Kick and punch may be all in the mind, but Parappa the Rapper creator Masaya Matsuura doesn't want so much of it in videogames. Speaking with Joystiq, the man responsible for Major Minor's Majestic March views videogame violence as a problem that needs to be stamped out.
"Reducing the volume of games that involve hurting people with knives and guns," said Matsuura, when asked if there was one videogame problem he could instantly solve. "The recent success of music games and also family games for the Wii springs to mind. Undoubtedly there are other possibilities out there that are as yet undiscovered."
The designer also has fears about the recent peripheral craze, wondering if it's a fad destined to be discarded: "I’ve been thinking about peripheral-based games these days. It is great that they’ve gotten really popular but I’m concerned about people throwing them out after the boom subsides. On the other hand it is true that games need to have more tangible experiences.
"I have a toy piano which is not special at all but it’s precious to me. There is no doubt that it’s just a toy and no matter how hard I practice it’s impossible for me to deeply express myself musically with it but despite that I probably wouldn’t let it go. I want all games and peripherals to be cherished this way."
Something tells me that DJ Hero is not going to be as cherished as a sentimental toy piano, but that's just me. What do you make of this man's words? Less violence and more peripherals that we can learn to treasure -- is that a future you can believe in?
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
3:20 PM on 11.02.2009
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Take the God of War series/God of War III demo.
The brutality may seem unnecessary to spectators... but when educated in Kratos back story and who he is battling against it is completely just.
I'd love more games where there's less emphasis on violence. Just no more band games and peripherals.
How about a new PaRappa?
It's fun to take the goomba's lives.
Doesn't he know that violence is fun?
Violence is best when it's one on one.
U Rappin' Cool
Ah. I didn't think about it like that.
I hope that's what he meant.
As for peripherals, if developers are gonna make them, they better be able to be useful down the road. Isn't it hard enough to keep a set of peripherals for Guitar Hero and/or Rock Band lying around. Do we really need something like the skateboard peripheral for Tony Hawk Ride adding to the others, except possibly not getting reused down the road?
Screw violence, civil disobedience is where it's at.
Playing Parappa drives me to violence.
RT
www.complete-privacy.at.tc
I hated Parappa the rapper. Biggest cob of shit I've ever played infact.
Even if it did kickstart the whole rhythm game genre. I've never played a rhythm game since. Whoah. I've never played guitar hero. I do, however, play a beautiful Sunburst Fender Telecaster. Perhaps this is why I think rhythm games stink? But not in a snobby way, it's just that I have a studio set-up, and so that kind of thing just doesn't appeal to me.