How much violence is OK for a video game?

[Wooderson]

GTA: They are generally very comical, and not taken seriously. The degree to which the civilians react to their own demise is not all that personal, or up-close either.

Hatred: At least from the trailer, the game treats the deaths, and fear of the civilians MUCH more seriously (As in darker). You have people literally crying, and begging for mercy in a way that is never seen in the more light-hearted GTA and the player can go ahead and kill them anyways.


So the reason I think this has turned out offensive for many people is that while you are doing the same thing that you do in GTA it is much much darker, and shock inducing.

Reminds of the argument about the representation of violence and how comic violence is more acceptable than a more realistic violence. I mean, if you show the horrific consequences of the pain you have caused then its more likely to strike a more emotional response. Whether it be that you dislike it because its horrific or if you get a kick out of it because you're a sadist.