Thunderbolt's Bart Robson interviews Replay Studios' Inga Mittendorf on their upcoming title 'Velvet Assassin'.
Interview Extract:
Bart Robson: Are comparisons to Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell fair to Velvet Assassin? Or do you feel it needs to be viewed differently?
Inga Mittendorf.: See, we have no problems with being compared with games like Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell as we do not see them as that similar to what we are trying to design. Of course, there are aspects we have in common as they are all stealth games. In fact, there are more things separating us from the rest of those games, for example the composition of our gameplay, the design and also the purpose of Velvet Assassin. No, we don't have a million different weapons with another million functions – because that is not what you need in a World War II scenario. We want to be close to reality, show people how cruel war can be, give insight into all kind of soldiers' souls and provide them with empathy. So you can only get the weapons that really existed at that time – and by the way you can only carry two at a time, because you are playing a female character that would not be able to sneak across five miles with five different rifles on her back. Velvet Assassin is meant to be authentic!
Games have changed dramatically from where they were more than two decades ago. What were once small, 8-bit characters on our SNES or Genesis have now become a façade of real flesh on our screens. It’s an incredible triumph for the industry, but with all this realism, how safe is it for children to play violent video games?
Is it credible to say that children may be slightly affected by what they see in video games? Could they be influenced by what they see in this media form to act violently upon others? Watch the video above and let me know!
I do think they are affected. Affected as in the way they play with their mates when they're 7. (When I say play with their mates I mean toy guns etc)
Not growing up to be fuck-nuggets who blow shit up.
But movies done that for me when I was a boy, not really games.
But as you say, games are now more realistic so they'll probably substitute todays generations void of Arnold Schwarzenegger Aly Stallone films that we had.
Being a father of 4 sons, I know that anything can affect your children negatively, if allowed. I am very careful in what I let my kids watch and play. I have tried to make sure they are grounded in reality, but can have fun in a fantasy. In the same way premature exposure to pornography corrupted my young mind, I believe violence can do the same.
Yeah, but so can movies, music, books, parents, adults and even other children.
So what's so special about games? other than the fact the word "game" implies they are for children, the simple fact being though that many are not.
Yes. Most people don't know that negative affects don't only mean blowing stuff up or shooting a bunch of people.
Sure. But please blame parenting, mental disorders, and upbringing before we scapegoat media all the time.
Why are we so afraid to blame humans for what humans do and simply say movies, video games, TV is the problem. Ever thought the people who did this are the problem.
I had to write a ten page paper on this. It's just so sad.
I agree wholeheartedly with your comment. I find it so silly that President Obama is funding more than ten million dollars in research to understand this. Video games may trigger some effect, but the real catalysts to youth violence are bad parenting and bad upbringing. You’re right, it’s definitely sad. I hope you did well on your paper though.
Yes, they definitely can. Isn't that why we have ratings? I think even those little phone games can do good though, as they keep the mind active, and encourage problem solving. In saying that, I wouldn't let my angel watch a sex scene from The Witcher 2, or play The Darkness 2.
Games are good and bad, just like anything else in life. It is like banning cars because some people die from them. Humans have to adapt and deal with these things. Life has never been a case of one answer.
You're definitely one of the better parents out there. Great job in setting ground rules for your kid when it comes to gaming!
I’ve been talking to a few parents regarding the rating system in video games. As it turns out, a lot of them are unaware of what these ratings mean! There definitely needs to be more education on parental controls in gaming. A lot of parents may just be oblivious to this entire situation.
Dorkly writes: Studios can close for all kinds of reasons – talent has moved away, bankruptcy, breaking off into smaller entities, EA – but when that happens, their deaths are often not noticed nor remembered by the gamers who played their products. Some properties are bought by larger distributors, and many more are simply forgotten forever. We wish to remember some fallen studios and their finest games. These are 8 of the best videogames made by closed studios.
Megabits of Gaming looks at five of its favourite gaming characters who have bad or slightly seedy habits
As much as i like Kratos, i still like Solid Snake better but that's just me.
What? There are people who like Kratos? Guy is a bag of dicks. Liking Kratos is akin to admiring Joseph Stalin for his genocide of the Soviet people
It's not like Kratos is Hitler or anything. I just like him cause he is a true badass. It's not like Kratos is causing genocide.
Another news story with a... lets just say 'pleasing' image... with hardly any comments. Shocking.
No PS3 version has been announced.
http://www.velvetassassin.c...
I can't find the announcment this is the only proof I have.