there are plenty of T-rated games out there that have it.

 

[Modeps]

I turned 30 back in December. My daughter turned 2 in March. I still think that GTA4 is hilarious (but wont play it till she's sound asleep and I'm alone). What gets me is the 10 year olds with their racist comments... I've been lucky enough to not run into them all that much, but when I do, I just wish I could find their parents and see if they're really just drunk on the couch next to them. I report every person that I do come across like that though. I dont mind casual cursing, but the racist / endless vulgarity is too much.

 

[skace]

It's you, kingpin was worse.

 

[venkman]

1)I remember all the controversy surrounding Kingpin. It was a vastly underrated game that got overshadowed by it's own hype. It was also one of the best multiplayer games of that era.
2)You pay for your porn?
3)GTA4 is a game where you can murder innocent people without consequence and the LANGUAGE is what bothers you?

 

[purbeast0]

well you gotta remember ... back when Bionic Commando came out, gaming was mainly seen as a kids hobby.

how a days, those kids back then are grown up and they are making games that are for that target audience. gaming is no longer a kids hobby. its also an adult hobby.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I haven't bought GTA IV yet but it's because I usually only play "good" / "light side" characters. Planescape: Torment doubles as a personality test and my character ended up as Lawful Good.

:halo;



That said, I haven't noticed much rough language in anything I have bought, mostly RPGs. Vampire: Bloodlines had a little sex and a fair amount of eroticism, but you'd expect that from a vampire game.

I tthink GTA IV is just pandering to its audience and trying to get free publicity by being as "edgy" as they think they can get away with. It's not a sign of the industry as a whole slipping into a vulgar abysss.

 

[Baked]

Playboy... that's like kiddie porn.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: vi edit
I'm probably just getting old and crusty...but I'm just disappointed that games like this sell 5 million copies some of which have to wind up in the hands of a 10 year with oblivious parents. And then we wonder why they grow up like the little thugs that they are.

Two things:

1. If you don't like then don't play it. For all of the extremely violent games out there with foul language, there are a ton of other games which do not contain any of that stuff.

2. While you are probably correct about some younger kids getting GTA and their parents not caring, nothing should be done about the games. Let's face it, those games and the effects they have on the kids is just a drop in the bucket compared to everything else which will turn their lives upside down if their parents are irresponsible people. The games are not the real issue.

 

[randay]

obviously its not a game for little children, but then again obviously little children will play it anyway. its up to the parents really. if it wasnt a vulgar video game it'd probably be something else, bad parents are bad parents and a video game isnt going to make a difference in the end.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I've don't think I've played a GTA game, have to see what all the fuss is about some day.

 

[Linflas]

Maybe it's a parent thing. I've got 20 years on you and enjoyed the hell out of playing the GTA series so far but we don't have kids. Since I won't see GTA4 until it comes out for PC I can't really speak to whether it is any worse than the previous iterations but so far I have never encountered a video/computer game that offended me.

 

[JDub02]

OP, I'm with you. When they add obsceneties for no other reason than being obscene, it seems kind of forced. It certainly doesn't add anthing to the game. I think GTA4 can rival Eminem for most f-bombs per minute. My guess is that they put it in the game for the free publicity on the news shows where they talk about how bad GTA is.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Linflas
Maybe it's a parent thing. I've got 20 years on you and enjoyed the hell out of playing the GTA series so far but we don't have kids. Since I won't see GTA4 until it comes out for PC I can't really speak to whether it is any worse than the previous iterations but so far I have never encountered a video/computer game that offended me.

It's not so much being offended, it's just that you can't take two steps in the game without being called some form of a four letter word. I remember GTA3 & VC having some raunchy dialoge, but nothing like this.

If I dropped in the f word every third word in my original post it kind of loses it's luster, usefulness and emotional appeal after the third sentence. But I have the same thought on movies and even posters to internet forums. If all you do is curse for the sake of cursing every other word, you show a lack of creativity.

A lot of this was thread was influenced by a situation I was in at a Best Buy at Christmas. I was in there looking at games and a coworker of mine walked up and was asking me if I knew anything about some of various games that were out. His kids got a PS2 for Christmas and he didn't know anything about games. He was looking around and asking about the ratings and what the "Mature " rating really meant. If you aren't up on current events in a video game you are out of touch what sort of content is really in them anymore.

It just used to be for violence - mortal kombat, doom, ect. But now there is whole 'nuther layer of adult material being added that may not be as obvious to a parent or grandparent. I don't know...violence is one thing. But when you hear a cop in a video game say "I'm going to rip open your mouth and shit down your throat" to a "bad guy" it just takes you off guard.

I guess I'm just having trouble accepting how quickly video games have made the leap from fairly harmless to full on "R rated" in both violence and dialog.

 

[Ackmed]

Its not a sign of getting old per say. I have never made a habit of cursing, and I have never liked it. I dislike games that do not have a filter on them. Its funny how some people think cussing every 5 seconds is cool.

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: vi edit
I guess I'm just having trouble accepting how quickly video games have made the leap from fairly harmless to full on "R rated" in both violence and dialog.

M is equivalent to an R rating... except for when nudity and sexuality come into play, then the world ends.

 

[TMoney468]

Two words: satire & hyperbole.

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: TMoney468
Two words: satire & hyperbole.

you clearly have no place here... BEGONE SENSE-MAKER!

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: vi edit

A lot of this was thread was influenced by a situation I was in at a Best Buy at Christmas. I was in there looking at games and a coworker of mine walked up and was asking me if I knew anything about some of various games that were out. His kids got a PS2 for Christmas and he didn't know anything about games. He was looking around and asking about the ratings and what the "Mature " rating really meant. If you aren't up on current events in a video game you are out of touch what sort of content is really in them anymore.

It just used to be for violence - mortal kombat, doom, ect. But now there is whole 'nuther layer of adult material being added that may not be as obvious to a parent or grandparent. I don't know...violence is one thing. But when you hear a cop in a video game say "I'm going to rip open your mouth and shit down your throat" to a "bad guy" it just takes you off guard.

Grandparents maybe, but you need to consider how old the average parent is with kids between the ages of 3-17 these days. Nearly all of them grew up in an age which allowed them to become at least aware of how to use Google. Not to mention that regular news coverage on video games has been in the spotlight enough to at least make all parents aware that there is such a thing as inappropriate content for children in some video games and that there is a ratings system that exists. If they don't think of Google first hand then I am sure they know that they can ask store representatives at any retailer that sells video games. Therefore, all parents know where to get the information about the ratings system and all of the responsible parents will take the time to find out that information in addition to more specific info about a particular game. Your story about your coworker at Best Buy is a perfect example showing that parents are aware of the questions that need to be asked. Now it boils down to whether or not they will bother to ask those questions.

In the case of a Grandparent buying their young grandchild a game without looking into it, the parents should look into how violent the game is before letting their kid play it. That or at least watch them play it for a little bit at first to make sure it is ok. That is the responsible thing to do.

 

[WraithETC]

Hmmm I don't anything pushes itself into video games or any other type of medium. These things are just products of our own society and are naturally reflective. Games however long ago were less vulgar than they are now because of many factors not just because they were aimed to be. A game only seems "surprisingly" vulgar because people expect them to have certain qualities and these expectations change with time.

I was writing a paper on stereotypes in relation to video games and I found out that most people that are unfamiliar with games tended to be shocked with random aspects of some games, even though these same aspects were deemed quite ordinary in different medium. My english professor found that concept of DOA beach vollyball quite surprising even though there are movies, magazines, films, tv shows and art all dedicated to the same concept.

 

[SunnyD]

I tend to agree... one of the reasons I picked up a Wii as my console of choice. The only thing that disappoints me is the lack of what I use consoles most for - sports games that don't pander to children. I know they're coming, slowly. But all the mass bullets and blood... I could deal with an hour of CS:S on the computer and be happy for a week.

 

[ed21x]

Originally posted by: Xavier434


1. If you don't like then don't play it. For all of the extremely violent games out there with foul language, there are a ton of other games which do not contain any of that stuff.

The problem is that GTA4 is otherwise a great game with an excellent plot and amazing gameplay so the game can stand on its own without the constant barrage of curse words. It's the fact that cursing isn't used in a normal way, but more or less is stuck in at any given opportunity, making it seem like its just cursing for the sake of cursing. This adds nothing to the realism of the game and just gets annoying after awhile. Other than that, there aren't any of the 'tons of other games' that offer the level of gameplay found in GTA4.

 

[Baked]

Mute dialog, turn on subtitle, and turn up FX.

 

[Ackmed]

That doesnt make much sense, because then you cant hear the story for the game.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: ed21x

Originally posted by: Xavier434


1. If you don't like then don't play it. For all of the extremely violent games out there with foul language, there are a ton of other games which do not contain any of that stuff.

The problem is that GTA4 is otherwise a great game with an excellent plot and amazing gameplay so the game can stand on its own without the constant barrage of curse words. It's the fact that cursing isn't used in a normal way, but more or less is stuck in at any given opportunity, making it seem like its just cursing for the sake of cursing. This adds nothing to the realism of the game and just gets annoying after awhile. Other than that, there aren't any of the 'tons of other games' that offer the level of gameplay found in GTA4.

The game never struck me as cursing for the sake of cursing. Sure, theres a ton of vulgarity in the game, but it never seemed to stand out or be out of place. Virtually all of the characters are scumbags, and if I was being shot at or shooting at someone, being hit by a car or being witness to a car accident, being pushed aside by some guy running down the street with a gun, etc - I'd guarantee you the first word coming out of my or most other NYers mouth would be a vulgarity. Everything about the city is extremely authentic. Maybe its a NYC thing, but thats just the way we talk.

I agree that vulgarity for the sake of vulgarity is stupid and pointless. Kingpin definitely comes to mind, so does the recent scarface game. They used the F word like smurf, and it just sounded stupid. Those games were so needlessly vulgar that they crossed circled back from maturity into complete immaturity. But the vulgarity in GTA4 seems absolutely on point to me, just the right amount. If you push some old lady out of the way in midtown, shes not going to curse, just scream "hey, watch it!". Push some thug out of the way in the bronx (bohan), you'd be lucky if he actually curses before he starts beating the life out of you. It's dead on.