What exactly does a game have to do for you get offended or shocked?

[max_cady]

This happened me while I was playing LA Noire and maybe my question is a little confusing.
Where do you draw the line in a video game as far as content goes?

Imagine you are watching a TV show or a movie, and something happens in it which makes you hate it. A major character change and whatnot, or a message that the movie is sending that you are not too fond. Maybe even an offensive stereotype.

Can a game actually get on your nerves because of something offensive that happens onscreen?

[SOUP]

The Manhunt series probably would've offended me, so I didn't play it.
I can't think of too many games that've really offended me...

[MadeManG74]

I can't really think of any time I've really been offended by a game, but I was shocked a few times in Darkness 2 (which is fucking awesome by the way, I highly reccommend it).

In that game though it was used for a reason, and fit the context of the game, which was very very dark (as the name would imply). It wasn't obscene either, but just when you consider the context, the stuff the villians do was some of the more evil stuff I've seen.

[inthesky]

It would have to involve discrimination for its own sake/humor (brazen misogyny or racism for example, with no effect other than an attempt at humor.) Like if someone makes a racist joke but within the narrative of the game the character isn't meant to overcome that but it's supposed to be approved by the player, then I'd be displeased. Socioeconomic classism isn't cool too, I could go on. Conker's Bad Fur Day is a game that I thought was funny as a kid, but now I don't think the same way, though I wouldn't be opposed to playing it I can't appreciate the humor anymore.

It would take a lot for me to decide not to play a game completely. I'm not going to avoid a game because it has shocking, tragic moments--it's likely for dramatic purposes. If a writer can conceivably do so while at least making a good faith effort to stay within good taste then I can likely play a game.

[CrazyT]

I actually don't like war games that support propoganda. I take a large distance from games like modern warfare etc.

[max_cady]

I'm not necessarily shocked or offended by it, but I really... really don't like shooting at the US military, even in a ficticious setting.

That's why the last hour of Vanquish didn't sit well with me.

[segaismysavior]

In CoD:Black Ops, there's a level where you swim under the water towards a small boat. When you reach the boat, you perform a melee attack on an enemy from the water, pulling him towards you and stabbing him in the neck. When that happened, I stopped playing the game. It was my brother's copy of the game, so I wasn't financially cheated by avoiding further playtime.

[crackdude]

Excessive violence shocks and disgusts me. (God of War for example)


Games that treat me like an idiot offend me. That's why I hate most Nintendo games ("Yes, do not eat the game disc, thanks nintendo that was a close one")

[max_cady]

The Alien's Nest in Duke Nukem Forever... The rest of the game actually has decent jokes, but this one reeks of bad taste.

[Sega Uranus]

Yeah, I liked Duke Nukem Forever a lot (seriously!), but the Hive level was in extremely poor taste. Not that I cared much, the humans are creepier than the aliens in that game.

Nothing really bugs me much though. I have seen much worse in real life and online than any game will probably ever accomplish.

The *several* anus kills and prolapses you can make in the new Splatterhouse were more than too much, I guess, but only because they came up so much later on. Pretty good game if you can get over the issues, especially for the unlockable classics.

[SOUP]

Excessive violence shocks and disgusts me. (God of War for example)

Yeah. The God of War games cross the line at times.

[mylifewithsega]

It takes a lot to offend or shock me. Well, that's not entirely true. Heavy Rain and LA Noire shocked me when I nudity entered the mix, but that had more to do with the fact that I can still rememeber, clear as day, the controversy over games like Night Trap and the pornographic Atari titles.... Those games seem tame when compared to Heavy Rain and LA Noire. I love both games mind you; it just took me by surprise.

Some movies have offended me, like Kids, Gummo and Rob Zombie's Halloween. Still, those are rare instances.

[SOUP]

Some movies have been pretty bad for sure.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning offended me quite a bit. Just mean, nasty violence. Not scary, not entertaining, just gross.

[MadeManG74]

I wasn't aware God of War was so excessively violent. Can you give me some examples of what it's done that's so bad? Bear in mind I've only ever played like one level of the first game.

[SOUP]

I'm pretty sure it's the third one, but some of the finishers performed get a bit nasty. Graphically eviscerating a centaur comes to mind.
As it's intestines get torn out, it frantically kicks it's horse legs before dying
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djDcpXhsZyw