Next Stop: Maturegameville?

Mature Titles Ahead

Mature Titles Ahead?

Just when we were all getting accustomed to everyone’s taunts about the Wii being a “casual gamer’s system” or worse yet, a “kid’s toy”—developers (and by developers, I mean SEGA) have gone and put out some solid “mature” content. I’m looking at you House of the Dead: Overkill and you too, MadWorld. But, is this right road for Nintendo?
Now, let’s be clear. Dropping an F-bomb here and there does not a mature title make. And no matter how many times (many, many times) HoTD: Overkill assaulted us with said bomb, that isn’t why we loved the game. Not that I am complaining, but the game was mature because it was aimed to please those of us who don’t spend our time playing pick-up sticks with little Bobby from around the block. Hell, even those who are parents of little Bobby got a break from the kid because we actually got a chance to let our inner zombie killer loose while the kids slept. It was, in two words: simple relief.

I’ll be honest with you. I own a 360 not because of the UBER AW3ZoME GRAfiXX!!11 (Isn’t that the cool way to speak?).

No.

It’s a nice plus that my screen displays the sweetness of HD splatter. But the real reason I bought the 360 was so that I could come home at night, after a particularly hard day at the office, and just lay waste to a horde of locusts in GoW2. And, for those of you out there who have done the same know that taking a Lancer to an unsuspecting Grub is a great way to just let it all out. And that’s the beauty of these mature titles.

You see, innovation is all good and well. And I applaud Nintendo for attempting to change things up with the Wii. And I love the emphasis on unique puzzle games (World of Goo, Boom Blox) and simulated “living” (Animal Crossing My Aquarium). And despite its somewhat pail-o-fail debut, I even appreciate Nintendo’s attempt at Wii Music.Because, well, let’s be honest, that’s what Nintendo does. It attempts to set itself apart from your every day FPS machines.It tries to go another way. It attempts to reach those areas and those people that otherwise have been left out of the fun that is video gaming. And yes, that is great achievement.

But, here’s the thing. I know we have all heard it. And my goodness did we EVER hear it after E3. But, Nintendo hasn’t forgotten the “core gamer.” It’s just that the core gamer used to mean the gamer who appreciated hours on end of Mario 3. That’s always been Nintendo’s core gamer. The core gamer to Nintendo is the gamer who loves Zelda (and yes, even Celda). The core gamer (to Nintendo) is not Marcus Fenix. And it never has been. So what is it that we are asking Nintendo not to forget? If anything, we are asking Nintendo to better recognize. Better recognize that even Moms and Dads need a break from building blocks and shaking wiimotes.

And so now, we are getting there. Developers take note. Look at our hedgehog developing friends over at SEGA. They understand that at the end of the day, sometimes all you want to do is swing a chainsaw into the bad guys jugular. And, the best part is, on the Wii, it just feels SO MUCH BETTER. It is satisfying. And, when done right, it is better than any button mashing on any other system could hope to achieve. If you haven’t played through Godfather: Blackhand Edition, you are missing out. Nothing says “frustration solved” than physically picking up a mobster and actually swinging him into an electrical output box.

Nintendo, this is the right road. While you, yourself, might not find yourself traveling down it, at least recognize that it exists and support it. Let the developers work around the friend codes (thank you Conduit). Open up the storage space. Let’s get some real voice chat. And come on, let’s work out those bugs with online multiplayer. I understand not abandoning the core of what Nintendo stands for—but let’s pave the road for the other crowd. Help get that word out to your audience (Good job with the MadWorld ad on the Nintendo Channel). Because, in the end, we as gamers need an excuse to toss a guy onto a train track, send the kids to bed to shoot some mother*** zombies in the head, and just really, let loose with our little white box.

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  • the gameman

    Are you crazy!?Take this note what IS the ponit of M-rated games?those games are very UN-mature, think about it what is the ponit of sexual content in a game, you do not buy a game for sexual content, you buy a game for fun so whats the ponit for putting sexual content :nothing.(same with blood,go to war and see what happens,take look around you what do you; death, bloody death.)That why i never buy a M-rated game.

  • Shazard

    The Wii is the mainstream console, so you must have all types of titles. Theres nothing wrong with Kiddy titles, they’re fun, but we’ve gotten an overload of them. Mature titles are a must have breath of fresh air. However, I believe the titles must use the Wii’s capabilities, otherwise your better making it a PS3 title.

  • the gameman

    Shazard did you even read my comment?

  • charon12

    @ the gameman:

    While some games use “mature” themes (i.e. sexual content and violence) for shock value to sell games, others use them for its capacity to tell a story. When a person makes a blanket statement, as you have, it makes me want to point out the fallacies in said statement. So, would you remove sex and violence from movies? From books? Sex and violence will continue to exist in the real world whether or not you stamp them out of video games and other entertainment. Why go through life with your head in the sand avoiding two large influences in humanity’s past and future?

    I will buy a game for fun but I will also buy a game for its story. If sex and/or violence is necessary to tell the story or facilitate my willful suspension of disbelief then I’m glad it was included. If sex and/or violence is a game’s only selling point I am not going to buy it, but I’ll never avoid a game that’s good because sex and violence is included.

  • the gameman

    @ charon thats NO reason why. 13-year olds are picking up those game;and it must stop.I don’t care how long we will talk about this,but no matter what you say im still right, and i will still fight for my cause.

  • the gameman

    oh, yes forgot to add: those games for disgrace to girls and 13-year olds

  • http://abxy.org Noodle

    Who really cares whether he read your comment. That is your opinion and he has the right to completely disregard it, sorry you’re not the centre of attention.

    But the truth is, we have MA15+ games here in aus and the 18+ yo are complaining that there are no R18+ games, as they are illegal to get through classification. Fair enough. Most of them want it for violence, they find it fun. Good for them I and I agree, they’re looking for something with realism, not necessarily family friendly.

  • the gameman

    theres alot of people who disgrace girls…..shame on them!Listen i dont care what you say, im still right.

  • JesseZojo

    Oh yeah, there’s nothing more fun that cutting someone’s head off -sarcasm-

    What’s fun is shooting from 5th to 1st in the last 5 seconds of a mario kart race…defending a bomb you’ve stuggled to make from Space Pirates….and KOing all three people with one Smash Attack.

    That’s fun. Each are unique and different from each other. You don’t need mature content…you just need a good game. If you have fun hacking people…go do it in real life.

  • charon12

    @ the gameman:

    Okay, so you ARE for removing sex and violence in movies. books, etc. Wow. Well, burying your head in the sand must be extra difficult while perched upon that soapbox of yours.

    But I totally understand where you (and JesseZojo) are coming from… I hate sports. I think all sports should be banned from games and movies and all entertainment. There is nothing entertaining or fun about sports to anyone. Ever. Sports are a disgrace to all people who are handicapped/fat/lazy who can’t play them. If sports are so fun, why don’t you go play them in real life?

    On a serious note: the gameman, you mention 13-year-olds are picking up mature rated games and that it should stop. This is one point I totally agree with you about. Parents need to take responsibilities for their children and what they play. Likewise, retailers should require ID for purchases of mature rated titles.

    However, I don’t think that because someone else is irresponsible I should have to miss out on something I enjoy. You would punish everyone for the faults of a few. Put it in perspective: I know a guy who ran someone over with an automobile so I think ALL automobiles should be illegal. This way no one will ever hurt someone again with an automobile. See how silly that sounds?

    And JesseZojo, you mention defending a bomb in a game. Bombs are very violent and by that right should be rated mature. And as our friend the gameman points out, mature isn’t fun at all. To anyone. Ever.

    Super Mario Bros. should be illegal because Mario kills Bowser and other enemies. Killing is violent and mature and not fun.

    Where do you draw the line?

  • Shazard

    The gameman…. is that codename for….. Jack Thompson!lol, okay, i respect your point of view. Just keep in my mind that gamers’ tastes are diverse, mature, kid, sports, etc. Oh, dude, Ocarina of time, ridiculous amount of violence, those sexy fairies wanted link for sure…… ban the greatest game ever? helllz no!!!

  • the gameman

    im not Jack.@ charon12(since when did oot have ‘sexy’ fairies) no, im want to remove M-rated games because of sex ang gore death. no M-rated than poeople like nintedno would watch where they step.

  • the gameman

    typo:@Shazard im not Jack(since when did oot have ’sexy’ fairies) no, im want to remove M-rated games because of sex ang gore death. than poeople like nintedno would watch where they step.

  • JesseZojo

    @ charon12

    Please, rating a game for mature because of a bomb? Or Super Mario Bros? You’re being very immature about this.
    I think stuff like that is ok…what hard could supermariobros ever do to a normal kid?
    Seriously, I’m talking about being against games that promote real world violence like GTA or whatever.

    Anyhow, that’s not the discussion here. It was if mature content is needed for a good game. No, that is not true. It’s become more of a crutch like the F-Bomb for Bob Sagot or whatever unfunny comedian.

  • the gameman

    thank you JesseZojo.

  • Canaroo

    Glad that the article got people talking! Hopefully, I can get more discussions like this going down the line.. :)

  • skunkchop

    I don’t care if Ninty games become violent, as long as the gore doesn’t stand between me and having fun. Mature-rated games are actually not “mature” at all. Since when was killing considered mature? The rating simply means that the player would have to be mature to not get influenced by what goes on in the game. If a susceptible ten year old plays GTA 4, that’s the fault of his parents. Others shouldn’t suffer because a kid’s parents made a mistake.

    Anyway, I’m with charon12 on this one. Some games are meant for people to enjoy, others are meant to replace books; to tell a story. Just because you aren’t fond of the latter doesn’t mean you can stop it.

    You want fun games instead of engrossing games? Simple solution: only purchase the former.

  • http://wiinintendo.net/ hattrick

    Wow…lots of discussion here. If you guys haven’t already, you should jump over to the WiiNintendo forums (www.wiifuse.com) for lots more discussion.

  • charon12

    See, I completely agree (and said as much) that mature content is not necessary for a game to be good. I also agree and have said that many games use mature content for shock value to sell copies. I think that is disgraceful and I don’t have interest in those games.

    You say my calling out a bomb or Super Mario Bros. is petty, but I’m asking a serious question: Where do you draw the line? You’ve sort of answered that: “Games that promote real world violence.” That’s fine. I can understand you dislike such themes.

    I would like to know if you ever watch the news or go see movies. If yes, you must get rather upset with them because they are loaded with real world violence. I realize that you feel my point is irrelevant to the conversation, but there are plenty of people who would like to see video games considered just as much a form of art as movies.

    Not all games use mature themes in an artistic way; I’d go so far as to say most games do not use mature themes in an artistic way, but would you take away the potential? If so, then I think you should also be lobbying for no mature themes in movies or television or books or the internet. Kids have just as much (if not more) access to these forms of entertainment as they do to video games. So if this is about protecting the children, well, I’ve already mentioned that I’m all for keeping mature themed games out of their hands. If this is about labeling every game that depicts “real world violence” unnecessary and bad than I have to say you’re rather close-minded and I couldn’t possibly disagree with you more. I don’t glorify games for their mature themes, but I do relish a good story. If using a mature theme enhances the emotions and message of the story then it has a place.

  • mejaxi

    grammar is your friend, gameman.

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