GP's Eisen Names E3's Most Controversial Games

The lengths I go to for GP readers - forcing myself to attend this year's E3 in Los Angeles; playing all of the new games and even checking out a bit of the E3 party scene.

In fact, while waiting in line to play the Nintendo Wii, I began to wonder which games will politicians and the anti-gaming crowd target in the coming year? What game will be the new GTA San Andreas or 25 to Life? Based on what I picked up at E3, these games could bring some rough sailing for the game industry:

First up is Grand Theft Auto 4 Why? Well, just because it's GTA. What more needs to be said? Ever since Hot Coffee, poor San Andreas has been pegged as the poster child for everything that's wrong with the video game industry. Will GTA4 cause a similar brouhaha? My gut says yes. It's true that we don't know anything about the game except for its name and release date but a lack of facts has never stopped the industry's critics. And besides, it's a pretty safe bet the characters in GTA4 won't be playing much ping pong.

Reservoir Dogs - If you've seen the movie, you know there's going to be a lot of violence towards cops. And 25 to Life showed how politically disastrous that can be for the game industry. Based on E3 previews, Reservoir Dogs has two play styles: psycho (kill everyone in your path) and professional (don't kill anyone). Check out Gamespot's preview for a gameplay video detailing all of the ear-slicing fun.

Sadness - Not much is yet known about this adult horror game due out for Wii in 2007 but here's an excerpt from the developer's website: "Imagine driving away rats with a torch, throwing a rope (as a lasso) when you want to climb over the wall, or slitting the throat of a persecutor with a piece of glass... All of this with the help of the Revolution controller."

Bully - Yes, another Rockstar game. This one wasn't at E3 (hmmm...) but we all know it's going to get slammed in the mainstream media. Bullying is a real concern for many kids as well as their parents and teachers, so a game based on the topic will understandably be placed under the public microscope. Even discounting the absurb cries of "Columbine Simulator" emanating from Miami, Take-Two, Rockstar and the video game industry should buckle their seat belts. It's going to be a rough ride.

Hitman: Blood Money - Could this game be labeled a hitman simulator? It's possible; the game has already had a controversial ad campaign. The incredibly gruesome human-on-human violence might catch the eye of critics. Any character may be targeted and dispatched through a variety of means including guns, garrotes, knives, meat hooks, and more. Bodies can be hidden and care must be taken to avoid making noise or leaving a bloody mess to avoid detection while you reach your target. Money earned from successful assignments can be used to bribe the police to look the other way. It's this methodical approach to assassination that may be cited as a training tool for youngsters despite the game's mature rating.

50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition - 50 Cent already raised eyebrows earlier this year when he recommended parents purchase and play his game with their kids. Like the console title, the portable version glorifies street violence and gang life style. In addition to bloody gun action, players can hold enemies hostage, shoot them in the head, and then steal their cash by kicking their dead bodies to dislodge the goods.

Critics of the game industry often regard the immersive properties of video games as "training." Well, if pressing a button is a reasonable way to teach players to stab someone in the face, imagine the uproar over a game controller that allows you to precisely mimic the onscreen actions. Imagine how a game like Manhunt or Condemned would control on the Wii and you have the recipe for not just one game, but an entire console surrounded by controversy. Not to mention the adult games that Wii could facilitate with that controller. Careful Nintendo, they're watching you...

-Reporting from San Diego, GP Correspondent Andrew Eisen

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