God of War III is a violent slasher game designed for angry console playing sessions. It is the third instalment of a series that saw its first outing 5 years ago. Its plot is minimal, its gameplay is not far off random button mashing – certainly on the easier levels and it is reasonably fun to play if you are somewhat pissed off. It is a very macho, very male game.

It will also be highly controversial. It has an interactive sex scene it. Not unlike the other games in the series.

It looks far from realistic. It is graphically a boost up from the Playstation 2, but below that of what is now being developed for the PS3. More playstation 2.5 than PS3.

A video of it is here:

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/-contains-nudity-god-of-war/62769

(Contains very simulated nudity)

You do not see the actual sex act, but you do see two semi naked women “watching” and you have to press buttons, when told to. Known as quick time events in gaming (very frustrating and completely pointless).

You can absolutely guarantee that some politico will demand that the game is banned. You can absolutely guarantee that this will generate publicity and that of course will only boost sales.

The game will be targeted at an 18+ audience but you know that once the poutrage starts, school boys will want the game and they will pester their parents to buy it. That of course will lead to more publicity because after all the parents are absolved, it is a game after all. Not quite seeing that they are in the wrong for buying an adult game for a child.

Parents should not be buying boys adult games. That is the point of age ratings. There are very few parents who would buy their sons violent movies, never mind porn films, yet they have no problem buying their angelic little sprog some violent game – after all it is only a game, and then they complain it.

If a parent bought their 12 year old a porn film they would probably have child protection banging on the door. If they buy them a game, the games company gets blamed.

All this poutrage does is create more sales. If politicos do not jump up and down screaming think of the children there will be no hype. If there is no hype there is no sales boost.

So how about politicos ending this cycle by not screaming about it, especially when there are more important issues to get excitable about? Then the game gets reviewed, reviewers consider it average hack and slash, those that were going to buy it, buy it, those that would have been hyped in to buying it do not. How about parents not buying an adult game for children so then there will be no complaints about children seeing this? Is any of this too much to ask?