Is... is it over?

[Starp]

Looking over the past few months of game releases, I've noticed a distinct lack of controversy where I've been conditioned to think it's due;

L.A. Noire (a children's video game from the makers of Grand Theft Auto where you play an
*L.A. Noire spoilers*adulterer/murderer who fondles naked dead women.)

Duke Nukem Forever (a children's video game that encourages misogyny, swearing, violence, casual sex, substance abuse and gambling.)

Catherine (a children's cartoon video game in which the main character encourages children to sleep around and get drunk.)

Limbo* (a children's video game in which a small child is brutally killed in gory ways.)
*Yes, I know, it was re-released, I'm on a roll here.

Shadows of the Damned (a children's video game in which PENIS.)

Seriously, the last game news I heard from Fox was about Portal 2. Basically, I don't want to raise any hopes here, but is it over? The usual fearmongerers (Fox, Daily Mail et al.) have been inordinately quiet these few months. I'd have expected to hear at least something, or is it just me? Am I just not looking hard enough, or is this about usual for controversy?

Or maybe, is there something else to be scared of now?

*EDIT*
Since it's clearly not clear enough, the descriptions of the games are satire. I know full well none of those games are intended for children.

 

[surg3n]

Ehh? - you know these games are usually rated 18 right? - on what planet is LA Noire a kids videogame, and you play as a detective, not a necrophaeliac.

 

[Lionsfan]

Well they were kinda preoccupied, first it was when Games were legally recognized as art, then came the Supreme Court Decision, and now it's been our country almost being foreclosed on by China. I don't think it's over, but maybe that's just me. Who knows what could set it off next

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

Ehh? - you know these games are usually rated 18 right? - on what planet is LA Noire a kids videogame, and you play as a detective, not a necrophaeliac.

Uh, this. I have no idea where you're getting your facts, OP. None of those games are marketed towards or intended to be played by children, and while I haven't played it, I seriously doubt that L.A. Noire's protagonist molests corpses.

 

[Avaholic03]

It's not over, but next time it will take something new and even more "offensive" for them to get up in arms. Or...maybe it'll just have to be a slow news day. Really, the way they pick their stories seems totally arbitrary. Mass Effect wasn't even close to the most racy game when it was released. It was probably just one executive that thought it needed attention as a story. But I imagine most Fox News viewers don't care about video games (after all, they're great at keeping the kids occupied so they don't bother you while you're cheating on your taxes ).

 

[SinorKirby]

You're incorrectly classifying all of those games as "children's video games". Video games are not just for kids, and someone is going to give you a lot of hate for saying that they are. All of the games you have listed(with the exception of Limbo, which is rated T and is not "gory" because it's in black and white and as such is impossible to see gore) are rated M for mature, meaning they are video games targeted at people who are 17 years of age and older and not meant for children to play.

There's no controversy due at all, especially not related with the games you posted.

 

[Starp]

Ehh? - you know these games are usually rated 18 right? - on what planet is LA Noire a kids videogame, and you play as a detective, not a necrophaeliac.

I know, I was trying to write it from the perspective of Fox and the like. They seem to think games are exclusively designed to be children's toys, sorry if I didn't make that clear.

Also the 'investigating naked dead body' sections seem like perfect ammo for controversy, maybe I took the hyperbole too far.

And I'd call Limbo at least a bit gory, there is blood, however obscured. And it's rated 18 here in the UK.

 

[brunothepig]

Maybe I'm just being pessimistic, but I doubt it.
I can think of two reasons those games haven't been reported on. First is many of them were low-key releases. Duke Nukem Forever was the only one that really got advertised, and that failed massively. Plus, it would be stupid even for them to attack DNF, since it's whole reason for being is satire/parody.

There's also our recent major victory in the Supreme Court. Maybe Fox and all the others just want to lie low.

 

[Rawne1980]

I love how people blame video games for bad things people do.

If the gates of hell were to open up and Satan himself was to start a massacre it would all be Playstations fault.

 

[Jamboxdotcom]

Ehh? - you know these games are usually rated 18 right? - on what planet is LA Noire a kids videogame, and you play as a detective, not a necrophaeliac.

Uh, this. I have no idea where you're getting your facts, OP. None of those games are marketed towards or intended to be played by children, and while I haven't played it, I seriously doubt that L.A. Noire's protagonist molests corpses.

The OP was teasing the issue that the fact of those games M or 18+ rating never stopped fear-mongers like FOX from claiming that they were for kids. Have we already forgotten the "Mass Effect virtual orgasmic rape simulator fiasco"?

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

Er, these 'childrens' games you mention: LA Noire is 18+ rated, DNF is 18+ rated, Catherine is 'Mature' rated, Limbo is 18+ rated and Shadows of the Damned is 18+ rated. So not children's games, is what I'm saying. And I don't know what things are like where you're from, but over here in the UK it is illegal for a minor to buy these titles. So children shouldn't be exposed to them (irresponsible laid-back parenting aside).

As for the media's lack of attention, I couldn't tell ya. Maybe this 'phone-tapping' malarkey has got the media watching it's back for the moment.

 

[vrbtny]

Yes, because being over 18 means you're still a kid /sarcasm

 

[KeyMaster45]

I think you guys aren't noticing that the parenthetical parts of the OP are what a headline meant to cause non-existent controversy would look like.

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

The OP was teasing the issue that the fact of those games M or 18+ rating never stopped fear-mongers like FOX from claiming that they were for kids. Have we already forgotten the "Mass Effect virtual orgasmic rape simulator fiasco"?

Haven't forgotten, but it didn't occur to me that OP was parodying these occurrences. Poe's Law [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe%27s_law] strikes again!

 

[BlueAnubis]

I'm having a hard time telling whether this guy is making a joke about how the media over-hypes the things that are written in the ESRB box without ever even looking at someone who has ever played the game they are writing about, or if he's just trolling...

Edit: And now I can.

 

[Staskala]

I know, I was trying to write it from the perspective of Fox and the like. They seem to think games are exclusively designed to be children's toys, sorry if I didn't make that clear.

Also the 'investigating naked dead body' sections seem like perfect ammo for controversy, maybe I took the hyperbole too far.

"Maybe I took the hyperbole too far"?
Well, duh, this is the internet, so of course half the people in this thread will assume that you're writing your own opinion, not paraphrasing the kind of non-sense part of the media would propagate. Not your fault though; I don't think you could have been any more obvious.

I think the media is only quiet because there are "larger scale" topics to talk about, but since we're entering the dreaded summer hole they're very likely to dig it up again for lack of actually important things happening.

 

[newwiseman]

Duke Nukem Forever (a children's video game that encourages misogyny, swearing, violence, casual sex, substance abuse and gambling.)

Catherine (a children's cartoon video game in which the main character encourages children to sleep around and get drunk.)

I head some shit when Duke's multiplayer was announced, woman activists were appalled that he would slap them.

And Catherine got a little attention right after its box art was revealed.

In both of those cases the games haven't sold a huge number of copies so I don't think FOX really cares enough to make shit up. Besides they completely missed out on the Norway guy saying he played Modern Warfare as part of his training regiment.

As for LA I think they believe it is just a movie exclusive for consoles.

 

[Olorune]

I think I see what you did there. Controversy over games will never be over. As long as there are games, and people in real life can be killed/maimed, politicians and idiots (one in the same, am I right?) are gonna throw the gaming industry into the fray and put the big national "Kick Me" sign on our backs.

 

[Extragorey]

Ok. Take "children's" out of every single description and then you're closer to the money.
But yeah, on what planet are any of those games "children's" games? Even Portal 2 can be pretty intense - sure, you don't use any firearms, but that's about where the G-rated bit ends.

And calling DNF a kid's game... Hahahahahaha, you really made my day.

Also, might be wrong here, but isn't the L.A. Noire protagonist a detective... And it's impossibly hard to kill civilians?

 

[CorvusFerreum]

It will go on and on. They are just taking a break right now. Until they find a new target this shit will come back.