Spector: Violence Doesn’t Have to End. E3 Just "Crossed a Line of Bad Taste"

32
Richard Walker

Violence in video games is a bit of a hot potato and has been for some time, and following E3 back in June, Epic Mickey 2's Creative Director Warren Spector supposedly gave his two cents on the games of the show, reportedly saying "the ultraviolence must end". Except according to Spector, he never actually said that at all.

“To be clear, I didn't say and I've never said and I don't believe that the violence must end. I could care less about violent video games," Spector told X360A during Gamescom. "I've made them, I don't believe in the media effects argument. I don't believe that violent video games cause anything in anyone really."

Spector does believe that the majority of this year's line-up simply crossed a line as far as taste is concerned. "I do think we crossed a line of bad taste at E3," he lamented. "We started celebrating things and rewarding people for things that are frankly adolescent. It's ironic to me that in video games we define as mature the things that are the most adolescent. I still believe that the most mature game at E3 was Epic Mickey 2."

Continuing, Spector reflected on what was lauded and held up at E3. "What we celebrated was the slow-motion knife to the throat and the teenage girl sucking a lollipop and wielding a chainsaw. And it just confirms everything that our critics wrongly believe about our medium."

Does that mean that Spector is done with violent video games then? "I will probably make a violent video game again at some point in my career. It's not the violence must end. It's let's have some taste and let's not say that's all we are," he concluded.

Comments
32
  • If epic mickey was the most mature game, what was the least mature game?
  • well from what he says, he's clearly talking about Lollipop Chainsaw
  • Love what he said about Lollipop Chainsaw look
  • I kinda wish there was an 100% Disney RPG game.
  • Without violence, stories like Halo and Mass Effect wouldn't be around. These are arguably 2 of the best universes around in terms of story content about loss, despair and hope. Violence used in the right way is a powerful tool in creating emotions.
  • What format is epix mickey one on?. Why have i never heard of it?
  • @6 wii
  • @6 oh dear. Clearly some of the above posters havent read his comments properly. He isn't against violent games, people. His (very valid) point is when the majority of new releases that take the headlines are rather adolescent in tone, gaming will not be taken seriously by non gamers and will therefore not mature as a medium. Don't get me wrong, I'm a gears of war player and thoroughly enjoy shooting people in the head online. However, Spector is right in making the comments he made. How to solve this problem? With publishers less likely to take risks and insisting devs make MP part of a game even when it doesn't warrant it (see the earlier story about spec ops: the line), god only knows. Although I feel this this is one time when self publishing and games being purchased by download only, makes for a solid argument.
  • Violence is inherent in games these days. It's sort of a "can't live with it, can't live without it" situation. Sure, violence is sometimes necessary in gaming, but I suppose I do agree with the taste thing. On the other hand, I don't really agree with his slam on Lollipop Chainsaw. Now, I may be a bit biased, considering I thought that game was fantastic, but I don't think it really deserves to be bashed because of its main character. Suda51 was fully aware of the risqué characters and plot, and the game is fully aware of itself and makes fun of itself, in a way. It is an over exaggeration of the common stereotypes in video games all rolled into one, and parodies it. That's why I'm defending Lollipop Chainsaw. So, I guess, I mostly disagree, except for the whole thing about games that are violent just to be violent.
  • "I still believe that the most mature game at E3 was Epic Mickey 2." BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! This guy is an absolute tosser. Epic Mickey 1 might have been mature if they stuck with the original concept instead of changing it. As for Epic Mickey 2, you know what game at E3 looks way more mature than that? ...Fuck, I forget what it's called, but it's Quantic Dream's newest game. "What we celebrated was the slow-motion knife to the throat and the teenage girl sucking a lollipop and wielding a chainsaw." I'd be offended by his completely inaccurate slamming of Lollipop Chainsaw (which is far better than any game Spector has made and will ever make), but this is the same retard who claimed that everyone was playing Epic Mickey wrong and that there has never been a game with a good camera when they complained about EM's terrible camera. The simple fact of the matter is that Warren Spector is a fucking idiot who's so out of touch with the gaming industry. He should be taken even LESS seriously than Peter Molyneux. After all, at least Peter Molyneux has the decency to admit that he's usually full of shit (http://www.xbox360achievements.org/news/news-7832-Molyneux-Made-Up-Game-Features--To-Stop-Journalists-Going-To-Sleep-.html). But Warren Spector? Nope. Guy's a flat-out piece of shit.
  • @8: Can I have some of that paint thinner your huffing? I want to see what the magical world where Warren Spector isn't talking out of his ass is like.
  • lol @ his comments on lollipop chainsaw. But hey, that's his opinion, not the entire gaming community. Also... "And it just confirms everything that our critics wrongly believe about our medium." Does not confirm anything, gamers just like to have fun on games we believe will be fun, or are fun. Without giving two shits of what anyone thinks. His comments crossed a line of bad taste.
  • @12 what he was referring to by critics is people outside the gaming industry and gamers looking into what we are celebrating and seeing something like lollipop chainsaw and saying yea thats the average game,
  • @11 My comments were based entirely on the statement relating this story and this story alone. On that basis I stand by my comments and fully support his. Irrespective of what he may or may not have said in the past.
  • Lollipop Chainsaw was funny and fun. Warren Spector should retire.
  • @10, "(which is far better than any game Spector has made and will ever make)" that particular game would be called System Shock, you dumb fanboy.
  • I would just like to add that some games need violence to make them worth playing. I don't like sports and therefore sports games but give the players weapons and colour me interested. Although if they had superpowers and bounded round the court/pitch and I would be interested too. Games need a hook to drag people in. Ultra-violence is one of the easiest, comedy in games being one of the hardest.
  • first off that guy does not know wtf hes talking about, games are ment to be a joke and all around fun to = good times. and honestly your gunna say Epic Mickey was the most mature? give me a fucking capri sun and shit me in with the 5 year old kids who love mickey mouse and then try to sppon feed my the bull shit that Mickey is " Mature " i can see where he says taste to where some games lack creative story but honestly that just cause companies see most money lies with online games I.E. Activision with CoD, look at how fast activision dropped all other productions ( Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, Prototype ) just to soley focus on making CoD the biggest CASH COW IN GAMING HISTORY, look at every CoD release week " Headline News, new CoD sells 26 million units in first 48 hours " and that number continueally rises each fucking year. how many copy's of Epic Mickey sold since its realse on wii? do tell cuz i bet it dosent even scratch the amount of money that violent games such as CoD/GoW/BF franchises make in 3 days of release. other thing there are plenty of mature games out there look at a recent release The Witcher 2:Assassin's of King's, that game is full of full nudity,blood,gore,swearing. but it has an extremely mature storyline and is an epic fucking game, id like to see someone call that game " Not Mature " heres another factor with violence being needed in video games, it all depends on the video game I.E. MORTAL KOMBAT - i think MK vs. DCU was one of the most terrible fucking ideas that company had, why would you not go for " Mortal Kombat vs. Marvel Heros " that game would be 1 of the sickest fighting games, why? cuz marvel doesnt chince out when it comes to violence there for it fits in with MK.
  • Personally I don't give a flying shit what people outside the gaming industry think. Why should non-gamers have any opinion about something they don't care about. Reminds me of politicians getting involved in the downright shameful censorship during the scandalous DPP scare back in the early 80s.
  • @17 ya a game needs to atract people to it but in a way. Honestly i think that chainsaw game is the most fuckin retarded perverted game ever. Look at doa not just one game, all of them. The series has always had chicks with barley anything on and there tits bouncin to there face. They even went as far as doa and doax2. Then theres tons of games that have massive amounts of shyt like that. Now look at what the new doa is gunna be like since there toning down the tit action. Half the people that had bought the other ones r gunna dissapear. I ant gunna lie i had doax2 when o had the maturaty of a 5 year old. Seems like now and days a huge set of tits and a crazy ass chainsaw will to some people make a good game. And thers one game i can think of that has tits in it for no reason. Dmc4. Ehen trisha is fakin to be that white haired chick from the order. Why did they need the scene of her with her legs open doin a spliy and did the camera have to follow the blade through. The game was good to begin with so even if that wasnt here it would still be a good game. And no im not gay im married with 2 kids so befor i get that comment. The point im makin is ya games need a hook to get people but doesnt it always have to be t and a .
  • I would be genuinely interested to know the age of the people posting negative things about Warren Spector in the comments. I'd also hazard a guess that most of them have never played Deus Ex or System Shock. I think a little respect for everything he's given to videogames (moral choice systems, branching non-linear story-lines) is needed. Unfortunately, I think his point about videogames supposedly maturing yet still being aimed at adolescent boys is a bit off the mark. I'd say the majority of 'mature' videogame players (myself included) are probably still stuck at a certain stage of adolescence no matter how old there are. Companies keep making adolescent video games because adolescents still make up the bulk of the audience and that's what they want.
  • I actually kind of agree with him. Unfortunately it seems most of the commentors here have no understanding of the word "Mature" actually means. Especially #10 and #18. Just because a game is violent and gets an "M for Mature" rating does not mean its actually a "Mature" game. I repeat Violence not not equal Mature, but most people and Mature enough to understand that. How ironic. And if you think Epic Mickey is not a Mature game simply because it has Mickey Mouse? Well that just further confirms my above statement. Epic Mickey is definitely more mature than most games shown at E3. More than anything else The gaming community itself needs to Mature before Video Games can Mature.
  • Son of a Mother!! Typo. *** most people aren't mature enough to understand***
  • Ok so if games r getting more mature and the rating system the same. Then why is it when u play gears of war or mw3 or any mature game that has omp u have lil snpt nosed kids swearin at u and shyt. Its not just the maturity its also whos buyin the games. Mature content is for adults not lil kids . So if thats the case r the games being made for us or addalesint pricks who got them the game cause mommy and daddy got them it. If thas the case why have ratings
  • Speaking of Lollipop Chainsaw, i've heard it is Grasshopper's best selling game :) Besides, what makes violence? Yeah, i'd call MK pretty violent, but i don't consider a game like say, Metal Gear violent. For me it's not violence as soon as people fight or shoot guns at eachother (thats action), but the amount of gore you see.
  • Shyt to me voilent isnt until u beat sumone ass to death with there arm . Or beat a hooker with a 4 ft pink dildo. Lmao its violent but fu kin awesome. Everyone has there own personal take on violence
  • @20 then you clearly dont understand video games, what are video games ment to be? " Entertainment " they are a joke, something that amuses us and to escape from reality, and games dont need violence,blood,gore. to be mature, the M rating dont mean shit other then its suggested for an adult audience because I.E. give an older person like myself a copy of GoW, what will happen? ill play it be like " meh its ok but not for me " thats end of it. give it to a 10-15yr old kid whos parents buy em the game to shut them the fuck up and then what happens? parents wondering why there kids have a foul mouth and are calling them bitch and to fuck off. but all in all there are plenty of games in the world who no violence, no blood, not even swearing that are considered "Mature" just based on charecters and the story alone. a game i would consider both mature and immature would be the sims, cause you are replacating life and are basicly god, you control how mature or immature the game is lol
  • @20 Jokes on you (pun intended) I gave him a thumbs up :)
  • @25 Youre an idiot
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