Fans rage at anti-MadWorld campaign Comments by Robert Purchese

I've never been first before, so please forgive me just this once. First!

I feel dirty.

Bleach will do it.

Thanks, fellow gamers, for giving these idiots ammunition. I bet they feel more justified than ever now.

All censorship is done in the name of 'children and families'. But it never stops there.

They want to protect kids, and now they have an opinion that most gamers are kids.

Won't someone please, think of the children

The people that wrote mature, well written letters are awesome. Everyone else should be taken out and shot by the very guns they find so cool.

DrFawkes defines irony.

1984? Wow, I just started playing games back then. My first game was Snoopy.

"really ought to be the welfare of children and families"

All nice and dandy but that STILL gives you no right to come into my home and tell me what to do and what I can't watch. In other words: Fuck off with your hypocritical bullshit, masquerading under a banner of purity.

For once I find myself in agreement with the mobs.

When do the authorities realize that games are a medium, just like movies, books, music, internet and television.

What is it that games need to be banned. Can you remember the last time a movie was rejected? Just because kids play on a Wii doesn't mean no adult games can be made for it. Common Sense people should try it.

This is going to be an 18 rated title, presumably, so what's the problem? If kids are getting hold of it then Mediawatch needs to focus its efforts on educating the parents buying this game for their kids or the stores selling it to under-18s, rather than attempting to have it outlawed because they don't like a game that's intended for adults.

'The overriding priority,' we said, 'really ought to be the welfare of children and families,'" concludes Beyer in the report.

Hmmm. Perhaps we should have some sort of ratings system, determining the suitablity of games and under media for non-adults of certain ages and proscribing the sale of adult-rated games to those deemed too young. Maybe this could use a large sticker on the box with the age limit stated?

EDIT
This is going to be an 18 rated title, presumably, so what's the problem? If kids are getting hold of it then Mediawatch needs to focus its efforts on educating the parents buying this game for their kids or the stores selling it to under-18s, rather than attempting to have it outlawed because they don't like a game that's intended for adults.

Nah, because mediawatch is only interested in backdoor censorship, not education. It was founded by Mary Whitehouse (!) and also objects to stuff like showing homosexual relationships on TV or blasphemy.

Where do they get the idea games are for kids?

Probably from reading the EG forum and comments threads. In fact ANY games forum.

This country has way too many "Watchdogs" and "Thinktanks"...

:) I'm brilliant!
they should just make the WII a kids only console,with No 16 year + titlesl!
then prohibit humans under the age of 16 to own a xbox or ps3
problem solved

serious now: didn't you just have the byron report last year or something wich made all kinds of sence, why this discussion again?

WHY WON'T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!?

If I remember correctly, Mediawatch is a fundemantalist christian organisation setup by (or inspired by) Mary Whitehouse.

So isn't watching a film like Saw 'spoinling the family fun image fo a living room'?

Stupid people, agreeing with the mobs here. I say BURN 'EM AT THE STAKE!

^ Which means they can F off some more!

Stupid christians.

"founded by Mary Whitehouse"

Ah, well in that case, telling them to fuck off is a perfectly reasonable response.

Its not their responsibility to try and get things banned. Ultimately, its down to the parents to keep the game out of their hands in the same way that its down to parents to make sure their young child doesn't raid the DVD cupboard and put Saw/Hostel/other18 rated films on the telly.

Quite why nobody made a stink about something like Hostel which is like 40% nudity/sex and 60% torture/violence is beyond me yet they are quite happy to slam a game for having dashings of blood. Furthermore, it isn't their job to decide what image a console has is it?

But yeah, I agree with everyone about how silly it was to send angry complaints that aren't going to help matters. You can have an opinion but you have to get it across properly to be taken seriously.

You want to protect children?

You better lock them up cause I'm coming!!!

whahahahahahhaha!

Were computer games to blame for the horrible acts towards Baby P? Were computer games to blame for the Crusades? Do parents buy violent games for their children? Do watchdog groups lack common sense and rely on fear promoting?

"Thanks, fellow gamers, for giving these idiots ammunition. I bet they feel more justified than ever now."

^

Just terrible.

This problem can be solved in the following way:

1. If buying games for your children, do not buy games which have a rating which is inappropriate for your children's age.
2. Set parental controls on Wii to an appropriate age for your children if you think it is necessary.
3. There is no step 3.

Somebody think of the children!

""Thanks, fellow gamers, for giving these idiots ammunition. I bet they feel more justified than ever now."

^

Just terrible. "

Writing idiotic, hate-strewn emails fully of swear words to people like this DOESN'T WORK. It merely gives them justification to keep going.

edit - actually, are you agreeing with me? :P I'm confuzzled.

But please, if anyone in this thread wrote one to them, speak for yourselves and not for the rest of us. You're as bad as they are.

If I had kids, I'd let them play MadWorld.

Unless they were mentalists, then they'd just get the fucking belt.

Computer games, films, books etc do not make people violent. People predisposed to violence are going to be violent, regardless of what media they see (if any). We should look after our nutters properly, instead of letting them roam free on EG.

"Were computer games to blame for the horrible acts towards Baby P? Were computer games to blame for the Crusades? Do parents buy violent games for their children? Do watchdog groups lack common sense and rely on fear promoting?"

Not that I agree with them, but that argument is rubbish. You can't say "The Crusades were extremely violent. Computer games weren't around then, therefore computer games aren't violent".

Give it twenty years (maybe ten), and all the people in power will be people who grew up playing computer games. Problem gone.

Sadly, trying to get an objective discussion with MediaWatchUK about videogames is akin to convincing a KKK member that Obama's election was a good thing.

First thing censors need to realise is not all content is done for the lowest common denomminator, i.e. Children. Content should be for all something for kids, something for teenagers and something for adults. And I hate to be the relist but every game has violence tendencies. Its the fucking human condition.

E.g. take for instance super mario bros you kill iinnocent goombas and koopas.
Eg.2. Pac man you have to get the highest score by eating 4 innocent ghosts.

Like i say its the human condition maybe we should ban wars being shown on the tv because thats violent. Ut they wouldn't admit to that becasue it makes them look like dumb fuckers.

Can't we take this as an opportunity to ask why we are so into violent games? I have The Darkness, Bioshock, Fallout 3, Gears of War, etc, etc. I like them a lot, but I can't explain why the violence somehow makes them more satisfying to play. What happens in these games (especially The Darkness) is pretty horrific. There's no way of objectively measuring the impact of violent media, but I'd be surprised if it was positive.

This isn't a troll. I just think there's a good chance to actually think a bit about this.

Because we are a violent species, and games are a safe way of expressing our natural aggression. The violence appeals to the base wild animal part of our brains. It's escapism too, acting out things we aren't allowed to do for real.

Maybe we need to move away from calling them "Games" to "Interactive Computer Entertainment" so that the stupid people don't confuse "Games" with "Children and their toys".

Sadly, trying to get an objective discussion with MediaWatchUK about videogames is akin to convincing a KKK member that Obama's election was a good thing.

Good job video game fans are known for their objectivity, putting aside e-mails sent to MW or PS3 vs 360 vs Wii fanboyism.

@ LiamK

I am saying that these groups and people like Jack Thompson and some of our MP's are claiming that the current state of violence which we are seeing on the streets is largely down video games when that is total bullshit. They are using scare tactics on the masses and people with a lack of common sense will believe what they hear.

Many people still think that video games and animation are only for kids and can't understand that the medium can be used to reach wide audiences, but like porn, video games should not be purchased for minors when there is a massive 18 rating slapped on the front cover.

Of course video games weren't around in the 11th Century but the Crusades were violent (unless you consider massacres of people based on their religious views to be part of everyday life) and religion is a bigger cause of violence in the world than games, and that hasn't changed in 1000 yrs, yet these groups and politicians would have you/myself/others believe otherwise.

Definite purchase for me now, can't wait :)

Because we are a violent species, and games are a safe way of expressing our natural aggression. The violence appeals to the base wild animal part of our brains. It's escapism too, acting out things we aren't allowed to do for real.

Spot on. Cases of aggression and violent acts would probably be higher if there wasn't some sort escapism available to us. Its not that different to venting anger by taking out rage on a punchbag.

Spot on. Cases of aggression and violent acts would probably be higher if there wasn't some sort escapism available to us. Its not that different to venting anger by taking out rage on a punchbag.

Britain as a rule is quite aggressive. Other countries somehow manage to be less aggressive with the same escapism available that there is in Britain.

What children are you speaking of? Parents should have more sense than just giving kids money so they can buy whatever game they want. Or maybe they have earned enough money, in that case the shopkeepers should look at the ratings and ask for id of some sort. What else can be done to make them not play the adult games? Ah, we could ruin it for everyone by stopping the game from being release here so that people who wants it can just pay extra to play it. Now that sounds like fun.
Suck my merry jousting pole

Like all animals with a carnivous intent we are violent. Since media watch uk are run by christians who do not believe in darwins theories that we are animals, they don't understand the ease at which playing any sought of videogame unleshes testostorne into our brains thus creating the need for a kick as well.

Something I've been informed of is that media watch uk is ran by a man who prides himself being a devout christian and opposes the idea of homosexuals. Why did I throw this in here because a few months back he had sex with a rentboy. Not to be too crude but I wouldn't put it past him to be playing violent videogames as well. Plus thwere opinions caount towards nothing.

"Britain as a rule is quite aggressive. Other countries somehow manage to be less aggressive with the same escapism available that there is in Britain."

How do you know Britain is more aggressive than other countries? Going by the latest figures for murders per capita, for example, the UK is below Canada, South Korea, United States, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden and many other countries.

In fact, looking at it like that actually works in our favour. The less developed countries where they are less likely to have access to games have a huge problem with violence. That's because of other social, political and economic issues. Games have absolutely nothing to do with it.

You bunch of crazy fucks.

God bless the Internet.

Parents need to be educated.

I agree with what the majority are saying, but we do need to take a step back and say that yes, young children can be influenced negatively by violence on tv/film/games. But of course that is why we have ratings, and so kids should not be playing games they aren't old enough for. Why can't the group be emphasising that rather than trying to ban games that are perfectly ok for adults?

Their logic seems to be:

fat people eat burgers

burgers must make people fat

educate people to eat healthier? NO

ban all burgers so no one can eat them, even the thin people? YES

Which is just fucking stupid.

How do you know Britain is more aggressive than other countries? Going by the latest figures for murders per capita, for example, the UK is below Canada, South Korea, United States, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden and many other countries.

Because I live abroad, have also lived in another foreign country, and visiting Britain once or twice a year is a bit of a jolt.

You can argue it however you want with statistics about murders (which I would argue is different to a society's average level of violence because murders are relatively rare cases in any developed country), amount of alcohol drunk (often turns out less than other countries), or access to violent media (about the same as other developed countries) but very few developed countries have as many occurrences of, anger issues (sorry to use that phrase), post-pub 'letting off steam', or knife crime as Britain does.

In fact, looking at it like that actually works in our favour. The less developed countries where they are less likely to have access to games have a huge problem with violence. That's because of other social, political and economic issues. Games have absolutely nothing to do with it.

You need to remove the part highlighted in bold.

If it gets banned from Wii, maybe they'll move it to a decent platform instead.

You fuckers. You reminded me of just how fucking shit Hostel and Saw were.

It's really beyond me how Saw has managed to get so many sequels.

DON'T BUY THE GAME FOR CHILDREN IT HAS A MASSIVE 18 STICKER ON IT

sorry but problem solved if it weren't for the fucktards that pass for parents now

"Because I live abroad, have also lived in another foreign country, and visiting Britain once or twice a year is a bit of a jolt."

So your conclusions about violent Britain are based on personal observation? And what are you trying to say, that videogames are responsible?