I don’t want to sound like some sort of uncool parent, but I really do think that video games are getting a little bit too violent. Not in the sense of the things you can do within each individual game being extremely violent — I really couldn’t care less — but when it comes to violent games outweighing the games that would be deemed suitable for families and children to play, I think that needs to be discussed.
I work in a shop that sells a lot of video games; I can’t say which one but video games are what occupy the vast majority of the store. One of the things I come across most when I’m working is parents inquiring about purchasing a console, typically either a PS4 or an Xbox One, for themselves and for their children to use as well.
As an example scenario: Mum and Dad have seen the likes of DOOM, Grand Theft Auto V, Fallout 4 and Uncharted 4, alongside a small list of other games, and have had their interests peaked into investing in a PS4. They aren’t too sure whether or not they can justify spending upwards of £350 unless they can find some games that their young child can play, and that they can play as a family. I explain that as far as it goes for games suitable for their children, there are only a select number of games available on the PS4, with the Xbox One having a similar selection of games, and most of the child friendly and family games are almost all to be found on the Wii U. They explain that they specifically want either a PS4 or an Xbox One for the more adult orientated adventure games that they won’t be able to experience on the Wii U and that they think that they’re going to wait a while for either the price of the consoles to come down, or for more family friendly games to be released. They then proceed to walk away empty handed, with nothing but food for thought.
The true realization that video games are being targeted almost exclusively to an adult audience is one that I never thought I’d have to face, mainly because I’ve always looked at video games as glorified toys. I know people might respond to this claiming that this isn’t true and games have evolved from what they once were, and that’s totally fine, but try to name at least 10 games that have come out this generation that would typically be classed as age appropriate for children. If you don’t include any of the LEGO, Skylanders and Disney Infinity games, your list becomes quite hard to form, right? I just took a glance over at my bookcase (I don’t keep any books on the bookcase), and that glance turned into a gaze of me searching for games that were definitely created with a family audience in mind. LitteBigPlanet 3, Ratchet & Clank and Tearaway Unfolded are the only games on my PS4 shelf that I can say were definitely developed a younger audience in mind, and that genuinely saddens me to a certain extent.
When I was younger, the games that I used to play would be games like Super Mario 64, Spyro the Dragon, Crash Bandicoot, Banjo Kazooie, Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time, Croc: Legend of the Gobbos, and so many other games that I still love to this day. All of the games mentioned all sported a cartoonish art style and were most definitely marketed towards younger audiences. The technology was way less advanced when it came rendering graphics, so that may be the exception as to why more realistic games weren’t available, but games such as Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy VII existed and they had graphics that were considered realistic for their time. Tomb Raider was essentially the 1996 version of Uncharted and that was released the same year that Crash Bandicoot was, so why is it that in 2016 we don’t see lighthearted platforming titles being released as AAA games alongside games of a more serious tone?
Up until Ratchet & Clank was released, I didn’t think that I’d ever see another platformer being released as a AAA game. Sad, isn’t it? That video games have come so far that a AAA title that isn’t rated 16+ or above being released is a specialty? Well, despite it being a pleasant surprise, Ratchet & Clank sold incredibly well,. It also received critical acclaim, and it made a statement that family titles can be released and succeed in today’s market. Whether to not the success of Ratchet & Clank will change the type of games we see being brought out as big budget releases, we’ll have to wait and see. What can be asked though is if the reason video games have seen a decline in games suited towards younger gamers is has the industry grown up with the players? If that’s the case, then the games being released nowadays are still being marketed towards the same people, right? That’s what it would seem.
What’s sad to see as well is the lack of people buying the Wii U. I know Nintendo haven’t marketed the machine very well, but to see the titans fall so far since releasing the console back in 2012 is just a tragic state of affairs considering how successful they were with the Wii.
It may not be as powerful as the PS4 or the Xbox One, but in my personal opinion the Wii U is the best console that money can buy right now. It has fantastic exclusives that players of any age can enjoy, the ability to play all the pre-existing Wii games and even download a vast array of classic games via the means of the virtual console. Maybe it’s just me being an undeniable Nintendo nerd, but I just don’t understand why people haven’t bought the Wii U. Yeah, it may not have DOOM, Grand Theft Auto V, Fallout 4 and Uncharted 4, but equally the PS4 and Xbox One don’t have The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario 3D World, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros. and Nintendo Land, so it really is just down to personal taste. People’s general taste in recent years has definitely veered towards the more serious side of the market, which is totally fine — people can play whatever they want. I just don’t understand why Nintendo have turned into the company that people don’t take seriously and are almost looked at as a joke. I’ve had people at work think I’m joking and laugh whenever I recommend a Wii U to them over a PS4 or Xbox One. It’s seriously sad.
Nintendo aren’t a joke guys, even though the Wii U sales figures are.