Violence In Games

Right, this is a series of email taken from our private Trogsoft discussion forum about Grand Theft Auto, and violence in games generally. A hell of a lot has been censored, partly for legal reasons so we don't get sued.

The opinions expressed in these e-mails are the personal views of their sender, and not necessarily the view of WOA Magazine. If you wish to comment, send an email to woa@trogsoft.freeserve.co.uk

Joe Solinsky Re: Intangible Inc. Graphics for your webpage

One the subject of games, Grand Theft Auto, it sounds to me (from the review I've read) to have a horrible theme, despite its technical merits. The thought that one is playing a truly horrible person, in such livid and human detail doesn't appeal to me or the rest of the guys in our company as the sort of game we want to work on. Two of us have young children, and the thought is that if we think it's a bad influence on our children, we won't participate. If you decide to make a clone, perhaps you could remove the criminal/evil/horrid aspect of the game, and yet preserve the gameplay elements, we'd be all for it, make you plenty of cool cars, and whatever else is needed in the game.

Samuel Brookes "Re: Intangible Inc. Graphics for ...

Hmm. I realise that a lots of people dont like violent and evil games as GTA.

As for removing the violence, the problem is, if all violence was removed, it will still have great gameplay, but it would just be a racing game - GTA without gangs, guns, drugs, robberys is a plain racing game.

As i said above, lots of people dont like violent games, but there are a significant number of people who do. The thing is, i love violent games and i do not belive that they can make people evil or violent (i`ve just watched the Scream2 film where the plot is based around this idea :). I like playing these types of games to relieve stress and just have fun - its a game with no limits. You can do all the things you wanted to do, but it is illegal.

Samuel Brookes @{"Re: GTA Is Not Too Violent! :)

*Joe Solinsky*
> My [censored] homeland, the USA, is starting legislation to ban the
> creation or import of games like GTA. Because we've had problems
> lately with ignored and tortured children stealing guns and using them
> innappropriately, our nation's leaders believe if we can enact a
> little legislation here and there, it will solve the problem. They lack
> the courage to tell the people of our country to take a little more time
> to love our children, especially now that we have generations which have
> been raised in day care institutions, and have never had a parent at home,
> just a hired business. Courage involves offending your
> opposers, when it comes to leading a nation.

[Censored]...all guns except air guns and shotguns are outlawed [in the UK].

*Joe Solinsky*
> The largest arcade in the city I live in just pulled all its violent
> games, ones where people are injured, blood is spilled, or gore is shown.
> They lost a lot of money doing this, initially. Their most popular games
> are the beat-em-up's, all of which were pulled. I'm willing to bet,
> though, that they stay afloat, and people won't stop patronizing their
> location because their favorite game is gone. Many of those people will
> find a new favorite. The arcade was not asked to do this. It is managed
> by the Knott's family, which is important to the history of California.
> Neither myself nor the two other people in my company want to make a game
> that an arcade would choose to pull, whether the game were in an arcade
> or on a store shelf.

That's fine if they want to get rid of violence over there, but its big business here.

Name just ONE modern popular game that DOES NOT involve violence of some sort - i cant think of any.

> You, and the people who are begging for GTAC, you may enjoy these
> games. Would you expect that it would not warp the minds of 7-year old
> children? If you were parents, would you want your children playing the
> game you made, honestly?

I dont see why it should warp 7 year olds minds, I doubt they will understand what is going on.

I have been playing violent games for a long time and my parents dont disapprove (im only 16 - since Sunday) it hasn't warped my mind. Any how, I like GTA so much - I just bought another copy! for the PC

[Cut out alternative plot as suggested by Joe]

OK, I must admit that that is a VERY good plot, and it's almost the same, but, people WANT violence.

Unfortuanitly I have a very poor imagination, but everything I do think of is usually sick and twisted or just pure evil :) I watch lots of horror films, play lots of evil games and generally talk and think about stuff like this - with a few people on this list :) But, I would never drive [recklessly] down my local high street with a large vehicle no matter how fun it seems.

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