Do Controversy Better, Dammit!

Games Developers could use a lesson in offending people. Over the past few years a series of delightful little controversies have popped up. Perhaps the most notable among them was the ever so popular GTA Hot Coffee mod. A big ruckus was raised over consensual sex and everyone came out of it feeling a little worse about the world. The whole ordeal was more than a bit silly, as the minigame itself was perhaps one of the most immature portrayals of sex I’ve come across. It is the ridiculousness of this ‘œcontroversial content,’ as well as that of several other highly publicized games that keeps games from truly solidifying their place as a respectable medium. My friends, what we need now is a game that offends people the right way.

Six Days in Fallujah was really a hit followed by a series of misses. As a video game based on real world conflict in Iraq, it certainly had the potential to be more than a bland cover system shooter, but the early gameplay gives the impression that it is just that. The tragedy is that we started to see people arguing over whether and why basing a game on current events is in poor taste. Some people even concluded that it didn’t matter how soon it was as long as the events were handled maturely, and my little gamer heart swelled. Should the game be released and be tasteful despite the controversy (the latter being unlikely) it will definitely strengthen pro-gaming arguments. The more likely scenario of the gaming releasing as a tasteless heap o’ bad cover shooter, however, will inevitably hurt the gaming community and make them look foolish in the eyes of the media.

Another game, Rapelay ‘“ a three year old pornographic rape simulator from Japan ‘“ further highlights the problems faced by the open-minded gamer. Rape is certainly nothing to view as fun or enjoyable, despite these being the aims of this fetish game. So while the game is absolutely tasteless and deserves the negative attention it has earned, does that mean that rape in video games is out? Where is it tasteful and where is it not? The line is quite a fine one to draw. Some would argue that rape is no different than violence, but while rape is similar to cold blooded murder in the legal and moral sense, they differ in a crucial way. While cartoon violence is a perfectly acceptable thing, rape has no comparable depiction. There is no acceptable way of producing comical rape; rape should always be treated as a serious matter. But is it not possible that someone could make a game that features rape that, while offensive, does so in a way that challenges convention in a positive way and sheds a sympathetic light on victims? I don’t mean to say the player themselves should be capable of rape as I cannot think of a way in which this could present its case properly, and would be surprised to see a game allowing you to rape that was not disgusting. The media, of course, now has ammunition against future games to feature rape, whether it is done tastefully or not. So good work on that one Japanese H-game developers.

So what is my reason for getting all red in the face over what the Fox News Ultra Action Journalism Force thinks about your average shooter or H-game? It is not so that I could use ‘œFox News Ultra Action Journalism Force’ in a sentence, though this marks the second time I have done so and I have to admit I’m enjoying it. My purpose is to beg for a controversial game that is worth the attention it gets, one that would allow us to challenge the view of a media that treats all games as children’s toys. So consider this an open letter.

Dear Major Developers,

Upon delivery of a well-done controversial game, maybe with some sort of thought provoking message, I will sacrifice myself to whatever dark god(s) it is that you worship. If you refuse my request I will continue to be pissy about gaming controversy and write spiteful articles. I can and will throw a tantrum with the force of a small storm. You have been warned.

XOXOX Joshingo

PS Grasshopper Manufacture you don’t count, the game has to make sense

PPS Breasts don’t count as controversy, they just make you seem 12