Video games hit new low with NARC

[Gamereviewgod]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/fun.games/04/22/narc/index.html

Sigh. Because killing a cop in GTA isn't anywhere near as bad as taking drugs in NARC, right?

[Gapporin]

It's funny how the media jumps on something gamers have already known for months now. Wasn't taking drugs a feature that Midway touted ever since they started developing the remake?


According to the Entertainment Software Association's 2004 Essential Facts Guide, the average age of a video game player is 30 years old.

Wow. It seems a lot younger.

[vintagegamecrazy]

That's low allright. I don't like GTA to begin with for the morality reasons, I cant play a game where you can patronize prostitutes and kill innocent people, and NARC looks to be no better. Midway is selling that off the shock value and the next level thing, they need to come up with something more original. At the rate they are going they will have a game where you are a rapist or a serial killer.

:angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry:

[ozyr]

That's low allright. I don't like GTA to begin with for the morality reasons, I cant play a game where you can patronize prostitutes and kill innocent people, and NARC looks to be no better. Midway is selling that off the shock value and the next level thing, they need to come up with something more original. At the rate they are going they will have a game where you are a rapist or a serial killer.


To some extent, I aggree. I'm sick of all these real-life vilent games. I haven't bought any, and probably won't. Game violence is ok by me, but make it stuff that doesn't happen in the real world... (and is really not needed in the game).

[Cryomancer]

Chiller, and Japan is full of hentai games that feature rape, pseudo-rape, or the most common, rape-but-then-she-starts-liking-it. There is also a game where you stalk women. Not really my kind of thing, but they are out there.

[vintagegamecrazy]

It just comes to show you there are slums and housing projects in every hobby! :D

[ozyr]

I agree that these game will always be out there. It's what some folks like... :hmm: I'll spend my money elsewhere!

[Mr.FoodMonster]

Any of you guys actually play this?

KTHXBYE

[thegreatescape]

fu*king OFLC.

[geelw]

*yawn*- having played an early version of the game, and finally a FINAL version of the game, it's ANOTHER case of media mediocrity at it's worst. remember when gta: vice city was responsible for all those haitians geting killed all across america? no? well, because it never happened like the politicians, pundits, and so-called "community leaders" said it would. friggin' channel 2 news here won an AWARD for reporting this story "RACIST video games!" and the only part that was true was that yet AGAIN, people who don't play video games are overreacting to something they haven't seen outside of a commmercial or clip that shows something baaaaaaad happening in a game where violence and drug use is a plot point that drives the action.

...of course there WAS violence in haiti soon afterward, but it sure as hell wasn't because they started selling gta down there :/

now, granted, narc isn't a great game (i thought it was good and funny, but not a heavy hitter in the grand scheme of things), but guess what: you can actually play through the game an not take a single drug. it's a lot harder, and you'll die in some tricky spots, but the game uses drugs as a risk/reward system. if you take something too many times, not only will you get hooked, you'll get busted off the force and have to work your way back on. there are also negative effects to all the drugs, but as the game is an action game and NOT a freakin' government produced "this is your brain on drugs" ad, it's not supposed to be on store shelves to teach people what not to do or what to do.

when that happens we get mario teaches typing and captain novolin. we also get cpu bach and the miracle piano teaching system, but i'm trying to be funny here, folks.

the game has drug use- so what? if it were a platformer and all of a sudden, mario was shooting up and slashing at yoshi's jugular with a broken spork, helll, people- THEN you can get shocked. if it's a game that's rated M, and says on the back of the damn case that it has *gasp* drug use/violence/profanity/hoochie mamas with their ya-yas on fire, then leave it on the shelf for the adults who WANT to pick it up, period. hell, maybe if some of these so called adults who act like screaming children whenever they see a gun in a video game ACTUALLY spent some time with these games, they'd at LEAST see that there's a method to what they see as madness.

if anything, i'm MORE upset about the damn 50 cent game- why is a REAL-LIFE drug dealer and criminal getting a game where he ganks people left and right? there's a big damn difference between quality adult entertainment with a decent plot and motivations for characters to do the evil that they do and a stupid cash generating idea that's only going to piss off even more people once it's released, and this one crosses my particular line.

what's next? "lil' kim's hoe-down (a riding simulator of sorts for lil' girls)"? :angry:

[goatdan]

Personally, there are two major problems that I have with Narc:

1) The original game was all about stopping people from using drugs... by KILLING them! It rocked and was a great, great game! The focus seems to have been lost.
2) This game is supposed to suck. Why would I want to play a game where you did anything if it sucks?

[zmweasel]

There is also a game where you stalk women.

What's the name of this totally insane game?

-- Z.

[vintagegamecrazy]

Like I said earlier, I won't play a game where they glorify drug use. There needs to be more people who just think drug use and anything that portrays it is needs to go.

[zmweasel]

Like I said earlier, I won't play a game where they glorify drug use. There needs to be more people who just think drug use and anything that portrays it is needs to go.

We need to develop a deeper understanding of why people take drugs to begin with (other than the obvious reasons), rather than adopt extremist attitudes and fight an absurd "war." Read up on Prohibition sometime, and/or check out the "War on Drugs" episode of the brilliant Penn & Teller: Bullshit! at http://www.sho.com/site/ptbs/topics.do?topic=war.

Also, this controversial gameplay mechanic is hardly new. Syndicate had in-game drug use in 1993.

-- Z.

[goatdan]

Like I said earlier, I won't play a game where they glorify drug use. There needs to be more people who just think drug use and anything that portrays it is needs to go.

I'm one of the "crazy people" who has never tried drugs nor cared too. Hell, I rarely drink anything alcoholic. It's just how I am. I wouldn't support things that were going out and proclaiming that drug use is totally awesome because it isn't the type of person that I am, but with the same token, I wouldn't be against them.

At least the concept of how drugs were going to be used in Narc seemed to be to be interesting. I haven't played the final game, but from what I understand if you take a drug too often, you get addicted to it, and it hurts you. Sounds realistic, and sounds like it doesn't glorify drug use.

I used to have a blast with the text-based Drug Dealer game too where you flew around the country buying and selling various drugs to get more and more money.

So basically, I guess that with me it comes down to the fact that my parents raised me right. I loved Drug Dealer, but knew the difference between it and real life. I really have enjoyed playing games like Doom an Goldeneye too, yet I know that shooting someone in real life is bad and would never do it.

Narc's concept is a fine game concept as long as there are parents out there still attempting to be parents. If not, it isn't like a game like Narc or GTA is going to be the reason the kids end up on drugs anyway.

[Tachikoma]

When I first read the title to this topic.. it was gameplay that came to mind. Not the feature of taking drugs.. X_x

[DynastyLawyer]

Personally, there are two major problems that I have with Narc:

1) The original game was all about stopping people from using drugs... by KILLING them! It rocked and was a great, great game! The focus seems to have been lost.
2) This game is supposed to suck. Why would I want to play a game where you did anything if it sucks?

Will you marry me? LOL

[goatdan]

Personally, there are two major problems that I have with Narc:

1) The original game was all about stopping people from using drugs... by KILLING them! It rocked and was a great, great game! The focus seems to have been lost.
2) This game is supposed to suck. Why would I want to play a game where you did anything if it sucks?

Will you marry me? LOL

I'm really glad that somebody agrees with the most obvious arguments ;)

But sorry. My wife would kill me if I ran off with anyone else... She wouldn't lose the focus of #1. :)

[GarrettCRW]

You know, if the media actually spent this type of effort on real news (like, for instance, a little interview Henry Hyde gave where he admitted that the Clinton impeachment was retaliation for Nixon, which the radio station that aired the interview has quietly wiped off the face of the Earth), a lot of things that go on in this world would be exposed.

But I digress (and bring of bit of the world of politics into this argument unnecessarily, perhaps).

If anything, NARC's view on drug use seems very much like the view on drug abuse illustrated by the anti-drug episodes of shows like He-Man: sure, taking them might feel pretty good for a while, but it's going to bite you in the ass soon enough. Of course, in video games, every action is a part of that "repeatable action" nonsense that censors always throw on the animation studios (as if all kids are friggin' idiots or something).

Additionally, I found this quote to be particularly naive:

"They [Midway] do portray the extreme that the use of drugs can lead to bad outcomes, and the game penalizes you for misusing drugs. But the flip side of that message is that some drug use actually enhances play and enhances your performance. That's the glorification part. That's the dangerous message: Drugs are OK, just don't overdo it."

It's actually true. History is littered with tales of artists who did their best work while experimenting with drugs (and just as many tales of artists who overdid it and lost everything *cough*Behind the Music*cough*). Any mind-altering substance is capable of altering the mind. Whether this is a good or bad ting is in the eye of the beholder (though, obviously, repeated alterations might not necessarily be a good thing for your noodle). But, since this is a video game here (which is evil), and drug use (which is also evil) is present, then it's evil, and must be destroyed.

Yeah, right. :roll:

@thegreatescape: What's the OFLC, and why do they suck (unless the answer is obvious, then you don't need to tell me why they suck)?

[thegreatescape]

OFLC- Office of Film and Literature Classification. Also Known as "those bastards that took Narc and LSL away from me".

It hasnt been getting the greatest reviews, but gosh darnit I was really looking forward to Narc :/
linky (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=8000)

[Dobie]

OFLC- Office of Film and Literature Classification. Also Known as "those bastards that took Narc and LSL away from me".

It hasnt been getting the greatest reviews, but gosh darnit I was really looking forward to Narc :/
linky (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=8000)

Dunno if the ban includes imports, but can't you get a PAL Euro copy? It'll be more expensive, but if its a game you REALLY want to play...

[thegreatescape]

In some states only selling banned (unclassified) games is illegal, and in others even possesion is illegal. Ill definately be importing it though- Anyone know if the Eu version comes with the soundtrack? :-P

Even if its a terrible game, I will have satisfied my lust AND smitten the OFLC. win!

cant wait to be arrested for possesion of an illegal drug game >_>

[Crush Crawfish]

That's low allright. I don't like GTA to begin with for the morality reasons, I cant play a game where you can patronize prostitutes and kill innocent people, and NARC looks to be no better. Midway is selling that off the shock value and the next level thing, they need to come up with something more original. At the rate they are going they will have a game where you are a rapist or a serial killer.

I wholeheartedly agree. I really don't enjoy playing an evil character, especially one who commits despicable actions that unfortunately occur in the real world. I just guess my real world morals always carry over to the game world. I much prefer playing the hero. Bah, I'm just hoping all these realistic crime games are just a temporary fad.


1) The original game was all about stopping people from using drugs... by KILLING them! It rocked and was a great, great game! The focus seems to have been lost.

Yeah, I love the original NARC too, but I get the feeling that if they kept the original focus, the game would have been no less controversial. Why, you ask? Probably for portraying killing as an appropriate method of crime prevention, or something ridiculous like that. x_x

[TurboGenesis]

If one does not like the content of a game then just don't buy/rent/play the game. Why is there always talk of banning games?!?! What was the last movie to get banned? How many movies glorify drus and violence and mass destruction?

If content such as this is bothersome then play games on Pico or VIS. These gaming venues contain games that contain NO objectionable/questionable material.

[petewhitley]

I still maintain that the mass-market gaming low of Beat 'Em & Eat 'Em has yet to be equaled.

[Dahne]

I'm still disappointed that nothing interesting happens in MGS3 when you eat toads.

[lendelin]

David Walsh did it again: the psychologist who simplifies human behaviour. It is the old argument: people play, and people do; people read, and people do; people watch, and people do.

There is no empirical evidence that this is so. Not even the research of the Institute on the Family and the Media which Walsh presides gives any convincing reasoning to substantiate this simplistic and century-old argumentation about art, literature, music, and toys.

It is a hysterical overreaction like the apostles for the prohibition promoted: because we can't explain certain human behavior and can effectively get rid off "ills" of society, we look for simple explanations. Coupled with an educational-dictator approach, you end up with wishful but in a free society rarely to achieve censorship.

It is the old barking of regressionists in progressive clothing.

[Sothy]

all of a sudden, mario was shooting up and slashing at yoshi's jugular with a broken spork

Id buy the shit outta that game.


As for NARC havent played but seen some footage and as a former Drug user I can tell you its bullshit.

Especially the weed one what happens like you smoke and go into bullet time? Naw.

If the game was realistic the character would smoke weed
then go home and make like 3 sandwiches and then watch cartoon network untill he took a nap on the couch.

The problem is not that drugs are in the game, they just make them cooler than they are.
If the game showed a Meth addict buying Frozen turkeys with food stamps then returning them for cash to buy dope, and some criminal shooting up heroin and passing out on the toilet then kids would realize how boring, pathetic and unglamorous a drug lifestyle is and stay cleaner than any 80's kill the druggy game could ever hope to accomplish.

[Captain Wrong]

1) The original game was all about stopping people from using drugs... by KILLING them! It rocked and was a great, great game! The focus seems to have been lost.

Yeah, I love the original NARC too, but I get the feeling that if they kept the original focus, the game would have been no less controversial. Why, you ask? Probably for portraying killing as an appropriate method of crime prevention, or something ridiculous like that. x_x

Really though, if you read any recent interview with Eugene Jarvis about NARC, he admits the "just say no" overtone of the game was little more than an umbrella under with to hide what was, at the time, the most graphically violent videogame around. In fact, in many interviews, the guy has certaintly implied...how should I put it?...there was a great deal of irony in him and his team making an anti-drug videogame, if you get my drift.

I haven't played this remake myself. I have a hunch that Midway is going to need controversy to sell the new NARC because I have yet to see anything terribly positive about the game and, as much as I like the lower price, I can't exactly say the budget price point is much of a confidence builder in this instance.

[josekortez]

The game is more frustrating than anything else. It tries to be Fable happening in the inner city (that's the best comparison I can make because of the good side/bad side aspect), but if you use drugs at all, you have to waste up a few more minutes trying to build your badge rating back up. Where's the fun in that? I suppose the concept was that bad gameplay + drug use = just say no. If it was, then the developer succeeded.

[mattmcgrath25]

There's a world of difference between GTA3/VC/SA and NARC.

Anyone remember:

Blood?
Carmageddon?
Kingpin?
Postal (1 or 2)?

[slip81]

Well at least this time the politicians picked a crappy game to dump on, so if it gets banned (LOL), no one will care :)

[goatdan]

Really though, if you read any recent interview with Eugene Jarvis about NARC, he admits the "just say no" overtone of the game was little more than an umbrella under with to hide what was, at the time, the most graphically violent videogame around. In fact, in many interviews, the guy has certaintly implied...how should I put it?...there was a great deal of irony in him and his team making an anti-drug videogame, if you get my drift.

Oh trust me, I know how controversial the original game was even with the "Just Say No" overtones. My parents refused to let me rent it for the NES because it was known for being violent.

Hmmm... sounds like something parents should do if they don't approve of the new version too.

[rxdoga]

There's a world of difference between GTA3/VC/SA and NARC.

Anyone remember:

Blood?
Carmageddon?
Kingpin?
Postal (1 or 2)?

Man I loved Blood,Carmageddon and Kingpin. Hey everyone you better go buy this game and horde it, because gonna get banned here too. :evil: