I've been playing video games since I was 9 years old. I am 29 now. As I grew up, so did the medium. As time went on, from then to now, I noticed in increase in swearing in video games. I think there is too much profanity in video games. Specifically, I think the "f word" is used way too often. I believe it is used to shock the game player into saying, "Hey, this game is bad-ass. That character just said f*ck." Of course, the same game that has all the F-bombs is totally shallow, poorly put together, and repetitive. "50 Cent" anyone?
Before I come off like a prude, I would like to say that I am not against profanity, including the "f word." I am just totally against the use of profanity as a means to try to shock the player. I'll never forget the first time I was playing "Silent Hill 2" and I was about to enter into a boss battle with Eddie, a rather large simpleton with violent tendencies. Before the battle, he was screaming at Harry, the protagonist. He said something like, "I'll bet you think I am a dumb piece of shit!" Now, up until that point, I have never heard a game character use a legitimate swear in my life. I thought it was so cool.
In that situation, that particular use of profanity helped build the character (before you killed him ) and the story. Since then, however, I have found that profanity, especially the use of the "f word" is just used to (try to) shock. Eddie screaming and swearing helped build his character, and the story of "Silent Hill 2." How many other instances, of swearing in a game, can people say help grow a character, or build a story? Like I said above, swearing just seems like a failed way to shock the game player. I think swearing, for the sake of swearing, should be removed from games. Now, swearing to build a character, or add a dimension to a story, is ok, but only sparingly.
I tend to ramble, so I'll end my little spiel here. What do you all think?
~~N
Before I come off like a prude, I would like to say that I am not against profanity, including the "f word." I am just totally against the use of profanity as a means to try to shock the player. I'll never forget the first time I was playing "Silent Hill 2" and I was about to enter into a boss battle with Eddie, a rather large simpleton with violent tendencies. Before the battle, he was screaming at Harry, the protagonist. He said something like, "I'll bet you think I am a dumb piece of shit!" Now, up until that point, I have never heard a game character use a legitimate swear in my life. I thought it was so cool.
In that situation, that particular use of profanity helped build the character (before you killed him ) and the story. Since then, however, I have found that profanity, especially the use of the "f word" is just used to (try to) shock. Eddie screaming and swearing helped build his character, and the story of "Silent Hill 2." How many other instances, of swearing in a game, can people say help grow a character, or build a story? Like I said above, swearing just seems like a failed way to shock the game player. I think swearing, for the sake of swearing, should be removed from games. Now, swearing to build a character, or add a dimension to a story, is ok, but only sparingly.
I tend to ramble, so I'll end my little spiel here. What do you all think?
~~N