"Nobody shoots anybody in the face unless you're a hit man or a video gamer." - Jack Thompson

I need to admit that I'm a little bit biased in the subject of games bearing mature ratings. This is not to say that I don't appreciate serious games, of course, and will only play Barbie Super Sports, but I honestly don't like games that pour with blood and feature tons of sex, swearing, etc. In short, I'm not the biggest fan of the Duke Nukem series (although I'm not particularly offended by it in the same way I'm not offended by a lot of movies, books, music, etc. that's meant as satire).

I'm not one of those people who says gaming will turn kids into serial killers (that's an argument for another day) but I honestly don't think that a game of Manhunt is the best way to raise a model citizen, either.

But really, what I'm far more interested in is the idea that a "mature", serious game doesn't need to feature gratuitous violence. I'm currently playing through the critically acclaimed Mirror's Edge, a game that leaves killing as only an option, and will reward a player for never firing a gun. The storyline so far is absolutely brilliant, and it's brilliantly executed, well acted, and an overall joy to experience. While there is certainly some swearing that I don't like, it's a game that I'd consider to be mature.

Braid is another good example. While the story's execution could at times be complex, strange, and downright obtuse, it was still a good game, indeed, a powerful, compelling game. Playing Braid for the first time is something like watching James Cameron's Avatar; saying that it leaves a deep impression is an understatement.

Then there are games like Fairytale Fights that seem to go to great lengths simply to prove that edgy, bloody content doesn't make a lame, repetitive game much better. I recently saw the film adaptation of The Green Hornet, and I wasn't particularly impressed. The writing was relatively lame, and it seems that they attempted to spice it up somehow by swearing every third sentence. As we know, this failed miserably. The movie was not improved by "mature" content any more than boring vanilla ice cream can be improved with a gallon of ketchup. The film actually struck me as pretty juvenile, something I might have written out of sheer boredom on the wall of a bathroom stall. Admittedly, it had some amusing parts seeing as it was an action comedy, but overall, it just wasn't worth producing.

So yes. The short of it is that I don't like tons of blood, gore, swearing, etc., and I don't think it adds to a game. At the same time, it is neither my place nor my responsibility to dictate to publishers and developers what to put into or leave out of their games. I don't want to play a video game and be lectured on the great evils of the world, I simply want a serious storyline without so-called 'mature' content. I just think the emphasis on making "big boy games" is holding back the medium, and so does Nolan Bushnell.

So what do you think? Does "mature" as in edgy content make games good? Or is it really awesome storylines, good gameplay, and interesting characters?