Debates have been sparking up more recently regarding the inclusion of adult only content in mainstream games. Hence, pushing the rating of the title up to the AO (i.e., Adults Only) standard. This was hotly discussed last year when Rockstar’s Manhunt 2 was slapped with the ‘AO’ rating due to the abrasive and gritty depiction of violence. The real question, though, is whether or not such content needs to be in the game in the first place.

When you really dissect the argument for content that pushes a game to the brink of ‘M’ and over into the realm of ‘AO’, you end up doing one thing as an advocate for the ‘AO’ rating: justifying the exchange of creativity for shock value. In regards to violence, there’s pretty much nothing that’s off limits to Mature rated games as it is – so what more could you possibly get out of the game with an ‘AO’ rating? Ninja Gaiden II has managed to secure a Mature rating despite being able to maim, brutally mutilate, and plain out create a literal blood bath from enemy body parts. And if the ESRB is content with Ninja Gaiden II’s Mature rating, you would just have to question what kind of violence would push the game into the Adults Only territory? But even more so, who could stomach anything more violent than that?

A while back some developers were discussing the limitations of realism when it comes to gore in shooter games. Basically it was stated that war games are always pushing for more realism, but that the necessity of brains oozing out of someone’s head, after getting shot above the ear, just wasn’t cool. Realistically, who would want to play a game like Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan? The cinematic and presentation effects would be breathtaking...but seeing someone’s entrails slowly spill out, as they scream and crawl across a blood-drenched beach, is simply repulsive. A game like that no longer becomes fun.

This same issue also applies for pushing for more sex-related ‘AO’ content. In the May issue of Game Informer, Pete Wanat (i.e., the man behind the foul-mouthed, testicle-shooting Scarface: The World is Yours and Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay) discussed his idea of what Tomb Raider would be like if he were heading up the creative team (e.g., complete nudity, tons of violence and lesbian action.) While some gamers might be frothing at the mouth at such thoughts, let me remind you that Illusion Studios already caters to that kind of content. Although, the critics are always less than pleased at the publisher’s results. The only difference in this case is that Mr. Wanat is talking about taking such content mainstream.

Forgive me if I seem out of line, but isn’t game designing about creativity not man-nerd fantasies? I was almost appalled at Pete Wanat’s description for Tomb Raider, because it had nothing to do with creativity...gaming wise it sounded like the same old crap with multiple-choices in porn-related story progressions. His plea for Adult Only content as an acceptable rating for mainstream gaming was a rant against mainstream regulation for licentious content. This is not to say that mature subject matter should be withheld from the mainstream gaming community altogether. Developers such as BioWare managed to incorporate mature, sexually related content in Mass Effect while maintaining the ‘M’ rating. Quantic Dream managed to do the same thing with Indigo Prophecy. In both cases the mature content wasn’t made to overshadow the actual game or detract from the storytelling...something that ‘AO’ rated games are bound to do, no matter how good they might be.

Even some ‘M’ rated games happen to overstep their boundaries with inordinate content; Rockstar’s original Manhunt was, in fact, criticized by game reviewers for its ultra-violence. The Punisher was another game that had critics on the fringe of glorifying the game as much as confessing their contempt for it (e.g., due to the gruesome tortures). Now if ‘M’ rated games could muster up disdain from gamers, what kind of response would an ‘AO’ game garner?

Until creativity starts running thin in the gaming industry, I think it’s safe to say that Adult Only games can wait on the back burner. Besides, I’m still waiting for an action game that sports AI opponents that are more cunning, clever and quick-witted than human players.