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INTEREST: BBC Report on Doki Doki Literature Club Game Controversy




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Soulwarfare



Joined: 10 Dec 2017
Posts: 525
PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 8:57 pm Reply with quote
wow seriously?
Cmon the game even had a warning at the beginning and even a steam tag of psychological horror.
I think if they still decided to play despite the warning then I don't think you should just blame the game.
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Chrono1000





PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 11:09 pm Reply with quote
Valve is planning to put an age restriction system into Steam and I am guessing that Doki Doki Literature Club is going to be one of the first games that will get an age restriction. It will be interesting to see if this eventually leads to changes in UK regulations regarding online video games.
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12skippy21



Joined: 25 Nov 2008
Posts: 785
Location: York, England
PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 11:29 pm Reply with quote
Well after listening to the piece at least there was no mention of banning it. The game is tedious for long stretches and the game does peak at the first death but I do think it does not glorify suicide and that is the key point.

So the article focuses on two points, firstly that parents manage their childrens time on the internet which I do not think you can argue with. I would say social media has a far more negative impact than horror games though.

Secondly is that, as Chrono says above, I would expect an age rating to come into place for online games. This does sound fine on paper but would be a nightmare to enact without checking IP addresses or using offical contact information (which would then lead to the potential theft of personal data). Certainly a difficult issue to tackle.
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DesolatePsyche



Joined: 06 Jan 2018
Posts: 9
Location: Estonia
PostPosted: Sat Jun 30, 2018 4:02 am Reply with quote
1. As always with online & games. For smaller kids who are morons and cannot understand world yet. For those, parenting is needed. For pc/online, there is family control for a reason. Manage what your kid consumes.

2. If older people are affected by fictional things. Well, what can I say. Morons stay morons and they will end up dead sooner or later because of their own moronic behavior. So no point reacting to them.

So yeah.. I'm still dreaming of a day where content creators can go wild with their imaginations. Whenever with lewd, gory, psychological etc.. stuff without being bashed by media, normies and Shonen Jump Weekly. Quite frustrates when devs react to those things and accordingly cut content, censor and direction of development get's changed because of that. Makes me lose interest in so many things. (like recently Agony uncut version being cancelled and censored a bit before release, is 1 of the more annoying recents dev limitations)

So steam "anyhing goes policy" is a good step and hopefully will stay that way. If they will make system to freely be able to sell adult games as well, It will be superb. Won't have to dl stuff from separate providers like mangagamer or dlsite.

Moral of the story is that no point limiting fiction. Just manage your kids and older people than kids who still cannot comprehend things are simply doomed from start.

Haven't played DOki Doki just yet, but looking forwards for. Seen few clips without getting spoiled to much.
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JB_Gra



Joined: 15 Aug 2017
Posts: 25
PostPosted: Sat Jun 30, 2018 11:08 am Reply with quote
-There's a warning on the DDLC website.
-There's a warning on the steam page of the game (and the tag).
-There's a warning in the trailer.
-And as it was mentioned before, there's a warning at the very start of the game.

Yes, the cute girls can be appealing, but with so many warnings you would think that they're there for a reason.

Not even with books or television you receive so many warnings for disturbing content. I hope one day we will stop insinuating that a game is to blame because of a person's irresponsible actions, like ignoring warning messages knowing well you are a minor/mentally ill.
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yurigasaki



Joined: 06 Apr 2015
Posts: 192
PostPosted: Sat Jun 30, 2018 11:19 am Reply with quote
While I do agree that all this controversy is honestly bullshit and mostly just the BBC filling airtime, I just want to point out for everyone insisting WELL THERE'S A WARNING: that's true, but the warning is only as follows:

Quote:
This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed.


"Easily disturbed" doesn't exactly get across that the game contains spoiler[graphic images and depictions of self harm and suicide] and for someone grappling with those sorts of issues, yes, being suddenly faced with graphic depictions of them without forewarning can be very upsetting and even dangerous for them. I agree 100% with Laura that the issue, however, is not with games featuring this sort of content (even without proper warnings) but a lack of places and people to discuss these issues with if someone finds themselves faced with something that dredges up potentially dangerous thoughts of self-harm.
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consignia



Joined: 06 Jul 2011
Posts: 391
PostPosted: Sat Jun 30, 2018 1:33 pm Reply with quote
yurigasaki wrote:
...just the BBC filling airtime,...


I don't think I've read a more adapt description for the Victoria Derbyshire show. It brought Radio 5's day time white noise to the TV.

It's well worth remembering that depictions of suicide are known to increase suicidal behaviour, which is why journalism generally avoids discussing detail or mentioning when reporting such events. This title is quite graphic in it, so it is worth a discussion around the subject. I couldn't say wether it's to blame or not, and frankly it's only because of the visual novel styling it's getting the exotic reporting. But anything that brings mental health to fore is worthy in my mind.
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12skippy21



Joined: 25 Nov 2008
Posts: 785
Location: York, England
PostPosted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 2:06 am Reply with quote
Just to add some amusement to this, I noticed that the Higurashi release in the UK has been recently passed uncut by the BBFC and is rated 15.

Smile
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ninjamitsuki



Joined: 15 Sep 2007
Posts: 589
Location: Anywhere (Thanks, technology)
PostPosted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 2:14 am Reply with quote
It's horrible that the kid died, but I don't think the game is to blame. The kid probably had issues that were there long before he played the game, and it's a tragedy that he didn't get the help that he needed. Blaming the game for that feels insensitive to suicide victims.
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Chester McCool



Joined: 06 Jan 2016
Posts: 322
PostPosted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 4:22 am Reply with quote
The BBC is a bit notorious for attacking anime and games in cases like this. It's nothing really new for them.
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yurihellsing





PostPosted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 6:15 am Reply with quote
Chester McCool wrote:
The BBC is a bit notorious for attacking anime and games in cases like this. It's nothing really new for them.


Yeah That one Doc by Stacy Dooly caused and is still causing quite the stir on Twitter in Japan. Also Kinda wonder why the ANN didn't pick this one up http://cbldf.org/2018/06/takeshi-nogami-defending-manga/
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Chester McCool



Joined: 06 Jan 2016
Posts: 322
PostPosted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 8:08 am Reply with quote
yurihellsing wrote:
Yeah That one Doc by Stacy Dooly caused and is still causing quite the stir on Twitter in Japan. Also Kinda wonder why the ANN didn't pick this one up http://cbldf.org/2018/06/takeshi-nogami-defending-manga/


Interesting read, thanks! Yeah, people complain about American outlets and outrage culture on video games, anime, politics, etc, but in the UK it's even worse since there's a lot more censorship, and you can actually be arrested for wrongthink. I don't know if the guy who made this game lives there, but they better be careful if they do.
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consignia



Joined: 06 Jul 2011
Posts: 391
PostPosted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 8:20 am Reply with quote
"These days, you get arrested and thrown in jail if you say you're English."
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