Adult Games, Child's Play?

Thanks to TotalGames.net for their gamesTM-reprinted piece discussing whether games are actually dumbing down in the industry's rush to produce mature titles. The editorial is concerned that "adding a spot of claret and some unguarded language to your game doesn't require any special artistic skill on the part of a developer." The writer then worries that "...those developers whose bread and butter has traditionally been more abstract titles where the gameplay is the hook and the graphical stylings are aimed at younger gamers, or at least at a general audience, are starting to find their games harder to sell." But original Grand Theft Auto creator Dave Jones thinks that "it's not violence that's selling but simplicity", even for his own series, arguing: "GTA has a very simplistic game mechanic - it is Pac-Man. The people are the dots you eat (run over) and the police the ghosts who chase you", although admitting: "What was different was the level of interaction within the city."

Comments

Mature = Porn = Who Cares?

[Slider451]

I think the article's author just got hung up on the word 'mature'. A game with an M rating reflects content you're more likely to see in an X-rated movie. Last time I checked X-rated movies weren't winning any Oscars for writing, directing, or acting.

So, yes, the article is correct. 'Mature' really should be 'Sophomoric'. But, since we all know what it really means, who cares?