THQ Not Worried About Streaking Backlash In Saints Row 2
Saints Row 2It's no surprise to learn there's plenty of adult-oriented content in Saints Row 2; violence, drug use, language, and yeah, some sexuality, too. But how close are THQ to stepping over the ESRB line from "M-Mature" to the dreaded "AO-Adults Only?"
According to Edge-Online, a recent video has surfaced, showing a woman streaking in the game. The screen capture is here - yeah, we keep things accessible to all ages 'round here so the good stuff is blocked out - but the question is, will the anti-gaming freaks jump all over THQ for this type of thing? Well, the publisher's aren't too worried about it; that's for sure. Said THQ media relations representative Craig Mitchell-
"In terms of backlash from the game's content, we are not too concerned. THQ and [Saints Row developer] Volition have worked within the guidelines of the ESRB and the international ratings boards and the game has been rated appropriately. In the U.S., it is rated M for mature. In addition, Saints Row 2 has a very over-the-top tone and the activities like streaking play into that. In streaking, the character's front is blurred out, plus, all the characters were made 'asexual' so even a possible mod/hack would not reveal anything."
Well, that's a logical explanation, but there's nothing logical about industry haters. They're not going to like the fact that the player can trigger "streaking" on the fly - press down twice on the controller's d-pad - but hey, that's part of the game. Streak by enough people, and your Respect goes up! You just have to laugh at that. For the most part, we don't imagine there will be as much GTA-like backlash, but that's just because this isn't GTA...it's Saints Row 2, and not quite as headline-grabbing. Anyway, yes, streaking is here, and we find it comical. So what?
Related Game(s): Saints Row 2
10/8/2008 Ben Dutka
Put this on your webpage or blog:
Email this to a friend
Follow PSX Extreme on Twitter
Comments (7 posts)
Gabriel013
Thursday, October 09, 2008 @ 1:14:07 AM
Reply
With the blured bits there is less nudity than a page 3 in a newspaper and 16 year olds can buy those.
0 up, 0 down
www
Thursday, October 09, 2008 @ 7:30:58 AM
Reply
To me the game which is gonna get close to GTA or beta'em will be the next Godfather by EA
0 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, October 09, 2008 @ 1:06:12 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
shaydey77
Thursday, October 09, 2008 @ 4:11:10 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Minishmaru
Thursday, October 09, 2008 @ 5:58:51 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
LightShow
Reply
Wednesday, October 08, 2008 @ 10:49:29 PM
I don't care. I can almost guarantee that this will be thrown across every TV in America and abroad, so anybody wanting to buy the game will have a pretty good idea that there can be streaking ingame. if they dont like it, they dont have to buy it.
with all the press this particular feature will be getting, it almost does the ESRB's job for it, at least in respect to the streaking. A rating and the content descriptor are for letting uninformed consumers know the basics on what they'll be getting into. Everybody who cares and numerous people who dont will know that some game called Saints Row 2 will have streaking. Suddenly, an uninformed consumer becomes just a little more informed, and the end result is similar, if not the same.
THQ could have done us all a favor and tried not to stir up the hornets nest in washington, but the deed is done. I hope ESRB doesn't break under Public Pressure and slap an AO just to get everybody to shut up. I of all people give them just a little more credit than that.