So basically the choices are I will play the game only for blood, gore and swearing or I don't want those things at all? That's just stupid. What if I have absolutely nothing against having those things in a game, but I don't necessarily need them to enjoy it? Because that's how I feel. I've played games that are very violent, have no shortage of swearing, and on rare occassions they might even have a bit of nudity, and enjoyed them, I've also played games with no blood at all and no swearing, and enjoyed them too. I don't generally play games specifically for blood and gore, generally speaking, if the gameplay is good, I'll still play a game even if I can hack enemies to death with an ax and have them not show a single scratch on their bodies. Still, there are certain games that I feel benefit from such themes, and while I wouldn't go as far as to say they would not be enjoyable without them, I'd say that their appeal would be dimminished somewhat, because they deal with things that simply can't be done justice when you have to worry about keeping your game appropriate for children. Let's face it, combat with Medieval weapons is supposed to be bloody, without blood, it just feels implausible, that doesn't mean the game can't be fun, but it takes me out of the game somewhat if I go through a battle field slaughtering people with a huge sword and the whole thing looks completely clean without a single drop of blood spilled, and I can't help but feel like the game is made for children, because if it was not, there would be no reason for the developers to shield us from the horrible truth that *gasp* blood exists. In the end, having blood and gore doesn't automatically make a game mature, but when I think of a mature game, one thing I expect it to do is not show me situations where I'd expect to see blood and gore but it is conspicuously absent.
And when it comes to cursing, it's good for making the game feel believable, if it's used properly, but if the developers want to limit cursing to made up words, that's fine with me too, it would help to make the world feel less like Earth if nothing else, which is nice in a fantasy game. six and nudity are yet another issue that's been discussed many times before, and I don't want to adress here because it seems controversial enough that it may simply take over the thread entirely if we're not careful.
If you want to bother including a poll in your thread, you need to make it non-biased, and try to cover at least general opinions that players might have, and include an "other" option if you know you can't possibly cover all possible options.
Just a note from an old guy. I play TES for the world/game type. It's a fantasy world that has some reality bases (I love the weapon/body effect from the trailer). I've never had problem with the lack of six, drugs and gore. Any cursing tends to come from me. I play other games if that is what I'm in the mood for. I like having a game I can play infront of my stepson (8yr old) that still lets me have the fun I want. Bad day at work? Kill some goblins! Adding the EXCESS would shut that down. It's 'clean' violence'.
And that's the kind of mentality I don't like, if you want a game you can safely play in front of an eight year old, the Elder Scrolls is a pretty poor choice. The series has always had things that really aren't that appropriate for children, in the main series, Morrowind is actually an exception in getting an ESRB rating of teen, and even Morrowind deals with a fair amount of themes that have no business being handled in a family friendly manner, it's just that what ESRB rates is things like blood and six, and Morrowind's blood was very cartoonish and the sixual themes only implied. But still, it's a game featuring slavery, drugs, killing (Lots of killing.) racism, and other such unpleasant things, that really does not say "family friendly", to me.
Now, if you don't feel that the game needs blood and gore, that's fine, you can feel that way, but keeping the game appropriate for children should not be used as an excuse not to include such things if Bethesda feels the game can benefit from them.
» Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:36 pm 
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