Please developers hear my plea!

I am a die hard pc gamer, but unfortunately my mom does not approve of most games I like. Some games gave built in parental controls such as language filters, blood filters, etc. There were four games I was looking forward to this season. Assassins Creed (although delayed), Call of Duty 4, Crysis, and Unreal Tournament 3. I was counting on Call of Duty 4 being T because the rest were. When I found out it was M, I said to myself "there will just be a blood filter, it will be fine" Well there is, but there is still strong language, with no filter or mod or anything. So my mom crosses that off the list. Assassins Creed, it was T for a week, but then they changed it to strong language and made it M. No language filter, no go for my mom. Next up, Crysis, strong language, with blood able to be turned off (I think), but guess what, no language filter. Finally UT3, now ut2004 had about 50 filters, so I though UT3 would too, but alas, the demo didnt have a language filter, and I assume the full game does not either.

I dont see how adding language to a game will make it better. Sure, I dont mind a moderate amount, and it's not like I dont hear worse at school anyway, but my mom will not let me get games with strong language. What I want is something that will help both developers and consumers. If Activision, or Crytek, Ubisoft, or Epic put a language filter in their games, I would buy all four of them launch day. Instead, they get one less sale, and I dont get their games (until next September when I'm 16) I have seen a few games implement them, such as americas army and stranglehold has a limited one (although you have to edit the .ini) A lot of my friends, and Im sure many, many teens and even adults would be allowed/be more inclined to buy these games if the devs spent a few hours working one of these out. I dont care if there is language in a game, but it would be nice to be able to turn it off if we want to.

So, game companies, if you are worried that you are cutting out an audience that would buy your game because you put blood or language in it, there is an easy solution. Just put a filter, some options, or even a wholesome patch or something to let people like me play your games. This seems like an easy win-win situation here, the devs get more money, we get more fun. I just dont understand, especially with franchises like call of duty, where a large portion of your audience is teen (like me) why you wouldnt put some thing in to make sure that we can get them as well. Also, if there are any language filter mods or anything for any games I mentioned, please tell me:D

Screw that. If your parents doesn't want you to buy games that's rated M or have "strong" language when you're already 15 (you said you're going to be 16 next september) then pleading for the devs to put filter on their games is the least of your problems.

Talk to your parents that you're already matured enough to take all of this "sins" without actually doing or saying them. Besides, you're "virtually" killing pixalized humans anyway. Why not add language to the mix or even blood? I guess the thought of killing them is okay than hearing "EFF YOU MOTHER EFF!!"

What? You aren't going to be able experience Crysis? That's just not fair :D

I'm old enough to play whatever games I want, but I support you, there should be options for disabling "offensive" language.

If it's optional, can't really see any harm for anyone.

What? You aren't going to be able experience Crysis? That's just not fair :D

I'm old enough to play whatever games I want, but I support you, there should be options for disabling "offensive" language.

If it's optional, can't really see any harm for anyone.

Nitrous2O

Next up: Put filter on so that bullets don't show up as bullets but bannas shooting from your gun.

Guys, grow up and I mean that literally. Wait till your old enough to play the game and experience it as what the devs want the player to experience it.

Next up: Put filter on so that bullets don't show up as bullets but bannas shooting from your gun.

Guys, grow up and I mean that literally. Wait till your old enough to play the game and experience it as what the devs want the player to experience it.

grabeh

We're talking language here, not fruit. That's all he was talking about.

If you don't like, don't use it. SIMPLE. EASY.

If someone wants to play a gimped game rather than none at all, I'm all for it. It doesn't hurt me, shouldn't hurt you, right?

Still don't understand the logic behind forcing conforming.

If it adds to development costs (honestly, it wouldn't take that much more effort), then you might have a point, but otherwise...

First of all, yes, I suppose it is a win-win situation. No one has to use it if they don't want to, and its availability would be helpful to some people, so including it couldn't really be bad. That said...

Screw that. If your parents doesn't want you to buy games that's rated M or have "strong" language when you're already 15 (you said you're going to be 16 next september) then pleading for the devs to put filter on their games is the least of your problems.

Talk to your parents that you're already matured enough...

grabeh

Now, normally I wouldn't agree with that right away just because you're 15, but I do in this case. I can tell from the cohesion of your writing that you're more than mature enough for something as simple as some bad language. It sounds to me like your mother is only taking into account your age and not your personal level of maturity to rate what she should and shouldn't allow you to be exposed to, and that's just no good. You said yourself that you experience language at school, what difference does it make if you hear it in a game, as well? The language in the game is simply a realistic depiction of everyday life.

I could better understand restricting games with nudity or gratuitous violence (I still think someone of your maturity could handle that material, but I can still condone restrictions of it). But keeping you from playing a game for even having highly explicit language just seems, quite honestly, a bit ridiculous for someone at your level of mental and emotional maturity.

Anyway, again, I agree it wouldn't hurt to include language filters, I just don't think people like you should need it. You're beyond that.

I'm reading this as a request by the OP.

He's not talking about this being some requirement on games, or there should be boycotts, riots :) etc. Be sure to make that distinction.

I don't think it should be required on games by any means, but as a request, and as something studios might want to consider, I'm cool with that. I'm not quite that selfish.

Hopefully ;)

[QUOTE="grabeh"]Next up: Put filter on so that bullets don't show up as bullets but bannas shooting from your gun.

Guys, grow up and I mean that literally. Wait till your old enough to play the game and experience it as what the devs want the player to experience it.

Nitrous2O

We're talking language here, not fruit. That's all he was talking about.

If you don't like, don't use it. SIMPLE. EASY.

If someone wants to play a gimped game rather than none at all, I'm all for it. It doesn't hurt me, shouldn't hurt you, right?

Still don't understand the logic behind forcing conforming.

If it adds to development costs (honestly, it wouldn't take that much more effort), then you might have a point, but otherwise...

Guys...Rated M is RECOMMENDED for people 17 years and older. Well, I know people buy the game even if theyre just 12 or 11 but if you're parent's strict then maybe, JUST MAYBE, you shouldn't be playing the game till you reach that age just to be safe with your parents.

Ya know what? Be smart. Buy the game yourself, install it and hide it. Make sure your parents don't see it when you're playing it. Just wear an earphone and make sure you play the game when you're parents aren't home. If you have a shared computers then too bad. Just wait till your old enough.

I agree with the dude above though. You're old enough and mature enough. Talk with your parents about this stuff and I'm sure, if you persude them correctly, they will agree that you're old enough to handle all the...uhhh...vices..=p

First of all, yes, I suppose it is a win-win situation. No one has to use it if they don't want to, and its availability would be helpful to some people, so including it couldn't really be bad. That said...

[QUOTE="grabeh"]

Screw that. If your parents doesn't want you to buy games that's rated M or have "strong" language when you're already 15 (you said you're going to be 16 next september) then pleading for the devs to put filter on their games is the least of your problems.

Talk to your parents that you're already matured enough...

JP_Russell

Now, normally I wouldn't agree with that right away just because you're 15, but I do in this case. I can tell from the cohesion of your writing that you're more than mature enough for something as simple as some bad language. It sounds to me like your mother is only taking into account your age and not your personal level of maturity to rate what she should and shouldn't allow you to be exposed to, and that's just no good. You said yourself that you experience language at school, what difference does it make if you hear it in a game, as well? The language in the game is simply a realistic depiction of everyday life.

I could better understand restricting games with nudity or gratuitous violence (I still think someone of your maturity could handle that material, but I can still condone restrictions of it). But keeping you from playing a game for even having highly explicit language just seems, quite honestly, a bit ridiculous for someone at your level of mental and emotional maturity.

Anyway, again, I agree it wouldn't hurt to include language filters, I just don't think people like you should need it. You're beyond that.

is it possible to put this whole response in my sig? thanks for the serious post. I'm not trying to be conceited, but I really do think i'm more than mature enough to hear some language I hear everyday anyway. In most cultures throughout history, 13 or 14 was the age men started their own families and were expected to take responsibility for their own actions. I feel like some little kid who can't make his own choices and needs "protection" from the outside world. Our (American) culture does a wonderful job of babying people until they turn 18, then it throws them out there with no prior responsibilities and preparation. If a 14 year old Roman can start a family, I think I can take on the meager task of media decisions. I don't even want to play games with too much "questionable" content, but I really think that it is a decision I am well qualified to make by now.

Show your mom this and I can testify after beating Crysis that there is little language in the game. Very little, there are a few times that one of the characters says the S-Word in a cutscene here or there, but it's not like really obscene games like GTA that cuss alot.

And being that Crysis was made in germany, which has laws against things like ragdoll/body manipulation, there is no blood in the game unless you turn it on manually (and even then, the blood effects are really just a red blood decal on the floor where the person died, no bullet wounds, or gore).

It's a fairly clean game. It got an M rating because of the optional blood decals, and the S-word being said about 3-4 times the entire game.

I am selfish.

I rather have them put extra work in extra content, then on a filter.

However, if they have weaklinks in the teams, devs with bad idea. These guys could be re-assign to filters so they don't ruin the game with raiding, soul-meter, or whatever other bad idea they may have.

Filters even cause bugs. In Tabula Rasa, the devs ask the players to turn the filter off for a short while to correct a bug...

So...all in all...I don't want them, unless it keep devs who have to justify their salary with bad ideas busy. To avoid raiding, sure, filter all you want!

In reality, Let's face it: Content Filters don't work.

No one turns on the damn Filters anyways, why put them on? Swearing? Violence? Blood? Gore? Nudity? Anyone who's old enough to know what those are, and not really care, are obviously going to WANT to play that game specifically FOR THOSE reasons.

Kids play M Games, and there's not much that can prevent them from doing so. ESRB is just a Guideline for parents, and even Parents don't really care (but hopefully they're smart enough to not buy Non-Stop NudeBloodbath 83 for their 7 yearold kid). If parents don't want they're kid playing obscene games, they won't "just turn on the filter", they're going to not get the game, or burn the freakin thing!

All in All, Kids will play M Games, The Swearing, Gore, and Nudity will continue as long as people buy the game, and Content Filters don't work. The only Content Filter that actually works is No Game at All, and that only encourages kids to get the M game even more (how's THAT for irony?)

I dont see how adding language to a game will make it better. Sure, I dont mind a moderate amount, and it's not like I dont hear worse at school anyway, but my mom will not let me get games with strong language.

bachilders

It makes the dialogue more realistic. People swear a lot in real life. Natural dialogue is only a good thing.

As for the swear filter, I'd support it. But I think it would be easier to convince your mother that hearing it ingame won't affect a thing. You've heard all those words before, you hear them on a daily basis - even tell her that when you're not with her, you use those words. If she has two brain cells to rub together, she already knows that.

When I was young, whenever I had a conflict with my mother, I assaulted her with relentless logic. If she had no reasonable counter-argument, she usually gave in.

In reality, Let's face it: Content Filters don't work.

No one turns on the damn Filters anyways, why put them on? Swearing? Violence? Blood? Gore? Nudity? Anyone who's old enough to know what those are, and not really care, are obviously going to WANT to play that game specifically FOR THOSE reasons.

Kids play M Games, and there's not much that can prevent them from doing so. ESRB is just a Guideline for parents, and even Parents don't really care (but hopefully they're smart enough to not buy Non-Stop NudeBloodbath 83 for their 7 yearold kid). If parents don't want they're kid playing obscene games, they won't "just turn on the filter", they're going to not get the game, or burn the freakin thing!

All in All, Kids will play M Games, The Swearing, Gore, and Nudity will continue as long as people buy the game, and Content Filters don't work. The only Content Filter that actually works is No Game at All, and that only encourages kids to get the M game even more (how's THAT for irony?)

Starshootr

And those mature enough to really handle it, don't care that they're in the game at all. How's that for irony?

When I was young, whenever I had a conflict with my mother, I assaulted her with relentless logic. If she had no reasonable counter-argument, she usually gave in.

mfsa

Ohhh, you lucky bastard...

Can someone point out a film that has a different soundtrack / dialoguefor minors? A film rated "17" (for example) is a film for people 17yrs or older. They don't "filter" it, they don't record (or dub) the soundtrack / dialogue. And they don't make exceptions for the fact that your parents realise you ain't gonna swear at someone just 'cos they did in the film.

So, why should they do this to a game? If the game is rated "17" (again, just for example), it's because it's intended for that age & above. If parents allow 15 yr olds to watch said film or play said game, that's their business not the developers / publishers.

Don't forget that developers / publishers don't rate games. Rating boards do this. These boards are governed (& usually consist of) people who believecertain film / game content is, or could be, harmful to the viewer / player. I think this is ok and to a point, responsible enough.

What these boards have to do though is stop blaming murders, drugs, robberies etc' on films and games. Also these boards should consist of gamers & parents, not do-gooders with no kids & who have never played a game. They should also be shown all the serious crimes that went on before violence in films or games was available. It's just another excuse they use to try & understand why someone would do such a thing.

So, no, I don't think developers should have to spend months filtering, rewriting scripts, dubbing, recoding and recolouring gore etc.

It's not your fault your too young, but neither is it theirs...

dude show this to your parents! You should start hitting puberty and beginning to question your parents authority over you.
Plus are you mormon?bluebusiness

I dont question my parents authority over me because I try to be a responsible kid. Sure, I dont see eye to eye on many things with my parents, but that doesn'y change the fact that God put them in charge of me, and guess what I got that out of the Bible. Guess what else, it wasn't from the mormon bible. I can barely ride a bike, I'm not ready to ride around for 2 years with a suit on.

Sorry bro, I don't think there's much of an audience here for your suggestion.

This is a "video game" website after all and is naturally going to be heavily populated by a very young crowd. Keep your expectations low, there's really nothing wrong with the responses you are getting. However, please understand I'm not suggesting all younger people think one way, and all older people think another.

I like JP_Russell`s suggestion of explaining to your parents your maturity level, and that these are games, forms of media, and it's unlikely a level-headed person is going to be affected negatively.

Aside from that, search out some parent's groups and organizations, get your parents involved if you are looking for change.

Keep in mind though, these types of changes don't happen overnight. I'm thinking you'll be old enough to play whatever you want before you actually see the types of changes you are looking for :) If you feel strong enough about the issue, of course you can continue to persevere.

I still stand 100% behind my original statement: If there was some optional language filters in my favorite game (original version left intact of course), I wouldn't give a rip. Why should I? I didn't know they were in UT2K4 til you mentioned it.

Anyone thinks that will lead to complete elimination of language in games, whatever, smells like BS. Days where video games were just for kids are long gone, the industry knows that.

If someone seriously feels threatened by his suggestion/request - Muhahahahaha

/fin

I think a lot of the people on this forum are being unfair to the poster. I am a freshman in college, but when I was in high-school I had a similar M-rated game ban. This was due to the beliefs of my parents. There is nothing wrong with their moral beliefs, nor is the correct response to suggest that he should try to convince his parents otherwise. This post is merely commenting that the poster would buy more games if they had filters. Filters are hardly going to make a game cost the players more and they don't hurt the hard-core gamers, so as consumers I can think of no reason not to have them. I am not suggesting that game companies should HAVE to have them. Obviously they can do what they want, and will continue to make decisions that best help their bottom line.

Please stop giving reasons why this person SHOULD be able to play the game and respond to whether or not filters are good and if games are going to have them. A personal attack on his family is not cool.

O &@%& that ?!#%$ is @*$%@ $!#%@ #@%!#.............................................................. haha JK

I really don't see how it would be that hard.... just bleep them out like on TV.... I don't understand why a company wouldn't do it, such a simple option would sell more copies (maybe not a lot, but more)

being 15 or 16 years old doesn't mean you're mature, and the fact that your parents don't trust you enough is a proof. plus, you really have no right to complain, since your parents pay for the games you play and thehardware you play themwith and even the table where you put all those stuff on.

parents aren't automatically unreasonable. get some perspective and really start being a man -- and you'd see that gaming is the least of your concern.

the ops post looks like a first rate example of sarcasm, I just cant take parents like these seriously or this kind of child. You don't have to let your parents take control of you , you caN be in charge of your own life and do things you want and they will still love you not because of some rules written in a book of moral ethics but because instincts force them too. So misbehave they might be angry with you alot but youll always know they can never stop loving you so do what you want is the theme for this story go buy Crysis and keep playing it till your over protective mother burns the disk or something, have fun till then,,

lol.....you might be an aspiring individual, but you know next to nothing about being part of the family. a sad story that's happening in every modern family.

[QUOTE="mfsa"]

When I was young, whenever I had a conflict with my mother, I assaulted her with relentless logic. If she had no reasonable counter-argument, she usually gave in.

JP_Russell

Ohhh, you lucky bastard...

Quite. Publicly humiliating my mom was always an excellent plan B. :D