I do have some questions for you. I don't know where you are getting your information, but almost all of my friends are against swearing. Obviously, different people have different ideas about reality. I know there aren't many like me, but I find them. Aren't there other ways to get your point across that don't offend people, even if it only helps with a few of them? I am glad that I could bring some cheer into your day. One thing I do appreciate about your letter is that it at least makes an attempt to explain why you are against me, instead of going on like some deranged psychopath cussing me out. Thank you.
EMAIL - Cyril - 11:47 PM August 15th, 1996
No no no ... I never said that I was against you ... in fact, I am giving you credit for at least voicing your opinion, which others may say is stupid ... that in itself is very brave, and I will give credit where credit is due! I am extremely pleased you didn't write back cussing me out (but then again, that would have gone against what you said, so I guess I wasn't expecting that). I would never write and cuss out somebody for their opinions, that's extremely juvenile!
Oh well ... let me make a few more points. When it comes to games, does it really detract from the game play -- personally speaking I wouldn't mind if the language was like Reservoir Dogs, if the game fit the Reservoir Dog's mood, however, if the game is Sonic, and it had a plethora of FUCKs and SHITs then I will be the first one that tells you that they don't NEED to be there ... it's unrealistic enough of a premise (a hedgehog that goes really fast in red Reebox), but it doesn't need to have a filthy mouth as well. But with games like Wing Commander IV I find it not to be a detraction at all, on the flip side I don't see it improving anything at all ... I mean, I feel that the only reason it's there is because words like DAMN have become more common place. If you don't believe me watch Disney's Aladdin ... it says Damn in their twice.
Plus Wing Comander wasn't aimed at 8-year olds (which I'm not saying you are, don't get me wrong) ... instead it was aimed for 17 - 34 gamers, the prime age group that Sci-Fi appeals to! I work selling games, I understand the marketing effort that goes into these titles. For example, Sega ran a spot in the magazines for their Saturn's that had a naked lady, whose breasts and crotch were covered by pictures of their games. The wording went like this: "In case you didn't notice, there is a beautiful woman in this ad" or something like that ... the mag isn't in front of me! Now, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that that was aimed at males 15 - 25 ... I mean, not only is 18 the sexual peak, but it's blatantly sexist ... but the argument would be, if you don't like it, don't look at it! Maybe that spot wouldn't be there if it weren't for the fact that the Saturn's main market share is testosterone driven ... something like 90% of the Saturn owners claim to be male, so the ad works for that 90% ... and that's who they are trying to hook. Will women not buy it, it's doubtful, most women will forget about it in a week anyways!
The United States is more tolerant about profanity. You can't go anywhere without finding it! I mean, somebody has to live a very sheltered life to not hear some of these things. I am not saying that you are like that; I am just making some points.
Also, here is a question for you. Are you going to public school? Private school? Or home school? If you are going to a private school, that might explain why you don't hear these words in the hallway ... however, I, of course, have yet to go to all high schools (or middle schools), so I don't know how the language barrier is set up. However, I do know that a large majority of todays game players are tolerant of language in the games they play. You must realize that companies that make these games do tests, I mean, they take surveys up the ying/yang!
There seem to be much better reasons for boycotting a game, like bad design and no new ideas. I do believe that there are a few games where the profanity is just fine, I mean, it adds something! Maybe I wouldn't buy the game for that reason, but the package seems much more complete, and less friendly when it is packaged as such. To an extent, there seems to be this sheltering that was happening with the industry, I mean, most of the games of the eighties were pretty goodie goodie ... but recently (in the last 6 years), there has been an influx of more controversial games, mostly from Japan. EVO, which wasn't a great game, but brought the wave of anti-religous games (the game was about evolution). Even Snatchers (one of my personal favorites), had many a bad word, but it was cleaner than the Japanese one.
The USA seems to be the only country that worries about all of these certain things. Think about it ... what other country bothers worrying about abortion, nudity, language, and sex??? Yet all of these things are slowly becoming second nature in the US, and if we help it along, in 20 years nobody will care about any of those things.
I mean no offense by this, I really don't, but you are the only person I know that has bothered to complain orally about language! Hell, when I was in school my teachers said DAMN all of the time. I see nothing that is the matter with that word ... I mean, it is just a word. I ask you now, what is the problem with the word? Please be honest. I am sorry if I rambled on, but I enjoy explaining, and I hope you do to! Thank you for your time!
P.S. -- Next Generations response to your letter was "We think that you're being a little sensitive, Timothy"
EMAIL - Cyril - 7:34 PM August 18th, 1996
One of the things you said stated that you feel that Wing Commander was aimed at older audiences and I agree with you. All I'm saying is that swearing does not necessarily mean that you are mature, in fact, yours was the only letter on your side of things that didn't end up being a call-cuss me out-hang up type of letter. You yourself classified this as juvenile, so why should I take anyone on your side seriously? Another thing, if the only reason you feel that WC is aimed at adults is the swearing, that I'd like to hear the reasons why you think Mega Man X3 is a game made for adults. Also, according to the letters I've received (which I do not claim to be an accurate survey), the companies that use swear words lose out on approximately 15 to 20% of their profits. Even if that isn't accurate, figure for WC3 and 4 every person who stopped buying after WC2, a loss of $100, that can add up. There are other ways to say things that don't offend people, and if increases profit, I don't see why companies use them. Another thing, I don't see where you found Aladdin cussing. Oh well.
