Lately I’ve been wondering how far a game must push the boundaries of its subject matter before it becomes too much. Is it possible for a game to reach the point of being socially unacceptable? The point at which someone (presumably a producer, publisher, or even gamers) must step in and declare that it has gone too far. And if so, will a developer ever take the proverbial bull by the horns to produce such a game?

What will it take?

At what point do you put down your controller and walk away from a game. Is that even possible for you to do? Try to imagine a scenario that would force you to quit playing? I’ve certainly had that experience once or twice when playing horror games. The things that were in the games were just too much for me at the time.  I’ve known people to stop playing a game because of the subject material. It happens, as ridiculous as it might sound.

Religion

To discuss religion in any context is like bouncing a thermonuclear warhead down the street. To say the least, it has been the catalyst for a great many differences in history. Having said that, why is it that game developers see fit to manipulate and contort the subject so freely in a videogame as to fit a storyline of their choosing? A recent example that comes to mind is the Assassins Creed series. The core of the game, the reason any event takes place circles around the fabled Garden of Eden.

The game, developed by Ubisoft Montreal, is centered on the belief that the Garden of Eden was a place where man was created, and held captive. These humans were manipulated by pieces of Eden, referred to as Apples by most everyone in the story. At one point I fought the Pope in the Sistine Chapel as he denounced his own religion, swearing and taking the lords name in vein. I have to wonder if anyone in the studio ever sat back in their chair and wondered how people would respond to that.

Personally I take no issue with what they have done. I’m what I call, a curious Atheist. I enjoy the “mythos” found in the Bible, and I enjoy reading/watching as people dig into the book and try to find the locations/people that were described therein. For me, when a game comes along that wraps biblical references into a modern story arc, I get excited. I enjoy the creative liberties taken by the studios, but should the studios take such liberties? If so, how far can they take them before someone or a group of someone’s become offended and speak out?

Language

Now days it is commonplace in videogames to hear curse words thrown around without caution. I can’t tell you why this came about, I suppose at one point someone decided videogames needed more colorful language. I can’t say I have a problem with it, so long as it isn’t out of place. When playing a game like Battlefield I suppose it fits. I’m sure the f-bomb is the most used word by soldiers in a time of war, if not it is near the top.

I do love cursing though. I love the way it allows me to accentuate my feelings in certain situations, and I love how a well timed f-bomb puts a smile on my face. But, are they overused in videogames? Are studios and publishers taking advantage of their right to free speech? I don’t mean to say I have ever been offended, but there have been times I felt like cursing was abundantly used and out of place. It felt as though it was tacked on to try and intensify a situation artificially. Things didn’t feel right, it almost felt awkward.

Violence

Easily one of the most talked about staples of gaming. Some feel there may be too much, others feel like maybe there should be a lot more. I wonder if there can be too much violence in a videogame. The upcoming Mortal Combat looks to have all of the bases covered, and some. If you have yet to see any of the trailers, there are men being sliced in half, on camera, by sombreros. One of the most gruesome things I’ve seen in a game. What makes me cringe every time I see it isn’t the actual gore, but the anticipation, and watching as the event unfolds.

Having said that, is it really possible to have so much violence in a game that it feels excessive? I mean, at a certain point do you just put the controller down and say “enough.” I want developers to keep their wits about them. I want them to use violence to assist a narrative, and not replace it all together.

Is it all part of growing up?

When and if it is decided that the sky is the limit so far as content is concerned, we need to think about the AO rating. Videogames from the outset have been synonymous with children. Will the industry ever grow past this? It isn’t for a lack of effort. Several studios over the years have done their part to shine a different light on the industry, one that casts a more adult shadow. Once the industry has settled into its new, more adult lifestyle, we have the big three to deal with.

Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo all have said that an AO rated videogame will never publish for their console. Microsoft’s argument is a little confusing. They’ve stated that publishing AO rated games would infringe upon the “family friendly” values they promote. My question to them would be, have you guys never played GTA IV, Red Dead Redemption (Sex scene with nudity), or any other mature rated videogame released in the past four or five years? What about those games is family friendly, and how different would they really be from an AO rated game?

Of course if by some miracle the industry decides to develop, publish, and sell AO rated games we have to convince Wal-Mart and other retail stores to stock the shelves with these titles. What I fail to understand is that they will gladly sell DVDs that are meant for a much older audience, but selling a videogame meant for gamers 18+ is out of the question. I really do not understand how that computes.

Is there a limit?

When a developer starts a project I’m sure they take into account the implications of what they are about to do. Having to develop a game for a very diverse audience can’t be an easy task. If there is a limit, what is it? At what point do they say “no more, we’ve gone too far.” Having never heard a developer say “We went too far”, I have to wonder if that has ever happened.

When it comes down to it, are gamers ultimately responsible for how grown up the industry will get? I mean, in the end we are the ones who will be choosing to kill someone or let them go free. We decide if a developer has taken too many liberties with religion, modern issues, and historical references. Assuming the majority of gamers are 18+, are we ready for uber violent games, can we handle games with strong sexual content, or games that delve into sensitive subjects?

I’d like to think we are. So long as when the time comes and it is decided that there is no limit to content, developers keep themselves in check. They need to remain mature about what they are doing and not create things that are senseless. If a game features an insane amount of violence, I want it to fit with the narrative, I don’t want it to be there just because it’s no longer frowned upon.

I think the industry and its fans need to decide how things should proceed. If we want to be taken seriously by other industries, the media, and anyone else who thinks videogames are for children, we need to grow up. We spend a lot of time defending ourselves, it’s time we take the offensive, decide who and what we are, and stand by our decision.