Why do game developers always include giant spiders in their games?

I know some of you are going to call me a wuss/sissy for being scared of spiders but there are people like me out there who are genuinely afraid of spiders. Whenever a giant spider pops out of the screen in a game I just get scared to crap and I have the game returned.

Any games with realistic giant spiders are basically unplayable for me and I can mention three recent games on the top of my head with giant spiders: Skyrim, Dark Souls and Zelda Skyward Sword. The giant spider in Zelda which I've seen in some videos is not that scary because it is slightly cartoonish, but the one in Skyrim completely freaked me out. I have only been able to continue playing skyrim with the help of a no-spider mod.

I understand that game developers like to create a more exciting experience in their games by trying to frighten their players, but I think that they should not include spiders. There are many people like me out there who are afraid of spiders and some people with very serious reactions when they see spiders.

To game developers: STOP IT WITH THE SPIDERS PLEASE!

Cowboy up ya wuss!

Just kidding :P

Yeah I can understand people with various phobias but at the end of the day you can't expect devs to respond to that.

I mean there's enough phobias to fill a phone book, spiders, rats, bats, there are people who are in therapy because they're afraid of clowns. Agorophobia, Claustrophobia, etc.

I actually stopped playing Oblivion because the undead in catacombs scared the hell out of me. I can usually handle the undead, but these were just super creepy to me, I guess because of the "tomb" environment.

So yeah, I don't see spiders going away anytime soon.

There are people out there who have the same phobia of snakes, ghosts, and zombies. Very religious people do not like demon-like representations in games so anything relating to witches, demons, and otherworldy spirits.

Basically, if developers had to cut down anything remote offensive to cater to a wide range of people suffering extremely specific irrational mentality, then we would all be stuck playing Pong still.

So, no. Either don't buy those games, or seek professional help for your phobia.

I know some of you are going to call me a wuss/sissy for being scared of spiders but there are people like me out there who are genuinely afraid of spiders. Whenever a giant spider pops out of the screen in a game I just get scared to crap and I have the game returned.

Any games with realistic giant spiders are basically unplayable for me and I can mention three recent games on the top of my head with giant spiders: Skyrim, Dark Souls and Zelda Skyward Sword. The giant spider in Zelda which I've seen in some videos is not that scary because it is slightly cartoonish, but the one in Skyrim completely freaked me out. I have only been able to continue playing skyrim with the help of a no-spider mod.

I understand that game developers like to create a more exciting experience in their games by trying to frighten their players, but I think that they should not include spiders. There are many people like me out there who are afraid of spiders and some people with very serious reactions when they see spiders.

To game developers: STOP IT WITH THE SPIDERS PLEASE!

NaturalDisplay

fatal frame will take the cake you will be more afraid of the dark then spiders i assure you that

fatal frame will take the cake you will be more afraid of the dark then spiders i assure you that

almasdeathchild

You hate spiders, some people with have a fear of snkes, hell others may have a fear of a bandits. At the end of the day, if they catered for everyone there wouldnt be a game left to playfirebolt53

This, it's not always about you. Hell, how would Skyrim play out if they catered to those that are afraid of other people or people of different race.

PC Skyrim players who suffer from arachnophobia can use this neat mod that swaps spiders in the game:

I'm not even joking, it's true.

Spiders are used so much because they represent a primal kind of terror. They're a very effective plot device in that regard. I'm afraid of both spiders and tight spaces, but 'Uncharted 3' didn't bother me.

Because spiders rock (or rawk, even).

I KNOW! Skyrim, Xenoblade Chronicles, Skyward Sword, Torchlight, Limbo, all games I've played recently, all have giant spiders in. Creepiest for me is Limbo... ugh, so gross.

I get why they do it and I'm not expecting them to cater to me specifically, but I can't say it still doesn't bother me!

PC Skyrim players who suffer from arachnophobia can use this neat mod that swaps spiders in the game:

I'm not even joking, it's true.

SteelAttack

Video of bear mod. Say good bye to arachnophobia. LAWL.

Cowboy up ya wuss!

Just kidding :P

Yeah I can understand people with various phobias but at the end of the day you can't expect devs to respond to that.

I mean there's enough phobias to fill a phone book, spiders, rats, bats, there are people who are in therapy because they're afraid of clowns. Agorophobia, Claustrophobia, etc.

I actually stopped playing Oblivion because the undead in catacombs scared the hell out of me. I can usually handle the undead, but these were just super creepy to me, I guess because of the "tomb" environment.

So yeah, I don't see spiders going away anytime soon.

ZombieKiller7

I am also afraid of spiders, but not to the point that they bother me in games. I also just wanted to say that I find it funny that you're afraid of zombies with your name. Not making fun of you, zombies can be creepy as hell, but I just thought it was kind of ironic.

The same reason there always seems to be moveable boxes of some sort in a game. It's a staple.

[QUOTE="SteelAttack"]

PC Skyrim players who suffer from arachnophobia can use this neat mod that swaps spiders in the game:

I'm not even joking, it's true.

Everiez

Video of bear mod. Say good bye to arachnophobia. LAWL.

This would be even worse for me. :P

I don't mind spiders, but there's something about bears that always freaks me out a bit...

It's a rpg staple. They've been around since the pen n' paper D&D days.

OP don't lie. I didn't see any giant spiders in Ace Combat games. Ever. The most disturbing thing in AC5 was a snowman if I recall correctly.

Go find a couple spiders and step on them. Face your fears!! Or let them control you forever!

You bet, when I saw the Skyrim spiders I got so freakin scared. I really fear spiders, darn it I feared more the part of the spiders on Skyrim then the entire game of Dead Space 2. Yea, i'm a wuss.

I know some of you are going to call me a wuss/sissy for being scared of spiders but there are people like me out there who are genuinely afraid of spiders. Whenever a giant spider pops out of the screen in a game I just get scared to crap and I have the game returned.

Any games with realistic giant spiders are basically unplayable for me and I can mention three recent games on the top of my head with giant spiders: Skyrim, Dark Souls and Zelda Skyward Sword. The giant spider in Zelda which I've seen in some videos is not that scary because it is slightly cartoonish, but the one in Skyrim completely freaked me out. I have only been able to continue playing skyrim with the help of a no-spider mod.

I understand that game developers like to create a more exciting experience in their games by trying to frighten their players, but I think that they should not include spiders. There are many people like me out there who are afraid of spiders and some people with very serious reactions when they see spiders.

To game developers: STOP IT WITH THE SPIDERS PLEASE!

NaturalDisplay

This 1000x. Ever since a bad encounter I had with an eight legged, hairy freak, I've been scared to death of spiders. I remember being ridiculed to no end on my high school football team for being such a wuss because of it. :lol:

Skyrim's spiders are terrifying, I even hesitate a little bit when going to face them lol. :P

I'm with ya man, but ya know; I really like killing the spiders, it's so satisfying to kill those bastards.

I've noticed the spider fetish too. I just ignore them and pretend like they don't exist.

I think gaining some perspective could actually help you with your fear. You should try training your brain to differentiate the digital representation of a spider and the real thing. I know YOU know It's not real, but your brain reacts as if it is. Once you do this you could start using these games as a sort of catharsis. After all those giant spiders are in the game for you to kill!

I'm not horribly arachnophobic. But spiders still creep me the out. If I ever saw one bigger around than a quarter I would most likely fall out of my chair in a mad scramble to put as much space between me and it as possible. But in video games they are just another enemy for me to fill with bullet holes, hack to pieces with a sword, or incinerate with a giant fireball.

As far as Dark Souls goes....

[spoiler] Really? The giant lava-spider lady freaked you out but the HUGE vagina dragon with rows and rows of dagger teeth didn't? o_O [/spoiler]

Lol, perhaps Fatboy Slim and Bootsy can answer that

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aky8MWsv704

Yeah the John Goodman movie Arachnophobiaruined me for life as a kid. Absolutely terrified of those eight-legged beasts. Though it does makes for comic life moments when my ladyfriend has to "save" me from certain doom.

This would be even worse for me. :P

I don't mind spiders, but there's something about bears that always freaks me out a bit...

Vari3ty

Quick! Make a bears to spiders mod! :Pred12355

As others said, they'd need to remove too many things in order to please all phobias. But if you want to overcome this so you can play these games, then I'd start by watching videos of spiders. The interactive component in games probably makes them worse than movies. Once you become accustomed to that, then you can move onto games. Perhaps a game where you control a spider rather than one where you fight them? That might help. Check out Deadly Creatures. You control a tarantula in that game. And a scorpion. Maybe the act of controlling a spider will help ease your phobia.

They hate spiders, that's why they let you kill them! ;)

Cause giant spiders make awesome enemies here's for many more years of slaying virtual giant spiders :D! Now spiders don't freak me out but swimming in large bodies of water that are dark and not clear and see through do. Always think a shark or somethingr is going to pop out and kill me :( even if the game doesn't have any which almost all don't. That being said I really wish someone would make a horror game in cryengine 3 that took place in the ocean and it would get pitch black at night and have all sort giant killer sea creatures trying to kill you. Would be even better if they made it take place in prehistoric times where there was alot bigger and scary **** in the ocean then a mere great white shark. That would dethrone Amnesia as the scariest game ever for me.

simply lack of creativity!

Spiders are cool. I often kept some as pets when I was younger.

b...b...but.. Giant Spiders > all!

I's scared ofspiders in real life, but 'on screen' there just big fluffy eight legged freaks awaiting death.. :)

For the arachnophobes, here is a petition to have a mod that replaces the spiders in Skyrim on console: http://twitition.com/aea33