Poll: Does a game have to be mature to be more enjoyable?
- Thread starter DiabloBub666
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We find mature to be a loose and worthless brand.
We find referring to specific events or concepts to convey a message better.
Example: many would agree blood and gore is not something for children to view. We, however, find nothing mature in blood and gore.
We find referring to specific events or concepts to convey a message better.
Example: many would agree blood and gore is not something for children to view. We, however, find nothing mature in blood and gore.
Look at Duke Nukem. I don't personally see the appeal, but a majority seem to enjoy it. And it isn't exactly... Well... Mature. Unless you meant by mature 'adult', which is completely different.
Absolutely not. Simple games can be fun. Games aimed at children can still be fun. Games with no serious themes, blood, nudity or violence can be incredibly fun.
It depends on what you mean by "mature". If you mean it in the sense of "Mature Content", then no, of course not. Portal 2 has no blood at all (well, I suppose when Chell gets hit by the turrets, there's a bit of blood), and you have nothing but a portal gun. There's no swearing, no gore, no real violence except smashing a few turrets. It's rated PG and it's one of the best games I've ever played. Ever.
Super Mario Galaxy, Tetris, Civ V, Picross 3D, the World Ends with You and just about any Racing game under the sun have no blood or gore or nudity, and yet they are some of the best games made in my opinion.
If you mean mature as in "adult themes" and subject matter and aesthetics... then it can help in some cases, but it isn't required. Again, Super Mario Galaxy is plenty fun and it has no adult themes or complex messages.
There's a time and a place - we all like deep, meaningful films like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" or "Synecdoche New York", but we certainly wouldn't want all films to be like that. We need our "Independence day" and "Iron Man" films, but again, we wouldn't want all our films to be like that either.
A game with mature elements can be good. But we don't want every game to have them and a game can be perfectly great without them.
It depends on what you mean by "mature". If you mean it in the sense of "Mature Content", then no, of course not. Portal 2 has no blood at all (well, I suppose when Chell gets hit by the turrets, there's a bit of blood), and you have nothing but a portal gun. There's no swearing, no gore, no real violence except smashing a few turrets. It's rated PG and it's one of the best games I've ever played. Ever.
Super Mario Galaxy, Tetris, Civ V, Picross 3D, the World Ends with You and just about any Racing game under the sun have no blood or gore or nudity, and yet they are some of the best games made in my opinion.
If you mean mature as in "adult themes" and subject matter and aesthetics... then it can help in some cases, but it isn't required. Again, Super Mario Galaxy is plenty fun and it has no adult themes or complex messages.
There's a time and a place - we all like deep, meaningful films like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" or "Synecdoche New York", but we certainly wouldn't want all films to be like that. We need our "Independence day" and "Iron Man" films, but again, we wouldn't want all our films to be like that either.
A game with mature elements can be good. But we don't want every game to have them and a game can be perfectly great without them.
Your friend is being immature.
Think of "game" as a broader term. Talisman. Magic: The Gathering. Parcheesi. Chess. Solitaire games. None of them, I think, is M-rated and you can enjoy the hell out of them.
Video game examples? Heroes of Might and Magic, Portal, Morrowind.
Think of "game" as a broader term. Talisman. Magic: The Gathering. Parcheesi. Chess. Solitaire games. None of them, I think, is M-rated and you can enjoy the hell out of them.
Video game examples? Heroes of Might and Magic, Portal, Morrowind.
Well sometimes I am in the mood for something mature but most of the time that doesn't really factor into what I want to play.
No, I didn't necessarily mean M-Rated, and I don't think he did either. It was just an example. I am indeed talking about games with more mature themes, symbolism, and whatnot. Still, tho, the question seems to have been answered both from the "mature theme" perspective and the "adult game" perspective...
What I originally intended to ask, in retrospect, probably should've looked like this: "Does a game have to have elements that will make it appeal to a more mature audience to be a better game?" Because there are games that are just fun for the sake of fun (such as Kirby... you could find symbolism in that, but do you really want to? You're having too much fun playing the game to do that), and then games that are fun because you're connecting with them as you would with a Dickens book, except you're probably hating it less because you're not in high school any more. "Does a game have to meet the latter requirement to be 'good'?"
What I originally intended to ask, in retrospect, probably should've looked like this: "Does a game have to have elements that will make it appeal to a more mature audience to be a better game?" Because there are games that are just fun for the sake of fun (such as Kirby... you could find symbolism in that, but do you really want to? You're having too much fun playing the game to do that), and then games that are fun because you're connecting with them as you would with a Dickens book, except you're probably hating it less because you're not in high school any more. "Does a game have to meet the latter requirement to be 'good'?"
I voted no, but I feeel we need to define "mature", does it mean a game with an M rating?DiabloBub666 said:
Does it mean a game with blood?
A game that explores complex social issues?
A game that involves sex in some way?
A game with photo-realistic graphics?
Personally I tend to enjoy games more if they have complex themes and storylines, with no real clear cut concept of right and wrong, wher it explores the idea that the protaganists may not be in the right, but I'll still play the shit out of an immature slugfest, and I'll play games with styleised graphics just as intently.
Also, I can't be the only one that finds games like CoD to be somewhat immature, particularly the more recent ones, can I?
Firstly, CoD games are definitely immature. Well, CoD 4 wasn't, quite as much, but that's the standout in the series for me.
Secondly, and let me finalize this: A GAME DOES NOT HAVE TO HAVE SEX OR GORE TO BE MATURE. Sure, it kind of fits into what we're talking about, but I really meant games that have more mature themes, and would appeal to an older audience... not games where people get drowned by their own blood. I admit, CoD was a bad example. I apologize.
Secondly, and let me finalize this: A GAME DOES NOT HAVE TO HAVE SEX OR GORE TO BE MATURE. Sure, it kind of fits into what we're talking about, but I really meant games that have more mature themes, and would appeal to an older audience... not games where people get drowned by their own blood. I admit, CoD was a bad example. I apologize.
No, but only if they don't make the game too easy to appeal to these younger players. I'm looking at you, Super Mario Galaxy.
Not at all. If you mean mature in terms of content (Comic violence vs blood and gore) Many of my games fall within the E or T ratings, and I have just as much fun with them as I would with Grand Theft Auto or Killzone.
If you mean mature in terms of attitude (Cartoony, lighthearted themes [LBP] vs darker, edgier themes [Arkham Asylum]) I can still enjoy the best of both worlds.
Oddly enough, I've never had any friends criticize my choice of games. Most of us are at least willing to try something before calling it 'childish' or 'stupid'
If you mean mature in terms of attitude (Cartoony, lighthearted themes [LBP] vs darker, edgier themes [Arkham Asylum]) I can still enjoy the best of both worlds.
Oddly enough, I've never had any friends criticize my choice of games. Most of us are at least willing to try something before calling it 'childish' or 'stupid'
No, Bulletstorm is a blast and a more immature game you won't find 
Overall, the video game industry is walking into a lot of the narrative traps of the comic industry. Both were marginalized as being for kids, before the man-children of the world decided to take back the night... and both have this bad habit of eschewing more family friendly fare for something with lots more blood and tits.
On the plus side, video games tend to create brand-new properties instead of clinging desperately to their childhood favorites and bloodying them up. So you don't have to figure out exactly how to make Mario more kid-friendly without alienating its exclusively adult fanbase.
Overall, the video game industry is walking into a lot of the narrative traps of the comic industry. Both were marginalized as being for kids, before the man-children of the world decided to take back the night... and both have this bad habit of eschewing more family friendly fare for something with lots more blood and tits.
On the plus side, video games tend to create brand-new properties instead of clinging desperately to their childhood favorites and bloodying them up. So you don't have to figure out exactly how to make Mario more kid-friendly without alienating its exclusively adult fanbase.
I generally prefer age 15 games, 18 games are usually too bogged down in making it gory and sweary that any quality it started with...just...kinda vanished.
Same goes for films and stuff too.
Just cause Toy Story is for children doesn't mean it's instantly crap and that just because something like Mortal Kombat is incredibly gory doesn't mean it's instantly amazing
Same goes for films and stuff too.
Just cause Toy Story is for children doesn't mean it's instantly crap and that just because something like Mortal Kombat is incredibly gory doesn't mean it's instantly amazing
While mature games (like Bioshock.) can be AWESOME....
"mature" elements don't naturally make a game better.
I'm gonna be 23 next week. And you know what? I will tell anyone who will listen that Sonic Colors is INCREDIBLE and that I REALLY liked it. And I will feel no shame. Why? Because I like what I like and I won't let anyone tell me that I can't stop enjoying something because I'm not the target demographic.
Also, Ratchet and Clank (AKA the series that could instead be called "Mario platormer meets BLOW UP EVERYTHING YOU SEE!!!!1!1!" and still be accurate) is freakin awesome. Don't let anyone tell you different.
"mature" elements don't naturally make a game better.
I'm gonna be 23 next week. And you know what? I will tell anyone who will listen that Sonic Colors is INCREDIBLE and that I REALLY liked it. And I will feel no shame. Why? Because I like what I like and I won't let anyone tell me that I can't stop enjoying something because I'm not the target demographic.
Also, Ratchet and Clank (AKA the series that could instead be called "Mario platormer meets BLOW UP EVERYTHING YOU SEE!!!!1!1!" and still be accurate) is freakin awesome. Don't let anyone tell you different.
Sounds like he's insecure and trying to convince himself he's not a "kiddy" anymore and thus cannot enjoy kid-friendly games.DiabloBub666 said:
