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[Samus4145]

Lucius - That kid killed innocent people for fun.

 

[Count of Monte Sawed-Off]

I always wanted some kind of first person Friday the 13th game where you played as Jason. I remember back in the day when A Nightmare on Elm Street NES was announced and you were supposed to play as Freddy. But then it came out and you were the dorky kids.

 

[JNA]

GTA? Saints Row?

There are plenty of games like this.

 

[AkuMifune]

So, I was playing Oblivion.

And I was role-playing as the good guy, you know? Doing all the quests. Saving all the people. This was before I even started any of the Guild quests, like Dark Brotherhood.

Eventually, I started getting the urge to kill. Not anyone in particular, but definitely a human or at least a humanoid.

So, I went into the central city, the one with all the townhomes or duplexes or whatever the fuck they are, and I picked my target. Some woman (oh, god) who was walking alone. I saved the game, got into the gear that was best for stealth, and I followed her into an alley.

That's when I snuck up behind her and killed her.

Basically, I have already played a game where I am a straight up serial killer.

Yeah, once I played Oblivion super drunk, and the next day I booted up my game to find a house full of dead naked people and I was in bed with one of them, and I was also naked. So basically blacked out and became a serial killer.

But if someone actually made like a Nightstalker game where you play as Richard Ramirez, that would be hard to get through. It would have to be a fictional serial killer for me to even consider it.

 

[SDCowboy]

GTA? Saints Row?

There are plenty of games like this.

Why do people keep mentioning these? The title says a legit serial killer game. I would assume that entails more than going ham in GTA.

 

[Marcel]

So, I was playing Oblivion.

And I was role-playing as the good guy, you know? Doing all the quests. Saving all the people. This was before I even started any of the Guild quests, like Dark Brotherhood.

Eventually, I started getting the urge to kill. Not anyone in particular, but definitely a human or at least a humanoid.

So, I went into the central city, the one with all the townhomes or duplexes or whatever the fuck they are, and I picked my target. Some woman (oh, god) who was walking alone. I saved the game, got into the gear that was best for stealth, and I followed her into an alley.

That's when I snuck up behind her and killed her.

Basically, I have already played a game where I am a straight up serial killer.

Criminal scum.

 

[Starviper]

Meh, I could just play any Grand Theft Auto game and go on a killing spree without a care in the world.

Spoiler

I'm sure the cops would like that.

But If there's a legit game like manhunt where a story around it would work then sure.

Sure you can just go on killing spree's in GTA, but I still think that's quite different from a game where you're just a killer, straight up. In GTA it's just for funsies, rather than it being the main point of the game.

I think what the OP is asking is more like if a game where you're just a serial killer were to exist, would you play it?

 

[mctelinde]

Funny you mention this now. I'm watching the season of Dexter where the intern/game programmer tries to impress Dexter by creating a game where you can choose to play as several serial killers, including

Spoiler

Dex himself

, the "Bay Harbor Butcher."

I could probably play a game based on Dexter or that follows the same philosophy, but I don't think I could play as a mindless, malicious serial killer that hunts innocent victims.

 

[JNA]

Now THAT would be something.

 

[megalowho]

I find the tone of games like Manhunt and Postal to be be grosser than the actual violence in those games. Lots of other less overtly murderous games have you mowing down hundreds of civilians for whatever reason, but a core conceit of "you're a serial killer" has never been a power fantasy I've been interested in and it's hard to strike a tone that isn't kind of revolting without doing the concept justice.

 

[Ralemont]

But thats what UC and TR etc are. You are straight up stalking and murdering people Zodiac style. Maybe not for gratification (or who knows maybe it is that) but still.

Uh, no. The people you kill in UC and TR are mercenaries or murderous, rapey cultists or something in between. They are not innocents.

I just don't see this gameplay being fun. If the devs design being a serial killer as fun, then it'll be a disturbing game and no one would do that. So it'd have to be some bizarre satire, but even satires like American Psycho were ripped apart for what it depicts. I feel the devs would have to make the gameplay decidely un-fun to make a point that you aren't supposed to enjoy it...but you are supposed to enjoy it as it's a video game.

There's only so many times I'll press X to sob under Mom's portrait before I get bored or creeped out in a bad way.

 

[Floridian]

Sure you can just go on killing spree's in GTA, but I still think that's quite different from a game where you're just a killer, straight up. In GTA it's just for funsies, rather than it being the main point of the game.

I think what the OP is asking is more like if a game where you're just a serial killer were to exist, would you play it?

In that case, yeah I would.

 

[ViviOggi]

Hard to say without more context really, what type of game is it? What's the end goal? What is the narrative like?

Like, I enjoyed the first season of Dexter for example but a sandbox-type, pseudo-realistic "press A for awesome" murder sim without much narrative merit wouldn't interest me in the slightest.

 

[Furyous]

Call of Duty? Does No Russian count? Technically, mowing down millions of enemies with families in the name of 'Merica counts as serial killing to some people. I'm team America by the way.

Does Spec Ops the line count?

 

[ebullientprism]

lol. I hate when people pretend like you aren't killing in UC/TR because someone's trying to kill you first. Especially Tomb Raider. Stop trying to make me feel sorry for those guys--they were literally the worst sort of people.

I think at some point when you are burying your axe into some guy who happens to be your 583 victim (just because he happened to be there in your path), its not unreasonable to question whether you are a psychopath.

 

[The Cool One]

Would hotline Miami count?

 

[JNA]

Why do people keep mentioning these? The title says a legit serial killer game. I would assume that entails more than going ham in GTA.

Does Fallout 3 count? You can be a legit serial killer in that game both story wise and gameplay wise.

 

[Krejlooc]

I want creative assembly to do predator next, where you play as dutch hunting the predator while the predator hunts you. I dont really want to murder innocent people, but hunting a predator would be fun.

 

[Floridian]

I'm going to assume with this type of game, the protagonist has no conscious and would probably be silent. Again, I would have to see what type of storyline there could be revolving around him/her to see if there's any depth around the serial killer's actions.

 

[GYNGA]

I would if it was a good game that I'm interested in. I played Manhunt 2 and quite liked it

 

[SDCowboy]

I find the tone of games like Manhunt and Postal to be be grosser than the actual violence in those games. Lots of other less overtly murderous games have you mowing down hundreds of civilians for whatever reason, but a core conceit of "you're a serial killer" has never been a power fantasy I've been interested in and it's hard to strike a tone that isn't kind of revolting without doing the concept justice.

But couldn't it be argued that a "good" serial killer game should cause those negative feelings? I mean, not every game is supposed to make you feel warm and fuzzy. A good game, like any story experience, should make the player feel strong emotions. Good, bad or otherwise.

 

[IAmRandom31]

like stalking victims and planning out the murders and such?

Yeah would not play it.

 

[Marcel]

But couldn't it be argued that a good serial killer game should cause those negative feelings? I mean, not every game is supposed to make you feel warm and fuzzy. A good game, like any story experience, should make the player feel strong emotions. Good, bad or otherwise.

Postal.

Good game.

Pick one.

 

[Elysium-777]

Something like this would work, if it was similar to L.A Noire, but with the roles reversed.

You would stalk your victim for a few days, and see their habits, and schedules. Check out their house for any vulnerabilities, and watch for any other family members.

Once you actually commit the deed. The police would launch an investigation and look for fingerprints, and question neighbors. If you were seen by a neighbor, you may have to intimidate them, or outright kill them.



Overall the game would be a big cat and mouse game between you and a hard boiled detective with nothing to lose. Preferably open world.

 

[Vilam]

Manhunt was great, so sure... I'd have no problem playing a game as a serial killer.

 

[lem0n]

Hell yeah I would. I loved the Manhunt games for their sheer brutality

Something like this would work, if it was similar to L.A Noire, but with the roles reversed.

You would stalk your victim for a few days, and see their habits, and schedules. Check out their house for any vulnerabilities, and watch for any other family members.

Once you actually commit the deed. The police would launch an investigation and look for fingerprints, and question neighbors. If you were seen by a neighbor, you may have to intimidate them, or outright kill them.



Overall the game would be a big cat and mouse game between you and a hard boiled detective with nothing to lose. Preferably open world.

This is amazing. No one has the balls to do it though. Would be rad set in the 70s or something

 

[Krejlooc]

Once you actually commit the deed. The police would launch an investigation and look for fingerprints, and question neighbors. If you were seen by a neighbor, you may have to intimidate them, or outright kill them.

Withour getting too spoiler-y, although it largely didnt succeed in its goal, heavy rain at least attempted this. There is an achievement for the "worst" ending called "the perfect crime"

 

[Dragonborn]

Sure, why not? I'm open to all sorts of games.

 

[IcyStorm]

Call of Duty? Does No Russian count? Technically, mowing down millions of enemies with families in the name of 'Merica counts as serial killing to some people. I'm team America by the way.

No Russian wouldn't count because it's multiple murders committed during a single event.

Why do people keep mentioning these? The title says a legit serial killer game. I would assume that entails more than going ham in GTA.

Because if you go by the definition of a serial killer as someone who commits multiple murders with downtime in between the murders, you could argue that GTA qualifies as a "legit serial killer game". The argument against it being that in GTA, the player murders people so frequently that it would lean more towards mass murder/spree killing.

 

[etrain911]

I guess I would define "Hotline Miami" as a serial-killer style game. There's also Naughty Bear and the terrible sequel to the already mediocre original. There's a Fallout 3 DLC I think that toys with this notion? I could be totally wrong about that, and the Dark Brotherhood in Oblivion kill innocent civilians on the regular.

 

[SDCowboy]

I wonder if such a game would even be possible without getting slapped with the infamous AO rating.

 

[Various Artists]

Depends how it was made. If it was good and compelling I sure would. I like games that jump out of the normal conventions of gaming.

 

[adj_noun]

I'd play as Hannibal Lector or possibly Dexter.

 

[Marcel]

I'd play as Hannibal Lector or possibly Dexter.

Don't play as Dexter after, like, Season 2. He becomes a progressively bigger moron each season.

 

[SDCowboy]

No Russian wouldn't count because it's multiple murders committed during a single event.



Because if you go by the definition of a serial killer as someone who commits multiple murders with downtime in between the murders, you could argue that GTA qualifies as a "legit serial killer game". The argument against it being that in GTA, the player murders people so frequently that it would lean more towards mass murder/spree killing.

Right, but you can't possibly think that's what an actual serial killer game would entail. Think Dexter in a AAA video game form.

 

[ExplodingKetchup]

Sounds interesting, but the victims would have to bad people or else it would be too difficult to play. I suppose you could spin it a few ways; the killer thinks the people are guilty, but the player finds out in the end that they were actually innocent? Would be a good way to put forward a really interesting narrative.

 

[Bandit1]

I think OP's talking more like a game where you follow someone home, break inside and kill them up close, or kidnap them and kill them somewhere else, instead of GTA - style mowing down pedestrians with an AK.

My answer is I'm not sure, probably not. It seems like it would be quite unsettling and highly controversial.

 

[Morrigan Stark]

I don't think I would, for similar reasons I would never play a rape simulator.

Hitman?

So many people saying this, it kind of frightens me. Because how can you be so ignorant as to not know the difference between a killer for a hire, and a serial killer?

Not to mention, Hitman even sorta penalizes you for killing innocent civilians (though just barely, with a minus score counter, at least in Absolution).

The OP is talking about a game where you'd play Jeffrey Dahmer or Paul Bernardo, not a hired assassin. Sheesh.

Edit: I'd even suggest taking a peek at the Wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_killer
Serial killing is not the same as mass murdering, nor is it spree killing, in which murders are committed in two or more locations with virtually no break in between.

Funny you mention this now. I'm watching the season of Dexter where the intern/game programmer tries to impress Dexter by creating a game where you can choose to play as several serial killers, including , the "Bay Harbor Butcher."

Yep and funnily enough, even Dexter himself is offended by the concept of the game and thinks it's in bad taste, hahahaha.

I could probably play a game based on Dexter or that follows the same philosophy, but I don't think I could play as a mindless, malicious serial killer that hunts innocent victims.

Yeah, same.

 

[jeremiahg]

If you are killing innocents, no way. That would be way too disturbing for me. As far as killing people who deserve death (like many in the show Dexter), I guess it depends on my level of empathy for the people they harmed or killed. Advances in tech have made a high degree of realism possible. I'm guessing either way, I wouldn't be able to handle it with an Oculus!

 

[SDCowboy]

Sounds interesting, but the victims would have to bad people or else it would be too difficult to play.

Agreed. I think the subjects would have to be bad people for the game to realistically be feasible.

 

[NullPointer]

As long as I'm only serially killing aliens, or zombies, or Nazis, or ultra-nationalists, or cartel strongmen, or terrorists, or forces of The Darkness, or rampaging machines, jealous and paranoid Greek gods, mercenaries, rampant AIs, fascist paramilitary police forces, drug induced hallucinations or psychotic post-apocalyptic scavengers or monsters or local fauna, provided its for a challenge or xp or money or an achievement or a trophy or to move the story forward or because its the twist.

But against regular people in a realistic setting? Hell no. I'm not a sicko.

 

[Alienous]

If it were well made, prolly.

Actually, it'd kind of be an interesting concept. Trying not to leave evidence, whilst recalling what might constitute as evidence, while not trying to leave a trail. It might be callous as a concept, but it's interesting nonetheless.

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

If it was a black comedy like American Psycho with a non realistic art-style.

 

[GifGafIsTheBestGaf]

dark avenger a la dexter yeah, day one for me

 

[Audible]

I would. It would be interesting to see the thought process behind a serial killer and why they do the things they do. On the other hand, it would probably be unrealistic considering the fact that games usually have awful stories and character development.

 

[Mature]

If it's interesting and engaging then why not?

 

[CambriaRising]

Dexter did get a third person iPhone game where you had to stalk and kill victims. It was very reminiscent of Manhunt. You even had to set up the kill room. Some gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muB-cX0GKAo

 

[kunonabi]

yeah sure. I mean I used drag half naked chicks into my hotel room and murder them in the godfather wii game. That's pretty much why I play GTA style sandbox games anyway.

 

[FrontalMonk]

So many people saying this, it kind of frightens me. Because how can you be so ignorant as to not know the difference between a killer for a hire, and a serial killer?

Not to mention, Hitman even sorta penalizes you for killing innocent civilians (though just barely, with a minus score counter, at least in Absolution).

The OP is talking about a game where you'd play Jeffrey Dahmer or Paul Bernardo, not a hired assassin. Sheesh.

Edit: I'd even suggest taking a peek at the Wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_killer
Serial killing is not the same as mass murdering, nor is it spree killing, in which murders are committed in two or more locations with virtually no break in between.

I came in and read a bit, then was about to post more or less the same thing. If you follow the cutscenes and bits of story interspersed through the series, one thing 47 clearly is NOT is a serial killer. He does a job, and he does it very well, and it happens to be killing people. He doesn't take pleasure in the act at all. That his targets happen to fall under most peoples' moral compasses as "bad guys" helps matters.

 

[marianitten]

This game exist already:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB_5Wg062Tg