Kevin McCullough Issues An Apology, Kinda
We told you earlier this week about Kevin McCullough claiming that Mass Effect had "Customizeable Sodomy". Well after all the pressure from hordes of gamers, angry at the mis-truths in the article, he has issued the following apology.
Based on the multitude of response by gamers who share my concern for decency in the entertainment of our children, it is obvious that I had been misinformed on at least two points of substance in my original column.For this I DO apologize to the gaming universe!
His exact terms, if you recall, were that kids could "watch in crystal clear, LCD, 54 inch screen, HD clarity as the video game "persons" hump in every form, format, multiple, gender-oriented possibility they can think of."
I still do concur with my original position that the objectionable content in Mass Effect is still offensive, and should be kept out of the hands of those under age.Mass Effect fans have demonstrated that the three minute cuts on YouTube are only arrived at after hours of play. So in their argument the "percentage" of objectionable content is heavily outweighed by the overwhelming amount of content leading up to it. Point well made...
It is for me however the presence of the content at all that I reacted strongly too.
I can understand objecting to there being any kind of sexual content in games, if that offends. Blowing the game out of proportion and making wild claims on the content, that borders on propaganda. We can protect kids far better with rational discussion. Eventually, I hope, people will realize that just like most other media, games can be used to entertain children or as a medium for more mature dialogue and storytelling.
Gaming "M" ratings follow-up... [Townhall.com]
[via: Gamepolitics]
Sgt. Sausagepants
Posted to Video Games on 18 January 2008
· Comments (8)
Other stuff like this: Bioware, Kevin McCullough, Lesbian Aliens, Mass Effect, Sex
Eh, still a douchebag, because A. the game is not sold to kids (unless their dumbass parents buy it for them), and B. I think what really pissed off this socially conservative creep was the "lesbian" content. He would probably object to any depiction of lesbian sex, kissing, hand-holding, etc. (even though he probably gets off on it).
No, he's not still a douchebag. He thinks it should be kept out of the hands of children, he's not saying that it currently isn't. He's agreeing with the standards put in place, but hopes that we can get retailers to enforce them more.
And yeah, there are a lot of people who don't want their kids exposed to any form of homosexuality, but I think he meant that all kids shouldn't be exposed to sex in their video games- not lesbians.
I still have to wonder why he objects to mature content in a game intended for a mature audience. The gay content might be a factor but I think it's more about jumping on the video games are evil/ teh bad bandwagon.
I mean it's easy for people under 17 to get into R rated movies so why not object to those as well? I think Elle Woods said it best in Legally Blonde: "Why now? Why this sperm?" Er...video game...
But he gets points for admitting he was wrong although he suspiciously neglects to point out what it was he was wrong about.
So not quite a douchebag but still a bit of a weasel.
Uh, yeah, he was a douchebag when he wrote his original baseless rant, and he still is.
He admitted he was wrong about some very specific facts about the game, such as that you cannot modify your character's breasts or hump everything that moves.
He still didn't apologize for all the insults against gamers, he never acknowledged that the game is M rated in the first place, and he still maintains that a PG-13 love scene in any game is "objectionable" and should not appear in any form. And his rants have revealed his very sick imagination.
= major douchebag
His argument was NEVER merely that rated M games should not be sold to children, the gaming community has already been addressing that issue, and there would never have been a problem if that was his position.
He needs a pie in the face. (Feel free to interpret that sentence however you like.)
Still a douchbag, for one simple reason.
"Well, I sitll think that it's innappropriate for a M rated movie to depict sexual acts in any form."
..would get you laughed out of any debate. The fact that people have such double-standards for games is worrying.
And come on guys, he even uses the term "sodomy" to describe what he objects to, ffs. It's obvious it's the idea of gay/lesbian couplings that's got him all worked up.
I love that you guys are actually discussing this so in-depth.
I love our community.
well, if we didn't, we'd be just like him D: