Gears of War 2 Filters Replace Blood with Sparks, Remove Swearing for Younger Players

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Epic Games' upcoming third-person shooter sequel Gears of War 2 (360) will feature optional filters for both on-screen violence and language to make the game more appropriate for younger players.

Said to feature more brutal violence than its predecessor, Gears of War 2's optional filters "turns the blood into sparks" and "takes out all the swear words," Microsoft informed parental gaming resource What They Play.

In addition to series mainstays such as the chainsaw-equipped Lancer rifle, the game was recently revealed to feature new gameplay elements including deathblows to crush downed enemies and the ability to use wounded foes for use as meat shields.

It remains to be seen whether any of these elements will be modified or removed in the presence of an applied gore filter, or if the option is limited strictly to replacing blood with sparks.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    August 6, 2008 11:46 AM

    I think this is brilliant -- every M game should do this. I don't think this is an excuse for parents to play Gears of War or GTA type games in front of their 2 year olds, but I think it helps for parents. Plus, it's a good step towards getting anti-game politicians to back off.

    Great job Epic.

    • reply
      August 6, 2008 11:48 AM

      But that means even more mic-equipped 8 year-old online. Are you sure you thought this through?

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      August 6, 2008 11:49 AM

      True, but I think it kinda misses the point. Even if sparks are flying instead of blood, would you really want a nine- or ten-year-old kid sawing a Locust in half with a lancer?

      I played violent games all the time when I was wee -- or, y'know, games which were violent for the time, anyway. And I turned out okay, yadda yadda, the usual. But for violence filters to really make a solid impact, they need to go farther than just replacing the blood with sparks.

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        August 6, 2008 11:55 AM

        No longer do you kill the Locust, your lancer will now apply flowers to the Locust, which makes them so happy they float away to heaven.

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        August 6, 2008 12:37 PM

        I think it also helps in a situation where someone who has kids can play with the sound on and not have to worry about their kids hearing the language if they happen to walk by the tv room or what not. I know I tend to play games in the computer room with headphones on so that my kids don't hear the language in a lot of the games I play even if they are not in the same room.

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          August 6, 2008 1:30 PM

          Precisely what I'm thinking. Little billy may be in a crib. He can't see the screen, but he can hear and repeat.

    • reply
      August 6, 2008 11:49 AM

      Really though? Is it really any better to chainsaw a dude in half and have yellow sparks come gushing out instead of red "blood"?

      To me, it sounds like the equivalent of blurring the nipples on a woman during a sex scene, but leaving in the sex scene.

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        August 6, 2008 11:51 AM

        Yes, what you said.

        Stop saying things better than I could, Vincent.

      • reply
        August 6, 2008 12:41 PM

        Yes, cause he's a robot.

      • reply
        August 6, 2008 1:31 PM

        I'm saying it's a nice compromise. I don't think this makes it go away. I'm just saying it's easier to do things around little kids, position it to anti-game enthusiasts...hell, now they can ship the same game in Germany, just change the default setting.

        A change like this doesn't require a massive amount of work. It's a nice option to put in for people.

    • Ziz legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
      reply
      August 6, 2008 11:54 AM

      Heck yeah! They shouldn't have to listen to that doody if they don't want to. and everyone knows it's really just ketchup.

      • reply
        August 6, 2008 1:22 PM

        Rod: "Daddy? What's that red stuff coming out of kitty?"
        Stupid Flanders: "Oh, that's just raspberry jam..."
        Tod: "Should I do that to Rod?"

    • reply
      August 6, 2008 12:29 PM

      I agree, this is great and I'd like to see more of it. Not because I'd use it myself, or because I'm suddenly going to let my 5-year-old play the filtered version of Gears of War, but because it might placate the politicians.

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      August 6, 2008 12:44 PM

      I don't see the point. It's still an M-rated game. It doesn't really change anything. It's still a violent game.

      • reply
        August 6, 2008 2:28 PM

        Of course it is. but maybe, just maybe, politicians will see this as a step forward for us, so they can take a step back.

        • reply
          August 6, 2008 6:41 PM

          Not a step forward at all because first and foremost it's still a violent video game. Nothing has changed. Just because they offer the option doesn't mean people will utilize it and options have rarely if ever mattered. This isn't the first game to try this.

          Given the nature of Gears of War in which you can cut someone in half with a chainsaw, I don't think changing the blood to sparks is going to make any politician notice. I sure as hell wouldn't. It doesn't prevent those under the M-rating age from playing the game which is their biggest concern.

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