Dante's Inferno makes nannies everywhere furious
(Credit:
EA)
Electronic Arts's certainly not afraid of controversy. In fact, the company seems to be embracing it with arms wide open.
At a recent "Naughty or Nice" event in New York, we had the opportunity to play Dante's Inferno hands-on. The Xbox 360 and PS3 video game, which recasts the epic Dante poem as a God of War-type journey through nesting levels of hell, is certainly wearing its M rating on its sleeve (Note: while the ESRB hasn't officially rated this game yet, it's pretty clear there's no other rating it would achieve). The producers brazenly showed the Lust level of the game, with some eye-popping (and incredibly disturbing) animations, including an enormous bare-breasted demon boss who births termite-like knife-handed demon-babies from her nipples.
Therefore, it's no surprise really that this news item emerged about one of Dante's Inferno's "achievements." The International Nanny Association is up in arms about an achievement called "Bad Nanny" that triggers when the game's protagonist kills unbaptized babies.
Having played the game, we're pretty sure the babies being referred to are in fact demon-creatures in baby form, but this still seems like a controversial and offensively described event to flaunt with GamerScore points. Shockingly, however, the nanny organization seems mostly upset because the achievement casts nannies in a bad light.
Is this as bad as Hot Coffee, or simply PR steam? Admittedly, this is a game set in hell--but is there such a thing as too much? Also, how exactly did the International Nanny Association get wind of God of Hell's--we mean, Dante's Inferno's--achievement lists, we wonder?
(Source: Game Politics via Joystiq)
Scott Stein, a New York Jets fan and CNET senior associate editor, has written about tech, entertainment, video games, and viral culture for outlets including Laptop, Wired, Maxim, Esquire Online, Asylum, and Men's Journal. He also appears on the Digital City podcast. In his spare time, you might see him performing improv in New York City (when he's not being a dad). 
Perhaps maybe change the name of the achievment/trophy to something a little less offensive. But the game in itself is fine. It's doing exactly what the developers set out to make it do.
In other news, there is apparently an International Nanny Association.
It's "Bad Nanny" not "Good Nanny" Are they defending bad nannies?
International Nanny Association Demands Drastic Changes to Dante's Inferno Video Game or No Release
Irresponsible to market "baby killing" to group which statistically has highest percentage of individuals charged with child maltreatment, says INA
Last week the International Nanny Association (INA) drew heat from the gaming and tech world for their public statement denouncing a level of Electronic Art's (EA) upcoming game, Dante's Inferno-- the level unveiled during the company?s Naughty or Nice press event on October 14, 2009.
INA took issue with the "lust level" of the game, which has a February release date, in which ?un-baptized babies? are slaughtered by the game player to earn the achievement of "bad nanny."
Lynne Kenney, PsyD, known as "The Family Coach" and author of The Family Coach Method insists "INA has not over-reacted.?
She says, ?We live in a culture that has become desensitized to killing. To encourage even adults to play games that celebrate and reward killing babies is disgusting and sick. Social isolation, gaming that emphasizes ?kills? and companies that spend man hours on this sort of game development contribute to the dehumanization of children, which is appalling."
According to The Entertainment Software Association, in 2009, 68% of individuals in US households now play computer or video games. They also state that the average player is 35 years of age.
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, the median age of an individual who is charged with child maltreatment is between 30 and 33 years of age.
INA is shocked by the amount of excitement and anticipation being expressed on hundreds of video gaming message boards and blogs over the unveiling of the lust level in Dante's Inferno. INA feels strongly that marketing a video game that promotes ?baby-killing? (a term EA has coined) to an audience that statistically has the highest percentage of individuals charged with child maltreatment is extremely irresponsible.
INA stands by its original statement and demands that Electronic Arts either not release the game or drastically change the verbiage and nature of the lust level in the game.
- by Metlehead November 19, 2009 2:37 PM PST
- I think the big problem that a lot of people (including the INA) have with these "violent video games" is that they do not view video games "as art".
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(5 Comments)I wholly believe that video games can be used as an expressive medium for art, much in the same way movies or music is also considered "art", and musicians, directors, and actors / actresses are "artists". Playing a game can be mindless entertainment ... but they can also make the player "feel" something. Does this not satisfy one of the main points of criteria of art - to present the artists a medium in which to express meaning or feeling?
People like the INA, however, do not view games as art - and as such, they do not think that video games should share the same protections from censorship that other mediums of art enjoy.
However, no one is forcing this "art" upon them. If they find it offensive and unsuitable for their tastes - then they don't have to play it, nor bring it into their house. Be a role model, and do not condone the values that message brings into the household.