IO Changed Hitman: Absolution Following Nun Controversy

[Sarah LeBoeuf]

IO Changed Hitman: Absolution Following Nun Controversy

Negative reactions to Hitman Absolution's "Attack of the Saints" trailer caught IO Interactive by surprise.

The developers of Hitman Absolution caused quite a stir earlier this year with the game's later apologized [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/trailers/5783-Hitman-Absolution-Saints-Trailer] for the trailer controversy, stating that it wasn't trying to offend people. According to director Tore Blystad, that portion of the game has since been tweaked, with backlash from the trailer causing the developers to change the game.

"We learned from the trailer that we really needed to give these characters some context and some backstory," Blystad said at Gamescom today. "We're working within the game - within that level - to build these characters up before you meet them. That way you know what you're getting and you aren't put off by them." He reiterated the developer's surprise about the controversy, adding, "We've been trying to find out, y'know, how could we not see this happening? If we knew it would get such a negative reaction we would have done it in a different way." Blystad doesn't expect any future backlash over Hitman Absolution's content, expecting gamers to be satisfied with the changes the studio has made. "There will have been so long between the trailer coming out and the game being released that people will have forgotten about it."

No specific details were given about the changes made to the Saints portion of the game, so it's hard to guess whether or not "some context" will really clear up the issues some viewers had with the trailer. Hitman Absolution is due out in November, so only a few months remain until we find out if gamers really will forget about "Attack of the Saints," as Blystad predicts.

Source: Eurogamer [http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-08-16-hitman-absolution-level-changed-due-to-negative-nun-trailer-reaction]

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[Legion]

I wonder if their logic behind making it was:

Developer 1: "Okay, so we want to get lot's of young adult males buying this, so what do they like?"
Developer 2:"Women in skimpy costumes!"
Developer 3: "People getting beaten up!"
Developer 1: "Okay guys, I have an idea..."

 

[BlindWorg]

I am still failing to see the reason why people got worked into a hissyfit over the trailer

*insert generic rant about game and fictions not having an effect on the real world expect through very unhinged individuals who were crazy even before buying the game*

 

[IndomitableSam]

I wonder if their logic behind making it was:

Developer 1: "Okay, so we want to get lot's of young adult males buying this, so what do they like?"
Developer 2:"Women in skimpy costumes!"
Developer 3: "People getting beaten up!"
Developer 1: "Okay guys, I have an idea..."

I wouldn't even go that far.

Developers: "Boobs, guns, and fetish wear! Let's DO THIS!" ... Release of trailer ... "Wait... not all gamers are teenage boys with warped sexual views on women? Really? ... Huh."

 

[fanklok]

IO people already had forgotten about it, you just brought it up again.

 

[Vegan_Doodler]

"We learned from the trailer that we really needed to give these characters some context and some backstory,"

Isn't this a given rule for everything in the universe?

Blystad said at Gamescom today. "We're working within the game - within that level - to build these characters up before you meet them. That way you know what you're getting and you aren't put off by them." He reiterated the developer's surprise about the controversy, adding, "We've been trying to find out, y'know, how could we not see this happening? If we knew it would get such a negative reaction we would have done it in a different way."

I would have also picked different numbers in the lottery.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Wait, there were going to be more lingerie-clad, weapon-wielding nuns in the game pior to that traler release? (The part about him saying that portion of the game had been tweated.)

 

[Kopikatsu]

I'm rather surprised at all the backlash games have been getting lately as well. Especially where women are involved. New feminist kick? I mean, really. Like that thing with Lara Croft- FEAR 2's protagonist was actually raped, but there was nary a head turned about that. Guess it's not really rape if it happens to a man, yeah?

As for people in fetish outfits being the subject of violence...it ain't just women. Men get it, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YLWIahcseI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gpAr5d_ykE

 

[Irridium]

Wait, so is he saying the characters in the game didn't originally have context before this trailer?

Because what I get from this is that in the game the nuns would have been nothing but scantily clad women you beat up/killed, and now there's going to be a reason to do this.

Does this sound a bit odd to anyone else, or am I just reading this wrong? Why the fuck didn't they give it all context in the first damn place?!

 

[Auesis]

My guess is that the context was actually that the "nuns" are part of a prostitution ring that will play a part in Absolution's story. Not knowing that would make the trailer look ridiculous (which it was).

 

[Irridium]

I'm rather surprised at all the backlash games have been getting lately as well. Especially where women are involved. New feminist kick? I mean, really. Like that thing with Lara Croft- FEAR 2's protagonist was actually raped, but there was nary a head turned about that. Guess it's not really rape if it happens to a man, yeah?

Yeah, seems gaming and gamers are finally 'growing up', so to speak. Still has a long-ass way to go. But hey, baby steps. We went from nobody caring about a character getting raped or various characters shown getting brutally for little reason to asking why this happens.

About damn time, I say.

 

[Mausthemighty]

Controversy? Did I miss something? How could anyone take offense at scantilly clad and good looking nuns?

 

[FrostyCoolSlug]

I don't know if it's just me, but I'm actually quite disappointed at this, I watched the trailer, initially was intrigued, saw the nuns and became curious, saw them pulling out guns and removing their robes before coming to the very quick realisation that they were a gang of some description using either the nun look as a "Gang Persona" (doing gods work?), or as a cover. Either way, I put this game on my "to buy" list because I want to find out EXACTLY what's going on there, not what a mere 30 second clip is showing me.

It has the protagonist, it has some large event involving scantly clad women, it has no context. It's not uncommon for gangs of any description to have specific attire, because it looks good, or makes a statement.. Stuff like this has been happening for years in other forms of media, why is this such a big deal?

 

[LordLundar]

My guess is that the context was actually that the "nuns" are part of a prostitution ring that will play a part in Absolution's story. Not knowing that would make the trailer look ridiculous (which it was).

They actually did another trailer where the group isn't simply a street gang (as the original video hinted at) but an elite government assassination squad where the outfits were a diversionary measure for them. They had a perfect record up until they were tasked with killing Agent 47 where all but one died.

 

[DugMachine]

I really don't get the fuss. Trailer was absolute shite (hehe) but this isn't the first time we've seen overly sexified women in games. Where was all the fuss then?

 

[Davroth]

Let me guess. This does not set back the medium by a century, right? Because artistic vision doesn't exist when it's about anything that could be interpreted as sexist...?

 

[bafrali]

snip

If you wanna get scantily clad nuns out of nowhere, i would recommend exploitation movies and they didn't say anything about leaving out the nuns (Though it would be better). They are just giving them a backstory(Which i thought was neccesary from the get go).

OT: This here my friends is interaction between gamers and the developers and only good can come out of it. I applaud them for listening at the very least. Maybe this will make developers think twice about their development strategies and marketing aproach.