There is No Dead Island Controversy

Fantastic article. Couldn't have said it better myself.
-Mark
2gays1joystick.com

Shut up, c**t.

I can't say I've seen any of the Controversy surrounding this trailer and this is the first I've seen it, so I may be missing the point (wouldn't be the first time!)

However as you said it just shows how the mainstream consider games, had this been a trailer farted out by Hollywood for a film, it would have largely gone unnoticed. But because it's a game related trailer that looks like a film, people don't seem to be able to wrap their heads around this fact. Sad really, especially when we've still got no idea of the game mechanics or quality!

I agree to a point but i am wondering what films have depicted a child's death in a trailer? She references other media that does it but never mentions a film that actually does.
just wondering...

There's a reason why we couldn't kill kids in any game up to date. These are human beings parents will do anything to protect!

You're just being silly, people who say it's the best trailer in allllll time is just being over the top.
With most games, you don't need an over the top trailer to make you want to play it. If you fancy the game just by the sound of it or learning what it's about. So the fact that there's a movie-like trailer along SIDE the fact it's a zombie game, just adds extra "ooh".

Congratulations Svend, you've completely missed the point. Of course film does it better because that's the end product. I don't know; CGI 8 year olds (however undead) smashing out of windows to be shattered on the ground some 6 floors below. Well gee, seems like a bit of a heavy handed way of selling a game to me.

Kind of like trying to sell monopoly with an advert of a CGI nut job stalking round the mother and baby wing with a lump hammer.

It's only a game after all. Nothing serious. Bringing out the big emotional guns is at best cheap at worse down right crass.

And you have no problem with films showing such scenes? Hmm.


Looks like you're the one missing the point. Games feature characters. Characters that have feelings, emotions and family just like any character in a film, TV or book. Now imagine a family on an island full of zombies. You don't think at some point during their pleasant stay that those characters won't be put in a position where they feel pain, have to look out for others or suffer loss?

Of course not, it's just a game! It's totally different. Characters in games don't have feelings and emotions, certainly not in a zombie game. The only way to present a zombie game is to have comedic heroes run lawnmowers over George A. Romero-inspired undead to a heavy metal soundtrack in an abandoned shopping centre, right?

That's the stance you seem to be taking - that games are nothing but kids toys and shouldn't ever try to be thought-provoking. I am saying that sometimes games can - and should - try and be that bit more mature and make the audience think about the emotional repercussions of the environments they're in. The fact that this content happened to be in a trailer is irrelevant.



Would you rather have a virtual wife in the kid's place? A doting father? A fat man to the tune of a Benny Hill soundtrack?

Why exactly is it heavy handed? Because it made you feel uncomfortable? Because it raises the emotional circumstances that can come from such dire situations? Because it dared to make you feel?

This is not a real murder of a child. This is not a campaign to convince you that doing this is a good idea. And if you feel more compelled to buy this game based on the idea that you could throw 6 year old daughters out of windows then you're a bit sick in the head. I think the general public should be given a bit more credit than that.

Yes, it's a trailer. Yes, it's promoting a game. But does it have to be as black and white as you seem to think it is? Can't directors and marketing companies try to create short films that go beyond the status quo?

Further, how do you know that this is not a core story element of the game? If it is, then shouldn't the thought-provoking idea of having those close to you be in danger be celebrated as it is in say, Heavy Rain? If it isn't, then there's nothing to worry about - the video was simply an artistic take on the tried-and-tested zombie game premise. But to get all up in arms about this while films, books, TV and almost every other medium contains graphic material that is ten times worse than this is nothing less than an overreaction.

Sven, I want to report you for being awesome.

Consider yourself told.