Most Violent Games List Drawn Up News

Online parental resource Family Media Guide has today announced a list of ultra-violent videogames released during 2005 in a bid to educate parents about certain aspects of mature rated games. The list is made up of ESRB Mature and Adults Only rated titles, and should come as no surprise that they make the list.

The rating system has been developed by running 4000 rules and algorithms, before being designated a specific rating. The 2005 Ultra-Violent list is as follows (in no particular order) together with specific reasons for their addition :

• Resident Evil 4 - Player is a Special Forces agent sent to recover the President's kidnapped daughter. During the first minutes of play, it's possible to find the corpse of a woman pinned up on a wall -- by a pitchfork through her face.
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - Player is a young man working with gangs to gain respect. His mission includes murder, theft, and destruction on every imaginable level. Player recovers his health by visiting prostitutes then recovers funds by beating them to death and taking their money. Player can wreak as much havoc as he likes without progressing through the game's storyline.
• God of War - Player becomes a ruthless warrior, seeking revenge against the gods who tricked him into murdering his own family. Prisoners are burned alive and player can use "finishing moves" to kill opponents, like tearing a victim in half.
• Narc - Player can choose between two narcotics agents attempting to take a dangerous drug off the streets and shut down the KRAK cartel while being subject to temptations including drugs and money. To enhance abilities, player takes drugs including pot, Quaaludes, ecstasy, LSD and "Liquid Soul" -- which provides the ability to kick enemies' heads off.
• Killer 7 - Player takes control of seven assassins who must combine skills to defeat a band of suicidal, monstrous terrorists. The game eventually escalates into a global conflict between the U.S. and Japan. Player collects the blood of fallen victims to heal himself and must slit his own wrists to spray blood to find hidden passages.
• The Warriors - Based on a 70's action flick that set new standards for "artistic violence," a street gang battles its way across NYC in an attempt to reach its home turf. Player issues several commands to his gang, including "mayhem," which causes the gang to smash everything in sight.
• 50 Cent: Bulletproof - Game is loosely based on the gangster lifestyle of rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson. Player engages in gangster shootouts and loots the bodies of victims to buy new 50 Cent recordings and music videos.
• Crime Life: Gang Wars - Player is the leader of a ruthless street gang, spending time fighting, recruiting new gangsters, looting, and of course, more fighting. Player can roam the streets and fight or kill anyone in sight for no apparent reason.
• Condemned: Criminal Origins - Player is an FBI serial killer hunter in one of the first titles for the Xbox 360. Game emphasizes the use of melee weapons over firearms, allowing players to use virtually any part of their environment as a weapon. The next generation graphics provide a new level of detail to various injuries, especially "finishing moves."
• True Crime: New York City - Player is a NYC cop looking for information regarding the mysterious death of a friend. Player can plant evidence on civilians and shake them down to earn extra money.

In a year that has seen its fait share of videogame controversies, the move made by the Family Media Guide is sure to be applauded by the industry. The list will prove to be a good educational tool for parents this Christmas and in North America and elsewhere, and may develop into a more regular feature.

Weâ??ll have more news shortly.