Duke Nukem Forever Multiplayer Mode Predictably Controversial

Gearbox Software has released some information about the multiplayer modes for Duke Nukem Forever, which is due out May 3rd (for real this time). In addition to standard deathmatch (called Dukematch), team deathmatch and a king-of-the-hill mode, there is "Capture the Babe," in which a typical CTF flag is replaced by a woman. Eurogamer explains it thus: "... when you grab the other team's babe, she sometimes 'freaks out.' The solution? Give her a gentle smack." Gearbox's Randy Pitchford, clearly understanding how politically incorrect this sounds, said, "You can get some things across in screenshots but not really. So we're kinda struggling with how we expose it so people understand what's there. The proof is in the pudding so to speak, so I don't want to talk about it too much."

Comments

The Duke ain't PC

[Opportunist]

He's not politically correct. He's in fact not correct at all.

Dammit, it's a friggin' GAME! OK? It's a GAME! Treat it as such. We're talking about a steroid-pumped, bubblegum-chewing, over-the-top cliché pseudo-hero. I wouldn't say it's suitable for 10 year olds (or other people of similar feeble intellect that could take a computer game serious like, say, certain politicians or a certain ex-lawyer we all love so much), but why should you have to apologize as a computer game company for making a corny game?

Re:The Duke ain't PC

[cheekyjohnson]

I wouldn't say it's suitable for 10 year olds

Really? I would. In order for these ten year olds to believe that a game is actually reality, they would likely have to be already insane and would have to have terrible parents who do nothing but censor everything instead of educating them about things. Really, the chances of someone (even a child) believing this game is reality are slim to none, I believe. The chances of this actually hurting someone are likely even slimmer. The temporary violent thoughts that some studies correlated to violent media almost never amount to anything.

I'd say it's suitable for anything unless the person is insane and/or has terrible parents.

Here we go again

[LS]

So why is beating and killing prostitutes in GTA ok, but this some kind of travesty?

Re:Here we go again

[FrootLoops]

In my experience (as an American) American perspectives vary wildly. Check out South Park or Family Guy; they're American shows that involve heavy satire. They're very popular with certain demographics, but they're hated, often vehemently, by other segments of the population. I think it would be more accurate to say there's a large, often vocal, conservative block in our population that doesn't appreciate satire. [Of course even this refinement is a generalization and isn't strictly true.]

As for me, I couldn't care less about the DKF multiplayer "controversy". It seems inconsistent to only get upset about hitting a woman/carrying her as a flag when the game is about killing people.

Equally Smackable

[optymizer]

If you had to capture a guy and smack him, nobody would have said anything. In that case, Gearbox might even be blamed for not making the option of smacking a woman. So much for gender equality...

Re:wrong

[elrous0]

Most people agree that violence against women is wrong.

No, most people agree that violence against INNOCENT women is wrong (men too, for that matter). Cops beat down drunken, crazy women all the time. Soldiers shoot them if they're carrying a rifle or bomb. And if one of them is coming at you with a knife, I'm pretty sure you're not going to give her flowers.

You *DO* support women's equality, right? Because you sure sound like a sexist to me.