'Last of Us' video game undeterred by violence
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The creators of "The Last of Us" aren't planning to tone down the post-apocalyptic video game's violent content, including a young, knife- and gun-wielding girl.
Neil Druckmann, the game's creative director, said the developers at Naughty Dog in Santa Monica, Calif., won't alter "The Last of Us," which features 14-year-old Ellie as one of the protagonists, in light of recent real-world violence, including the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn.
The PlayStation 3 survival-adventure game casts players such as Joel, a gruff middle-aged survivor of a worldwide outbreak, who's tasked with protecting Ellie. Throughout "The Last of Us," the girl serves as a shrewd accomplice who guides Joel through abandoned buildings, gathers supplies and assists him in thwarting enemies.
"For us, everything in the game is necessary for the story," said Druckmann in a recent interview. "The reason Ellie is that age and the violence is that brutal is because of what we're saying with the story. You have to buy into the conflict and desperation these characters live under. If you remove any of those elements, the story suffers, and that's why we would never do it."
Some critics argued "The Last of Us" was glorifying violence after early footage of the game showed Ellie stabbing a hostile human survivor in the back, followed by Joel shooting him in the face with a shotgun. The cover for "The Last of Us," which is scheduled for release May 7, features both Ellie and Joel armed with guns.
"For someone like Ellie, because this is the only world she's ever known, things we would find horrific and that would probably scar us for life are just everyday occurrences for her," said Druckmann. "She can still, in a way, keep some of her innocence because of that. She pulls the humanity out of Joel, and this is really a coming-of-age story for Ellie."
Neil Druckmann, the game's creative director, said the developers at Naughty Dog in Santa Monica, Calif., won't alter "The Last of Us," which features 14-year-old Ellie as one of the protagonists, in light of recent real-world violence, including the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn.
The PlayStation 3 survival-adventure game casts players such as Joel, a gruff middle-aged survivor of a worldwide outbreak, who's tasked with protecting Ellie. Throughout "The Last of Us," the girl serves as a shrewd accomplice who guides Joel through abandoned buildings, gathers supplies and assists him in thwarting enemies.
"For us, everything in the game is necessary for the story," said Druckmann in a recent interview. "The reason Ellie is that age and the violence is that brutal is because of what we're saying with the story. You have to buy into the conflict and desperation these characters live under. If you remove any of those elements, the story suffers, and that's why we would never do it."
Some critics argued "The Last of Us" was glorifying violence after early footage of the game showed Ellie stabbing a hostile human survivor in the back, followed by Joel shooting him in the face with a shotgun. The cover for "The Last of Us," which is scheduled for release May 7, features both Ellie and Joel armed with guns.
"For someone like Ellie, because this is the only world she's ever known, things we would find horrific and that would probably scar us for life are just everyday occurrences for her," said Druckmann. "She can still, in a way, keep some of her innocence because of that. She pulls the humanity out of Joel, and this is really a coming-of-age story for Ellie."
Good for the video game designers and crew. They should not have to adjust their game. It should be made as the designers wish to make it with or without as much violence as they want. Then it is up to the ratings board. If it receives an M the responsibility is to the stores to not sell it to children under 18. At that point it then becomes the parents responsibility to either A. Not allow their kid to play it. B. actually educate their children about violence fake or otherwise and how it is inappropriate to emulate or act out whatâs in the game in real life.
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I grew up watching plenty of violent movies as a kid, and I play plenty of violent video games now as an adult. I have never once had the urge to go out and be violent to another person. Since my parents raised me in such a way to understand what is real, what is fake, and that unless you are in peril you should not be violent and/or strike another person. Walk away⦠some things just are not worth it.
Its pretty much entirely the parents responsibility to keep these games, which are meant for, and rated for, adults to play, away from their children. No company should have to change their content to conform to pressure from an audience who wouldn't buy their products anyway.
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And lay off the gun violence sensationalism KOMO. It's getting ridiculous. Not everything that includes a gun needs to be an outrage or reported on.
If the game is so horrible, tell the parents to not be stupid and get their 8 year old the game. Simple as that. These people who don't like violent games should really take a look in to the research done that proves virtual worlds do not create violent people. If anything, we can thank human society for creating the violent games. I  for one enjoy having a sinister virtual mind but would I go crazy and mass kill people in real life? No! I know the consequences of that and I know it is just a game, not a tool to teach how to kill torture or the likes.
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Parents need to do the research in the games their are buying their kids. The M rating stands for mature, not minor...Â
Good looking game....shame it's only for PS3. Not going to go buy one just for this game and the few others that aren't cross-platform.......as Gadsden said below, video games, guns, cars, etc are NOT the problem. Tools aren't the issue.....people are, and the fact that many people are not able to get the help they need for mental issues, or the "help" they get is to just be given a pill and sent on their way, with nobody caring that the pill given makes the issues worse, not better.
 @dg54321 Same here. I got real excited about it when I heard about it, followed by a crushing disappointment when I found out it wouldn't be on Xbox.
I've been playing Call of Duty, Battlefield, and the likes for years. I own guns. I've never committed a violent crime. I can tell the difference between video games and reality. Some people can't. The problem isn't games, movies, TV, or guns. The problem is people.
Unfortunately there are some in our society that wish to dictate what other others can do and think.  I was raised by my parents and I don't need anyone else interfering with my life until my actions affect others which I don't plan on happening.
Good for them. They are not knee-jerking like the rest of the country.
These games are rated "M"ature. Don't let your kids play them if you're worried about it.
If these games were not popular, they would not sell. If you don't like it, DON'T BUY IT!!