Couple of posts here got me thinking (and forgive me if its already been answered a dozen times before), but will the Mature rating the game has mean that we don't have to worry about the thought police? Can we swear freely in open chat channels with no fear of retribution? Not that I'm actually planning to, but would be nice to know what level of moderation (or lack thereof) we can expect in the game's open channels.
I would sort of expect it to be more permissible, but really don't know.
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
The Mature rating will change NOTHING. Its just political, so they can include more gore, and nudity, without ESRB hounding them. People however will be exactly the same as most other MMO's. It's not like the type of parents that let their kid sit in their room playing a game for 12 hours a day are the type of parents that give a damn about what Rating a game had. Parents will still fork over their creditcard so that they can use AoC as a babysitter for their 13-16 Year old kids. Just like every other MMO. Nothings changed.
The mature rating would bother me a bit, since mature rated games are likely to attract immature people, but considering that AoC isn't being made for a mass market, like GTA was, you will probably be playing with people that, like MMOGs, and/or like Conan, both of which tend to consist of older people, of course age does not equal maturity, but it helps. Yeah there will probably be some immature people playing, but if they are just playing for the nudity and gore, they probably won't stick around too long.
If it's not being made for the mass market, then why is it being made for the XBOX 360 as well?
To me that screams mass market.
--------------------------------------------- I live to fight, and fight to live.
IF you think this game isn't market twards the masses your insane. Look at Gears of War, Rated Mature, and it is the reason why Xbox 360 is actualy competion for Consoles. Not to mention I find more kids in Gears of War then any other game.
Like I said, this RATING thing is ONLY so they can Include Gore, and More. Otherwise they can't market with that stuff. Its got to be rated that way. It's not to keep kids out. Parents will still let them play.
The lore of Conan is what it is. If one remains true to the property then the only outcome can be a mature rated game. Fans of the books would expect nothing less. True most people that would end up playing have never read them but it should be comforting knowing your getting the genuine artical. I hope in the end the rating does screen out a lot of people. As for the punks that slip by.... there is always the battlefield.
Really amusing how we all have such extreme opinions about what this game will be..and it hasn't been released. I love it.
If it does wind up being populated with an excessive number of trashtalking abbreviators, I invite all of those opposed to form a death squad (guild) with me to make them hurt badly.
It is very interesting how aggressive, testosterone-soaked behavior can actually contribute to the experience in this game - considering the lore. I mean, it has bar brawls as a regular feature. I'm not exactly expecting that beefy scarred-up hulk in a bar who offers to punch my face in to say at the end of the fight "you're a fine pugilist, nice sparring with you, sir" /bow
Oops wrong thread. Oh and to the OP, liking blood, gore or a strong sense of humor does not make people less mature. People with out sense of humors call people with good ones immature. Violence and gore will not make people act like teenagers. I will how ever be beating g on clannies on a regular basis. In Lineage 2, when ever we had to wait for people we all ways whacked on each other until we had a sliver of life left. It's good entertainment.
Luckily I all ready have a guild that will be a top clan on there chosen server. I don't think there is a game where Airhawk Alliance isn't a top guild for our server. So people running gank squads trying to loot people or what ever pvp features are enabled will be hunted down mercilessly if they touch one of our guild.
Originally posted by mmonkey My point: The game will have an older playerbase (on average), but don't expect the community to be a utopia of reasonable and mature people. Reasons: 1. This "M" rated content effectively targets primal, masculine desires.
I'm not certain that you have a point here at all, when you consider that Robert E. Howard's world of Conan was almost entirely male-dominated. The game and the mature content is derived from the mythos the game is based on. It isn't the result of specific targeting.
The M rating exists to allow a faithful representation of that world and mythos. The company is not seeking an M rating simply to allow the inclusion of nudity and extreme violence; that was the reality of the world of Conan and, honestly, a good portion of human history.
2. Those desires pretty much play off of the typical lust, anger and angst of youth.
Or any human being who was ever born, lived or died, who typically has feelings of lust, anger or angst on a regular basis throughout the course of their lives, unless they have been lobotomized. Those feelings or desires are not in any way youth-centric.
If such was the case, the phrase "dirty old man" would not exist and "Mrs. Robinson" would have no connotation except as a surname.
3. If that player, (old or young) is feeding those primal desires, their behavior and interaction with other players will parallel that regressed emotional state.
One doesn't necessarily follow the other. It is based entirely on the individual. The vast majority of people (men and women) entertain desires and experience anger or angst without taking any action on those thoughts whatsoever, whether they are walking down the street, through their local supermarket or playing a MMORPG.
I would also say that I'm not sure why you would categorize those emotions as "regressed" unless you are referring to a constant. Everyone experiences the emotions you refer to here on a regular basis; they are perfectly valid reactions to given stimuli, UNLESS they are a constant, i.e., a person exists in a perpetual condition of lust, anger, etc.
Couple that with some basic MMO truths: A person's maturity level isn't as simple as their age.
That is less a MMO truth than a universal truth :-)
Anonymity tends brings out a persons "real" self (no accountability), and its usually not pleasant, regardless of age.
This is a huge generalization. While it is true that there are players who will use (or abuse) their relative anonymity to act out in a disruptive manner, it is hardly true that the expression of a person's "real" self due to anonymity is "usually not pleasant".
In my experience, the number of unpleasant people I run into during an average MMORPG session is comparable to the number of unpleasant people I run into in my daily life, no more and no less. In my experience traveling throughout the world, the number of rude people far exceeds the number of people with basic good manners. I think many people tend to believe it is otherwise, but it is simply not true.
Further, the number of generous people I run into in my average MMORPG session far exceeds the number I run into in every day life; it is much more likely that you will be given currency, goods, and services for free in a MMORPG than you are likely to get them in real life.
This is a very pleasant expression which is still anonymous, as you do not know the actual identity of the person who gave you the items. While it is true that those things are not "real" in the sense that a dollar, pound or euro is real, the player still has the choice to be generous or to hoard those items. The fact that they choose to give them away is a pleasant expression of who they are.
That is not to say that same person will not, at some time in the future, put a yard and a half of Hyrkanian steel through your chest if you face them on the field of combat, nor that they will not curse, swear or belittle you while doing it. It just means that, like every normal person, their personality is constantly shifting based on stimuli.
Blood spray and boobs are exactly that. Blood spray and boobs. They aren't a barrier to keeping out the mythical "immature kiddies" that ruin communities. (I'm 26).
This is absolutely true. Players who exhibit what would normally be considered immature conduct will still abound.
I think the perception is because the game is both rated Mature and a subscription-based game that rather than dealing with immature adults and immature youths, the community will largely only have to deal with immature adults, thus the portion of the population that is actually immature will be smaller. That perception may or may not be true and can really only be verified post-release.
Abbatoir / Abbatoir Cinq Adnihilo Beorn Judge's Edge Somnulus Perfect Black ---------------------- Asheron's Call / Asheron's Call 2 Everquest / Everquest 2 Anarchy Online Shadowbane Dark Age of Camelot Star Wars Galaxies Matrix Online World of Warcraft Guild Wars City of Heroes
it is quite clear that many of the people here have not read any conan books. the whole point behind conan is reading about a guy who is just trying to have a good time. whether that be killing, gambling, drinking, women or loot hes just out to have fun. Age of Conan is keeping true to the Conan style of life. they arent trying to attract an M rating to get rid of the kiddies all they are doing is taking the Conan stories and translating them as best as they can. to be perfectly honest if there ever was a close translation of Conan it would be R rated.
either get over the whole M rating thing (both the for and against parties) or deal with the fact that this game is based on the Conan which has and always will be what he is.
MMO wish list:
-Changeable worlds -Solid non level based game -Sharks with lasers attached to their heads
Comments
Couple of posts here got me thinking (and forgive me if its already been answered a dozen times before), but will the Mature rating the game has mean that we don't have to worry about the thought police? Can we swear freely in open chat channels with no fear of retribution? Not that I'm actually planning to, but would be nice to know what level of moderation (or lack thereof) we can expect in the game's open channels.
I would sort of expect it to be more permissible, but really don't know.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
The Mature rating will change NOTHING. Its just political, so they can include more gore, and nudity, without ESRB hounding them. People however will be exactly the same as most other MMO's. It's not like the type of parents that let their kid sit in their room playing a game for 12 hours a day are the type of parents that give a damn about what Rating a game had. Parents will still fork over their creditcard so that they can use AoC as a babysitter for their 13-16 Year old kids. Just like every other MMO. Nothings changed.
To me that screams mass market.
---------------------------------------------
I live to fight, and fight to live.
IF you think this game isn't market twards the masses your insane. Look at Gears of War, Rated Mature, and it is the reason why Xbox 360 is actualy competion for Consoles. Not to mention I find more kids in Gears of War then any other game.
Like I said, this RATING thing is ONLY so they can Include Gore, and More. Otherwise they can't market with that stuff. Its got to be rated that way. It's not to keep kids out. Parents will still let them play.
Nearly every MMO = a teenage power fantasy. What's new?
The lore of Conan is what it is. If one remains true to the property then the only outcome can be a mature rated game. Fans of the books would expect nothing less. True most people that would end up playing have never read them but it should be comforting knowing your getting the genuine artical. I hope in the end the rating does screen out a lot of people. As for the punks that slip by.... there is always the battlefield.
Really amusing how we all have such extreme opinions about what this game will be..and it hasn't been released. I love it.
If it does wind up being populated with an excessive number of trashtalking abbreviators, I invite all of those opposed to form a death squad (guild) with me to make them hurt badly.
It is very interesting how aggressive, testosterone-soaked behavior can actually contribute to the experience in this game - considering the lore. I mean, it has bar brawls as a regular feature. I'm not exactly expecting that beefy scarred-up hulk in a bar who offers to punch my face in to say at the end of the fight "you're a fine pugilist, nice sparring with you, sir" /bow
can't wait!
Oops wrong thread. Oh and to the OP, liking blood, gore or a strong sense of humor does not make people less mature. People with out sense of humors call people with good ones immature. Violence and gore will not make people act like teenagers. I will how ever be beating g on clannies on a regular basis. In Lineage 2, when ever we had to wait for people we all ways whacked on each other until we had a sliver of life left. It's good entertainment.
Luckily I all ready have a guild that will be a top clan on there chosen server. I don't think there is a game where Airhawk Alliance isn't a top guild for our server. So people running gank squads trying to loot people or what ever pvp features are enabled will be hunted down mercilessly if they touch one of our guild.
Edit: I moved my post to the appropriate thread.
Bah!... jinx it for us thx. Sorry to say but we will be playing before you have a nice trip!
I'm not certain that you have a point here at all, when you consider that Robert E. Howard's world of Conan was almost entirely male-dominated. The game and the mature content is derived from the mythos the game is based on. It isn't the result of specific targeting.
The M rating exists to allow a faithful representation of that world and mythos. The company is not seeking an M rating simply to allow the inclusion of nudity and extreme violence; that was the reality of the world of Conan and, honestly, a good portion of human history.
Or any human being who was ever born, lived or died, who typically has feelings of lust, anger or angst on a regular basis throughout the course of their lives, unless they have been lobotomized. Those feelings or desires are not in any way youth-centric.
If such was the case, the phrase "dirty old man" would not exist and "Mrs. Robinson" would have no connotation except as a surname.
One doesn't necessarily follow the other. It is based entirely on the individual. The vast majority of people (men and women) entertain desires and experience anger or angst without taking any action on those thoughts whatsoever, whether they are walking down the street, through their local supermarket or playing a MMORPG.
I would also say that I'm not sure why you would categorize those emotions as "regressed" unless you are referring to a constant. Everyone experiences the emotions you refer to here on a regular basis; they are perfectly valid reactions to given stimuli, UNLESS they are a constant, i.e., a person exists in a perpetual condition of lust, anger, etc.
That is less a MMO truth than a universal truth :-)
This is a huge generalization. While it is true that there are players who will use (or abuse) their relative anonymity to act out in a disruptive manner, it is hardly true that the expression of a person's "real" self due to anonymity is "usually not pleasant".
In my experience, the number of unpleasant people I run into during an average MMORPG session is comparable to the number of unpleasant people I run into in my daily life, no more and no less. In my experience traveling throughout the world, the number of rude people far exceeds the number of people with basic good manners. I think many people tend to believe it is otherwise, but it is simply not true.
Further, the number of generous people I run into in my average MMORPG session far exceeds the number I run into in every day life; it is much more likely that you will be given currency, goods, and services for free in a MMORPG than you are likely to get them in real life.
This is a very pleasant expression which is still anonymous, as you do not know the actual identity of the person who gave you the items. While it is true that those things are not "real" in the sense that a dollar, pound or euro is real, the player still has the choice to be generous or to hoard those items. The fact that they choose to give them away is a pleasant expression of who they are.
That is not to say that same person will not, at some time in the future, put a yard and a half of Hyrkanian steel through your chest if you face them on the field of combat, nor that they will not curse, swear or belittle you while doing it. It just means that, like every normal person, their personality is constantly shifting based on stimuli.
This is absolutely true. Players who exhibit what would normally be considered immature conduct will still abound.
I think the perception is because the game is both rated Mature and a subscription-based game that rather than dealing with immature adults and immature youths, the community will largely only have to deal with immature adults, thus the portion of the population that is actually immature will be smaller. That perception may or may not be true and can really only be verified post-release.
Abbatoir / Abbatoir Cinq
Adnihilo
Beorn Judge's Edge
Somnulus
Perfect Black
----------------------
Asheron's Call / Asheron's Call 2
Everquest / Everquest 2
Anarchy Online
Shadowbane
Dark Age of Camelot
Star Wars Galaxies
Matrix Online
World of Warcraft
Guild Wars
City of Heroes
it is quite clear that many of the people here have not read any conan books. the whole point behind conan is reading about a guy who is just trying to have a good time. whether that be killing, gambling, drinking, women or loot hes just out to have fun. Age of Conan is keeping true to the Conan style of life. they arent trying to attract an M rating to get rid of the kiddies all they are doing is taking the Conan stories and translating them as best as they can. to be perfectly honest if there ever was a close translation of Conan it would be R rated.
either get over the whole M rating thing (both the for and against parties) or deal with the fact that this game is based on the Conan which has and always will be what he is.
MMO wish list:
-Changeable worlds
-Solid non level based game
-Sharks with lasers attached to their heads
Well if you want to remove the M rating then remove the gore and the mutilation part.
And improve the graphics on the body parts coz it sucks.