No shit, right?
So I play games quite a bit now - even more since it is 40 degrees Celsius by 9 am here and ain't NO way I am going outside in that - so I am seeing a lot of things I never really thought or cared about.
One of those things is the old battleaxe of "Violence in Video Games"
We all have heard about this - how back in the 90's gamers had to fight - gloves off brawl, in fact - against the government to stop them from censoring the video game industry. Games like Mortal Kombat and Grand Theft Auto were at the front of this because, well, they were violent and let's be honest - they were making money.
We all know the only reason anything ever happens in politics is because someone, somewhere, is getting very rich from it.
I am not going to talk about if violence in video games makes people violent...I don't have to. Research has already taken care of the gory details - and no, playing violent video games does not make you a violent person. It does, however, lead to altering your reaction to violence...and whether or not that is a bad thing is still up in the air.
While I did want to make that point, I want to talk a bit specifically about just how violent video games have become.
This new internal debate of mine has come up since the release of Mortal Kombat X.
For whatever reason, the violence in other games never really made me question the whole concept. They were still just video games. And while Grand Theft Auto 5 looks very good and is very clean - you are still very aware you're playing a video game.
But with the new generation consoles like the PS4 and the Xbox 1 the level of detail has allowed games to venture into the realm of hyper realism.
I am not saying when people play Mortal Kombat they actually think they are a lightning god torpedoing through the air in order to hit a 4 armed prince with a pretty amazing pony tail.
The game is clearly that - a game.
But the fatalities after a match, if you do it correctly, actually put me off. And that is saying a lot, I grew up in a family of medical people. Conversations about bodily fluids were not all that uncommon.
Gah.
So what am I talking about? Most of the time I will readily admit I have no idea.
For the uninitiated to Mortal Kombat, it was at one time the king of all video games. In the 90's people would slap quarters down on the MK cabinet at the arcade and wait in lines that went out the door for a chance to play as Johnny Cage or Sub-Zero.
Teenage boys drooled over Sonya, (and the movie didn't do much to stop that).
People yelled "GET OVER HERE!" and shot imaginary grappling lizards out of their hands.
People feared Prince Goro and the bloody word "FIGHT!" was ingrained on the inside of eyelids everywhere.
And while it seemed like a good game - not a great game - it had one gigantic ace up its sleeve.
Two words would change video games forever - but at first glance they don't seem too impressive:
If you were on the losing side of a MK match, your poor fighter would sway back and forth and could do nothing to stop what happened next.
It wasn't just losing a fighting game.
It was much more.
Not only did they defeat your character, which you have grown to know and understand through hours and hours of training, they went one big step further.
Fatality.
This outraged adults everywhere...which only made it that much more glorious to kids like me.
At the end of a match in Mortal Kombat, you had the chance to finish off your opponent. Now, usually that would mean you would walk confidently over to the off-balance loser and uppercut or kick them over.
But this was different.
This was Mortal Kombat.
Now, as someone that was the right age at the right time, I had no issue with this. In fact, I didn't even know or understand why anyone else would. It does seem kind of silly now to look at these and complain that the images are too violent.
I mean...just look at it.
But at the time it was gore at it most horrific. This was ruining the youth.
This was too much for the older generation, and they tried to put a stop to this sort of violent filth. And the gaming community - of which didn't really exist 5 years prior - had its first real test of its dedication. Were they strong? Or were they just a bunch of guys and girls who played games?
They were about to find out.
Turns out they were both - and a community much more united and strong than even they probably imagined.
They came out all guns blazing. They argued that this sort of thing in no way linked to real-life violence. They used some studies and ignored others, but since it was an actual war against their freedom it didn't matter about facts and stats - they just had to win. And I agree with them and their position. The government has no business telling me what I can and cannot play. I work, I make money, and they already take a big chunk of it. What is left is mine to spend how I wish as long as I am not hurting anyone.
The gamers fought and they won - video games would not be censored by the government, but they would get ESRB ratings, much like the motion picture industry has to follow.
I think that is very fair. And it also relieves the responsibility from the game companies and puts it where it belongs - on the parent.
If your 10 year old kid is playing a violent video game that clearly is marked 18+ this is your fault and the fault of the store that sold the game. You can't blame the game companies, and rightly so. If your kid is playing video games, be a parent and play with them or at least keep an eye on what they're playing. If it means learning about the games then learn about the games.
Can't duck your head in the sand and blame Rockstar Games if your kid is buying virtual hookers and then killing them to get their money back in Liberty City.
Just like you can't blame Marlboro if you find your 4 year old smoking.
So in the end, the gaming community got what they wanted - and the gaming industry delivered the sweet, sweet taste of animated violence people now demanded. Most games added copious amount of murder because now it was okay to do so, blood effects were everywhere.
But, as could be expected, soon enough the blood and gore kind of became old news. Games didn't use blood as a shock factor - because it wasn't shocking anymore. You could find prime time TV shows on that were multiple factors more violent than Mortal Kombat ever was. A trip to any cinema in the United States would surely include a movie, (or 10) that trumpets blood and guts so loudly you can't help but get a little bit of it on you.
So where does that leave us?
Well recently Mortal Kombat - which dominated and then nearly disappeared only to return triumphantly to the forefront of fighting games - released their 10th offering. Mortal Kombat X.
It is a good fighting game. All the reviews seem to agree the dynamics and gameplay itself if pretty spot on - about all you could hope for in a fighting game of this style.
The cheer the colorful characters.
The appreciate the racial diversity.
They even applaud the fact that both genders are very well represented.
So what is the problem?
There isn't one now. I have zero problem with this game. But initially...well, we will get there in a minute.
I am AWFUL at any game like this - but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy it. I really do and I think it is a pretty fantastic offering.
However, while watching some clips with my friend from Australia we saw the new fatality system.
It was, to say the least, stunning.
I will post the YouTube clip here of the fatalities. If you are not okay with hyper-violence, don't click the link. If you are, I will wait til you're all done.
Seriously. How about that, eh?
That level of blood and gore really did shock me, and left me kind of wondering if the game industry had gone too far?
It took over a week of processing and deciding what I thought about it.
I was amazed - there was no backlash over this stuff at all.
Was I the only one grossed out?
After about a week it started to settle down and I was able to place my thoughts in some sort of logical order.
The first conclusion I came to was this:
This is no more violent than those animated pictures I put up on the page earlier from the first Mortal Kombat, (and the second one, to be fair). Those finishing moves are just as violent and terrifying as these - the difference is simply how graphic and detailed the action is. So, if I was not offended - in fact I rather adored them - by the fatalities in the first Mortal Kombat, why would I be now?
I didn't have any right to be. The game itself hasn't changed at all since its first offering. I couldn't look at the company and say: "YOU GUYS WENT TOO FAR!" because truthfully, they haven't gone anywhere from the first game.
You can rip someones head off with their spine attached, but don't you dare make it happen in any more than 16 bits!
That is idiotic and completely hypocritical.
So by realizing that - that the violence was identical through the years and I shouldn't just make arbitrary lines in the sand - helped me get a better handle on what was going on.
The second conclusion I came to was this:
There is a saying that goes: "If it's too loud, you're too old".
I really thought maybe, just maybe, I had grown up somewhere along the line and not only was the music too loud, but it tore your skull off, ripped a hole in your guts and shoved your head inside your stomach.
Was I finally too old?
I was actually afraid of this answer and then a moment of clarity washed over my head.
I don't like horror movies. Blood and gore really don't do it for me.
These fatalities weren't something new - this was like when I was a kid watching Jason - who you can actually use in the game - from the movie Halloween chop someone to pieces. I didn't like it then, and I don't like it now. I never used to like horror movies. Even the ones that aren't scary just don't amuse me. I don't enjoy being scared by movies is all, and there is nothing wrong with that.
I don't enjoy the movies and I don't enjoy the finishing moves in Mortal Kombat X, (to be fair, I do watch them when I look at people's YouTube videos and I would if I played...I think they are amazingly well done - but just not for me).
Now, I told you about my opinion on horror movies so I can tell you about this:
I don't enjoy horror films, so you know what I do?
I DON'T WATCH THEM.
That's it.
That's the secret.
Remember that show Friends?
I don't. That's because I didn't watch it because I didn't enjoy it.
This one technique is really the secret to happiness. If you don't like what's on TV, change the damn channel.
If that book you're reading offends you - close it and get another one.
Unless what is being displayed is hurting someone or is promoting the actual violence against someone, shut up. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean I don't like it. Don't try to make it illegal. If you don't like it, just don't do/eat/read/watchplay/have sex with it and leave me the hell alone.
Will I play mortal Kombat X?
Damn right I will.
But know what I will do? I will either not do fatalities or I will do the soft ones. I am not going to tell people who like them they can't watch them - just like I don't stand outside of theaters telling people they aren't allowed to see the new Nightmare on Elm Street because I don't like it.
But know what I will do? I will either not do fatalities or I will do the soft ones. I am not going to tell people who like them they can't watch them - just like I don't stand outside of theaters telling people they aren't allowed to see the new Nightmare on Elm Street because I don't like it.
This way everyone wins because everyone minds their damn business.
The third conclusion I came to was this:
Well done!
I mean really - in this day and age it is nearly impossible to shock anyone. Okay, Christians are pretty easy. So are fem-nazi's. And let's not forget...
Okay, never mind.
But in terms of actually putting out a product that is so well done I can't watch it without getting queasy? It isn't a horror game, but that 7 second fatality scene makes me feel like I just watched a Chainsaw Massacre in HD.
That is good stuff.
That is good stuff.
While I don't enjoy it I will be the first one in line to embrace the fact that you do.
So I guess to sum it all up I have no problem with these fatalities. Yes, they are gory and terrible and awful and well animated and creative and on and on...but they aren't for me.
And that is fine.
While I don't like it, I have no right to tell you that you can't like it either.
Hey everyone - no more chocolate ice cream because I don't like it therefore you shouldn't either.
Go out there and enjoy yourself. Watch them and laugh or cringe. Or don't.
The only issue I do have with the game is there is no way to turn the violence down or off. This game is a very well done game, and I am perfectly aware Mortal Kombat IS violence and gore, but an option to turn this stuff off would let a whole new age range of kids play it. Parents could access the parental controls and turn off the horror so little Johnny doesn't have nightmares he will be split in two by a spinning saw hat.
Why not include this option?
Kids now will have to sneak to get the game if their parents say it is too violent - and in turn end up doing the one thing that causes the most harm - putting kids in the position where they need to be dishonest with their parents in order to play the game.
Now, you read through a lot of my nonsense, so here is your reward...REMEMBER THESE!?
(I promise, no blood and/or guts)
Thank you SO much for reading! Please share the blog if you like it, and don't forget to head on over to my YouTube Channel and subscribe! Subscribing shows your support and I appreciate every click! Just follow the link or click the video below!
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