Have you ever been genuinely offended by a game?

I picked up Saints Row 2 on the way out of Hastings today when I was picking up a Philosophy textbook. It was $9.99, so what's the worst that can happen? I loved GTA4 immensely, and some of the people who disliked it said that Saints Row was less serious and just "fun."

My first impression was that this seemed like a last gen game. The city is flat, dull, and lifeless. I can outfit my male character with breasts. The cars handle wonky and the physics are all over the place. .I woke up in a hospital and, for no reason at all, killed somewhere around 100 cops on my way to escape. My next mission had me go in to a court house and slaughter 100 more cops, a few civilians, even a shotgun wielding judge. I was scratching my head, wondering when this "fun" would happen, and continued to give it a chance. I was then told I need more "respect" (from whom, I have no idea) to try the next mission. I was tasked with finding the nearest "activity" (from what I've heard, these were the most "fun"), so I proceeded down the street. The activity was titled, "Septic Revenge." Ooookay... My job, you ask? A horrible voiced and animated character whom I've never met wanted to ride around the city and spray, you guessed it, human waste all over the local populace. I had to spray cops, cars, shops, people eating, buildings, everything. My meaningless, nameless teammate driving me around was cracking jokes about the human waste and the people we were running over the whole time. He, and more importantly, the game, thought this whole situation was hilarious.

I'm not easily offended. In fact I've never been offended at a game. But the entire set up of this game was lacking taste to a degree that I've turned the game off and have shelved it, probably forever. Killing cops and spraying poo everywhere is what constitutes as fun these days? Sorry Saints Row fans, I'll stick to GTA, where the chracters and story have depth, and my actions, however questionable at times, have reason and meaning.

Well, have you ever been offended by a game? Do you disagree with me entirely? Post away!

Lol! Yeah when you put it like that it does sound kinda offensive, i do still like the game though. I don't think iv been genuinely offended by any game before, i will have to have a think about that one.

Killing cops and spraying poo everywhere is what constitutes as fun these days?

KSU-Wildcat

But seriously, no, I've never been offended by a game. Saints Row makes more sense if you play the first one.

I've gotta say, that sounds pretty ridiculous.

I haven't really been outright offended by a game, but Manhunt disturbed me to the point where I no longer wanted to play it. The deadly serious treatment of the deaths and subject matter was a bit too much for me. It all left me feeling soiled, like the feeling after watching a French extreme horror flick.

[QUOTE="KSU-Wildcat"]Killing cops and spraying poo everywhere is what constitutes as fun these days?

6_Dead_360s

But seriously, no, I've never been offended by a game. Saints Row makes more sense if you play the first one.

I knewthere had to be a deeper meaning to the level, "Septic Revenge." :P. Haha. I don't know, maybe I didn't give it a fair shot, but what I spent the first half hour of the game doing was enough to make me take a step back and ask myself what the hell I was doing with my time!

[QUOTE="KSU-Wildcat"]Killing cops and spraying poo everywhere is what constitutes as fun these days?

6_Dead_360s

But seriously, no, I've never been offended by a game. Saints Row makes more sense if you play the first one.

Haha, it wasn't until after I had posted when I realized that sentence was pretty funny!

Not really offended, but there is one game. It was some weird game about a guy with a some spirit that possessed his shadow for some reason. The game was walking around environments and using the shadow's power to change shape to pinch big girls with enormous breasts. They were bigger than the females, themselves. Returned it the same day.BranKetra

[QUOTE="BranKetra"]Not really offended, but there is one game. It was some weird game about a guy with a some spirit that possessed his shadow for some reason. The game was walking around environments and using the shadow's power to change shape to pinch big girls with enormous breasts. They were bigger than the females, themselves. Returned it the same day.KSU-Wildcat

i don't think I've ever been offended by anything in a game. Then again, I don't play games like Saints Row or GTA, I find those games to be stupid wastes of time. I don't really find killing cops and spraying crap on people amusing, it's just juvenile. I've tried GTA San Andreas, but I couldn't stay interested after the first twenty minutes.

I find it ironic how you write "Killing cops and spraying poo everywhere is what constitutes as fun these days?", and then write that you'll rather stick to Grand Theft Auto.

Nope, can't say i have yet....but, i gotta agree with you on Saints Row 2. I too was left scratching my head at how people found the game to be 'fun' and 'better than GTA.'

Ah, yes. Stretch Panic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stretch_Panic

[QUOTE="KSU-Wildcat"][QUOTE="BranKetra"]Not really offended, but there is one game. It was some weird game about a guy with a some spirit that possessed his shadow for some reason. The game was walking around environments and using the shadow's power to change shape to pinch big girls with enormous breasts. They were bigger than the females, themselves. Returned it the same day.BranKetra

I believe you are talking about Okage: Shadow King.

Anyways, I've never really been offended by a game so to speak, but the closest thing that comes to mind was Army Of Two. Probably just because of the lack of intelligence that came from the main characters.

I find it ironic how you write "Killing cops and spraying poo everywhere is what constitutes as fun these days?", and then write that you'll rather stick to Grand Theft Auto.

Treflis

One would have to be naive to consider the cop killings in the games similar in anything other than name. It just isn't handled the same.

Nope. I take games with a grain of salt unless the game is meant to be taken seriously. That type of stuff doesn't offend me at all. It's just fun.

I've never been offended full stop, and the thought of being offended by a game just seems silly to me.

Sounds like you're too sensitive.

Ah, yes. Stretch Panic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stretch_Panic

JonathanL

Sorry to say this TC but the game that offended me wasGrand Theft Auto 4 because of how much it sucks so much. Saints Row 2 was awesome and everything about the game was fun.

I find it ironic how you write "Killing cops and spraying poo everywhere is what constitutes as fun these days?", and then write that you'll rather stick to Grand Theft Auto.

Treflis

In GTA you kill cops, not spray them with "poo."

Sounds like you're too sensitive.

heytheredarlin

Never played Saints Row 2, but after reading your description of the game, my first thoughts are how bad a game like this is for the legitmazing of an already controversial industry.

I find it ironic how you write "Killing cops and spraying poo everywhere is what constitutes as fun these days?", and then write that you'll rather stick to Grand Theft Auto.

Treflis

I think his main point is that there is a narrative present in GTA.

The Insurance Fraud and Drug Trafficking activities in SR2 are hilarious !

I was offended by how bad Big Rigs was.

I was offended by how bad Big Rigs was.

Silverbond

I think everyone was. :P

As far as being offended, so far so good. I've never been offended by a video game.

[QUOTE="heytheredarlin"]

Sounds like you're too sensitive.

Uncle_Tbag

Being a game has nothing to do with it. The fact that he's offended by the content he described is what makes him sensitive.

Nope, not really

I was offended by how bad Big Rigs was.

Silverbond

Oh, Alex Navarro, how we will miss you. :(

Never offended, but i've been taken-a-back by Postal 2 and MW2 airport level

"Thor" and "Bulletwitch" offended me...what a pile of **** they are.

That's the problem, they don't want to make a copy of GTA. Saints Row managed to make a name for itself with its over the top things in it. I for one really liked it, gameplay wise and story wise. Had more fun than GTA4 simply because the characters were way better and the plot was more fun, less depth. (which was too bad) Not sure how it offended you since in GTA you shoot cops and pedestrians too. The cop cars even have the words PIG on them. I can understand why you didn't like it but it's a matter of taste.

[QUOTE="Silverbond"]

I was offended by how bad Big Rigs was.

Amnesiac23

I think everyone was. :P

As far as being offended, so far so good. I've never been offended by a video game.

On the other hand thanks to that game one of the best GS reviews emerged. AlexN nail'd it.

Hmm it seems to me that you were actually actively looking for something negative about the game. I mean, your whole post is full of negativity towards a 10(!) dollar game. If you're not willing to give it a chance in the first place then why even play the game?

But no, I've never really been offended by games. Always thought the game Postal would insult me one way or another, but never cared to try it haha.

Sorry to say this TC but the game that offended me wasGrand Theft Auto 4 because of how much it sucks so much. Saints Row 2 was awesome and everything about the game was fun.

Warhawk_

If you get offended by a game then you really shouldn't be playing games in the first place nuff said. Games always do crazy sporadic things because they always have. Its the one place people can do crazy things and get away with it.

If you get offended by a game then you really shouldn't be playing games in the first place nuff said. Games always do crazy sporadic things because they always have. Its the one place people can do crazy things and get away with it.

seanmcloughlin

[QUOTE="seanmcloughlin"]

If you get offended by a game then you really shouldn't be playing games in the first place nuff said. Games always do crazy sporadic things because they always have. Its the one place people can do crazy things and get away with it.

Geosisnl

Well yes I guess Manhunt and GTA are a bit overboard. But still, they are just videogames. Does this guy get as offended at movies that portray almost identical material? We live in very desensitised times.

i doubt any of us had any normal emotional development (all of our parents were too busy to love and nurture us as our body/minds demand, biologically) so it's hard for us to react to violence or rape or whatever in games because we don't actually care in real lifejiggidyjiggidy

Thank you for that link because that was awesome and completely blew my mind. That guy is a genius, it explains a lot about myself and my family for that matter

[QUOTE="Geosisnl"][QUOTE="seanmcloughlin"]

If you get offended by a game then you really shouldn't be playing games in the first place nuff said. Games always do crazy sporadic things because they always have. Its the one place people can do crazy things and get away with it.

seanmcloughlin

Well yes I guess Manhunt and GTA are a bit overboard. But still, they are just videogames. Does this guy get as offended at movies that portray almost identical material? We live in very desensitised times.

Not at all. I should have clarified what I meant by offended. Cop killings in other games (GTA) are handled differently, yes, but what offended me most was the pure lack of taste the game has. I was doing things that had me taking a step back and looking at myself, all while the game was cracking nonstop jokes and apparently having a hell of a time with itself. Maybe I'm too old??

If you get offended by a game then you really shouldn't be playing games in the first place nuff said. Games always do crazy sporadic things because they always have. Its the one place people can do crazy things and get away with it.

seanmcloughlin

That argument makes no sense. Excluding pure sociopaths, everyone is offended by something.

Also, it sounds like the TC was bothered not by Saint's Row's content, but by its random idiocy (which it confuses with humor).

nope, but then again i'm not playing saints row or other peices of crap.

[QUOTE="seanmcloughlin"]

If you get offended by a game then you really shouldn't be playing games in the first place nuff said. Games always do crazy sporadic things because they always have. Its the one place people can do crazy things and get away with it.

CarnageHeart

That argument makes no sense. Excluding pure sociopaths, everyone is offended by something.

Also, it sounds like the TC was bothered not by Saint's Row's content, but by its random idiocy (which it confuses with humor).

Saint's row has never claimed it was a serious game or that it was a non violent game. It is well known for its lunacy and its bad humour. Especially in the context of violence. I don't see how you can get offended by a game thats notorious for said offences. Its like buying manhunt and then saying you got offended because it was too violent.

[QUOTE="CarnageHeart"]

[QUOTE="seanmcloughlin"]

If you get offended by a game then you really shouldn't be playing games in the first place nuff said. Games always do crazy sporadic things because they always have. Its the one place people can do crazy things and get away with it.

seanmcloughlin

That argument makes no sense. Excluding pure sociopaths, everyone is offended by something.

Also, it sounds like the TC was bothered not by Saint's Row's content, but by its random idiocy (which it confuses with humor).

Saint's row has never claimed it was a serious game or that it was a non violent game. It is well known for its lunacy and its bad humour. Especially in the context of violence. I don't see how you can get offended by a game thats notorious for said offences. Its like buying manhunt and then saying you got offended because it was too violent.

READ the OP. I wasn't offended by the violence. In said OP I go on to say I love GTA. The combination of so many tasteless acts being presented in what was supposed to be a funny way is what turned me off.