Violence is fun... apparently • Gaming • General Gaming • Eurogamer.net

Zidargh 13 Apr 2018 13:32:35 2,048 posts
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One of those philosophical/existential questions that keeps popping up in my head so I figured it's worth a discussion here. And no, this isn't me talking about how video games cause violent behaviour, blah blah blah.

I've been gaming for 25 years. Since the moment I donked Dr. Robotnik's head in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 to smacking my nth dinosaur in Monster Hunter: World in the face, a significant amount of the subject matter has involved, well, violent behaviour.

Generally I haven't thought twice about it, except most recently I noticed I was feeling uncomfortable bombing and gassing soldiers in Battlefield 1. This is no doubt because of the work I'm currently engaged in but also notably the centenaries that rightfully lament the conflict.

Even Little Big Planet has Sackboy blowing up.

As I type this, there's a looping video ad of vehicles blowing up in World of Tanks (thanks EG).

My question is, why do so many video games revolve around violent mechanics? Are games actually channelling some innate aspect of humanity?

Deep, man *peace sign*

anti-Shinra 13 Apr 2018 13:34:53 159 posts
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It's fun to be violent with zero consequences.

Blurp 13 Apr 2018 13:51:51 1,447 posts
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What do you want? Every game to be a walking simulator?

Edited by Blurp at 13:51:58 13-04-2018

Blurp 13 Apr 2018 13:53:06 1,447 posts
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Why are films violent? Why can't they all be period dramas?

JamboWayOh 13 Apr 2018 13:58:22 25,236 posts
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I would love a third person cover shooter adaptation of Remains of the Day starring Anthony Hopkins.

Deleted user 13 April 2018 14:02:46

@Zidargh no shit sherlock... welcome to the last 3,000+ years.

Zidargh 13 Apr 2018 14:10:28 2,048 posts
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@Blurp Nah, not at all. In fact I haven't asked for anything.

But to your point, it's interesting how lots of "walking simulators" have received critical acclaim lately. I haven't played it but I get the impression Firewatch is relatively non-violent?

Rogueywon 13 Apr 2018 14:28:31 12,387 posts
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JamboWayOh wrote:
I would love a third person cover shooter adaptation of Remains of the Day starring Anthony Hopkins.

Absolutely. Provided the game version gives him a rocket launcher and has him shooting demons in the face. I think it would really get to the heart of the director's intent.

Deleted user 13 April 2018 14:29:23

UFC

Ultimate Flan Championship

You-can-call-me-kal 13 Apr 2018 14:33:17 23,013 posts
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Play and violence are incredibly closely linked. There�s been many a thesis written on how children and young animals hone their fighting skills through play. It�s not a huge leap to see why so many video games revolve around it.

Dirtbox 13 Apr 2018 15:03:57 92,595 posts
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I was about to say, all our senses, instincts and drives are based around competition, dominance and aggression.

You-can-call-me-kal 13 Apr 2018 15:05:42 23,013 posts
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Not all. Some.

Dirtbox 13 Apr 2018 15:10:22 92,595 posts
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And survival.

Not-a-reviewer 13 Apr 2018 15:50:44 7,686 posts
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The standard of writing and gameplay design to do anything else and it not be shit, except for puzzle games, is rare in the games industry. Doesn't help.

Blurp 13 Apr 2018 15:56:26 1,447 posts
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A game has to have a challenge to it, and that means there has to be some sort of conflict between the user and the game. This usually means some sort of enemy that you have to get by or defeat. Mario would be pretty bland and uninteresting if there were no enemies. It's not rocket science.

Deleted user 13 April 2018 16:00:49

Why does a game need challenge? Everybody's gone to the rapture didn't have a challenge really, it was just following a path.

Blurp 13 Apr 2018 16:04:14 1,447 posts
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99% of all games have some sort of challenge to it. From the very difficult Dark Souls, to the lightness of a simple puzzle game like Tetris.

Zidargh 13 Apr 2018 16:24:57 2,048 posts
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@Blurp That challenge does not have to involve violence.

Strategy games and simulators are testament to this.

neilka 13 Apr 2018 16:27:20 24,021 posts
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Allow me to introduce my new GTA clone but it's Made In Chelsea.

Deleted user 13 April 2018 16:38:14

Most strategy games are about amassing resources by stealing them from your opponents so that you can crush your enemies.

HelloNo 13 Apr 2018 16:55:43 2,283 posts
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Violence is an easy challenge to simulate. Conversation and avoidance are harder.

Zidargh 13 Apr 2018 17:05:15 2,048 posts
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@HelloNo So I think that's the point.

Most rebuttals have been "99% of games...", "Most simulators...". It's obvious that there's something innate in the appeal of violence in our video games, but it's also been proven that there are alternative forms of entertainment: Educational, experiential, passive, etc. Many sim games have diplomatic methods.

Conflict is most often always necessary (especially in plot), but it most definitely doesn't have to be violent.

anti-Shinra 13 Apr 2018 17:55:45 159 posts
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Why is no one admitting that violence is also fun, don't pretend you're better than that.

Imagine God of War without that oh so satisfying combat!

Deleted user 13 April 2018 18:03:49

I greatly oppose violence and I think games send the wrong signals.

Then again, all I want is to shoot people's heads off with a shotgun.

Rogueywon 13 Apr 2018 18:38:41 12,387 posts
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@anti-Shinra Oh, I absolutely love violence in games and almost all of the games I play are violent in one way or another. I just thought through the games I've put serious time into in recent months and only Forza 7 isn't violent.

Games are great for letting you act out the things you'd never do in real life. Violence is high on that list.

BigOrkWaaagh 13 Apr 2018 18:55:54 10,554 posts
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anti-Shinra wrote:
Why is no one admitting that violence is also fun, don't pretend you're better than that.

Imagine God of War without that oh so satisfying combat!

Presumably the new GoW will involve Kratos instilling into his son the value of a nice cup of tea and a sit down with Odin so that they might air their differences without resorting to violence.

Psiloc 13 Apr 2018 19:33:43 6,366 posts
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I think it�s just the most universal concept to apply to the kinetic, exhilarating cause and effect loop that games are based on. Certainly if you include cartoon violence like Mario and Sonic. If you take the danger/threat out of those games, you still have a game, it�s just less exciting.

I don�t really see how you can have any sort of threat in a game without there being some real or implied violence, cartoon or otherwise. I�m sure it�s been done before but it�s definitely harder to conceptualise, which is probably the answer to your question.

Load_2.0 13 Apr 2018 20:46:43 33,582 posts
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Conflict is at the heart of most films literature etc.
It drives narrative in a story and violent conflict ties into the interactive nature of games.

The graphic limitations of early games meant smashing and shooting pixels was a core mechanic. Maybe there is a evolution there which modern games are built on.