My Concerns About the Forthcoming BioShock After the 'Manhunt 2' Scandal - and the [official] ESRB Response
Creul and Sadistic Mutilation and Killing of Mutated Children on Forthcoming Xbox 360 Game Leads to Personal Complaint
Now comes a report from Electronic Gaming Monthly of similarly sadistic (yet completely offscreen) mutilation and killing, this time of innocent yet horrendously mutated little girls in the forthcoming Xbox 360 game BioShock. So, based on my belief that oversaturated violence in videogames has to be toned down to just casual, non-overreaching violence if any amount of violence is to be acceptasble in videogames at all, I contacted the ESRB, on behalf of all parent groups out there in the world who would just shudder completely at the thought of such violence against children in any videogame - never mind that the girls in question within the offending game "aren't exacthy human," to quote the EGM reporter - to report the issue and demand the re-rating of the game as 'Adults Only' to put a stop to this creul, sadistic treatment of simulated children, whether or not it is shown completely.
But instead of getting my request approved, I got the following, off-color and completely ineffective response:
Dear Jeffrey,
Thank you for contacting the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). We are always interested to hear from those who use the ratings, and appreciate your taking the time to write to us with your thoughts and comments.
The ESRB does its best to ensure that the rating process is meticulous and thorough. At least three specially trained raters review actual footage from each game submitted to the ESRB. The raters examine the game's most extreme content, evaluate its context and overall intensity, and use their own good judgment to recommend the rating they believe will be most helpful to consumers. In the case of Bioshock the raters determined that the M (Mature 17+) rating with content descriptors for Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language was most appropriate. The goal of the ESRB rating system is to give consumers, particularly parents, the information they need to make informed computer and video game purchase decisions. The rating system is designed to ensure that all games are evaluated as fairly and reliably as possible. However, in a country as diverse as ours, with its broad spectrum of values and tastes, it is inevitable that some will disagree. The ESRB regularly commissions independent researchers to measure public awareness and agreement with the ratings. Our most recent surveys found that the vast majority of the time (82%), parents agree with the rating assigned by ESRB, while 5% of the time they thought the rating was "too strict." This level of agreement is encouraging, and we will continue to ensure that consumers have reliable information about the games they purchase. We regret that you did not find the ESRB rating in this case to be useful or in agreement with your individual tastes, however we truly appreciate your taking the time to express your opinion and hope you will continue use the rating system. Regards,Entertainment Software Rating Board
Personally, I don't give a damn about this half-assed response without anyone taking action that respects the morally-correct treatment of children in a videogame, period. I would rather see a game such as BioShock effectively banned from sale if it ever treats children of any kind whatsoever like this. I thought they would take a cue from the people who rightfully gave Manhunt 2 the same rating that a game where children are killed at the player's discretion should get! GIVE ME A [EXPLETIVE] BREAK, PEOPLE!!! If a sadism-laden game like Manhunt 2 can be rated outside of acceptable bounds for the console market based on such inhumane behavior, then so can BioShock for the type of treatment to simulated children. Come on people: this is not just a question of videogame violence in general, but a broader question of morality! And where's Tipper Gore and Jack Thompson when you need them!?
I'm so exasperated about this that I need to stop here. I've done all I can, anyway - so now it's your turn. If you agree with me or wish to provide your own views on this issue, feel free to post in the comments area below.
Published by Jeffrey Davis
Jeffrey Davis is a technology enthusiast with experiences in website design, videogame platforms, online trends and general computing topics. View profile
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13 Comments
Post a CommentI personally think people should get a grip. Jeffrey you did your homework, checked out the possible affect on younger children. If it is classified as MO and the ERSB, had the figures to back up your commentary. You did well, I hope you continue to write and check out the games that go on the market. It affects everyone, they just don't get it... Keep up the good job.
And let me add this to the mix here: THERE'S A REASON that Manhunt 2 had to be modified in order to get a M rating (as in Mature according to the ESRB definition) rather than the original, stricter AO (for Adults Only) and that reason is because the developers of Manhunt 2 proceeded WAY TOO FAR PAST THE LINE in creating their horror masterpiece. And things like that are SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE by any reasonable means, period. Does that help you doubters of my rationale understand what I'm trying to say? I certainly hope it does.
Thanks again for your comments. I didn't say it was my job to look out for parents and/or their children, nor was I even trying. All I did was attempt to raise a question of morality regarding interactive entertainment and its many - what word shall I use here? - manifestations and clearly 2K studios (or whatever it's oficially called) is clearly following the lead of corporate sibling Rockstar Games WAAAAAAAAY too much in this particular instance, at least so far as my opinion goes. Sure other people may think diferently than I do (and believe me, that knucklehead Jack Thompson would be much worse than I was in this entire piece) but if there is anything Take-Two and its numerous game studios should have learned from the so-called "hot coffee" mess is WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE ON QUESTIONABLE VIDEOGAME CONTENT, emphasis mine of course. That's all I was trying to say in this article. Nothing more, nothing less.
First off, you should probably start proofreading your work before sumbitting it. I can only hope, for your sake, that the letter you wrote to the ESRB was more eloquent than this article. I'm confused as to how you can say that the "near demise" of Manhunt 2 is tragic, and then criticize Bioshock, as if the Manhunt franchise is just wholesome family fun--under the premise that wholesome family fun should be the base of video game entertainment. Your message is unclear. Furthermore, regarding the "parent groups", of whom you spoke, the idea that "it takes a village" to raise a child is just stupid. Not everything is, can be, or should be child proof. I am not a child and I should not be solely limited to kid tested, mother approved entertainment. Yeah, being a parent is hard, and at times it may seem impossible, but that's what you signed up for (and what I opted out of), deal with it. It's not my job to parent your kids, and it's not your job to parent me, so stop trying to get the ES
Robert, the world changes on a daily basis and what is happening now will probably continue to change for the worst, unless parents set good guidelines in a well defined perimeter. Simply because you have not blown anything up does not mean nor does it assure that someone out there is not twisted and will endanger your children when they become teenagers or even before. Take a look at the "children" that are in the court system now and check out what they are using as a "defense". Not a pretty picture when you have teenagers killing each other , not to mention in their own schools.
Being 30 years old one would think you would have the wisdom to kmow the difference between right and wrong and what an negative influence these games are to some children, not all but some. Guess what goes on in most of the clubs?? I think you should start thinking about the wellfare of your children and not that they can enjoy clubbing. You have played games all you life?? I think you had better start
This is to you have got to be kiddng me... It is more than obvious with all of the positive responses to this article that 1) you have no children or 2) you really don't care how the children of today grow up to be the adults and leaders of tomorrow. I think you stand just about alone on this issue. Thank goodness YOU MAKE NO DIFFERENCE TO (WHICH YOU INCORRECTLY STATED ABOVE) TO THE GAME INDUSTRY, AS WOULD ALL BE IN TROUBLE. SO WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM AS IT IS EVIDENT YOU HAVE ONE???.
Thanks to all respondents. I agree this is a question of morality, and that's why I wrote this after my experience contacting the ESRB about the content of this game. With so many people liable to get the wrong idea from games such as this, what's to stop the crap of the crop from taking this over the top and moving it into reality? And to Robert: I know it is just a game, but with the number of people who don't leave it at that and the problems at stake here, I cannot allow this issue to go unnoticed. That doesn't mean I don't accept violence in videogames like some people (read: Jack Thompson) but it means instead that I don't appreciate the target of such violence in this particular instance. Again, we're talking about moral values here, which I think is a bigger issue than debating whether violence should be acceptable in videogames AT ALL, and especially after the Manhunt 2 fiasco.
I have 3 children and wholeheartedly look forward to being able to club or rocket those little girls. If their very large, armored protectors let me anyway....
Come on, it's a game. I've been playing games all my life (now 30) and that doesn't mean I'm gonna go carjack a Hummer and unload a couple clips into some hookers.
Our Family loves your articles and thankful you have taken the time to write them. We
strongly urge everyone to read all your articles. We have forwarded them to family, friends
and co-workers. You Have Got To Be Kidding Me response is an example of what is wrong, lack of morals and absolutely no concern to protect the innocent. The response from Michele Williams said it all.
Maybe, just maybe you could start with the world "cruel," and spell it correctly. I'm not even going to touch the rest of this article so you and your behalf of the parent groups have fun with this. I love it when people like yourself only point out the VIOLENCE in a video game and not what the game's premise is. Congratulations, you have no difference to the game industry but you got a response out of me. *shakes hand* /sarcasm