Mature Content

by Andy Kraft 

I've read the editorials at RPGamer and have had my own thoughts on this subject myself, and I'm all for "mature content" in video games.

In all other forms of media around today, everyone, including young people, are exposed to bad language, violence, and sex: on the radio, on TV, in the newspaper, and in magazines. Why should we, then, limit video games to "rated PG"? Why do many people think that video games should be just for kids? In movies, "mature content" adds realism to the film. In real life, if a person drops something heavy on their foot, do you think he'd say "Oh phooey! I have severely broken the bones of my foot!", or would he let loose a stread of explitives that would make a sailor blush? If you chose the first one, please go outside and drop a few good-sized rocks on your foot. No one old enough to tell the difference would go to a movie with that kind of script, or at least not see it twice. Why should this sort of thing be excluded from video games? I've grown up from Atari to Playstation, and video games that use "kindergarten cussing" just don't seem as real to me.

As for sex in video games, I don't think it really has that big of a place in video games, unless the game is sold on the other side of the "under 18 not admitted" store. But if it has a relevant part in the plot of a video game, why gloss it over? As I said before, those of us who have grown up with video games aren't kids anymore, and video games aren't just for kids anymore. Let the little ones have Super Mario Bros. or games starring cute little forest-dwelling creatures. Give the big guys Resident Evil.

Violence is the basic element of any video game. Mario sees a goomba, he jumps on it, it dies, the end. Sure, he could have talked things over with the mushroom guy and resolved their differences peacefully, but that's boring. Video games where diplomacy is one of the major themes wouldn't sell very well. I've heard lots of debates about violence in the media influencing and causing violence in real life. Maybe so, maybe not. The violent ideas in the media, such as movies or books, must have come from somewhere before those forms of media were around. Media violence causes violence in real life, which gives ideas for media violence, which causes violence in real life, world without end, amen. That's life. There was violence long before movies, video games, and even books. Where did that come from? Personally, I think violence in video games helps people burn off steam. Blasting away make believe monsters or fictional characters controlled by your family memebers or friends in a fictional environment is preferable to doing it in real life, isn't it?

When it all comes down to it, the main thing here is plot. A movie with a bad plot doesn't sell, nor does a book with a bad plot, and especially not an RPG with a bad plot. Final Fantasy 7 was the first RPG that I saw that had cussing in it. This made it more believable. There wasn't much sexual matter, but then, not much was needed. As for violence, just TRY to make an RPG without the battle scenes involving you versus any number of monsters intent on eating you.

Although I am saying that video games aren't just for kids, I don't think they're just for adults, either. Make games for young players, but give us older people some games we can enjoy too. If you don't like the content, don't play them. The term "mature content" doesn't really mean that the content in itself is mature. Most people consider violence and bad language very immature. It simply means that it should be handled by mature minds that can understand the difference between what happens in a game and what happens in reality. I stopped watching Sesame Street long ago and gradually moved on to more serious programming as I got more mature and could handle "R-rated" material maturely. I stopped reading Mercer Meyer and grew into Stephen King. Why should the growth of games be stunted to satisfy only young gamers? Don't get me wrong, the content doesn't necessarily determine how fun a game is. The Super Mario games are great without "mature content" because such content would not fit into the cartoon-ish scenery of the game. But for games with a more serious look and feel, like Final Fantasy 7, shoot 'em ups, or tournament fighters, excluding it makes if seem like less than it could and should be. With the rating system on games, people concerned with content (most likely parents) shouldn't complain. They can see right on the box what kind of stuff is in the game, so they can decide whether or not they want their children playing it. All in all, what I am saying is this: To those who are against "mature content," let those of us who can handle it enjoy it and hold your own peace.