Anyone else burned out on games centered around killing things?

I am a long time gamer, now in my mid-twenties going through a bit of a gaming crisis. I gazed at my game shelf, looking for something to play. I stood and observed games I love and have practically played to death in the last couple of years. Halo 3, Fallout 3, Dead Space, Oblivion, Assassin's Creed, The Orange Box, Fable 2, Grand Theft Auto 4, and Condemned. Not to mention some of my favorite Xbox games like KOTOR, Doom 3, Silent Hill 2 and 4, and Deus Ex. Some of my favorite games of all time include Shenmue on the dreamcast, Mario on every nintendo console, Banjo Kazooie, and Zelda games. I suddenly came to the realization that all of those games involve arming your in game avatar with weapons and killing enemies with those weapons, some more graphically violent than others. This is a simple mechanic, one that speaks to the very base human instinct of self defense and preservation. More often than not, the player is cast in the role of the moral high ground, or hero, and kills in the name of a cause or at least self interest.

I tried thinking of games I love that did not involve this device. The only ones I could come up with are Shenmue, Jet Grind Radio, Sonic Adventure. I'm not trying to draw a correlation between sega titles, just making the observation. I am totally aching for new games, but the lineup this holiday, with the star being Modern Warfare 2, is completely uninteresting to me. The only title I want to pick up is Assassin's Creed 2. I feel like I've played every shooter already. Admittedly, I have not played MW2 yet, but what can it really offer as far as an engaging experience that I have not had before? Not to mention the endless parade of sequels and genre rehashings.

My question being, does anyone else feel this way? I have a feeling games have been centered on a western idea of mythology, where the hero with a righteous cause defeats his enemies and good eventually wins over evil. Should I just accept this fact and get over it? Should I just give up on gaming alltogether? I believe in the medium as an art form, but lately it has just felt stale and violent. If anyone has any good recommendations of games, (I am totally picking up The new mario brothers wii and Okami) please let me know. And what are the alternatives? Puzzles and Cooking Mama?

EDIT: To comply with forum rules, I should correct my post. I am not asking for recommendations, but rather input on types of game mechanics and perhaps a philosophical discussion of how games as an art form can evovle beyond a simple killing mechanic.

Try Banjo Kazooie Nuts and bolts I love that game, probably because i grew up with it when i was about 7-8 i'm now 18 but still found it fun. Or buy a Wii.

I actually picked up Viva Pinata for this very reason. You're not alone. But I can't understand why you would give up on gaming all together. Modern Warfare is quite entertaining when the mood is right, and if I don't feel like dealing with other people I hop on Left 4 Dead 2. This is really the only way you can keep yourself from getting bored of countless pointless killing.

Pick up the Sims, or maybe even Viva Pinata. What about a game where you build a community, garden, city, a game where you live someone's life, etc... All of these games excist, they aren't all violent. Portal 2 was a puzzle game, Magic was a decent enough card game, Monkey Island was a great RPG where you didn't kill a single person (Except for the final boss of course). Did you ever try Braid? It's a beautiful and my favorite platformer. Or any of the Rock Band games? A racing game perhaps? I've heard great things from Forza 3.

I think you're forgetting that there are still non-violent games on the 360 that have awed us, games with great reviews from critics, that don't involve any sort of violence.

I actually picked up Viva Pinata for this very reason. You're not alone. But I can't understand why you would give up on gaming all together. Modern Warfare is quite entertaining when the mood is right, and if I don't feel like dealing with other people I hop on Left 4 Dead 2. This is really the only way you can keep yourself from getting bored of countless pointless killing.

Pick up the Sims, or maybe even Viva Pinata. What about a game where you build a community, garden, city, a game where you live someone's life, etc... All of these games excist, they aren't all violent. Portal 2 was a puzzle game, Magic was a decent enough card game, Monkey Island was a great RPG where you didn't kill a single person (Except for the final boss of course). Did you ever try Braid? It's a beautiful and my favorite platformer. Or any of the Rock Band games? A racing game perhaps? I've heard great things from Forza 3.

I think you're forgetting that there are still non-violent games on the 360 that have awed us, games with great reviews from critics, that don't involve any sort of violence.

DamianAlexander

Viva Pinata. Good buy :D i loved that game when it first came out.

I like the idea of Viva Pinata, and I have not played that yet. And I think I will have to buy BK: Nuts and Bolts.

I also forgot about great arcade titles that I've played like trials hd and 'splosion man.

If you're sick of killing things in games just don't buy games where you kill things

Seriously, it's not that complicated

The 360 is full of titles where you don't kill things, I'm not sure why you're going out of your way not to buy them and instead overload on games to the point that you're sick of them but if you feel like looking there's tons of choices for you

My game collection is quite varied. If I get sick of one genre, I'll play another. I played Peggle for about two hours a few days ago. Well worth the 400 points to download.

I guess my intention was to start a discussion of the prevalence of this mechanic and why it is so, not to complicate a simple issue.

It is not simply a matter of ratings or levels of violence, but the paradigm of games today. What does a game look like that does not involve defeating enemies or a goals and reward system?

Oh, and I've wasted many hours on Peggle on PC. It's tons of fun, but what does one take away from hours shooting balls at pegs?

What does one take away from playing any video game? Nothing more than accomplishment and entertainment. If you're looking for a game without a reward system, a game with no plot, and a game with no point go pick up E.T. (If you can get yourself a copy of it)

Edit: And really, why would you even want a game with no point/goal? What kind of game would that be? You couldn't even classify a movie or book with "No point, no genre" film/novel. The reason why games give out Goals and rewards is to entertain, and without a sense of entertainment what's the point of playing video games?

What does a game look like that does not involve defeating enemies or a goals and reward system?

xplea4peacex

That's not a game

You're looking for a screen saver

What does one take away from playing any video game? Nothing more than accomplishment and entertainment. If you're looking for a game without a reward system, a game with no plot, and a game with no point go pick up E.T. (If you can get yourself a copy of it)

DamianAlexander

I see your point. I tend to think that art says something about the world and reality and becomes as much of an interaction with the viewer as it is a creation of the artist. Games have a uniqiue ability to enable viewer interaction. Entertainment seems like a worhtwhile goal, but not a good in and of itself.

Is plot and narrative necessary for an engaging experience? film and television would tell us that, but why do games have to rely on the same paradigm?

Oh, and I've wasted many hours on Peggle on PC. It's tons of fun, but what does one take away from hours shooting balls at pegs?

xplea4peacex

You said it yourself - Tons of fun.

I think you're overthinking this whole situation. Games have goals so you have something to do while playing it. If it didn't, the average gamer would get bored. Games aren't the only medium that follow this path, movies do to. Most movies take you from one place to another. I supose it's like a goal for the movie. Granted, lots of movies play out through character discussion and interaction, with very little action or killing. I suppose a similar approach could be tried for games but it would be a risk for the development studio. The mindset of gamers will have to change first.

Ultimately I think lots of games focus on killing because that's what gamers want. The publishers are just providing a product for that market.

You said it yourself - Tons of fun.

I think you're overthinking this whole situation. Games have goals so you have something to do while playing it. If it didn't, the average gamer would get bored. Games aren't the only medium that follow this path, movies do to. Most movies take you from one place to another. I supose it's like a goal for the movie. Granted, lots of movies play out through character discussion and interaction, with very little action or killing. I suppose a similar approach could be tried for games but it would be a risk for the development studio. The mindset of gamers will have to change first.

Ultimately I think lots of games focus on killing because that's what gamers want. The publishers are just providing a product for that market.

I like the movie appraoch to games, which I enjoyed in games like Mass Effect that employ cinematic dialogue and environment exploration. And even the killing was fun.

I find your points about studio risk in creating innovative games interesting. Ultimately it is our fault that we get the same things over and over again, and I know this is nothing new.

Am I overthinking or am I thinking outside the box?

I see your point. I tend to think that art says something about the world and reality and becomes as much of an interaction with the viewer as it is a creation of the artist. Games have a uniqiue ability to enable viewer interaction. Entertainment seems like a worhtwhile goal, but not a good in and of itself.

Is plot and narrative necessary for an engaging experience? film and television would tell us that, but why do games have to rely on the same paradigm?

xplea4peacex

[QUOTE="DamianAlexander"]

What does one take away from playing any video game? Nothing more than accomplishment and entertainment. If you're looking for a game without a reward system, a game with no plot, and a game with no point go pick up E.T. (If you can get yourself a copy of it)

xplea4peacex

I see your point. I tend to think that art says something about the world and reality and becomes as much of an interaction with the viewer as it is a creation of the artist. Games have a uniqiue ability to enable viewer interaction. Entertainment seems like a worhtwhile goal, but not a good in and of itself.

Is plot and narrative necessary for an engaging experience? film and television would tell us that, but why do games have to rely on the same paradigm?

Because video games are just an extension of television and movies/films. The soul reason behind video games is to partake in the movie, it's to be a part of the story, to interact in the moment, to live the adventure, to shape the ending upon your choices.. In a movie you are a bystander, a viewer, in a video game you're the actor, following a limited script, by a director you either know a love (Like a video game company you've grown up with), or a brand new one where you hope he puts a fresh new start on an old idea.

You said it yourself - Tons of fun.

I think you're overthinking this whole situation. Games have goals so you have something to do while playing it. If it didn't, the average gamer would get bored. Games aren't the only medium that follow this path, movies do to. Most movies take you from one place to another. I supose it's like a goal for the movie. Granted, lots of movies play out through character discussion and interaction, with very little action or killing. I suppose a similar approach could be tried for games but it would be a risk for the development studio. The mindset of gamers will have to change first.

Ultimately I think lots of games focus on killing because that's what gamers want. The publishers are just providing a product for that market.

[QUOTE="xplea4peacex"]

I like the movie appraoch to games, which I enjoyed in games like Mass Effect that employ cinematic dialogue and environment exploration. And even the killing was fun.

I find your points about studio risk in creating innovative games interesting. Ultimately it is our fault that we get the same things over and over again, and I know this is nothing new.

Am I overthinking or am I thinking outside the box?

xplea4peacex

Thinking outside the box? What would you do different to change the idea?

How do you change the Odyssey? The Iliad?

Edit: Quote fail. And Spelling...

Wow...Good question. I'm not sure really. I understand that conventions do not simply appear out of nowhere, but they are there because they work and work well. I do not think it is a question of technology either, as far as our ability to create an expereince without defeating enemies. Would a fully reactive three dimensional virtual reality be able to engage without creator defined goals and rewards? I don't know.

How about live action watercolor?

Wow...Good question. I'm not sure really. I understand that conventions do not simply appear out of nowhere, but they are there because they work and work well.

How about live action watercolor? haha

xplea4peacex

It's called Xbox LIVE Parties. :D

[QUOTE="xplea4peacex"]

Wow...Good question. I'm not sure really. I understand that conventions do not simply appear out of nowhere, but they are there because they work and work well.

How about live action watercolor? haha

DamianAlexander

It's called Xbox LIVE Parties. :D

And what an awesome tool xbox live is for putting people in the same game world together! Shooters are more fun like this, but what employs this technology that does not involve killing your fellow gamer, or killing with him in co-op mode?

Hmm only games I can recommend from my collection are Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Rock Band 2, Burnout Paradise, and Prince of Persia.

[QUOTE="DamianAlexander"]

[QUOTE="xplea4peacex"]

Wow...Good question. I'm not sure really. I understand that conventions do not simply appear out of nowhere, but they are there because they work and work well.

How about live action watercolor? haha

xplea4peacex

It's called Xbox LIVE Parties. :D

And what an awesome tool xbox live is for putting people in the same game world together! Shooters are more fun like this, but what employs this technology that does not involve killing your fellow gamer, or killing with him in co-op mode?

Hey, you use Xbox LIVE Parties as you see fix, some of us use it as we simply sit idle by our computers. (As I'm doing right now)

Edit: QUOTE FAIL!

judging by your gamercard, you seem to enjoy the killing games. But if you're looking for no killing games try:

Forza 3

Viva Pinata

DJ Hero

Rock Band 2 (or Rock Band: The Beatles)

Guitar Hero V

Uno

Lumines Live

Burnout Paradise

Sonic The Hedgehog 1,2,3 (they're robots, so you're not killing)

Lots of awsome games out there that dont requre you to kill stuff. But i know what you mean - there really are alot of games where u kill suff. Maybe its because you cant kill in real life and get away with it(most cases) so they give you the power to kill in games.

What does one take away from playing any video game? Nothing more than accomplishment and entertainment. If you're looking for a game without a reward system, a game with no plot, and a game with no point go pick up E.T. (If you can get yourself a copy of it)

Edit: And really, why would you even want a game with no point/goal? What kind of game would that be? You couldn't even classify a movie or book with "No point, no genre" film/novel. The reason why games give out Goals and rewards is to entertain, and without a sense of entertainment what's the point of playing video games?

DamianAlexander

What does one take away [from anything in life]? Nothing more than accomplishment and entertainment. If you're looking for [a life] without a reward system, a [life] with no plot, and [a life] with no point go [for it]. (If you can [stand it], and search for your own purpose and path)

Edit: And really, why would you even want [a life] with no point/goal? What kind of [a life] would that be? You couldn't even classify a movie or book with "No point, no genre" film/novel. The reason why [life] give out Goals and rewards is to entertain, and without a sense of entertainment what's the point of playing [life]?

How about a healing mechanic? Every played Trauma Center? (DS, Wii) At their heart I guess they are a Puzzle game, but with constant attention to action, prioritization, and healing instead of killing. I guess you are trying to kill the disease though... The Rhythm genre, rock band and the like... no killing involved. What mechanic is there in life other than killing or keeping up with the Jones? That is why so many games involve it, it is humanities "only" goals... or at least the world would have you think.raahsnavj

he's looking to learn things from these virtual experiences. rhythm heaven is great, but like peggle, i think you'd be clutching at straws if you tried to 'take something away from them'; to meditate on them or something.

here's my take on it all...

it's true that most games are limited in what the player can potentially 'say'. if you think about a game as a conversation between player and world, or player and designer, then most of those would be destructive fights or arguments. but if you look at what some other games try to say, like super metroid, rez, or shadow of the colossus, then you can experience for yourself the capacity for a lot more than pointless destruction.

'raahsnavj' is correct in saying that there are guns and violence in games because there are guns and violence in life. but there is another reason. shooting in a game is purely symbolic for a form of interaction and change - so it's merely a case of developers' using their imagination more, to mask the images, or let players customize how things are represented in-game.

i'm writing an essay on this very subject at the moment. all i can say is, look at what the game is trying to say, and how you're able to speak with the control pad. you can 'read' any game, in any way.