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[Phediuk]

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ha...utm_content=news_module&utm_campaign=homepage

Searched for a thread and didn't see one, but feel free to lock if this has already been covered here. This is a rare enough occurrence to warrant some discussion.

Hatred, the controversial massacre simulator, has received an Adults Only rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board, the organization that rates games in North America.

"Well, I'm not quite convinced why Hatred got AO rating while it lacks any sexual content, but it's still some kind of achievement to have the second game in history getting AO rating for violence and harsh language only," a Destructive Creations developer said on the game's official forum. "Even if this violence isn't really that bad and this harsh language is not overused. The guy from ESRB (by the way - very nice, polite and cooperative one) told me it's all about 'the context' which people they're testing gameplay video on will see."

The Adults Only, or AO rating, is the harshest rating the ESRB has for content. It's rarely used, and is described by the ESRB as suitable for ages 18 and up for prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic sexual content, and/or real money gambling. All three major console manufacturer—Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo—have a policy that forbids publishing Adults Only-rated games on their platforms, so unless Destructive Creations changes to content in Hatred, we won't see it released on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Hatred was pulled from Steam Greenlight recently and then reinstated a little more than a day later, following an intervention by Valve managing director Gabe Newell. However, Valve has never made Adults Only-rated games available for sale on Steam before.

"I would prefer to get a standard M+ rating, because with AO we will have problems to get to consoles in the future, but on the other hand I think you guys (our fans) would be disappointed with it," the Destructive Creations developer said.

For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of Hatred.

I would like to correct an inaccuracy in the article. While the developer claims Hatred is only the second game to be rated AO for non-sexual content, there are at least a few games that have received an AO for violence, notably Manhunt 2 and The Punisher, though both of those were toned down to an M before release. I'm assuming the game the dev is referring to is Thrill Kill, which was finished and ready for release, but then abruptly cancelled when EA bought Virgin Interactive in 1998. Nevertheless, it is highly unusual for non-pornographic games to get an AO.

 

[Ikuu]

You're not allowed to talk about this game on GAF.

 

[Don Draper's Hat]

Quite funny that the game gets an "Adult Only" rating when only kids will want to play such a game.

 

[ashecitism]

You haven't found anything because Hatred is not welcome here. Every previous thread got locked. However the only interesting thing is, if with this rating Valve still allow it on Steam, what will happen with other games with this rating?

 

[mossypne]

Find it strange that it's Rare to get an 18+ rating.... In the UK 18 rating is standard for violent games.

Also which is the only other game to get this?

 

[Backfoggen]

Does Steam have a "no AO rated games" rule? Manhunt 2 uncensored wasn't on there.

 

[Gamezone]

You're not allowed to talk about this game on GAF.

Why?

 

[dragonlife]

You're not allowed to talk about this game on GAF.

Hm, really? How come?

 

[Cifer]

You're not allowed to talk about this game on GAF.

Seriously? Not allowed to talk about this game here?

 

[Matriox]

Lol. I think he's kidding because GAF is for 13+.

 

[Ikuu]

Lol. I think he's kidding because GAF is for 13+.

Nope, http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=134806969&postcount=1824

 

[Chariot]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=134806969#post134806969

 

[Saintguine]

Not surprised given how graphic a lot of the kills are, not just visually but the audio side really does bring out the brutality of the kills.

Why?

Hm, really? How come?

Seriously? Not allowed to talk about this game here?

Officially it's considered on the same level as Rapelay etc.

 

[hydrophilic attack]

This game looks so disgusting. The trailer gave me really bad vibes.

And I heard some of the creators been active in white-power movements.

 

[JaseC]

Does Steam have a "no AO rated games" rule? Manhunt 2 uncensored wasn't on there.

Historically, yes, but the ESRB's AO logo is present on Valve's CDN and users can report games with "adult content" that are not properly age-gated, so I've long suspected that Valve's stance either has or will be relaxed. Also, another one of the reporting options concerns porn, so Valve allowing AO-rated games wouldn't open the floodgates for interactive hentai or anything of the sort.

 

[Ashes]

Hm, really? How come?

Refusal to give it publicity of any kind.

 

[Matriox]

Nope, http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=134806969&postcount=1824

Oh jeez. There it is.

 

[Raab]

What is the actual difference between an M rated and AO game. Is there a difference between an open world game where I have an option to carry out some freaky shit vs a requirement to progress the game?

 

[the_batman]

damn, didn't know certain games were banned from the forum.

 

[neos]

Quite funny that the game gets an "Adult Only" rating when only kids will want to play such a game.

Well, i'm 33 and i'm quite interested in the game, so maybe you should revise your definition of "kid".

AO rating seems like the only possibility for a game of this kind. Not surprised at all.

 

[Slackbladder]

AO is rare in the US? 18 only games are fairly common in the UK/EU. I notice there are quite a few M rated games (17+) in the US, all the Dead or Alive games for example. Is there a significant difference between the two ratings apart from one extra year added?

 

[Cifer]

Officially it's considered on the same level as Rapelay etc.

What about this Freedom of speech?

 

[The Sarcastic Dude]

Quite funny that the game gets an "Adult Only" rating when only kids will want to play such a game.

Says who? There are a lot of adults who want to play this game.

 

[Altered Juice]

yeah we cant talk about this game. also lol at the awkward arm movements at the beginning of the trailer

What about this Freedom of speech?

 

[remz]

What about this Freedom of speech?

Neogaf is a private forum and that can ban and allow whatever the fuck they want.

That's why people get bans at all. Same goes for games or topics, I imagine. If you don't like it you can go to another forum.

Besides, not many places have total freedom of speech. From your Wiki

Common limitations on speech relate to libel, slander, obscenity, pornography, sedition, hate speech, incitement, fighting words, classified information, copyright violation, trade secrets, non-disclosure agreements, right to privacy, right to be forgotten, public security, public order, public nuisance, and campaign finance reform.

these are reasons things get banned.

 

[Phediuk]

AO is rare in the US? 18 only games are fairly common in the UK/EU. I notice there are quite a few M rated games (17+) in the US, all the Dead or Alive games for example. Is there a significant difference between the two ratings apart from one extra year added?

None of the console manufacturers allow AO games to be published on their platforms, and most retailers won't carry them. So AO games are effectively limited to PC only, and can generally only be sold in adult shops and digitally.

 

[krizzx]

What about this Freedom of speech?

What about one of the most misinterpreted and misused amendments?

 

[FyreWulff]

What about this Freedom of speech?

Freedom of speech protects you from the government limiting your speech, not your speech on private property or private servers, of which GAF is both.

 

[kingdoug87]

What about this Freedom of speech?

The answer is in the first sentence, the owners/mods of gaf aren't willing to receive. Freedom of speech does not apply to this situation.

 

[EDarkness]

What about this Freedom of speech?

I believe that they said at one point that this is a public forum owned by private individuals. As such, they have the right to ban any person or content that goes against their rules. Makes sense...you can't go to someone's house, insult them because "free speech" and not expect to be kicked out.

 

[xzeldax3]

Does anyone think a M+ rating would ever be created? I guess I see the merit, with games becoming more realistic, but I'm not completely sure.

 

[ForsakenLotus]

Why does this game exist? :/

 

[Broder Salsa]

What about this Freedom of speech?

Freedom of speech don't apply to privately owned forums and similar. You got all the freedom you want, to go make a forum yourself talking about it or a site or whatever you want. I disagree with not being able to talk about it on here, but nothing to do with freedom of speech.

 

[the_batman]

Is there a significant difference between the two ratings apart from one extra year added?

stores over here will typically refuse to carry AO games, i've heard.

 

[Backfoggen]

AO is rare in the US? 18 only games are fairly common in the UK/EU. I notice there are quite a few M rated games (17+) in the US, all the Dead or Alive games for example. Is there a significant difference between the two ratings apart from one extra year added?

You can't have AO-rated titles on consoles. So it's more like a ban or a refused classification than just an 18+ rating.

 

[Lalalandia]

What about this Freedom of speech?

Well when Evilore is elected president of the US and the feds run the place you'll have a point, until then you just sound dumb. This is not a public forum.

 

[fedexpeon]

Holy shit, I rarely cuss, but I just saw the gameplay trailer...
I usually joke that FPS game like COD should be considered murder simulator, but this game is literally, not figuratively, but LITERALLY a murder simulator for warped mind individual.
This game can probably train a lot of sick minds on how to plan, and go around killing cops/people in building.

Yup, this game deserves its AO rating.
From reading Rapeplay discrimination, that game is tame when compares to Hatred.

Welp, there goes any integrity in the gaming industry if this game somehow is rated R.

 

[cyberheater]

This is a discussion on the rating the game received. Not a discussion about the game itself.

 

[Chariot]

This is a discussion on the rating the game received. Not a discussion about the game itself.

How can we discuss the rating when we can't the discuss the game, that makes no sense.

 

[The Sarcastic Dude]

So this won't come to consoles unless they tone it down, or Sony/Microsoft change there policies.

 

[Palette Swap]

What about this Freedom of speech?

Good idea to put a wiki link there. Now you just have to go read it. Because "freedom of speech" doesn't mean what you think it does.

 

[RyanPierre]

Why does this game exist? :/

My hunch is that it exists for the purpose of using controversy as an avenue to sell a likely mediocre product.

 

[Nanashrew]

You can't have AO-rated titles on consoles. So it's more like a ban or a refused classification than just an 18+ rating.

I like to think of it like the NC-17 rating. No all theaters accept those.

 

[the_batman]

Holy shit, I rarely cuss, but I just saw the gameplay trailer...

LOL i just saw the trailer for the first time as well. it should be called "Edgelord: The Game" instead.

what kind of person would find enjoyment in a game like that for more than a few minutes maybe. it seems to be just about some insane person going on a killing spree.

I don't really think the game technically deserves an adult only rating though, i dunno.

 

[tensuke]

This is a discussion on the rating the game received. Not a discussion about the game itself.

Don't really see how you can have one without the other.
"Extremely violent game gets an AO rating." Well, yes, the game is extremely violent. That's what it is.

 

[Rymuth]

How can we discuss the rating when we can't the discuss the game, that makes no sense.

I believe that is called a 'catch-22'

 

[Jotamide]

I didn't know GAF censored some games.

 

[The Sarcastic Dude]

Why does this game exist? :/

Because the developer wanted to make it.

 

[airmangataosenai]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=134806969#post134806969

The owners of this forum can set any policies they want but in the context of this being such a rare move by the ESRB I'd say it's worth discussing their response, don't you think?

Also, is Criminal Girls really in the same category as something like "Battle Raper"? Not anything I'd play but it's not really a reactionary game in that category. Is it any worse than something like Akiba Strip?

 

[Backfoggen]

I didn't know GAF censored some games.

It's just this one if you don't count all the obvious examples like porn games.