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 On 02/06/2014 at 11:05 PM by BrokenH See More From This User » |
"Ben O'Sheely is partially based upon myself and my own difficult experiences. The other "25%" probably owes a boon of tribute to James Sutherland from Silent-Hill 2."
Life becomes a strange journey once you live long enough. The flurry of “special delicate snowflakes” just keep coming by the way! But as usual they give me fuel for more blogs! (Thanks, snowflakes!)
Now that “Gutterdelve’s kitchen scene” is yesterday’s news (admittedly it’s only a few hours old) Ben O’Sheely’s reaction to “Deidre’s predicament” has come into play.
This is the scene I’m surprised no one mentioned sooner. I kept thinking to myself “Really, you choose the kitchen conversation scene as being offensive yet Deidre’s “past” is a non issue?! WTF guys!”. Well, I finally got someone to respond to that. (Slow clap)
Okay, it’s unfair to call all my dissenters delicate special snow-flakes. But I am assuming they are younger and have not been out into the harsh reality that is the real world away from home. (But then again, maybe they’ve been through something trumatic so that is the reason they are more easily upset. I’ll entertain that possibility.)
When Ben witnesses Deidre’s “abuse” he describes it as being revolting and arousing simultaneously, a train-wreck upon his fragile senses. He also vows to free her from her tormenters so she can live a happy life.
But the commenter says he/she lost all sympathy for Ben due to the fact it’s implied he was “turned on” partially by what he saw before him. The nose bleed might have also been confusing. In Japan a nose-bleed in anime often implies “naughty thoughts” but in Ben’s case it was the result of mental fatigue, physical over exertion, and slight hemorrhaging.
The truth? Deidre’s memory in Ben’s head was like an erotic night terror. It was terrible to behold yet there were parts of it that were sexual just as there were parts of it that were violent. Keep in mind Ben O’Sheely “is” a damaged person. The game never implies he’s normal and his journey begins during a therapy session. Much akin to James Sutherland, Ben has serious psychological problems.
Yet Ben NEEDS to save Deidre. It’s the only way he can absolve his guilt and save himself in the process. While Ben never “did bad things” to Deidre himself, his cruel words towards her one day sort of placed her in the predicament she was in. This is something he has regretted ever since.
Yeah, Ben O’sheely is fucked up. But deep down he is inherently good too. I find a lot of people today cannot see in shades of gray. If they could they would realize a person’s “actions” matter more than their fleeting thoughts.
"Believe it or not there are even "chat rooms" where "normal people" play out their "rape fantasies"! Good luck getting anyone to admit it though!"
Does anyone bitch this much about Silent Hill 2 anymore? What with Pyramid-head representing James's darker sexual desires/need to be punished, Angela's molestation issues,Maria being a sentient walking innuendo, and Eddy's cruelty towards animals it seems as if Gutterdelve is not somehow any "worse" than a game people rant and rave about as being "high art". What's the point of weaving tales if we cannot ocasionally veer into the dark primordial forest that makes the audience uncomfortable?
People are pretty sensitive. You're obviously dealing with complex subject matter. I say, go with your gut.
I know I haven't finished your game yet. I will soon, I've just been distracted. I'm going to make a concerted effort soon. I support you though in what you're doing without a doubt, I'm just a procrastinator.
Yeah,often times my heroes are "troubled people",Matt. I like to imply despite us having darkness inside ourselves we can still rise above it.
Interesting subject.
I think so too,Joe! Though I'm starting to wonder if there's a point of doing anything other than fluffy teen rated rpgs if people are going to get butt-hurt over more mature themes. Makes me wonder how games like "Silent Hill" "Deadly Premonition" or "Metal Gear 3" were able to see the light of day.
In my opinion, there are more openly closed minded people today than ever. It's ridiculous to judge a person on their thoughts. All of us have bad thoughts that we don't act on. It's what we do with our thoughts that matter. To recognize the thought as inappropiate and taking control of it and not acting on it is more important.
I mean damn!! They say Christians are closed minded?! What, are you sure these people aren't religious nut-bags? 
James, it's not the Christian folks that "are" the nutbags recently. lol. At least not the laid back loving Christians. It's kind of ironic just by being a Christian people will assume you're a narrow minded bigot who oppresses women with your "outdated ways". These people seem to whine about oppression yet they simultaneously turn around and try to opress other people. It's sickening and I cannot be apart of a scene with that much hypocrisy. You should be allowed to believe what you want to believe.
But I tried arguing the same thing with this person. How Ben O'Sheely is "damaged" and kind of messed up but his "actions" almost always lean towards doing the right thing. I brought up thought versus action in that scene to get across that underlying point. (How we're defined and shaped by what we "do" instead of by what we 'think".) But I guess some of these "kids" are too young and frivolous to understand that. Seems like we live in an age where "thought crimes" are elevated as being just as terrible as "actual crimes". What a bunch of bullshit.
Also it's not as if you play as troubled teens who shoot up their school or molest their little sisters. As controversial as Gutterdelve could have been I find it to be mild compared to much of the other stuff floating around out there. At least in my game you still are playing as "heroes" with moral scruples.
I just can't help but find it funny when I read about how there needs to be more thought-provoking games out there. Then once a game makes an attempt, it's like a pitfall trap activates and suddenly the discussion changes to 'does this need to be explored in games? I don't think so'.
That and in Gutterdelve you still play as "good people". They are damaged and troubled but they are not running around butchering,torturing,and raping innocent people. Gutterdelve is not "Wrong Turn: The Game" by any stretch of the imagination. Certainly terrible things happen in the story but the characters you play as are never the ones doing it.
But should I be surprised? Dracula recently got called a "sex offender" for feeding on a family when he was in a weakened state! Apparently "drinking blood for sustenance" now equals rape.
I'm not surprised. Studies show that American's don't read much any more, not literature, and I think gamers especially don't read much beyond geek-centric genres like sci-fi and fantasy, spending most of their free time on the video game hobby. Literature has covered this ground before, as have films (most gamers probably only watch "fun" Hollywood escapism). This is why video games will continue to be culturally behind, no matter how much money the industry pulls in. They don't explore human nature. And I mean real human nature, not archetypes and dramatic tropes ripped from cinematic thrillers and pulp novels.
The problem you bring up is probably why Gutterdelve is getting shit on. I think a lot of these people are speeding through reading the text just to finish the game. As such their understanding of events is very haphazard, one-sided, and hazy.
I mean there's a full disclaimer warning people how disturbing the game is yet they're playing it and "getting offended". Guess they didn't take the time to read the disclaimer either,Chris.
But you're right. This is a problem. How can games evolve if "we" will not let them explore new territory as a collective society? It's ironic people complain games are filled with tropes yet if a creator of games tries to scratch deeper than the surface he or she is told he or she is being offensive and doing the subject matter all wrong. It's a rather no win situation.
No one remembers your name, when you're strange. Right Ethel?
For some reason I knew there'd be a Doors vid even before I came in here,
Guilty as charged,Peter. lol.
I think if make them read A Song of Ice and Fire, they would start thinking that Gutterdelve is My Little Pony by comparasion.... then again, i haven't played your game yet...
Yeah as much bitch-fits as I get over Gutterdelve it baffles me why "Game Of Thrones" is one of the most popular syndicated cable television show right now. Walking dead gets pretty grisly and dark too. You're right, there's no way Gutterdelve is "more extreme" than ASOIAF.
Some people just look for reasons to be offended. You should know that by now.
I do,Tam. I'm just constantly frustrated by the lack of rationality. I shouldn't be and just accept that's how some people are. But you know what they say,to be flawed is to be human. lol. I'm no exception.
Honestly, one of the great things of games and other forms of entertainment is that they allow you to release your fantasies in a virtual realm. You are releasing these thoughts to a world that doesn't exist, instead of acting them out in reality, on real people. Granted, there are some lines that need to be treaded very carefully in media, but that doesn't mean the subject has to be avoided at all costs. Not exactly what you were trying to say, but it's something that's been on my mind for a while.
I agree,Kev. Honestly When it comes to being "risque" it would be more disturbing to put someone in the shoes of a murderer or rapist. At least to me games like Manhunt and Rapelay are more "edgy" than what I offer in my game. Essentially what people are getting offended by is a portion of a character's "thoughts" as he witnesses a psychic manifestation of his friend's memory who was raped. A friend who he gives his life to save.
Yes a part of him deep down was aroused but he's ashamed and repulsed by that aspect of himself. It's not as if he revels in it.
If these kids want to know what real "shock" is they should watch Clockwork Orange,The Piano,or Schindler's list. There are many films and television shows that have went further than what I have done. (And are more graphic with doing it considering words and old school sprires cannot convey the realistic body language and facial expressions of real actors.)
It makes me wonder if indeed those damaged aspects of your main character were ever made known well enough for players to realize he has issues. In the SH connection atleast there it was shown that James had issues, though it wasn't something we as the player were generally known about till much after when we put the pieces together from the clues left by the other situations that represented his emotional state.
Was that something you were trying to convey or was that just assumed to be a "given" with the circumstances involved? I only ask because it's a very fine line to be able to explain why a person is that they are in their emotional wellbeing while at the same time trying to to be too vague or to self explainator to where you're trying to tell instead of show.
Makes me wish I had the time to try out this game and see if this is indeed the fuss is all about. With that said you also forgot another RAPE picture...
Your welcome.
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