Sometimes, all the relentless, in-your-face your-face-is-off violence really gets to us. There are moments when the barrage of bullets ripping through unprotected flesh, or the shuddering chainsaws carving through the bones of an enemy make us wonder if we haven't just become desensitized and bored with our favorite hobby. It's even more depressing when we have to go home and see it all again in our video games.
We'll be able to, as the old folks say, turn it down a notch in Gears of War 2, as MCV reports that Epic's M-rated must-see saw sequel will feature an optional gore filter. It's mainly meant to placate parents who are tolerant of frenetic gun battles and ruthless monster murder, just so long as sparks (and not blood) come flying out of the stumps. The filter is also said to replace the naughty words uttered by the game's motley bunch of macho men ("See you in heck, locust motherfluffers!").
As young lads who were constantly teased and foiled by Phantasmagoria's shocking M rating, we certainly approve of Microsoft's implementation of parental control. Mind you, if you're a kid with a copy of Gears of War 2, you've likely utilized powerful parental control already -- otherwise known as the tantrum.
Reader Comments (35)
Posted: Aug 5th 2008 6:37PM (Unverified) said
An optional gore filter?
That's like an optional one-liner filter in Evil Dead.
Reply
That's like an optional one-liner filter in Evil Dead.
Posted: Aug 5th 2008 6:39PM (Unverified) said
Gears 1 also had a gore filter. Instead of having exploding bodies from point blank shotgun blasts, it had a very amusing rag-doll effect that would send the corpse flying back a couple of feet.
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Posted: Aug 5th 2008 7:27PM (Unverified) said
It could be useful for playing it when there kids are around. Not that it still wouldn't be violent, but ragdolls are a lot less violent than exploding bodies.
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Posted: Aug 5th 2008 6:46PM BigDaddyBooth said
I think this is a pretty cool feature.
If I had a kid, maybe 12-15, I would probably let them play this game with this filter on; whereas without the filter it would be inappropriate for someone that age.
Reply
If I had a kid, maybe 12-15, I would probably let them play this game with this filter on; whereas without the filter it would be inappropriate for someone that age.
Posted: Aug 5th 2008 6:50PM BlaznGoldstein said
I don't need a filter to avoid Al Gore. My ability to ignore him comes naturally. But I am glad EPIC has done something to help the less fortunate.
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Posted: Aug 5th 2008 6:52PM (Unverified) said
If the swear filters would actually be that ridiculous, I would so turn it on for lols.
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Posted: Aug 5th 2008 7:27PM Nick the Hero of Canton said
I might be using the word filter in co op :)
Should be funny
Reply
Should be funny
Posted: Aug 5th 2008 9:01PM (Unverified) said
No,no,no.It is: "See you in heck,you locust dorks!"
If its censored by 4kids it is:"I don't like you and we aren't friends anymore!"
Reply
If its censored by 4kids it is:"I don't like you and we aren't friends anymore!"
Posted: Aug 5th 2008 8:59PM (Unverified) said
A Gore filter? c'mon his speeches about Global warming aren't THAT annoying.
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Posted: Aug 5th 2008 10:48PM (Unverified) said
In "This Film is Not Yet Rated" which is about censorship in films, Darren Aronofsky(Pi, Requiem for a Dream), says that the movies with no blood should be the ones rated R. Showing kids that James Bond can shoot anyone and there not be any gore sends a message to children that violence can be clean. As opposed to a war movie, which by showing blood and guts, shows children the reality of getting shot. By showing violence as it really is, children might more likely be deterred from turning violent.
I think the same can be said about video games. Then again I wouldn't exactly describe the gore in a game like Gears of War to be realistic.
Reply
I think the same can be said about video games. Then again I wouldn't exactly describe the gore in a game like Gears of War to be realistic.
Posted: Aug 6th 2008 2:06AM (Unverified) said
I'll probably use this filter when playing at home. My mother walked in while i was playing the first one without the filter and she kind of looked at me questioningly. I turned the filter on and she was much more satisfied. It did get a bit awkward when playing online and people said "Man did you see that guy's head pop off" and i'd always reply with "...No.".. She may not care seeing as i'm well over the age needed to play or buy the game, but i'd rather not risk any discussion of whether or not the game is appropriate.
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Posted: Aug 6th 2008 3:23AM (Unverified) said
I'll be turning on the filter. Otherwise, I'm sure I'll be wanting to chain saw a taxi driver in Thailand.
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Posted: Aug 6th 2008 8:38AM YetANOTHERusernameREALLY said
Ludwig,
I've never played a Gears of Whore game and probably never will (Nothing personal, just probably unlikely)
However that post was a veritable cathedral of scintillating punnetry, wittastic paraphrazation and scrabulous double entendre.
Three thumbs up and eleven out of ten! It's my vote for best bost of the %TIME_PERIOD%.
- Milesch!
Reply
I've never played a Gears of Whore game and probably never will (Nothing personal, just probably unlikely)
However that post was a veritable cathedral of scintillating punnetry, wittastic paraphrazation and scrabulous double entendre.
Three thumbs up and eleven out of ten! It's my vote for best bost of the %TIME_PERIOD%.
- Milesch!
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