MadWorld, indeed: the backlash begins
by Chris Greenhough 
{ Aug 12th 2008 at 12:45PM }
Britain's most hysterical newspaper and preferred litter tray liner the Daily Mail has caught wind of MadWorld -- and it wants us to know all about it. For our children's safety. THINK OF THE CHILDREN.
In a piece entitled "Parents horrified as most violent video game ever to launch on 'family friendly' Wii," the newspaper illogically huffs and puffs about the forthcoming Platinum Games project, which it claims has "shocked anti-violence pressure groups." Near the top of the article, the Mail quotes a spokesperson from MediaWatch-UK, while a retort from Nintendo is relegated to the very bottom of the article. Little has changed from the Mail's previous coverage of videogames, with the familiar, outraged tone and Luddite views present throughout. The paper also ignores the imminent release of Manhunt 2, and conveniently forgets that MadWorld will almost certainly be granted an "18" certificate.
Most absurdly of all, the Mail suggests that MadWorld will "dramatically transform Wii's image," as though the game is likely to sell in the tens of millions. Seriously, if the Wii is synonymous with MadWorld (and not Wii Sports) two years from now, we'll eat the hat of everybody reading this.
Gallery: MadWorld
[Via MCV]
Still not had your fill of storm-in-a-teacup controversy? Then hop over here to learn more about Manhunt 2's woes, here to catch up on Charlie Daniels' unfavorable views of Guitar Hero, or here to read about the fuss over Beer Pong. If you need us, we'll be here, soaking up the latest MadWorld footage.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
il_duce620 @ Aug 12th 2008 12:54PM
Things like this piss me off for the obvious reasons, but most of all because it almost forces Nintendo to keep the Wii in the "family friendly" camp, rather than push the boundaries and expand a bit into the "hardcore" realm (which is what we all want, right?!).
I just get the impression that they're at least somewhat afraid of backlash because they get targeted by news media when something like this is coming out, while if this game were released on PS3 or 360, the news media wouldn't give it a second thought.
Grrrrrr...
Pixel-One @ Aug 12th 2008 1:25PM
Wouldn't it be shweet if two years from now this game was synonymous with the Wii?
Everyone buy 4 copies!
meist3r @ Aug 12th 2008 1:35PM
Oh so shooting Nazis in MoH is family friendly? Oh I forgot it's Great Britain: Isle of Hypocrisy.
Moose @ Aug 12th 2008 2:00PM
It's a newspaper, owned by an American. Not a country. 8-)
Waffala @ Aug 12th 2008 2:59PM
*sigh* If only. What a beautiful black, white and red world that would be.
meist3r @ Aug 12th 2008 5:02PM
@Moose: Do I really have to start writing in sarcasm tags again? :p
Roto13 @ Aug 12th 2008 1:27PM
Oh, it's just the Daily Fail.
Nevermind.
Demotruk @ Aug 12th 2008 1:35PM
You're not eating my Stetson.
Anyone think that proper regulation of games being sold to minors might get them to stfu? I would be in favour of regulations identical to that of DVD's.
samfish @ Aug 12th 2008 1:36PM
Good. I hope they hype it up and it sees huge sales.
The only reason Man Cunt II flopped is because the game was so f-cking awful. Mad World shouldn't have this problem, though, because it will be f-cking awesome.
iMeh @ Aug 12th 2008 2:27PM
That's what I'm saying. Publicity for free for this game! I'm really looking forward to MadWorld and would hate to see it flop at the "box office."
capt.strugglebunny @ Aug 12th 2008 2:30PM
I find it hilarious you censor 'fuck', but leave 'cunt' alone.
dooder @ Aug 12th 2008 2:02PM
LOL!
OMG I was playing mortal kombat when i was 6!!! I mean parents get thier kids game like GTA and Ninja Gaiden. but when a game that has THREE different COLORS(Black white and red) is out. OH NO!!!
Next time you let your kids see any kind of R rated movie and complain about a game, you should rethink your B-tching
Hamster @ Aug 12th 2008 2:11PM
I'm ashamed to say my mum buys the Daily Mail, she is a good person of course, but she is very middle-class! :-)
It really is a shitty paper where you can find hypocrisy on every page and columnists reach new levels smugness and self-righteousness.
I know this double-standard has been mentioned many times before with the media and video games, but there never seems to be quite so much outcry and backlash and "the end of the world is nye" talk when they're reviewing sick sado-masochist torture movies like Saw and Hostel in their film sections. Video games are evil, sure, but Hollywood, never!!
Hamster @ Aug 12th 2008 2:14PM
Oops: levels "of" smugness and self-righteousness.
Mr Khan @ Aug 12th 2008 3:02PM
One of the best things that could happen to this game, i think. If this game gets very closely associated with some scary new trend of violence on the Wii, it could fix one of it's strongest weaknesses in the eyes of the core 15-35 demographic
Nigeria @ Aug 12th 2008 3:19PM
I don't think this is good news at all. I was hoping MadWorld would slip under the alarmist media radar here in Britain, but now it has a tag and a reputation. This could lead onto preemptive censorship as was seen with No More Heroes. I hope Sega don't take the Rising Star approach, but if this low level, media outrage continues I could see them buckling.
Not that many people take the Daily Mail seriously.
averxd @ Aug 12th 2008 3:39PM
Why are they compling about this, JUST DONT BUY YOUR CHILD THE GAME. Let's not forget YOU CAN CHOOSE what rathings your wii can play just blocked out M and theres no way they'll be able to play it. Problem solved
BigAmos17 @ Aug 12th 2008 3:34PM
I'm tired of this crap. If you don't want your child playing it, then don't buy the damn game. If this get toned down. I'm trading my wii in. I'm 19 not a child. Adults play games too so we are old enough to have some gore in our games. If the parents are to lazy to watch what they buy then go buy em a leapfrog and shut the hell up.
drkztan @ Aug 29th 2008 2:35PM
i second that
if parents are stupid enough to let their lil kiddies buy this then they can always cap the ratings at the wii settings
i think all of this is ridiculous i mean just think about it
we didnt complain, ban, or tone down any of the casual games that have ruined so far the wii's image
BUT
HERE COMES A MATURE GAAAAME RUUUUN , BAN AND TAKE OUT ALL THE GOOD GORE OUT FROM IT!!
Night_skyward @ Aug 12th 2008 4:50PM
The daily mail hates Wii. well violent games that come out on it. Its because of papers like that that people are only making family games and why people are buying carnival crap.
The Wii isn't a family console, its just a console like the ps3 or 360, it just has simpler controls and more developers making family crap for it.
I hope it doesnt get banned or delayed because of them, it'll be the DS next with GTA... grrr stupid daily mail.
lorddshadow @ Aug 12th 2008 10:59PM
hypocrite assholes. if this was an r-rated movie, would they give a damn? no! kids could still see it just as easily as getting their parents to buy it for them if not more easily so what's it matter? if you're gonna bitch about anything then bitch about careless parents.
halongw77 @ Aug 13th 2008 2:40AM
This just in. Halo is enjoyed by millions of hardcore and casual gamers.
wiitard @ Aug 13th 2008 7:55AM
Metro newspaper did it today.
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=260967&in_page_id=34
Timerider @ Aug 13th 2008 10:31AM
These people need to get a f***ing life. Video games are not just for 12-year-olds.
Char6296 @ Aug 13th 2008 2:36PM
At this rate, I'm surprised they didn't complain about Brawl, even. A 12+ game on a family system?! For shame! Anywho, they're blowing it out of proportion. To quote:
"'I hope the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) will view this with concern and decide it should not be granted a classification.
'Without that it cannot be marketed in Britain. What the rest of world does is up to them.
We need to ensure that modern and civilized values take priority rather than killing and maiming people.'" That made me say "Come on..." out loud. Overreaction, much? At least the commenters on the article have some sense, though.
Hang on, if it's SEGA, isn't there going to be a Sonic cameo somewhere? Hmm... A Sonic hat for the action hero, haha...
Char6296 @ Aug 14th 2008 6:13AM
Another thing; if they're saying about MadWorld in the paper, isn't that advertising in a sense? And more people are going to hear about and possibly WANT it? Especially the dear, dear children who they're trying to keep it from?
Daimyo Nintendo @ Aug 17th 2008 3:18PM
You know...I really hate these kinds of people. They are really protesting again my birthright of free choice. Nintendo has the right to expand its audience and game selections. I am 25, I love Wii and I want an eclectic gaming selection to choose from, not just the dreaded kiddy titles. And I doubt this game will hinder Nintendo's family image. Manhunt did change anything, except I was ecstatic to hear it was coming on Wii let alone a Nintendo console! Granted the Resident Evil games have satisfied me on Gamecube but I wanted more...and again, that is my right to want more or less or stay the same. No one has the right to tell me what I can or cannot buy, or tell me that this is TOO violent for anyone...yea in YOUR opinion. I agree with the gang at Nintendowiifanboy…I highly doubt Wii will loose its Wii Fit, Wii Sports image. Most of the novice video gamers out there still think Wii Sports as the first image in their mind when they hear the word Wii. Only regular playing gamers will care about these releases. And I can tell you right now….we have all been waiting for these game….and we are going to eat them up.