Is child abuse OK in Detroit: Become Human?

This morning I was watching The Wright Stuff on British breakfast television, a daily panel show featuring current news affairs, when I noticed the next topic to be discussed was about a 'computer game' called Detroit Become Human:

ws1.jpg

Detroit: Become Human is the latest game to come from creator David Cage, a 2018 Sony PlayStation 4 exclusive title, that featured a scene of potential domestic child abuse when a new trailer aired at Sony's Paris Game's Week 2017 Conference. You can see the full trailer here:



David Cage is no stranger to controversial subjects in his games. I've played Fahrenheit and also Heavy Rain and both of these games feature murder, the latter with a serial killer who kidnaps a child. So why is this new game suddenly on daytime breakfast TV? Because it's controversial, and without the controversial, off-screen scene, the game wouldn't have appeared on all of the mainstream gaming sites. So we all saw this a month ago, but only now is the printed press and big media catching onto it, because it's an easy target for a headline.

I'm no expert on what Detroit: Become Human is, but I gather from related media that it's a story-driven game with a heavy narrative, much like all of Cage's previous works. You play as an android and throughout the game are presented with game-changing decisions, but do you live through the story as an android would, or do you make the android 'Become Human' by making morally correct decisions as a human would, breaking the android's protocol, kind of I, Roboty. In theory, you could finish the game without even seeing this scene play out the wrong way. Choices given to the player are designed in such a way as to spark some kind of emotion from them. That is what this type of game is all about.


ws2.jpg

I've watched TWS on TV for many years, but today, with a headline like 'Ban Child Abuse Computer Game?' on the TV, I felt compelled to call the show and try and advocate as to why a scene like this in a video game isn't a reason to ban it. To my surprise, I got through!

Here is the clip of the entire discussion on the show today. If you want to skip forward to my call, I am caller number 1 at 05:50:



Mirror (UK):

Before the call I had plenty to say, but under pressure, live on air, with only a minute to talk, I don't think I got my point across as well as I could have, but it did make me think about how non-gamers perceive people who do enjoy experiencing and playing video games. I also wanted to tell Matthew (the host) to watch The Last of Us Part II trailer that was featured at the same gaming show in Paris, and is also a Sony exclusive title. I think that trailer has way more for the non-gaming masses to complain about, than the scenes from Detroit: Become Human. I've also been obliterating hundreds of Nazis with my Schockhammer in Wolfenstein 2 recently, literally blasting them into smithereens, but I've not seen that discussed on TV.

Obviously, this is a touchy subject matter, but in my eyes, it is no different than watching a movie or reading a book. The movie Sleepers immediately came to mind when I was trying to think of comparisons from other media, a 1996 film featuring some of hollywood's top stars suffering from child abuse. Why is that ok, but Detroit isn't?

It makes no sense.


Detroit: Become Human is expected to release worldwide in 2018.

:arrow:Detroit: Become Human Official Site
 

MartinDocNewland

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I don't think using movies, books and video games is the best argument as they are 3 completly different meduims. That like saying dog food taste the same as cat food as its food.

As I said we all have our own opinions but shooting down mine is not the best way to go about it

EDIT:

No point arguing with me now as i'm not going to be here to reply
 
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kuwanger

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Yes stopping more abuse from happening is paramount but using video games with an age rating of 18/M where kids are not alowed to play the game in the first place is right? Who is learning what?

You do realize I was arguing precisely that, right? And that this is why the game should be not banned but rated 7 or 12 (E10+ in the US). Meanwhile, a lot of child abusers are adults which oddly falls into the 18/M rating.

I choose to highlight that I'm a victim to try and make people understand mine and other victims point of view.

And I point out that not all victims of a crime have the same opinion or would parade it around for persuasion.

Thanks for your opinion, how ever wrong it is. At least I got the balls to say something unlike you who doesn't understand what ts like and doesn't even have the balls to show what country you are from

And thanks for playing. Literally turning a discussion about child abuse depiction in video games into a pissing contest about who has "the balls" to most dox themselves.
 
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petethepug

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I'm guessing by the two comments above that you haven't. Well, I have and it still effects me to this day (28 years, happened when I was 10) Its not a nice feeling at all and I wouldn't even wish it on my worst enermy.

Stating the obvious that we don't live in a utopia is not a very good answer or answering a question with a question.

Video games is not the right way to highlight the fact that child abuse happens, its simply the wrong medium to do so. Video games are meant to be fun and enjoyable.

I could go on about how its wrong but i feel not many people here would understand
Well, you can't exactly just have the game banned. Although you can look at it though as a similar sequel to Night Trap I guess.
Its best you just ignore it anyway (not that I have a problem with what your saying.) But if you think about the other video games coming out (I will take DOOM, Quake, and probably those odd Adult only games as a start.) You would be having violent video games being banned all the time like Call of Duty, Metal gear solid, Twisted Metal, DOOM, Quake, maybe something so stupid as Mario in other countries or The legend of Zelda. Because people would argue all the time to get rid of a certain video game because its to inappropriate for a certain audience.

You can debate about the nature of said game but I don't think attacking an individual would be the right "ground" to stand on I guess you can say. Its better you just don't buy it at all.
 
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Despite people's best efforts, I think
that the majority perception is still that video games are still for either children or grown man-babies (which isn't even the case anymore, but issues like Gamergate didn't necessarily help to dispel that view). So when controversial subject matter is tackled in games, it's bound to surprise a lot of people.

The media still carries a stigma, and many are quick to censor the medium, usually for the sake of the children, which honestly tells you a lot about what the people speaking think of video games. It conveys that either the main audience for video games isn't mature enough to deal with adult topics such as this, or that parents aren't responsible enough to keep their kids away from games like these. Both assumptions are rather disgusting, really.

I've seen a bunch of your standard crime TV shows that deal with topics just like this. Why should the matter be any different when it's in a video game?
 
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Kioku

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Despite people's best efforts, I think
that the majority perception is still that video games are still for either children or grown man-babies (which isn't even the case anymore, but issues like Gamergate didn't necessarily help to dispel that view). So when controversial subject matter is tackled in games, it's bound to surprise a lot of people.

The media still carries a stigma, and many are quick to censor the medium, usually for the sake of the children, which honestly tells you a lot about what the people speaking think of video games. It conveys that either the main audience for video games isn't mature enough to deal with adult topics such as this, or that parents aren't responsible enough to keep their kids away from games like these. Both assumptions are rather disgusting, really.

I've seen a bunch of your standard crime TV shows that deal with topics just like this. Why should the matter be any different when it's in a video game?
According to one user above..

I don't think using movies, books and video games is the best argument as they are 3 completly different meduims. That like saying dog food taste the same as cat food as its food.

Of course.. Now he's choosing not to argue it.. Even though it makes no sense.

Video Games aren't real scenarios.. Some may be based on real events.. But so are movies.. And shows... And books.. Yet? No one seems to boycott them? One that stands out is Game of Thrones.. The sheer amount of taboo in that show should warrant the same reactions as the video game world.. But no.. Apparently it doesn't fit the agenda?
 
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MartinDocNewland

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According to one user above..



Of course.. Now he's choosing not to argue it.. Even though it makes no sense.

I choose not to argue as I would be here all night arguing, not a very good way to spend my time. But of course i'm not stopping you. I have had my say, lets just leave it at that shell we
 

wormdood

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Yeah it's fine. Slap an 18 on it and call it a day. No one is forcing you to buy it and all the consoles have parental controls.
do you know how many children play cod those restrictions dont matter in real life only on paper (things like gamesharing also get in the way of restrictions)
And I point out that not all victims of a crime have the same opinion or would parade it around for persuasion.
are you suggesting that a victim should remain a broken person afraid to revisit there own past even in the event that they may teach others through it . . .

----------

personally i dont think a game like this should be made . . . a videogame is meant to be an enjoyable experience and child abuse is not an enjoyable experience plain and simple . . . that said i would play it if/when it sees a usa release

and its funny that everyone focuses on the child abuse and the news never mentioned the clip of the child killing her dad near the end of the video . . . lol
 

rileysrjay

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I don't think using movies, books and video games is the best argument as they are 3 completly different meduims. That like saying dog food taste the same as cat food as its food.

As I said we all have our own opinions but shooting down mine is not the best way to go about it

EDIT:

No point arguing with me now as i'm not going to be here to reply
Lol, "shooting down my argument is not the best way to go about it". That's basically saying "oh noes, someone has an argument that actually makes sense and I don't have anything smart to say in response!"
 

Kioku

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Lol, "shooting down my argument is not the best way to go about it". That's basically saying "oh noes, someone has an argument that actually makes sense and I don't have anything smart to say in response!"

That's pretty much how this site goes.. I'd be a hypocrite if I said I never did it, though. :o
 
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MartinDocNewland

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Lol, "shooting down my argument is not the best way to go about it". That's basically saying "oh noes, someone has an argument that actually makes sense and I don't have anything smart to say in response!"

If that was the case then wouldn't I just type that? Stop picking just for the sake of arguing
 

CallmeBerto

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Video games are a type of media, just like movies,tv and books are. If you don't have a problem with it in a movie or book then you shouldn't have any problems when its being depicted in a video game.

Basically this. However I'd like to add since video games are a lot more interactive by nature people tend to shy away from it more. This is a good thing since you are able to experience emotions in away that books and movies have a much more difficult time expressing.
 

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I agree. It should be treated like it is in books in movies. Hell, even if you were the one doing the beating in the game I'd still not advocate for it being banned. I believe game makers should have absolute creative freedom with their games regardless of the content because it's not like it affects you in any way unless you actually buy it in which case it's your responsibility to know what you're getting into.
 
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Spider_Man

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I have to say that presenter is a total tool, at first i was thinking is the theme of this game pushing it too far.

but after watching the trailer and then this, theyre being the same ole anti gaming tools.

yes its a game involving child abuse, but its not a game that you cause the abuse, its a game which you take the role of someone (in this case an android) that witnesses child abuse and gives you options and based on what you chose you get to save the girl from the abusive father.

now i can kind of see the pro's to this, that it could teach others awareness how to spot if a child is being abused, but it also could teach you what choices you could make to save a child.

sure maybe its not as black and white in the real world, but it is no different that a movie, tv show or a book that also uses child abuse as its main theme.

to bring in the likes of gta is funny, because gta has never been about randomly going on a killing spree, its in a sense gang related and im sorry but gangs dont sit round having a cup o fucking tea with a pack of digestives.
 
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Armadillo

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do you know how many children play cod those restrictions dont matter in real life only on paper (things like gamesharing also get in the way of restrictions)

So?

Because kids might play it, adults can't have it? Maybe people should take an interest in their kids then, instead of plonking them down in front of the console and calling it a day.
 

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