Why Are There NO Kids In Sandbox Shooter Games?

[Bek359]

what about bioshock 1&2 can't you kill kids in those games? Little sisters being 'harvested'

Well, I haven't played Bioshock, but I heard that the camera cuts away at those points, and if you killed more than one or two of them, you got the bad ending where, to quote Yahtzee (badly), "you're some mix of Hitler and Skeletor whose very piss is pure liquid malevolence," as in, the game doesn't seem to condone the killing, but it allows you to do so if you so choose. You monster.

 

[asdasdasdasda]

Thank god you can kill the kids in Fallout 3 with mods. That annoying ************ at Little Lamplight got owned.

 

[LesIsMore]

Because if there were, then players would murder them, and killing children is apparently the one thing that's still taboo in the gaming world.

 

[fletch_talon]

I think its probably because even murderers and rapists look down on paedophiles and those who murder children. Despite murder being bad in general, it is even more so when its murder of a child.

 

[Iklwa]

Ok, I may be wrong about this, but last I heard it's illegal (at least in the US,)to have the option to kill children in-game. It was possible in Fallout 2, yes, but again, as far as I know, the law was enacted afterwards.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

More on topic: Well the last time I checked killing kids was socially unacceptable

I'm pretty sure killing civilians is socially unacceptable, in general.

Okay you got me there. Let me clarify; Killing children is much, much, much more socially unacceptable.
Killing grown adults who are wasting away is one thing, but killing the future of the world is another.

I disagree with the future of the world nonsense. Kids are cheap and relatively useless. Adults have so many resources spent in education and specialization - it's like killing a level 1 character versus another at level 20. From a rational perspective, if anything, it's less horrible than killing a fully developed adult mind.

It's just that we're culturally and instinctually wired to protect children.

Edit: I'm not sure how I replied to the wrong post. Fixed.

 

[WolfThomas]

It'll never happen, but I think in games like GTA I would be less violent if there were kids around, I'd try to avoid driving through crowds or firing into crowds.

I remember this one time in Fallout in a random encounter, there was a bunch of raiders fighting villagers, I went to the villagers aid, but one of my companions sprayed a burst that hit both the last raider and cut a child in two. Then the crowd of villagers angrily turned on me, attacking with rocks and knives. I tried to run but couldn't eventually having to kill the whole crowd. I felt so bad in that situation.

 

[tkioz]

More on topic: Well the last time I checked killing kids was socially unacceptable

I'm pretty sure killing civilians is socially unacceptable, in general.

Spitting in public is considered socially unacceptable, there are degrees, you can claim that one life is of equal value to another but that is an intellectual choice, morality is based partly in intellect and partly in emotions, if you showed someone a image of a man shooting a man and then the same man shooting a child and asked which was the most disturbing wanna guess what you get?

 

[psychowatcher]

While there are some games with killable children (Bioshock, Fallout 3, Dead Space and AVP if you count the aliens as children), most game developers stay away from it as that may just be what gets the game banned outright, few gamers would touch it due to the "gamers are baby killers" controversy that will undoubtedly surround it (Dante's Inferno got that with its Bad Nanny achievement), and it may just creep enough people out so they won't buy it. Game developers need money, so sinking thousands into a game no one buys because of morals is a bit counter-productive.

 

[crimsonshrouds]

what about bioshock 1&2 can't you kill kids in those games? Little sisters being 'harvested'

Well, I haven't played Bioshock, but I heard that the camera cuts away at those points, and if you killed more than one or two of them, you got the bad ending where, to quote Yahtzee (badly), "you're some mix of Hitler and Skeletor whose very piss is pure liquid malevolence," as in, the game doesn't seem to condone the killing, but it allows you to do so if you so choose. You monster.

I never got the truly bad ending and i only killed a little sister once on my first run through of the game i accidently pushed the wrong button.

 

[quiet_samurai]

FO3 child murdering mod FTW.

OT: Because all the anti game fundamentalists out there would have a fit immediately followed by a press conferance of sorts.

 

[ultrachicken]

Ill murder an NPC adult
not an NPC child.......unless they are annoying

Little Lamplight, anybody?

 

[Xan Krieger]

I wish games would give us killable children (so glad I now have fallout 3 for the PC, Little Lamplight, I got some "presents" for yah). I know most people look down on it but what about those of us who just in general hate kids? Ever been on an airplane and a kid won't shut up? Now with Fallout three you can enact revenge on the little buggers and nobody real gets hurt.

Besides, I just had the thought that in GTA IV if they sounded different when bouncing off your bumper you could make music just by driving on the sidewalk.

 

[Vuljatar]

Because some morons (okay, most morons) for some reason think that a child's life is worth more than an adult's.

 

[Bonkekook]

That's just it though, if you don't call it "killing", it's okay. It's all about how you package it. The way something is presented has a profound effect on how it's treated. If you are politically inclined, check the "Death Tax" story.

You never see any real damage being done to the Little Sisters. Just a bright light, and I think a scream. Plus, the way they look is meant to dehumanize them, making it easier to get away with.

 

[BHoSV]

Although I agree with the majority of people that killing kids is socially unacceptable, isn't killing entirely unacceptable? Everywhere?
I've asked myself the same question as the threadstarter numerous times. And have also thought about all the new gameplay elements that open up for you when there are kids involved.
Think of GTA, there were schoolbus-look-a-likes driving around in some places. Wouldn't it be a good idea to drive a schoolbus and pick up children, then bring them to school. Or your protagonist has a kid, niece/nephew or something like that, which get's kidnapped and you're following 4 missions are to find out where they're hiding him/her, and who's kidnapped him/her.
I think there are a lot of new things to come by. And I know that it will never happen.
Too many people (like me) explore the game's limits. If you're driving a bus full of hookers, what will happen if you'd blow it up? Now replace the hookers with children, and you've got your reason why kids in shooters aren't OK.
Though I'd buy a game like that immediately, if only to support the balls of the developper/publisher.

 

[DELTA x WOLF]

Im not in the killing or harming real kids but if it stops someone from killing or harming a kid in real life then I dont care if they put it in a game