(no subject)
All right, it's been awhile, and this entry is going to be somewhat of a rant.
For those of you that have not been following the controversy over the "hot coffee" modification for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, here's a quick recap, via a few articles from www.IGN.com:
The Uproar Begins
More People Jump on the Bandwagon
The Conclusion
Now, for those of you that don't want to read all of that (and i recommend that you do), the basic facts are as follows: There is a downloadable modification for the PC and Xbox versions of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas that allows for a sexually explicit mini-game to be unlocked and played. The mini game CANNOT be accessed without this modification, which is unauthorized by the game's manufacturer, and makes significant alterations to the game's programming code (so basically, you can't just pop the game in and jump into the sex - you have to really go out of your way and spend some time in order to access the objectionable content).
Due to the fact that this modification has gained widespread online distribution from gamers and hackers, the ESRB investigated the matter, and ultimately revoked the original "M" (Mature) rating for the game, and branded it as "AO" (Adults Only). As a result, most major game retailers have halted sales of the game and removed it from their shelves, and now the gaming industry has come under severe scrutiny.
Here's my problem with the whole situation: it's all political. The only reason that this is an issue is because the Grand Theft Auto series is one of the most successful videogame franchises of all time, and anyone that makes a fuss about it going to generate a lot of press. Other games, such as God of War, Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude, and Playboy: The Mansion, feature plenty of nudity and sexual content, WITHOUT the need of any modifications - so why are they still branded with the "M" rating?
Because they didn't sell 12 million copies in four months, that's why. Add to it the fact that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas takes place in a city that closely resembles Los Angeles, and that the protagonist is a young black male from the projects, and you've got quite a controversy on your hands. Apparently having a threesome with two large-breasted vixens is perfectly okay for a half-man, half-god from ancient Greece (that being Kratos from God of War), but sex in a game that is set in a present-day environment is a terrible, terrible thing.
The other thing that bothers me is that, much like the film industry, explicit sexuality is a big no-no, but graphic violence is apparently acceptable. Some of the most successful videogames of all time are notorious for the amount of violence depicted on-screen: decapitations, mutilations, executions, and gallons upon gallons of blood. Why is it that a game (or a film, for that matter) can showcase all manner of gruesome, explicit violence, and still be passed by the ratings board, but as soon as someone whips out a dick, people lose their fucking minds?
Personally, i think the violent content is going to be a lot more damaging to the younger generations of gamers than the sexuality. To a degree, sexuality is a natural part of life, and sooner or later we're all going to experience it. It can also be argued that violence is also a part of life, and that it, too, will eventually be experienced by just about everyone, and while that may be true, it's typically not a natural occurrence. There's a much better chance of you seeing two people fucking than you seeing someone getting their spinal column forcibly removed. Likewise, there is a much better chance that YOU will personally be fucking someone than there is that YOU are personally going to forcibly remove someone's spinal column.
Christ, there are even games being developed that glorify the narcotics trade. A game based on Scarface is slated for release in early 2006, with the player assuming control of cocaine lord Tony Montana. And there's another game called Snow that takes you through 30 years of selling drugs and building your "business," starting with a single brick of pot and working up to smuggling millions of dollars worth of cocaine in and out of different countries. Why is it that no one has a problem with this sort of stuff, but all of these senators and congressman and activists are shitting their pants over some simulated sex? Fucking Christ.
For the ratings system to be effective, it needs to have clear, defined standards that are applicable to all games. If Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is going to be deemed an "AO" game because of the nudity and sexuality (which, please keep in mind, CANNOT be readily accessed), then other games that feature nudity and sexuality (with NO modifications necessary) should be subject to the same standards. That's not likely to happen, but that's the way it should be.
Goddamn politicians.
For those of you that have not been following the controversy over the "hot coffee" modification for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, here's a quick recap, via a few articles from www.IGN.com:
The Uproar Begins
More People Jump on the Bandwagon
The Conclusion
Now, for those of you that don't want to read all of that (and i recommend that you do), the basic facts are as follows: There is a downloadable modification for the PC and Xbox versions of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas that allows for a sexually explicit mini-game to be unlocked and played. The mini game CANNOT be accessed without this modification, which is unauthorized by the game's manufacturer, and makes significant alterations to the game's programming code (so basically, you can't just pop the game in and jump into the sex - you have to really go out of your way and spend some time in order to access the objectionable content).
Due to the fact that this modification has gained widespread online distribution from gamers and hackers, the ESRB investigated the matter, and ultimately revoked the original "M" (Mature) rating for the game, and branded it as "AO" (Adults Only). As a result, most major game retailers have halted sales of the game and removed it from their shelves, and now the gaming industry has come under severe scrutiny.
Here's my problem with the whole situation: it's all political. The only reason that this is an issue is because the Grand Theft Auto series is one of the most successful videogame franchises of all time, and anyone that makes a fuss about it going to generate a lot of press. Other games, such as God of War, Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude, and Playboy: The Mansion, feature plenty of nudity and sexual content, WITHOUT the need of any modifications - so why are they still branded with the "M" rating?
Because they didn't sell 12 million copies in four months, that's why. Add to it the fact that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas takes place in a city that closely resembles Los Angeles, and that the protagonist is a young black male from the projects, and you've got quite a controversy on your hands. Apparently having a threesome with two large-breasted vixens is perfectly okay for a half-man, half-god from ancient Greece (that being Kratos from God of War), but sex in a game that is set in a present-day environment is a terrible, terrible thing.
The other thing that bothers me is that, much like the film industry, explicit sexuality is a big no-no, but graphic violence is apparently acceptable. Some of the most successful videogames of all time are notorious for the amount of violence depicted on-screen: decapitations, mutilations, executions, and gallons upon gallons of blood. Why is it that a game (or a film, for that matter) can showcase all manner of gruesome, explicit violence, and still be passed by the ratings board, but as soon as someone whips out a dick, people lose their fucking minds?
Personally, i think the violent content is going to be a lot more damaging to the younger generations of gamers than the sexuality. To a degree, sexuality is a natural part of life, and sooner or later we're all going to experience it. It can also be argued that violence is also a part of life, and that it, too, will eventually be experienced by just about everyone, and while that may be true, it's typically not a natural occurrence. There's a much better chance of you seeing two people fucking than you seeing someone getting their spinal column forcibly removed. Likewise, there is a much better chance that YOU will personally be fucking someone than there is that YOU are personally going to forcibly remove someone's spinal column.
Christ, there are even games being developed that glorify the narcotics trade. A game based on Scarface is slated for release in early 2006, with the player assuming control of cocaine lord Tony Montana. And there's another game called Snow that takes you through 30 years of selling drugs and building your "business," starting with a single brick of pot and working up to smuggling millions of dollars worth of cocaine in and out of different countries. Why is it that no one has a problem with this sort of stuff, but all of these senators and congressman and activists are shitting their pants over some simulated sex? Fucking Christ.
For the ratings system to be effective, it needs to have clear, defined standards that are applicable to all games. If Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is going to be deemed an "AO" game because of the nudity and sexuality (which, please keep in mind, CANNOT be readily accessed), then other games that feature nudity and sexuality (with NO modifications necessary) should be subject to the same standards. That's not likely to happen, but that's the way it should be.
Goddamn politicians.