Gaming Has Officially Gone To Hell...

[jamcat]

From http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/02/25/news_6119243.html?tag=lastword_all_headline

RUMOR #3: VU Games is set to announce a title featuring rap star 50 Cent.

Source: An invitation sent to the press regarding a new game they will be showing off the same week as GDC.

The official story: "It's possible that this rumor has something to do with the teaser we included in our invite for what we're doing at GDC."--VU Games representative.

What we heard: While being interviewed on a Bay Area hip-hop radio station in November 2003, 50 Cent let slip that he would appear in a "Grand Theft Auto-style" action game along with Aftermath label-mates Eminem and Dr. Dre. However, when the game did not surface the following year, the hopes of gamer fans of the G-Unit frontman looked dashed. However, the rumor was rekindled this week when VU Games sent out an e-mail inviting game journalists to have a "sneak peek" at an "upcoming game starring one of the world's hottest hip-hop artists." Unfortunately, that's all they're saying. "[All] I can say is that we will give a sneak peek at an upcoming video game featuring a very prominent hip-hop artist at GDC," said a rep, who answered all further inquiries with a resolute "No comment." However, insiders said that 50 Cent had paid a visit to the VU offices earlier this month, although others laughed off reports that he had performed in the company commissary. [UPDATE] However, real proof came in the form of a press release for 50 Cent's new album, The Massacre. Describing the 250,000 limited editions sets of the album, the release read: "The set will come in a special Digipack and will include a CD key that will unlock exclusive content including a bonus track, a trailer for 50 Cent's upcoming video game, Bullet Proof, and many uncensored photographs." So now the question isn't so much if 50 Cent has a game, but who is publishing it.

Bogus or not bogus?: While there's no definitive proof, our gut tells us this is not bogus.

Great, maybe it will include missions that will let you experience killing other rap thugs like Tu Pac. Or maybe the game will let you play R. Kelly as you look for underage girls to pee on.

What next... Snoop Dogg - Girls Gone Wild Doggie Style: The Game?

Yep, gaming has officially gone to hell now that cRap stars like 50 cent are getting put into games. Sad day in gaming indeed. I'll be glad when this ghetto thug gaming fad dies out.

[Shane R. Monroe]

Snoop Dog already has a game.

[jamcat]

Snoop Dog already has a game.

Didn't know about that. Now that is sad.

Guess soon there will be a Kanye West game, since he seems to be the latest flavor in cRap/Hip Hop, going by the Grammy awards show. Oh well...

[Nectar]

There's also the Def-Jam wrestling games and remember that Wu-tang game released by Activision a couple years ago under the Thrill Kill engine?

I'm sure this game will gain a lot of press and sell millions of copies, while many more noteworthy games will go unnoticed. I noticed that Gamepro don't even review some games anymore. More notably Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne and Siren (two of my favorite games of late). Yet this unremarkable GTA-clone will probably get a full two page preview and high scores when it comes out.

[jamcat]

Then we'll see other games jump on the ghetto bandwagon.

Halo will become J-Lo

And...

Half-Life will become Thug-Life

[sci]

Stop being such a drama queen. Have you forgotten Rap Jam Volume 1 on the snes? YOU COULD POWER DUNK WITH QUEEN LATIFAH

[Danny]

Half-Life will become Thug-Life

Not played Kinpin before then Jammy? :P

[DaMenace]

We better catch up on our street lingo if this doesn't die!

http://www.urbandictionary.com/

[Chewchilla]

DAMN! Sure is WHITE in here! Where's my sunglasses? :cool:

[Deanster]

def jam fight for new york uses the aki wrestling game engine and i like it, its original atleast.

[Bill_Loguidice]

The "urbanification" or "streetification" of pop culture - particularly in games - wouldn't be so bad if I had more respect for the source material. Popular rap seems to me to be about a bunch of talentless hacks talking over stolen music with forced 'tude. Of course it could be a generational, cultural or an I "just don't f'in get it" type of thing, so hopefully no one shoots me for keeping it real...

[jamcat]

Yep, there is no talent in swearing over a beat and saying n***** this and n***** that.

[lion2]

I dont see good news, nor do I see it as bad news. To me, this is the same as announcing any other game. Put whatever and whoever you want in the game, just be sure to make it fun.
Just because a rapper is in a game isn't gonna discourage me from buying it. It isn't gonna convince me to buy it. Who knows, this game "might" actually be good.

[Shane R. Monroe]

I don't mind representation. What I DO mind is the CONDONING of this behavior by game makers. Bryan felt these games set his people back 50 years - I tend to agree with him. What makes it more insulting - these games are not made for "the young black man". They are for "urbanite wanna be wiggers" who believe their rich bitch lilfestyle is so horrible and they feel they need 'representin' ... its VERY disturbing to me. Why not just plaster the N-Word all over the title and get it over with?

[Chewchilla]

Let the games begin BEE-YATCH! :cool:

50 Cent officially in the game

Teaser trailer for "50 Cent: Bulletproof" credited to "Vivendi Universal" debuts on MTV.com; description reveals the rapper declined "a lead role" in San Andreas.

Just a few days after the rumors about a 50 Cent video game began to reach critical mass, official proof of the games existence--and provenance--has surfaced. Today, a teaser trailer for the game, whose official title is "50 Cent: Bulletproof," premiered on MTV.com The title is especially appropriate, as the rapper was shot nine times in real life and miraculously survived.

Following a warning saying "Don't watch if violence freaks you out," the trailer for Bulletproof begins with a cut-scene of the gangsta rapper and Eminem protégé following a crime lord into a skyscraper. Decked out in typical street-tough gear, including a shirt for his band G-Unit, Cent proceeds to shoot dead most of the arch-criminal's retinue of bodyguards with a pistol and a machine gun. When he runs out of ammo, the rapper takes out the remaining thugs mano-a-mano, punching, kicking, and bludgeoning them before turning their own weapons upon them.

The MTV.com page hyping the Bulletproof trailer also contains a description which confirms some of the speculation about the game. "50 Cent: Bulletproof follows the rapper through the NYC criminal underworld to uncover an ugly, international conspiracy," read the site. "50 Cent will contribute music for the game including freestyle rhymes that players mix in the game's music lab. Expect additional tracks, voices and likenesses of Dr. Dre and other G-Unit members." In November 2003, Cent said he would be starring in a "Grand Theft Auto-style" game along with his label-mates on Aftermath Records, Dr. Dre and Eminem.

Besides confirming Dr. Dre's presence in Bulletproof, the MTV.com site also revealed that Cent had in fact been offered "a lead role" in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas but "rolled the dice, opting to make his own game instead." "I'm out to destroy the competition and my video game is no different," said the rapper. "I plan to shake up the video game world like I did the rap world."

The MTV.com page did not list a release date or any platforms for 50 Cent: Bulletproof. It also didn't mention a rating, but, given the preview's brutal nature, an "M" for Mature is all but assured.

However, the trailer did confirm speculation about Bulletproof's publisher. The stream for the video lists "Vivendi Universal" as its author and also bears the stamp "Copyright 2005 Vivendi Universal." However, the publisher had not responded to requests by GameSpot for an official confirmation or denial that was publishing Bulletproof as of press time.

By Tor Thorsen -- GameSpot
POSTED: 03/01/05 01:50 PM PST

[Qill]

I think a video game crash happens once all games start turning into licensed games. Games based on movies, sports celebrities, etc.

[Deanster]

actually i think your wrong, not about the crash but for reason. It only makes sense to have movies with liscenses why not games? It dosent make them great games, but its a good way of getting extra cash and thats what the corp cares about. The crash will com due to lack of original ideas and motivation to do anything new, this is where i step in :).

[Nectar]

Besides confirming Dr. Dre's presence in Bulletproof, the MTV.com site also revealed that Cent had in fact been offered "a lead role" in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas but "rolled the dice, opting to make his own game instead." "I'm out to destroy the competition and my video game is no different," said the rapper. "I plan to shake up the video game world like I did the rap world."

How exactly do you "shake up the video game world" by doing what's already been done? (and better undoubedly) Is this what nearly thirty years of videogame history has been leading up to?

[jamcat]

I don't mind representation. What I DO mind is the CONDONING of this behavior by game makers. Bryan felt these games set his people back 50 years - I tend to agree with him. What makes it more insulting - these games are not made for "the young black man". They are for "urbanite wanna be wiggers" who believe their rich bitch lilfestyle is so horrible and they feel they need 'representin' ... its VERY disturbing to me. Why not just plaster the N-Word all over the title and get it over with?

Yep, so true!

It's funny to see suburban "white trash" TRYING to be cool by being "black".

[jamcat]

How exactly do you "shake up the video game world" by doing what's already been done? (and better undoubedly) Is this what nearly thirty years of videogame history has been leading up to?

And when 50 cent's game does come out, it probably won't be worth buying for 2 cents. It will just be more of the same minority thug action. Of course the "white trash" from the burbs will eat it up.

[Qill]

The best time in a gaming cycle is when it first starts and the GAMES create the new characters, worlds , etc. As the cycle wears down, all the games are licensed from movies, athletes, celebrities, etc.