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[XANDER CAGE]

Viscerally satisfying gore and realistic gore are two very different things IMO.

I personally don't need to see an AI enemy soldier desperately trying to stuff his intestines back into his severed upper torso while crying for his mother as he bleeds out spending the last few seconds of his life crawling away from me in horror, fear and confusion, a la Saving Private Ryan.

Right, that's another good point and it's integral to tone. Someone holding a knife close to Snake's eye in MGS3 makes me wince harder than watching Kung Lao cut someone in half with his hat because, well... one of those things is a lot more intense, even without any really truly graphic content. The threat of gore is enough for MGS3, but that's because that's how the game is directed. Conversely, The Last of Us has some pretty powerful moments of graphic violence (and general grossness with the enemies) and gory aftermath that wouldn't have quite the same narrative impact without gore. Visual direction is an incredibly powerful tool in narrative, and gore can play into that.

This is also why I think "just have an option to turn it off" isn't such a simple answer, though - I think it's truly integral to some things. The Last of Us or Mortal Kombat without gore removes key dramatic moments and key humor respectively. For simple things like multiplayer shooters, of course, add a toggle, but for narrative driven games I think it's much more difficult to simply excise a part of the package.

 

[Conkerkid11]

Is this a repeat of that thread criticizing the God of War games for being violent?

Gore is a great way to provide feedback to the player that they are doing damage.

This. Really made the difference between Bloodborne and the other Souls games for me. Dismemberment is just the next step up from that. Much more satisfying when your headshot causes dismemberment than if it just insta-kills the enemy.

 

[| Praxis |]

I love gore in games and films, can't really say why?

When I was a small kid I'd rate films by the amount of blood spilt. A family friend showed me the Genesis game The Immortal and I was blown away. The minute I saw games like Mortal Kombat, Project Overkill and Soldier of Fortune I knew I had to have them.

I used to watch the real stuff too, not for the reasons I enjoy simulated violence though. More out of curiosity. I still have an account on Ogrish after all these years, I've always been fascinated by the extremes of human nature. Probably didn't help that I was allowed to watch all kinds of shit when I was a kid.

I literally wouldn't hurt a fly though and I don't have a violent bone in my body.

 

[Aske]

This is also why I think "just have an option to turn it off" isn't such a simple answer, though - I think it's truly integral to some things. The Last of Us or Mortal Kombat without gore removes key dramatic moments and key humor respectively. For simple things like multiplayer shooters, of course, add a toggle, but for narrative driven games I think it's much more difficult to simply excise a part of the package.

A gore toggle is no different to music with radio edits. Anyone who wants to play/listen to the work as intended can do so. Anyone offended by aspects of the creator's vision can enjoy a santized version, and that stops them trying to curb the creation of content thst offends them. Placating people who are switched off by mature adult awesome content gives creators far more freedom in a reality where art is also product than refusing to compromise one's artistic vision for people who would otherwise totally avoid one's game anyway.

 

[XANDER CAGE]

A gore toggle is no different to music with radio edits. Anyone who wants to play/listen to the work as intended can do so. Anyone offended by aspects of the creator's vision can enjoy a santized version. Placating people who are switched off by mature adult awesome content gives creators far more freedom in a reality where art is also product than refusing to compromise one's artistic vision for people who would otherwise totally avoid one's game anyway.

I agree that sanitized/tweaked visions are fine and more options are always good, but it can be pretty difficult in some cases. There's a "clean" version of The Godfather (the film) that barely makes any sense; likewise, there's God of War and other titles where it's like... how do you present that option?

 

[Razlo]

Why don't you want more options?

Also, I don't think you really understand, or want to for that matter. I don't buy games like Mortal Kombat or Doom for several reasons, one of which I know gore is a core part of the experience of those games. I'm talking about multiplayer shooters like the forthcoming Black Ops 3. The only time COD has had gore in multiplayer in 8 years was in World at War and there was an option to turn it off. I am saying that they shouldn't just put gore in the new game without at least an option to turn it off.

I like gore in games, but I agree with you that the option to turn it off is fine.

 

[Sgt.Pepper]

For me, it makes something I'd not rather see in-game so I try to avoid death. If you are the one doing so much goring attacks, it depends on how graphic. I haven't played any game that has that much gore though.

RE4 chainsaw beheading was pretty damn graphic to my 15 year old self. It cemented to me that I should avoid dying!

 

[ipukespiders]

Gore is to me is angry and I'm an angry person, so that's why I like it.

 

[EVOL 100%]

Realistic gore just grosses me out, but ridiculous gore is always good for a laugh.

This gif posted in the thread is pretty great

 

[The Mango Sentinel]

I have no idea why I like gore so much, but I do know there are several games I may not have finished if it wasn't for the fact that they had some good gore.

I think it just makes me feel good to see the carnage I've caused.

 

[jetjevons]

This is also why I think "just have an option to turn it off" isn't such a simple answer, though - I think it's truly integral to some things. The Last of Us or Mortal Kombat without gore removes key dramatic moments and key humor respectively. For simple things like multiplayer shooters, of course, add a toggle, but for narrative driven games I think it's much more difficult to simply excise a part of the package.

Exactly. It'd be like watching the TV-edited version of Saving Private Ryan. To remove its disturbing, graphic, senseless violence to try and make it play as an action film would do a great disservice to the nature and intent of the piece. Full disclaimer: I have no idea if they actually did this for SPR when and if it aired on network TV.

Conversely, removing some of the excessive gore from a movie like Peter Jackson's Dead Alive (Brain Dead in the UK?) might actually make it harder to watch. At a point it becomes cartoonish which makes it somehow more digestible, if that makes any sense.

 

[the_batman]

gore in games like this add to the visceral entertainment.

we in our mundane lives enjoy crazy stuff like this. if we lived in war zones where we saw our family members get blown to bits on a weekly bassi, we probably wouldn't care much for it.

 

[Dicer]

Realistic gore just grosses me out, but ridiculous gore is always good for a laugh.

This gif posted in the thread is pretty great

You would have loved GLOOM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRk-TX2RaOs

 

[lord]

I'm completely desensitized to gore in movies or games, but I can't watch 3min violent videos people pass around online. I think gore can be done right, in fiction it's often one more device creators can use to accent their message, plus there's no reason to present a clean version of violence. Violence should be presented as it is on real life or worse.

 

[Parakeetman]

You know why gore is great? Because sometimes I just want to check and see if my bullets are still in working order.

Honestly, things have become a lot more toned down anyways compared to how it was before.

Though we still have zombie titles where its generally "gory".

In titles like Dying Light vs. Dead Space (the first one) gives 2 very different examples of gore being used o forward the games tone.

 

[jetjevons]

gore in games like this add to the visceral entertainment.

we in our mundane lives enjoy crazy stuff like this. if we lived in war zones where we saw our family members get blown to bits on a weekly bassi, we probably wouldn't care much for it.

Sadly I think evidence points to the contrary.

 

[Gully State]

I miss Gore

 

[the_batman]

Sadly I think evidence points to the contrary.

evidence like?

I miss Gore

does no one know how to tackle? i like how the two knuckleheads bump into each other.

 

[gfxtwin]

Because although committing acts of violence is heinous, thinking about and wanting to see creative gore is harmless and kind of a part of human nature.

And also because stabbing nazis in Wolfenstein relieves stress, and the gore in Ninja Gaiden 2 is a thing of beauty and hilarity:

 

[Dark_castle]

Berserk wouldn't be half as fun to read without the over the top gore.

 

[CaptainObvious]

I love a bit of Gore! Gore! Gore!

 

[Leon Belmont]

Good question.... well I like it because it adds a little bit of realism to the game, games like God of War, Ninja Gaiden are really enjoyable when you cut a enemy in half and it adds a realism to the weapon... but I agree with a lot of you, some people does not really like gore whatever the reasons are, so I think that developers needs to implement an option to turn it on or off.

 

[goldenpp72]

I'm weird with gore, I don't particularly care for it or desire it, but for some reason I kind of like it when playing multiplayer games. Like in quake 3, when I would gib a person the effect of that happening to a player controlled person makes me laugh, like they saw themself blow up. In single player things though, it just becomes me and i'm not really into it at all.

I guess when the situation can be comical, it's fine. Gears was a good example of that because you'd chainsaw a dude in half then hear him screaming at you in the round loading screen a moment later, good times.

 

[Nightbird]

I don't like Gore. It's gross to me.

 

[Javin98]

I don't think I would enjoy The Last Of Us as much without the gore. Gore fits really well with the game and the guns provide great feedback as a result.

 

[Bulbasaur]

I cant watch horror movies but I love horror rap. Videogame wise all I play is Nintendo which are probably the least violent games you can play. I'm kind of weird when i think about it.

I guess people just get entertainment from different things.

 

[Two Pikachus]

I cant watch horror movies but I love horror rap. Videogame wise all I play is Nintendo which are probably the least violent games you can play. I'm kind of weird when i think about it.

I guess people just get entertainment from different things.

Is "horror rap" a hilarious typo or something I don't know about?

I'm just picturing a rap battle between Krueger and Myers.

 

[Aske]

Is "horror rap" a hilarious typo or something I don't know about?

I'm just picturing a rap battle between Krueger and Myers.

I sincerely hope you made that post without knowing this exists, because your mind's about to be blown:

http://youtu.be/XDUl5Ke5jbM

 

[T_Exige]

Funny thing, I don't like it in "realistic" movies, but I don't have a problem with it being on over the top "fantasy" movies like 300, Prometheus, District 9 etc.

Some games need it, because it is part of that world, Mortal Kombat, Souls games, even Borderlands.

 

[Big_Al]

Funny thing, I don't like it in "realistic" movies, but I don't have a problem with it being on over the top "fantasy" movies like 300, Prometheus, District 9 etc.

Some games need it, because it is part of that world, Mortal Kombat, Souls games, even Borderlands.

The funny thing with this being they toned down the gore after Borderlands 1 in the sequels.

 

[ThomasAnderson]

Since games strive for realism, gore to some is an essential part of that. Bullets don't leave red stains that look like a spilled beverage(GoldenEye64). They leave holes, take chunks of flesh, and in some cases dismember. In real life seeing this is disturbing as hell. In gaming it can add to immersion cause no living beings are harmed. I have no problem either way, just include the option for those not interested.

 

[Uzny]

I love gore (in games); this scene from Ninja Gaiden always puts a smile on my face

 

[ohhthegore]

IMO there can never be too much gore

 

[Two Pikachus]

I sincerely hope you made that post without knowing this exists, because your mind's about to be blown:

http://youtu.be/XDUl5Ke5jbM

That was breathtaking for so many reasons, thank you for posting this!