Bad Taste Games

[robbway]

The JFK Assassination game really created a stir a few years back. I have to confess not ever playing it. However, its undeniable that some controversial games are made in simple bad taste. I think the "Super Columbine..." game was probably in bad taste, but again, I didn't play it. Both were outside the ESRB rating system and actually very small projects.

I really think the programmers knew they were in bad taste, whether they were good or not. When the Columbine game was removed from the best Mod nomination, I fully support that decision (even though I have no say in the matter). Yes, it's a shame they were pressured into removing it, but aren't awards, in theory, about excellence?

Lacking common good taste is part-and-parcel of excellence. It makes sense to filter your choices like this. Plus, self-censorship is not unconstitutional, it's a choice.

Speaking of choice, did I run around trying to impart my will on people wishing to play these games? No. If someone asked, I just said I vote with my mouse and choose not to play it. Ironically, if the government banned it, I'd be even more intrigued as to WHY it was in bad taste.


This thread should be used to discuss any games that are in bad taste, and all those varied opinions (like mine) in relation to them.

[Hannah]

The JFK Assassination game really created a stir a few years back. I have to confess not ever playing it. However, its undeniable that some controversial games are made in simple bad taste. I think the "Super Columbine..." game was probably in bad taste, but again, I didn't play it. Both were outside the ESRB rating system and actually very small projects.

I really think the programmers knew they were in bad taste, whether they were good or not. When the Columbine game was removed from the best Mod nomination, I fully support that decision (even though I have no say in the matter). Yes, it's a shame they were pressured into removing it, but aren't awards, in theory, about excellence?

Lacking common good taste is part-and-parcel of excellence. It makes sense to filter your choices like this. Plus, self-censorship is not unconstitutional, it's a choice.

Speaking of choice, did I run around trying to impart my will on people wishing to play these games? No. If someone asked, I just said I vote with my mouse and choose not to play it. Ironically, if the government banned it, I'd be even more intrigued as to WHY it was in bad taste.


This thread should be used to discuss any games that are in bad taste, and all those varied opinions (like mine) in relation to them.

The Super Columbine game was actually surprisingly good, despite the crude graphics and unusual name. I only played a little bit of it, but I was quite impressed. It actually made me think.

As for other such games, I don't have a problem with them being made. If I don't like them, I won't play them, but I won't advocate any sort of censorship. I mean, I'm not exactly a huge fan of white power games or whatever, but they have just as much of a right to present their world view as I do.

You also have to consider that many novels that are now considered great literature were once considered in bad taste. Many are still controversial for various reasons. (See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_commonly_challenged_books_in_the_U.S. )

[FrogFrogFrog]

World War II destroyed the lives of a lot of people, and pretty much sucked in every way possible- but we still have games/movies/what have you based off that. In 40 years, will Super Columbine Massacre RPG still be considered "bad taste"?

Just a weird thought. Actually, the thought of SCMRPG makes me a little uncomfortable too, but I haven't played the game. If it was intended to mock the people who died, or their families, I'd probably find it offensive.

Then again, I find ranch dressing on pizza offensive, too.

Censorship for the lose. If people want to make offensive/racist games or put ranch dressing on their pizza, that's their choice. I'm not being forced to take part in it.

[kilaMOMjaro]

I would say that WWII is far from Columbine in that it was the world fighting for freedom, where Columbine was one premiditated act by some disturbed kids. But others would say killing is killing.

I found it in bad taste that in Grand Theft Auto to regain your health you have your guy get in a car with a hooker...while the health goes up, the money goes down. Thats the one game (and its spawn) that I haven't allowed in my house. Now, a lot of the guy gamers I know think its pretty funny.

Bad taste = subjective...but I am interested to see what does/doesnt offend here.

[kurisu7885]

I would say that WWII is far from Columbine in that it was the world fighting for freedom, where Columbine was one premiditated act by some disturbed kids. But others would say killing is killing.

I found it in bad taste that in Grand Theft Auto to regain your health you have your guy get in a car with a hooker...while the health goes up, the money goes down. Thats the one game (and its spawn) that I haven't allowed in my house. Now, a lot of the guy gamers I know think its pretty funny.

Bad taste = subjective...but I am interested to see what does/doesnt offend here.

I own the GTA game,s have played all of them, and while some guys may giggle at the hooker stuff, I don't find it amusing really. I prefer to just take CJ to a vending machine instead of get him laid. Feeding him to regain health makes more sense to me. I get on my friend's cases about giggling at it all the time.

[georox]

I can't say any game has really offended me, but my thing is if I think it will offend me or I won't like it, I don't play it.

Also I'm surprised noone has brought up more mainstream games, like Postal 2 or Bad Day LA with the stuff in them. BDL I can't say as much about as I haven't played much of it, but Postal 2 was just full of things people could find offensive. I won't start listing things but Wikipedia is your friend I'm sure. I'm against censorship myself, I feel as long as I'm not being forced into playing/seeing/interacting with said game/movie/TV Show, I'm fine. If its being shoved in my face I would be angry, especially if it was literally being shoved in said face, I may have to punch whomever is doing it, but as long as I can stay away, meh, do what you want.

On the note of ranch on pizza, that offends me. So does the smell of cabbage.

[stringsamurai]

'I would say that WWII is far from Columbine in that it was the world fighting for freedom, where Columbine was one premiditated act by some disturbed kids. But others would say killing is killing.'

Hiroshima and the bombing of Dresden had nothing to do with freedom, you guys need to read a little more about the issues you talk about so that you may come to a non biased point of view! Remember the History you learned at school and the history on the news is always going to be biased. I would say that games where violence is directed at innocent characters i.e Columbine or political enemies i,e Germans, Russians or the broad term 'terrorists' is problematic especially where games take on the language and terms of governments. check this out http://youtube.com/watch?v=J_J93MjcmpE
i think we all need to be very careful to make sure that we do not believe propaganda produced by any organization or individual.

[stringsamurai]

I would also recomend that we come to a full understanding about what the word taste means in this sense.

[kurisu7885]

Another example I can think of is V tech rampage, made worse that the little tard who made it demanded money in order to take it down, ignoring that Newgrounds could easily take it down and ban his ass, or at least it could have been blammed.

[IonD.]

I own the GTA game,s have played all of them, and while some guys may giggle at the hooker stuff, I don't find it amusing really. I prefer to just take CJ to a vending machine instead of get him laid. Feeding him to regain health makes more sense to me. I get on my friend's cases about giggling at it all the time.
I think you're touching upon a very interresting piece of the puzzle here.

Games like the Columbine game and the V tech game, are obviously out to shock. These games will never have a large audience, they'll appeal to a select few and disgust most others. That certainly seems to be part of the allure for titles such as Postal and Manhunt too, though their core gameplay remains exclusively violent as far as I've been given to assume.

Games such as GTA, however, are not inherently shocking or in bad taste, but they can certainly be played in a way which may shock people, just as they can be played in ways which do not make them any more violent than your average other action-/driving game. Then again, it seems to be a very American thing to be shocked by any hint of sex, even such as with the prostitutes where you don't see anything. I think it is in far worse taste how one of your girlfriends in San Andreas asks you to take her out driving so she can perform random drive-bys. (And yes, I do know the entire series is a satire over America rather than trying to mimic it in earnest.)

For really bad taste games, I think titles such as Battle Raper are far worse.

[Tom]

You can't compare SCMRPG and V Tech rampage. The former was well-researched, carefully considered and intellectual whereas the latter existed merely to shock and garner attention.

I like games that are in "bad taste" because they evoke a response. Whether they piss me off, make me think or ask me to consider something from a new perspective there's always something to find.

The thing that bothers me is when people get lazy and produce something that's in "bad taste" and shocking people as a shortcut to social commentary rather then actually doing the legwork and crafting smart, well-constructed content that offers a real commentary and an intelligent perspective without cheap tricks. Taxi Driver versus Natural Born Killers - both good movies, both shocking and both making commentary on society, but which is the classic and which is the footnote?

[POLE]

'I would say that WWII is far from Columbine in that it was the world fighting for freedom, where Columbine was one premiditated act by some disturbed kids. But others would say killing is killing.'

Hiroshima and the bombing of Dresden had nothing to do with freedom, you guys need to read a little more about the issues you talk about so that you may come to a non biased point of view! Remember the History you learned at school and the history on the news is always going to be biased. I would say that games where violence is directed at innocent characters i.e Columbine or political enemies i,e Germans, Russians or the broad term 'terrorists' is problematic especially where games take on the language and terms of governments. check this out http://youtube.com/watch?v=J_J93MjcmpE
i think we all need to be very careful to make sure that we do not believe propaganda produced by any organization or individual.

History was compiled by mens and since all have different points of view, history will be biased (even though there are more neutral than at the beginning of the 20th century).

I never played SCMRPG or V-Tech. SCMRPG seems interesting from a philosophical point of view (I even read Mein Kampf for a WWII project in high school, which I found quite interesting (even though it didn't contained more facts than a child's fairytale book)). But this is the kind of games (like Bully) that are often judged by their covers.

I didn't encountered a lot of games I could call "in bad taste". I saw Postal 2 on a friend's laptop and I was kinda disgusted (my friend was kinda sadistic, he often (in-game) sets random peoples on fire and piss on them). I never really liked the GTA series (even though I never knew why).

[kurisu7885]

I think you're touching upon a very interresting piece of the puzzle here.

Games like the Columbine game and the V tech game, are obviously out to shock. These games will never have a large audience, they'll appeal to a select few and disgust most others. That certainly seems to be part of the allure for titles such as Postal and Manhunt too, though their core gameplay remains exclusively violent as far as I've been given to assume.

Games such as GTA, however, are not inherently shocking or in bad taste, but they can certainly be played in a way which may shock people, just as they can be played in ways which do not make them any more violent than your average other action-/driving game. Then again, it seems to be a very American thing to be shocked by any hint of sex, even such as with the prostitutes where you don't see anything. I think it is in far worse taste how one of your girlfriends in San Andreas asks you to take her out driving so she can perform random drive-bys. (And yes, I do know the entire series is a satire over America rather than trying to mimic it in earnest.)

For really bad taste games, I think titles such as Battle Raper are far worse.

An example of what you said with GTA, well, one can be that video that was shown to those congrassmen at that one webcasted panel. I'm pretty sure that footage was carefully chosen, as they only saw the absolute worst. An airliner being crashed into a scyscraper, killing innocent people, shooting police, CJ swearing up a storm, running people over. The trucking missions, ambulance driving, raving, the police missions became all nonexistent and it was shown as how JT would have wanted it to be seen.

As for Postal, hell, I find the game as a release for frustration, but if a video was shown of that, the fact that you can go through that whole game without firing a single shot[The even more poorly done apocalypse weekend expansion doesn't count, as it was even worse] would have vanished and it would have turned into getting points for the biggest body count.