The Timothy Plan, one of our top 10 favorite conservative Christian, Florida-based investment firms, has just applied frowny-face stickers to "30 most offensive video games." (Offensive like killing hookers, not offensive like
Haze or
Imagine Fashion Horsez.) Our favorite entry on the list?
Army of Two, scolded for "somewhat homo-erotic undertones between the two main characters."
Though we
fully support the Timothy Plan bringing to light
AoT's non-existent allusions that two men could have feelings for each other, we can't help but wonder ...
isn't that our job?
Not to mention [crotch-hoisting joke here].
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
LaughingTarget @ Dec 4th 2008 11:00AM
Wow, this soon? It usually takes the mainstream about 2-15 years before noticing content in a specific game, like the news articles still referencing the original Doom or Mortal Kombat. They're starting to catch up.
MosquitoControl @ Dec 4th 2008 3:57PM
In fairness, this is a somewhat balanced view. The company comes out and says they are not looking to ban or boycott any games, they just want to make certain parents know what is in these games and make decisions accordingly. None of the reviews I skimmed over seemed oversensationalized, either. A bit skewed, but pretty balanced given what it was.
If you're a parent of any young kid these kinds of things might be good to know. It didn't condemn any game, just pointed out what you might want to know ahead of time.
Far less inflammatory than I had hoped for.
Chris Are @ Dec 4th 2008 11:02AM
This organization doesn't support Christians in general. Some of us aren't gay-bashing assholes. Please keep that in mind when this post inevitably turns into a forum for how much (some) Christians suck.
LaughingTarget @ Dec 4th 2008 11:04AM
If they sucked, wouldn't that make them gay, too? Thus unwilling to bash? Just saying.
Professor Lario @ Dec 4th 2008 11:04AM
Agreed...
Chris Are @ Dec 4th 2008 11:05AM
@laughingtarget
Damn you and your sparkling wit!
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Dec 4th 2008 11:38AM
(Fist Bump)
Gehodra @ Dec 4th 2008 12:23PM
@LaughingTarget
That, or they could be female...
Just saying.
offday @ Dec 4th 2008 12:40PM
Yeah. Seriously. Thank you joystiq for making sure that the word "christian" appeared somewhere in your article. We wouldn't want people to think that non-christians hate gay people. Because we all know that Christians everywhere hate gay people, right?
DWells55 @ Dec 4th 2008 1:02PM
I used to be a Christian myself before I lost my faith and I fully understand where you're coming from, Chris. I always hated being cast in a negative light because of the foolish zealots who like to think they have some sort of divine authority and hide behind it to condemn others.
Haggard @ Dec 4th 2008 1:42PM
@offday
Well, they are a conservative christian group. As in, on their website they say "we make sure that all our investments don't conflict with what the bible says".
kaneda @ Dec 4th 2008 2:12PM
It's not that the Christians hate gays. They just consider them inferior sinners undeserving of equal treatment.
Chris Are @ Dec 4th 2008 2:14PM
@Dwells55
I feel ya buddy. Well, I don't feel ya on the losing my faith thing, but being lumped in w/ a bunch of people who don't represent the love of Christ is really frustrating. So far it seems like most people on Joystiq aren't really jumping on the bandwagon. Yes, these people are wrong, but they don't represent the teachings of Jesus nor do they accurately represent any of the apostles. I just don't want someone yelling "Christians are assholes!" because I'm a follower of Christ and I don't think I'm an asshole.... most of the time. :-)
@Haggard
I myself don't necessarily disagree w/ ensuring one's actions don't conflict with what the Bible says. If it said "interpreting the Bible literally on everything" I'd disagree w/ that. The point here, in my opinion, is that because this game apparently has some homosexual implications (??) kids are going to catch it or something... As if they don't want kids to know about homosexuality or something. It's seculsionist and it's hateful.
BananaBoat @ Dec 4th 2008 3:14PM
If you want Christian bashing, go to Digg (otherwise known as the land of blasphemy and honey)
Seriously though, arguing over religion on the internet is one of the most retarded things possible.
I didn't read the report chastising Army of Two for "Homo-Erotic Content" but I can only hope that the article started with the words "This game is for those 17+ you twats, why do we have to tell you not to buy this for your children, you incompetent, negligent dicks"
BigD145 @ Dec 4th 2008 3:38PM
@offday
They wouldn't be Christian if they didn't hate gay guys. "It's in the Bible." Isn't that how Christians 'prove' their hate?
offday @ Dec 4th 2008 6:18PM
@BigD
Wow. You're so far off in your own little world, that I'm not even going to address that idiotic comment.
Robotochan @ Dec 4th 2008 11:03AM
Wow you're allowed to say things like that in the US? In the UK it's as bad as saying "don't buy San Andreas because you play a black man" or "don't buy this non-existent game because the main character is Muslim"
Free speech indeed!
Don't worry, a lot of the world do realise that the majority of Americans don't care what homosexuals do.
Dirty @ Dec 4th 2008 11:10AM
Its kinda long but funny if you have the time.
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c0cf508ff8/prop-8-the-musical-starring-jack-black-john-c-reilly-and-many-more-from-fod-team-jack-black-craig-robinson-john-c-reilly-and-rashida-jones
Robotochan @ Dec 4th 2008 11:16AM
Damn that's a lot of people I've seen on my television!
Seriously though, if you said something along the lines of "don't buy Top Gun because there 'may' be homosexual undertones" the police would take an interest in you
Haggard @ Dec 4th 2008 2:45PM
That was ace!
Gay marriages can save the economy, now that's something we can all learn from.
Judd @ Dec 4th 2008 3:05PM
"don't buy this non-existent game because the main character is Muslim"
That game would be Assassin's Creed. And I guess Prince of Persia and Aladdin.
Anybody got anything else?
Robotochan @ Dec 4th 2008 3:47PM
Now that's assumption :P
thinktank @ Dec 4th 2008 7:11PM
What is with the singling out of Christian groups? I am a Christian and don't even agree with all of this group's choices but what is with the focus on Christians all the time?
From what I have read, wacky "green" activists constantly slam gamers for using too much electricity or muslim groups condemning games like tomb raider for exposing too much of Lara. So where is the equality in Joystiq's editorials?
Justin is not wrong in assuming that many Christians (mostly older) have a irrational fear of gaming, but you don't have to stereotype people of faith to make your point.
Professor Lario @ Dec 4th 2008 11:09AM
I like how they say the content is 'imbeded' - like it is waiting to just jump out at your three year old.
ANTCEP @ Dec 4th 2008 11:10AM
they are wearing gimp masks...
RiccochetJ @ Dec 4th 2008 11:13AM
Ha! I really need to show this guy my female bisexual, polygamous hero in Fable 2.
Ubiqutous Oxymoron @ Dec 4th 2008 11:15AM
never mind the homo eroticism, what about the actual racism in the game?
i have never played a game that is so 'team america world police -fuck yeah'.
baby sea tuna @ Dec 4th 2008 11:25AM
It's funny that you say that because I returned this game to gamestop under the ruse that I was offended by the overt racism, when in reality it was just because it was godawful and I wanted something else.
I swapped it for Dark Sector and never looked back.
WiredKnight @ Dec 4th 2008 12:15PM
@tuna
So.....one crappy game for another eh?
Ubiqutous Oxymoron @ Dec 4th 2008 12:15PM
I have dark sector, i really really enjoyed it.
hope they make a sequel.
baby sea tuna @ Dec 4th 2008 11:19AM
Eff their superiority complexes, can't they just hate on Ao2 for being a shitty game like the rest of us?
Lord Negatron @ Dec 4th 2008 11:28AM
Shitty game?!
*buddabuddabuddabudda!* Quick lets press up back to back for defense! *buddabuddabuddabuddabudda!*
The sound effects for the weapons were some of the most unrealistic & horrible noises to grace my ears in a shooter for a long time. Lets not forget about the fantastical ass hat humor. *fist bump!*
Played the demo, didnt need to go any further...
xGeneral DEATHx (Mr ESC Welcome Back Party Ultimate Mega Action Force) @ Dec 4th 2008 2:01PM
Negatron:
That's the best written representation of this game I've ever seen...period.
So true...so sad. It HAD potential, way back before it was turned into a buddy cop action flick wannabe.
Lord Negatron @ Dec 4th 2008 2:52PM
Exactly Death
I mean (being that im at work i go overboard with **Emotes**) Other than that, plenty thought the game was good.
For me?
As you said "it HAD potential", then they just blotched the rest together. I still remember YouTube comments on the trailer/sneek peeks like: "Ha ha!! Cant wait for this to come out!" Same thing enjoyed watching had me squirming in my seat. The humor slash trying to be hardcore team based shooter just backfired horribly IMO.
*fist bump!*
Gonzo @ Dec 4th 2008 11:20AM
Yay.
First Jack Thompson disbarred now this.
I think we're beginning to see the turn when only the already marginalized nutjobs who nobody trusts anyway will try to ban games.
Mr Khan @ Dec 4th 2008 11:21AM
At least the Timothy Plan made mention of No More Heroes
Possibly get some more free advertising out there, since they refer to all the awesome stuff about the game anyway
Hashbrown Hunter @ Dec 4th 2008 11:22AM
ROFL EA IS GAY
Donald @ Dec 4th 2008 11:24AM
I fail to see what's so offensive about fist-pounding.
...
... never mind.
Professor Lario @ Dec 4th 2008 11:24AM
Just so you don't have to download the full PDF - here's the list in order of the offense scale:
18 - Grand Theft Auto 4
18 – Saints Row 2
16 – Fallout 3
15 – Bioshock
14 – Manhunt 2
12 – Age of Conan
12 – Condemned 2: Bloodshot
11 – Blitz: The League 2
11 – Crackdown
11 – The Darkness
11 – God of War 2
11 – Mass Effect
10 – Bully: Scholarship Edition
9 – Def Jam: Icon
9 – Devil May Cry 4
9 – Fable 2
9 – God of War: Chains of Olympus
9 – Metal Gear Solid 4
9 – Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl
9 – World of Warcraft
8 – Haze
8 – Hellgate: London
8 – Kane & Lynch
8 – No More Heroes
8 – Silent Hill: Homecoming
8 – Stranglehold
7 – Army of Two
7 – Gears of War 2
7 – Silent Hill: Origins
6 – Resistance 2
Zertoss @ Dec 4th 2008 11:50AM
I'm surprised to not see Pokemon on that list. A game about enslaving wild animals and battling them like a series of cockfights (lol, Palkia)? A game that ends up enslaving your children?
Plus you can totally name your character something like Horny and suddenly the game has all kinds of pedophile undertones. ("Hey, your Horny, right? Why don't you follow me to my private office?")
I would think people who are so easily offended as to list WoW higher than Silent Hill would spot something like that.
SkreeHunter @ Dec 4th 2008 12:53PM
With Hellgate: London, I always felt as killing demons was a good thing to do. I'm not sure, I haven't played the game though and probablly neither have they.
Then, as a Christian, I always felt that the Fallout games were quite uh, positive... games to play since you could make moral choices in the midst of immoral ones, and in the first two at least, you never HAD to kill anyone.
bobartig @ Dec 4th 2008 1:33PM
@Zertoss: You FOOL! Did you not read Genesis 1.26???
"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness,and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."
"dominion over" is translated as to subjugate, rule over, meaning we're supposed to capture Pokemon and work them for our own gain... even the 'creeping' pokemon! No problems here.
Zertoss @ Dec 4th 2008 1:44PM
Easily offended Christians rarely have read the Bible. Otherwise they'd be TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK.
Premature ejaculation man @ Dec 4th 2008 11:50PM
I would have though Fable 2 would be higher actually. A game where you can go into unprotected orgies with male or female prostitutes get STDs, practice polygamy homosexual or straight, slaughter your wife(/wives) and using pickup lines on children.
I'm sure I haven't even listed everything.
tuaamin13 @ Dec 4th 2008 11:24AM
My first reaction was "Oh gosh, more crazies from Florida (Is JT involved in this?)" but they actually did a lot of research. It seemed like they played the games most of the way through, which is better than most people trying to slap moral judgment on entertainment. Some of the verdicts are a off, but for the most part they're true to the games.
http://www.fme.cc/VideoGame-Graphic.pdf
copa @ Dec 4th 2008 11:46AM
I'm not willing to give them a pass here, because they completely ignored context in the games they played.
Juvenile, antisocial, killing-is-hilarious garbage like Kane and Lynch, and Army of Two ranks a 7-8, while a thoughtful game like BioShock ranks a 15.
Using this sort of scale, Schindler's List would be more offensive than Hostel.
DWells55 @ Dec 4th 2008 1:05PM
Copa, your Schindler's List analogy is the most thought-out and accurate analogy I've seen in a very long time. Like seriously, that's an absolutely perfect comparison.
Pnikosis @ Dec 4th 2008 11:28AM
The top homo-erotic game is Gears of War, but this one is close enough.
Dirty @ Dec 4th 2008 11:28AM
Bromophobia is possibly the best tag ever
baby sea tuna @ Dec 4th 2008 11:46AM
I concur.