Why does everyone like these disturbing games?

I am utterly disturbed by the games that people play and actually give good reviews to.

I kept hearing all this talk about how Bioshock is going to be "the best game ever made" and how everyone should preorder it, so I decided to check it out. So I read up on it and was looking through it, and I was horrified at that game. It is twisted, disgusting, scary, and all around disturbing, and people ACTUALLY like to play that, much less look at it. This was not the only game that I found horribly disturbing. Half Life 2 was just as bad. I was playing the demo of hl2 and I started the second level and once I started playing I immediately shut it down, uninstalled it yet I still was soo nauseous after it that I decided to do a complete reinstall of windows to make sure that every trace of that twisted game was gone from my computer.

These are just a few disturbing games that everyone seems to like , here are a few more-FEAR, Resident Evil, and system shock.

Is it just me that thinks it is gross and disturbing to play these vulgar "so called" games? I am the first to admit that I hate anything scary or gory, but am I the only one that doesn't find it a little wrong to get pleasure out of these vulgar games.

PLEASE: NOBODY GET UPSET AT ME, I just want to know if anyone else feels the same way, or if not then tell me why do these games appeal to you.

Thank you for listening to my opinion on this subject, and any responses are welcomed. I feel as though I am missing out on all these new awe insipiring games because of the disturbing subject matter.

I am utterly disturbed by the games that people play and actually give good reviews to.

I kept hearing all this talk about how Bioshock is going to be "the best game ever made" and how everyone should preorder it, so I decided to check it out. So I read up on it and was looking through it, and I was horrified at that game. It is twisted, disgusting, scary, and all around disturbing, and people ACTUALLY like to play that, much less look at it. This was not the only game that I found horribly disturbing. Half Life 2 was just as bad. I was playing the demo of hl2 and I started the second level and once I started playing I immediately shut it down, uninstalled it yet I still was soo nauseous after it that I decided to do a complete reinstall of windows to make sure that every trace of that twisted game was gone from my computer.

These are just a few disturbing games that everyone seems to like , here are a few more-FEAR, Resident Evil, and system shock.

Is it just me that thinks it is gross and disturbing to play these vulgar "so called" games? I am the first to admit that I hate anything scary or gory, but am I the only one that doesn't find it a little wrong to get pleasure out of these vulgar games.

PLEASE: NOBODY GET UPSET AT ME, I just want to know if anyone else feels the same way, or if not then tell me why do these games appeal to you.

Thank you for listening to my opinion on this subject, and any responses are welcomed. I feel as though I am missing out on all these new awe insipiring games because of the disturbing subject matter.

ConfusedZone

Well, for the normal person, I think life is mundane. Working everyday...same this, same that...these things might give a chance for some excitement. After a while, things get a sense of natural.

If you get into the story of games like RE4 and Bioshock, maybe you'll understand why that guy's head just exploded open or why that Big Daddy is coming at you with that drill arm.

Violence isn't always the key factor in those games, although I can think of a few that are.

Dude, I think you are missing the point. Some of those games, like Bioshock, are supposed to be scary and disturbing.

It's not often that I get scared for real. Usually, I go through my day without encountering anything horrific or life-threatning. However, I pop in a video game like Condemned and for that one split second, I jump out of my seat a little bit when that mannequin is actually a homicidal maniac. It's a simulated thrill, and it's as close to being scared as I wanna get, because than that means something is going wrong outside my TV.

Half-Lilfe 2 though has none of that... But I guess that is still just a kind of fantasy on a screen. In that game, humanity isn't #1 anymore, but you as the hero are out to change that. Maybe you just don't like solving problems with the business end of your rifle, but I challenge you to think of a better way to handle and alien invasion :D

So your parents never let you watch Horror movies?

What is so bad about Half-Life 2? It sounds like you're over reacting. The game barely has any blood.

There's nothing wrong with playing these games.

Big thumbs down.

You mentioned BioShock, F.E.A.R, System Shock and Resident Evil as disturbing and twisted games. Last time I checked they were meant to be horror games. And like you said you're not fan of anything scary or gory, so exactly what were you expecting when you loaded the game? My little Pony?

I'm surprised to hear how affected you were by Half Life 2. You obviously haven't been exposed to much while growing up.

so i just bought manhunt. i choked a guy with a baseball bat, and he slumped to his knees, dazed. so i used the beaseball bat to break his head into tons of tiny little pieces and blood splattered on the screen.

totally awesome.

so i just bought manhunt. i choked a guy with a baseball bat, and he slumped to his knees, dazed. so i used the beaseball bat to break his head into tons of tiny little pieces and blood splattered on the screen.

totally awesome.soulsdeparting

That actually sounds pretty sweet lol

But to the topic creator, you are exactly the kind of customer the Nintendo WII was designed for. I suggest you purchase one ASAP and grab some games for it aswell and jump around playing WII sports all night long lol.

Well, I honestly hope this post is a joke, just because it's so WEIRD. But if it's not, I would like to point out that I don't think there is anything VULGAR about these games. You seem to imply that they only appeal to base human desires, and while they may be violent, it's the story-telling and atmosphere that really makes games such as Half-Life 2 and Bioshock come to life.

And I just enjoy games that are more "exciting" :)

Many great pieces of art are disturbing. Take Picasso for example, as a kid I got nightmares after having seen one of his paintings. Exactly like him games like Bioshock use disturbing violence and imagery to try to have an impact on the gamer.

I sound like a crossbreed of an art elitist and annoyed gamer :P.

Because deep inside, people enjoy having the **** scared out of them, their buttons pushed, or their adrenal glands activated.

It's the same reason why people ride roller coasters, go toa haunted house, go on ghost tours, read scary novels and so on. People want to be thrilled.

Listen, we all draw the line somewhere. I won't play any of the really frightening games such as Condemned simply because I don't want to, but you have to think to yourself, just because I don't like this should it be banned? Being that you're a level 4 Gamespotatrian I assume you play games, how would you feel if those got taken away from you just because someone deemed them violent and disturbing?

I can't help but think this is a joke because of the Half-Life 2 thing. Other than Ravenholme it wasn't very gory.

Edit: I just realized you're probably a hardcore Christian.

Sorry for the the original topic post, I guess I overreacted a bit. I was just getting fed up with everyone talking about these games like Bioshock. I do not care who you are, that little girl gave me the creeps ;). Yes, I do get frightenened very easily and no I am not a hardcore christian. I wouldn't say I was sheltered, I just have only seen one scary movie I can recall and that freaked me out for a whole month (Resident evil 1).

I guess I can see how those games can send you on a journey, and I guess the scaryness of it draws you in. Please do not get angry at me, I am not putting anyone down, and I am starting to understand the view point of these games a little better. I guess I just need to go out and watch as many scary movies as I can so I can get ammunied to it:P. I really appreciate everyones viewpoint on this. Thank you all for the replies.

PS: how did you not find that zombie level in half life 2 a little disturbing :?.

Sorry for the the original topic post, I guess I overreacted a bit. I was just getting fed up with everyone talking about these games like Bioshock. I do not care who you are, that little girl gave me the creeps ;). Yes, I do get frightenened very easily and no I am not a hardcore christian. I wouldn't say I was sheltered, I just have only seen one scary movie I can recall and that freaked me out for a whole month (Resident evil 1).

I guess I can see how those games can send you on a journey, and I guess the scaryness of it draws you in. Please do not get angry at me, I am not putting anyone down, and I am starting to understand the view point of these games a little better. I guess I just need to go out and watch as many scary movies as I can so I can get ammunied to it:P. I really appreciate everyones viewpoint on this. Thank you all for the replies.

PS: how did you not find that zombie level in half life 2 a little disturbing :?.

ConfusedZone

Ravenholm is freaky, not disturbing. It's totally normal to get creeped out by the Little Sisters in Bioshock, but to rant about how the game is unessesarily violent is simply ridiculous.

Sorry for the the original topic post, I guess I overreacted a bit. I was just getting fed up with everyone talking about these games like Bioshock. I do not care who you are, that little girl gave me the creeps ;). Yes, I do get frightenened very easily and no I am not a hardcore christian. I wouldn't say I was sheltered, I just have only seen one scary movie I can recall and that freaked me out for a whole month (Resident evil 1).

I guess I can see how those games can send you on a journey, and I guess the scaryness of it draws you in. Please do not get angry at me, I am not putting anyone down, and I am starting to understand the view point of these games a little better. I guess I just need to go out and watch as many scary movies as I can so I can get ammunied to it:P. I really appreciate everyones viewpoint on this. Thank you all for the replies.

PS: how did you not find that zombie level in half life 2 a little disturbing :?.

ConfusedZone

Sorry for the the original topic post, I guess I overreacted a bit. I was just getting fed up with everyone talking about these games like Bioshock. I do not care who you are, that little girl gave me the creeps ;). Yes, I do get frightenened very easily and no I am not a hardcore christian. I wouldn't say I was sheltered, I just have only seen one scary movie I can recall and that freaked me out for a whole month (Resident evil 1).

I guess I can see how those games can send you on a journey, and I guess the scaryness of it draws you in. Please do not get angry at me, I am not putting anyone down, and I am starting to understand the view point of these games a little better. I guess I just need to go out and watch as many scary movies as I can so I can get ammunied to it:P. I really appreciate everyones viewpoint on this. Thank you all for the replies.

PS: how did you not find that zombie level in half life 2 a little disturbing :?.

ConfusedZone

I wouldn't say I got angry by your post, I just thought you went a little over board with the whole re-installing windows comment. It is alright for someone to not like a certain type of game, I think some of us thought you were the kind of person who finds that disturbing video games need to be banned and to be honest we have way too many people in this world that think like that. People who can't see past the violence tend to not care about what the game is truly about, just because a game has gore or disturbing elements doesn't mean that the game doesn't have an excellent story behind it. If your not into the whole disturbing video games that's fine, like I said before to each their own.

In my opinion, there's a gigantic difference between games like RE4 that use gore to create atmosphere and tension, and games like FEAR that are gory just because. The gore in Bioshock seems to be used well...

And whatever you do, don't get desensitized! RE4 is much more enjoyable when the many ways of dying (like the chainsaw beheadings) disturb you; it makes the game change from "Uh-oh if I die I have to restart from the beginning of the roon" to "Oh crap I don't want to get my head chopped off again!"

I guess system shock and resident evil are scary, but Half Life 2? Seriously.....

People like different things

This is the way I look at it. When I was at the end of Resident Evil 4, and I saw that the charicters in the story were safe at last, it was a great feeling, and it was very satisfying. But if I hadn't just gone through all those crazy and difficult experiences, that feeling just wouldn't have been the same.

I hope that helps you understand.

EDIT: When are they going to fix this stupid spacing bug?

I am also very sorry to everyone I offended, I was completely in the wrong to post what I did. Please forgive me for the comments that I have made. I regret posting this topic, and I thank everyone on this forum for helping me in the past, and hopefully helping me in the future if you would just forgive me.

I am so very sorry.

Thank you everyone for understanding me. What game do you all think I should play on the PC to get over this fear, because like everyone is meantioning I need to get over it. I've heard the best way to get over being scared is by confronting it head on, so any recommendations on what to do, I would greatly appreciate it.

I am also very sorry to everyone I offended, I was completely in the wrong to post what I did. Please forgive me for the comments that I have made. I regret posting this topic, and I thank everyone on this forum for helping me in the past, and hopefully helping me in the future if you would just forgive me.

I am so very sorry.

ConfusedZone

Bioshock! It isn't that scary, and also happens to be one of the greatest games of all time...apparently.

And please stop appologising!

Thank you everyone for understanding me. What game do you all think I should play on the PC to get over this fear, because like everyone is meantioning I need to get over it. I've heard the best way to get over being scared is by confronting it head on, so any recommendations on what to do, I would greatly appreciate it.

I am also very sorry to everyone I offended, I was completely in the wrong to post what I did. Please forgive me for the comments that I have made. I regret posting this topic, and I thank everyone on this forum for helping me in the past, and hopefully helping me in the future if you would just forgive me.

I am so very sorry.

ConfusedZone

I don't think you really offended anyone, well at least you didn't offend me. I think you just wanted to know why people like disturbing and scary games. You may have overreacted a little but their isn't a single person on here who hasn't.

If I were to play a few scary games on the PC then I would go with Manhunt, Condemned, and Resident Evil 4 but thats just me.

Thank you everyone for understanding me. What game do you all think I should play on the PC to get over this fear, because like everyone is meantioning I need to get over it. I've heard the best way to get over being scared is by confronting it head on, so any recommendations on what to do, I would greatly appreciate it.

I am also very sorry to everyone I offended, I was completely in the wrong to post what I did. Please forgive me for the comments that I have made. I regret posting this topic, and I thank everyone on this forum for helping me in the past, and hopefully helping me in the future if you would just forgive me.

I am so very sorry.

ConfusedZone

Wow. Try not to be so hard on yourself. I don'tthink anyone is actually mad at you, so relax. As for something you should play to get over this. I don't think you should, just stick to what you like. To each his/her own.

Is it just me that thinks it is gross and disturbing to play these vulgar "so called" games? I am the first to admit that I hate anything scary or gory, but am I the only one that doesn't find it a little wrong to get pleasure out of these vulgar games.ConfusedZone

The same reason people get pleasure from watching Horror films. I don't see what is so 'vulgar' about something that isnt real, at the end of the day its some pixels on a screen, not reality.

Thank you everyone for understanding me. What game do you all think I should play on the PC to get over this fear, because like everyone is meantioning I need to get over it. I've heard the best way to get over being scared is by confronting it head on, so any recommendations on what to do, I would greatly appreciate it.

I am also very sorry to everyone I offended, I was completely in the wrong to post what I did. Please forgive me for the comments that I have made. I regret posting this topic, and I thank everyone on this forum for helping me in the past, and hopefully helping me in the future if you would just forgive me.

I am so very sorry.

ConfusedZone

I don't think you offended anyone, I just put annoyed in my post because I'm far too used to people critizising games just because they're violent. It's really understandable if you can't enjoy scary/gory games, I've got a friend that's the same way.

If you do want to get over it, play Condemned. It's disturbing in a lot of ways, but it's also an awesome game to boot.

Thank you everyone for understanding me. What game do you all think I should play on the PC to get over this fear, because like everyone is meantioning I need to get over it. I've heard the best way to get over being scared is by confronting it head on, so any recommendations on what to do, I would greatly appreciate it.

I am also very sorry to everyone I offended, I was completely in the wrong to post what I did. Please forgive me for the comments that I have made. I regret posting this topic, and I thank everyone on this forum for helping me in the past, and hopefully helping me in the future if you would just forgive me.

I am so very sorry.

ConfusedZone

You know, if you're that affected by gory games it may not be a good idea to force yourself to get over that fear... in my opinion it's not a good thing if you're perfectly comfortable with virtually blowing peoples' faces open with a shotgun or whatever. Anyhoo, I'd agree that if you want to try one Bioshock is the perfect game for it - it's not scary so much as just atmospheric...

No worries. Topics like yours a are good way to try to focus on the reasons why different gamers like different game styles. Like others have said, I wouldn't view your feelings on the subject as something that is required to fix or get over. That may be an aspect of your personality and that's fine. Personally, I feel that it may be a good idea to do a little more research into certain games to see if they are consistently at the same level of gore and violence. BioShock seems to me to use the violence/gore in a way to illustrate the concepts of the game. And the little sisters are meant to be freaky. It makes it easier to take advantage of them if they don't look normal, but then one starts to consider why that makes it okay.

A lot of these games use their violence to provide a way to tell the story. And yes, Ravenholm in Half-Life 2 still freaks the **** out of me. I still haven't made it through there yet. :) But twisted or depraved? I didn't think so.

Manhunt is probably one of the most depraved games I can think of right now. However, it also had a reason for killing people in the way that the player did. It was part of the mission of survival, and all of the enemies were trying to kill Cash.

Anyway, if you want to try to get over being overly sensitive to it, that might not be a bad idea as many entertainment mediums use a fair amount of violence in the course of their telling. Start with some games that are rated Teen as they shouldn't be over the top. Then you can start on some Mature for Violence games. If you never get comfortable with too much violence, don't worry. That's your right.

Game on.

I think some anime, like Evangelion for example, freak me out and is more disturbing than most games out there.

Bioshock is Sponge Bob compared to the later episodes in Evangelion...crazy anime, crazy as the lake of fire, which is worse than hell.

Thank you everyone for understanding me. What game do you all think I should play on the PC to get over this fear, because like everyone is meantioning I need to get over it. I've heard the best way to get over being scared is by confronting it head on, so any recommendations on what to do, I would greatly appreciate it.

I am also very sorry to everyone I offended, I was completely in the wrong to post what I did. Please forgive me for the comments that I have made. I regret posting this topic, and I thank everyone on this forum for helping me in the past, and hopefully helping me in the future if you would just forgive me.

I am so very sorry.

ConfusedZone

just because what you say doesn't geta good reaction, doesn't make it wrong. you represented your viewpoint. you're aloud to be disturbed by videogames, and quite frankly, if you can watch something like cannibal holocaust and not wince, there's something wrong with you! i actually were less dessensitized like you. never be ashamed of who you are or where you're at in life!

[QUOTE="ConfusedZone"]

Sorry for the the original topic post, I guess I overreacted a bit. I was just getting fed up with everyone talking about these games like Bioshock. I do not care who you are, that little girl gave me the creeps ;). Yes, I do get frightenened very easily and no I am not a hardcore christian. I wouldn't say I was sheltered, I just have only seen one scary movie I can recall and that freaked me out for a whole month (Resident evil 1).

I guess I can see how those games can send you on a journey, and I guess the scaryness of it draws you in. Please do not get angry at me, I am not putting anyone down, and I am starting to understand the view point of these games a little better. I guess I just need to go out and watch as many scary movies as I can so I can get ammunied to it:P. I really appreciate everyones viewpoint on this. Thank you all for the replies.

PS: how did you not find that zombie level in half life 2 a little disturbing :?.

marty_81

Yeah if he thinks those are too sacry/violent he clearly hasn't seen stuff like Silent Hill and Manhunt. He really needs to toughen up.

its a DAMN game lol.. if u dont like it dont play it. :D

resident evil is disturbing? o.O i get a feeling u wudnt like the horror movies either ..

well i havent seen any horror movies ever and i dont really want to

but i played resident evil 4 wii because the controls looked mint as and i wasnt overly horrified

I really dont understand why people make these kinds of topics... if you dont like disturbing games, dont play them. K?.

Kthxbai. :D

I HATE horror films :o! I have to admit I did play RE4 with a friend once(during the day of course) and while it had a few startling moments, the ending made it worth while. Also RE4 was actually not that scary compared to the originals. Yes, I do get frightened a lot more than normal people would, but I do have O.C.D, so that makes playing scary games even worse than usual :P.

P.S. O.C.D. causes people to do repetitive stuff so as to nutreulize something else. In my case, when I play a scary game, I tend to have bad thoughts about it which in turn makes me have to think of something positive. If I do not, then I just get this deppressing feeling and I can't consentrate until I have counterbalanced my thoughts. You would think it would be a simple fix, but millions of people suffer from it, so I am not going to worry. I promise it is not as bad as it seems. I actually have a very mild case of it compared to a lot of people, and plus you tend to get used to it and adjust it into your lifestyle 8).

I know it's lame excuse for being a wuss, but I am proud of who I am, so I will stick with my opinion and anybody who wants to disagree with me can. I am going to stop apoligizing for voicing my own thoughts on the subject and if you want to disagree with me, then at least be mature about it instead of being immature and posting comments like "he must be a hardcore christian" or the equavilant.

I know it's lame excuse for being a wuss, but I am proud of who I am, so I will stick with my opinion and anybody who wants to disagree with me can. I am going to stop apoligizing for voicing my own thoughts on the subject and if you want to disagree with me, then at least be mature about it instead of being immature and posting comments like "he must be a hardcore christian" or the equavilant. ConfusedZone

Seriously guys, while I disagree with the poster as well this borders more on personal opinion, for those bashing him this is like insulting a person because they didn't like Halo. If everyone thought the same things this would be a pretty boring planet, I must say.

I HATE horror films :o! I have to admit I did play RE4 with a friend once(during the day of course) and while it had a few startling moments, the ending made it worth while. Also RE4 was actually not that scary compared to the originals. Yes, I do get frightened a lot more than normal people would, but I do have O.C.D, so that makes playing scary games even worse than usual :P.

P.S. O.C.D. causes people to do repetitive stuff so as to nutreulize something else. In my case, when I play a scary game, I tend to have bad thoughts about it which in turn makes me have to think of something positive. If I do not, then I just get this deppressing feeling and I can't consentrate until I have counterbalanced my thoughts. You would think it would be a simple fix, but millions of people suffer from it, so I am not going to worry. I promise it is not as bad as it seems. I actually have a very mild case of it compared to a lot of people, and plus you tend to get used to it and adjust it into your lifestyle 8).

I know it's lame excuse for being a wuss, but I am proud of who I am, so I will stick with my opinion and anybody who wants to disagree with me can. I am going to stop apoligizing for voicing my own thoughts on the subject and if you want to disagree with me, then at least be mature about it instead of being immature and posting comments like "he must be a hardcore christian" or the equavilant.

ConfusedZone

As someone who also has a mild case of OCD (just have the fear of judgement stuff myself), I can understand your situation fairly well. Your best bet is to just avoid a game that disturbs you and make sure you do your research before hand. I suppose I'm lucky in that I don't get terribly squeemish during a game, but I somewhat have the same problem with horror movies. Oddly enough, if I force myself to sit through the whole thing, and allow myself to expect something incredibly dreadful, I end up not being the least bit shocked towards the end. I suppose it ruins the experience to a degree, but I certainly don't mind if it means I can enjoy a movie like the Ring without getting really anxious. Sublimation is very helpful.

people like being scared we do

I think some anime, like Evangelion for example, freak me out and is more disturbing than most games out there.

Bioshock is Sponge Bob compared to the later episodes in Evangelion...crazy anime, crazy as the lake of fire, which is worse than hell.

ASK_Story

Evangelion is a masterpiece IMO. Disturbing, yes, but the show wouldn't really be the same if it wasn't.

I havent had the time to read the entire thread :( sorry, i saw the topic and i thought i could contribute.

ill just say first that im a horror buff. I have watched hundreds of class horror flicks. Whether this is a good thing or not i cant say. I found myself the object of some rather unsollicited scrutiny when during Hostel i started giggling like mad as the womans eye was revealed. That was an awkward moment for sure. I try and get my hands on as many terrifying things as possible. Poe, Lovecraft are my two FAVOURITE AUTHORS!!! if you have not expereinced either then you need to start reading their anthologies late at night in bed with the rain battering the roof... classic...

In my never ending quest of terror i have found one media, almost impossible to crack. You may guess already, yes, videogames... For some reason, the medium has not yet given me that incredible, delectable spine tingling fear that books and mand on the occasion film, has partaken unto me. Its actually quite annoying! i buy a game say Res 1-4 and play it all the way and get to end really not happy at all... i tend to ruin my own expecience by wishing to get scared. Call it a curse, but i cant seem to find anything!

For clarity i must define MY fear, remember when you were really young, and they told you that really terrifying ghost story. The one where you were up ALL NIGHT scared, trying to combat that all pervading, terror inducing expectation of nigh approaching doom? thats the fear i mean, not the fear one gets at the conclusion of F.E.A.R. which althugh very fun was not scary at all! DOOM 3 was good i thought, it was the closest id seen in a while.

The one candidate the experience of which unfortunatly will be lost now with the current generation, was the Original Silent Hill... I played that in the dark and had to stop near the begining for a break, (check windows were locked door etc etc). The game was great, although tedious at times, the claustrophobia closed me with the monsters and it was perfect. Unfortubalty i was around the age of 7 or 8 when i played that game on an aunts system in the UK... I have started to think that that experience is forever locked away in the recesses of my past... :( it is not heartening... Maybe, like some hollow drug addiction it is my continued exposure which has whittled away the response. I need my fix and that is why i will always support thos innovative developers who strive to that podium of terror...

so yeah in short, totally i play games basically to get scared... thats it pretty much... hope you liked the above, got into a real writing orgy up there.. sorry for the mess...