BioWare: Games Without Violence Possible

[boholikeu]

Comments like this really make me lose respect for developers like BioWare. There are already plenty of games that don't focus on violence (yes, even games with a story), and many of them sell better than BioWare's games. If BioWare (or any of the other gamers here) have trouble thinking of titles that fit this description they really need to try playing something that isn't an FPS or RPG.

 

[SimuLord]

Have the BioWare guys really never heard of the entire tycoon genre? Mention "non-violent game" to most kids and they think of EC-rated fluff for small children (or stuff like Desert Bus), but there's an entire buying public out there comprised of people who greatly prefer games that aren't about war, violence, or destruction. Look at the enduring fanbase for Transport Tycoon Deluxe and its derivatives. Personally, I wish that genre would make a greater comeback.

 

[Valiance]

I posit Black Isle's (RIP) Planescape Torment, where maybe two battles are mandatory. The first RPG that allowed you to think or charm your way out of a fight. I'm fairly sure Bioware know something about it, since they and Black Isle collaborated on so many RPGs.

People speedrun Fallout 1 using only a high charisma and speech stat, really, it's quite impressive.

No battles mandatory.

Even the end "boss battle," you can just sneak out instead of fighting your way out, and when you leave, the cathedral explodes and you're a winner!

 

[Macar]

Conflict is the crux of all drama.

There is such thing as conflict without combat. In fact, in most books, plays, TV shows, it isn't fighting.

 

[KDR_11k]

Violence is in many games because combat makes it easy to create a consistent solution system for problems thrown at the player. It's very hard on the game makers and the player if every situation needs different controls and whatnot because currently all controls are abstractions. As long as you can find another system which maintains a consistent set of actions for whatever conflict you're using in your game you can make it centered around anything you want.

 

[Abedeus]

*Cough* Ace attorney *Cough*

*Cough* Verbal violence *Cough*

Since when does OBJECTION!!! count as a violent verbality? I mean, as violence. I think that...

Oh, wait, Ace Attorney has violence! In the first game, Maya is shot with a tazer. That's damn violent, if you ask me.

We already have a widely successful series without fighting. Its called Rock Band.

And realistically, what the hell kind of story comes without fighting. Conflict is the crux of all drama.

What about real-life violence, where people frustrated at their partner use controlers as melee weapons?

 

[johnman]

Hate to break it to you, but Popcap are thriving and the Sims makes an embrassingly large amount of money. What about flight sim where people just want to recreate the experiance? Racing games, Tetris and so on? These games have massive audiences.

 

[Tehpwnsauce]

Deus Ex already did it, and as mentioned before graphic adventures did it even earlier than that.

No. Unless you abuse glitches you must kill at least 3 enemies

 

[More Fun To Compute]

I'm really starting to lose respect for the doctors. As many have pointed out there are plenty of games without violence. Sports games, adventure games, puzzles, brain training, music games. Their observation only makes sense if they are using violence as a euphemism for gameplay and they are dreaming of a time when they can make games without any gameplay. Ack.

 

[Gyrefalcon]

Since the real world is full of violence every day, it's the most basic concept any gamer can relate to. You see it on TV, on the streets, on the internet, violence is everywhere.

Sure, you can make games completely without any kind of danger or violence, but that is why its harder to relate to and create immersion in these games. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's a much needed component. In Portal, you were in danger of falling to your death, get crushed or shot...etc. In Mirror's Edge, the same. Even the old adventure games, where you cannot technically die, had some sense of danger incorporated, just think back a little.

It's a basic concept, that's all.

Um, no? I don't have to dodge bullets or explosions to get to my car or survive a day. People aren't whipping out guns and knives or beating each other with martial arts in most of the cities I've visited.

Let's see: Back when most games were text based there were games that had no violence in them. And there are popular games out there now that don't rely on violence to sell them.

*Cough* Ace attorney *Cough*

Exactly.

Myst, Legend of the Lotus Spring, Vet Emergency, Below the Root, Rock Band, Guitar Hero, Tetris Worlds, Sim City, the Sims, Cake Mania, Cooking Mama, Fantavision (fireworks game), Flow, Bubble Bobble, Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon, Dance Dance Revolution, most golf, bowling, tennis, and racing games.

There are a lot of games out there that don't revolve around violence and don't involve Barney giving hugs either. I like blowing off steam with some violent games, but honestly, "press x to kill something" gets a little old after the thousandth repetition.

There are lots of places this can go that doesn't even require a "casual" game limitation. How about space exploration and terraforming? How about an actual "Dinotopia" or "Dragon Riders of Pern" game that was done well with GOOD controls? Maybe an alchemy or sorcery game where you collect components and come up with the most interesting combinations for tournaments? Mountain rescue? Treasure diving? Cave exploration? There is a whole world of activities done every day from dancing to kayaking that have nothing to do with violence. Surely we can expand the gaming horizon to have interesting, fun, in-depth games that explore something other than perpetual violence. To me, the time has been right for awhile now. Viva variety!

 

[Booze Zombie]

Guess they've never played Hotel Dusk, or they'd realise these games already have an audience.

 

[T'Generalissimo]

'Shucks, I'm out of milk, now I must go get milk!'

Well, what you've pretty much just described there is the Harvest Moon series and I don't know about everyone else, but I got a fair amount of enjoyment out of it.

 

[Playbahnosh]

Um, no? I don't have to dodge bullets or explosions to get to my car or survive a day. People aren't whipping out guns and knives or beating each other with martial arts in most of the cities I've visited.

Let's see: Back when most games were text based there were games that had no violence in them. And there are popular games out there now that don't rely on violence to sell them.

You living in a box or something? Maybe there is no violence at all where you live, but I can assure you, it exists. Just turn on the news anytime.

And to say there were no violence in games before fancy graphics...you are either too young or too blind. Say, Space Invaders had you shooting the shit out of an alien armada, for starters. In Pac-Man, you had to flee from killer ghosts, or if you had the pill, chase them down and eat them. Amnesia, a text-adventure had you running from angry people who were out to kill you...etc. U-huh, no violence at all, sure...

 

[Woem]

A video game without violence is known as Casual Gaming these days. The non-violent adventure title is a relic of the past.

Lies!

A New Beginning [http://www.the-whispered-world.com]: a cinematic, eco-thriller adventure!

 

[Sevre]

Pong. That is the least violent game ever.

 

[Johnn Johnston]

We already have a widely successful series without fighting. Its called Rock Band.

What about the torture scene?

If I recall correctly, it's called "Green Grass and High Tides."

[sup]*rage*[/sup]