VenusGaming

Via GamePolitics: Researchers have found that gamers are more drawn to the challenge of the game, and not the gore. In fact, gore was only preferred by the subgroup of people who are more aggressive.

Who woulda thought?

Of tender note, I think, is the following quote from Scott Rigby, president of Immersyve:

Much of the debate about game violence has pitted the assumed commercial value of violence against social concern about the harm it may cause. Our study shows that the violence may not be the real value component, freeing developers to design away from violence while at the same time broadening their market.

“Hey guys! We don’t have to make violent games anymore! We can make games about rainbows and unicorns so long as it’s challenging! We can get the government off our back now!”

. . . really, folks. How many of you had any belief that gore was a preferred mechanic over the actual challenge of the game? Just like true horror movie buffs don’t drool over a maggoty oozing zombie head, we don’t care that much if we’re violently decapitating someone or if we’re chatting with them to solve a quest. What matters is the fun value of the game. That’s right, we play games for fun!

Oh sure, I’m glad that this gore versus challenge study will bring some positive public awareness to the video game industry. And I’m glad it didn’t try to split this into a gender study - I want as little to do with prancing pink unicorns as the next Joe. Like other gamers, I’m shocked that “gore = good” was a commonly held belief. That violence equals success is a stereotypical push on the western, particularly United States, video game market. But gamers could have told you this a long time ago.

Oh well. Enjoy your expensive research results, dear ivory towers. We’ll keep doing what we always do.