When I bought my new graphics board, one of the programs it came with was a first person shooter called "Soldier of Fortune". (A first person shooter is a computer game in which you assume the role of a (usually heavily armed) soldier or mercenary and proceed to dispatch enemies while looking through your avatar's eyes - a crude form of virtual reality.) I had downloaded a demo of this game some time ago, and had decided against buying the full version because it was just too violent for me.
Now I play a lot of violent computer games, so when I run into one that I deem too violent, that is saying a lot. However, watching someone's face explode as they get shot in the head is just too much. Most games of this sort feature alien monsters or faceless storm troopers or that sort of thing, but in this game, it is very clear that it is people that are being assassinated.
However, since I had the full version anyway, I decided to give it a try. Now I get a sadistic thrill when I can shoot a guy in the throat or the "nether regions", as the game puts it. However, the game just isn't as fun as other shooters that I have. I've gone back to Unreal, which runs much more nicely now that I have a decent system to run it on. And I don't have to feel guilty when I take out some alien creature - after all, it's him or me, and aren't humans supposed to reign supreme? Of course they are!
I think a nice change would be to play as an alien against humans. I am reminded of a book by Harry Harrison in which the aliens (which are big, squishy, varied, many-tentacled things) find humans disgusting because they are too dry (and crunchy - ha ha), symmetric, and lacking a sufficient number of limbs. Ultimately, it is pointed out that humans' eyes are kind of squishy, and tongues are sort of moist and tentacle-like, and the aliens are much happier after that.
So I guess my point is that although I appreciate the realism and the work that it took to achieve that, I prefer a more cartoon-like game any day. After all, my goal is to have fun solving puzzles and using aliens for target practice, not to go on a giant killing spree.
Chess, anyone?
You can respond to my ranting here.
I'd walk a mile for a rant.