What impact does the addition of animals and children have to Mafia II world?

[Frank Fountaine]

To have dogs, and children in Mafia II might somewhat be an achivement. Sure it's not un-common for children or animals to be in games (look at Fall Out 3, or Fable II), but in sandbox games it always been shyed upon. Now, we've seen dogs, and childen already in the gameplay. An it also has been confirmed by Denby that during the winter part of the story, we would see children tossing snowballs at each other and play hopscotch, and do various things kids would do.

We've seen in the recent GDC video a rotwiler chained up to a fence, scaring off a police officer, and we've seen in screen shots pedestrians walking there dogs as well.

So the question is would the developers dare to create contreversy? Sure with the addition of animals, and children they've created a world that is x10 more realistic and believeable than games like GTA. But how would people react if we could kills dogs? Only god knows how PETA would react! Then how about the children? What if the game allows us to kill them? Not only would that be a first in sandbox games, but in games in general!

Could you imagine the outcry, if there is a mission where Vito has to dump and bury a childs body. I mean proabley most of you are saying, no way! But who knows? This game is meant to show a realistic dark view of the Mafia!

Would 2K Czech dare to go where no other games have gone before? Should we expect massive outcry (look at the Mordern Warfare 2 mission that people couldn't shut up about), and the game being banned in countries?

We'll see...

[Max"The Ripper"]

I can only hope that Mafia 2 will be a taboo game. I love those moments in a game where im like damn this is some heavy ****. From the trailers ive seen i can tell that there going for some mature language and some little sexual references. I think this perfectly depicts how these guys whould have acted and do act today.

[Don_Vito]

Maybe the children are industricable like the kids in rfallout 3 but then it wouldnt be realistic hmm

[packardcaribien]

Maybe the children are industricable like the kids in rfallout 3 but then it wouldnt be realistic hmm

But It would still be more realistic then not having kids at all. But the first Gameplay had a shoeshine boy so kids will at least be in in that campacity.

[Razorshot]

To have dogs, and children in Mafia II might somewhat be an achivement. Sure it's not un-common for children or animals to be in games (look at Fall Out 3, or Fable II), but in sandbox games it always been shyed upon. Now, we've seen dogs, and childen already in the gameplay. An it also has been confirmed by Denby that during the winter part of the story, we would see children tossing snowballs at each other and play hopscotch, and do various things kids would do.

We've seen in the recent GDC video a rotwiler chained up to a fence, scaring off a police officer, and we've seen in screen shots pedestrians walking there dogs as well.

So the question is would the developers dare to create contreversy? Sure with the addition of animals, and children they've created a world that is x10 more realistic and believeable than games like GTA. But how would people react if we could kills dogs? Only god knows how PETA would react! Then how about the children? What if the game allows us to kill them? Not only would that be a first in sandbox games, but in games in general!

Could you imagine the outcry, if there is a mission where Vito has to dump and bury a childs body. I mean proabley most of you are saying, no way! But who knows? This game is meant to show a realistic dark view of the Mafia!

In Mafia I there were several points where killing guard dogs was an essential part of missions, I don't remember any controversy at all about that.

Killing children on the other hand I can see would be a problem, but why would this ever be in the game anyway? I can't think of any reason why a mafiosi in the real would would kill a child so why would this be in the game?

[ChemicalReaper]

So the question is would the developers dare to create contreversy? Sure with the addition of animals, and children they've created a world that is x10 more realistic and believeable than games like GTA. But how would people react if we could kills dogs? Only god knows how PETA would react! Then how about the children? What if the game allows us to kill them? Not only would that be a first in sandbox games, but in games in general

I think Infinity Ward recently set a new level for video games with the Russian level in the airport in Modern Warfare 2 (trying to release any spoilers, but its been released on just about every single review).

Read interviews with IW developers - they were really nervous about what the public reaction might be to the level.

Well, IW went ahead with the airport level: sure there was some protest and outcry from some people, but on the whole people appreciated the level for being an important aspect of the game, setting the scene, and making you hate the terrorists you were fighting against.

I'd love to see a controversial kids and dogs/cats thing in Mafia II. The developers just need to make sure they add a warning allowing you to choose whether you want to play the controversial version (if you choose 'yes,' you can shoot and kill everyone, if you choose 'no,' either the kids/dogs won't be in the game or you just can't shoot them at all [a 'trigger lock' like when you try to shoot allied soldiers in Modern Warfare]...)

[Jowpers]

In Mafia I there were several points where killing guard dogs was an essential part of missions, I don't remember any controversy at all about that.

Killing children on the other hand I can see would be a problem, but why would this ever be in the game anyway? I can't think of any reason why a mafiosi in the real would would kill a child so why would this be in the game?

Watch the beginning of "Godfather: Part II"

Seriously though, I suspect you will be able to kill dogs. The children will probably be industructable, or the screen will fade to black if you harm one and you'll have to restart a mission (or perhaps you'll find yourself in jail). It might get annoying though if this happens when you hit a kid with your car (I suspect we'll see kids mainly in cut sceens and such).

[Don_Vito]

Watch the beginning of "Godfather: Part II"

Seriously though, I suspect you will be able to kill dogs. The children will probably be industructable, or the screen will fade to black if you harm one and you'll have to restart a mission (or perhaps you'll find yourself in jail). It might get annoying though if this happens when you hit a kid with your car (I suspect we'll see kids mainly in cut sceens and such).

We already saw one in gameplay footage

[Frank Fountaine]

We already saw one in gameplay footage

can you post it, because I remember seeing, but I'm having a hard time finding it.

[Jowpers]

We already saw one in gameplay footage

Saw what, a dog or child being killed? I'm not sure I get your point Don. We all know there's dogs and kids in the game, that's why we are discussing their mortality (or lack thereof) in the gameworld.

[Frank Fountaine]

Saw what, a dog or child being killed? I'm not sure I get your point Don. We all know there's dogs and kids in the game, that's why we are discussing their mortality (or lack thereof) in the gameworld.

We saw both a child and animals in gameplay footage. We have yet to see if we can kill children.....

[ChemicalReaper]

We saw both a child and animals in gameplay footage. We have yet to see if we can kill children.....

I think Modern Warfare 2 really opened up our eyes as to what developers could add if they wanted to; stirring up controversy, but it certainly added a lot to the actual story.

Killing kids and animals would be controversial. But it would certainly help pave the way for more artistic freedom and more daring ideas and levels in video games...

(I don't think PETA or whoever would really care about animals. Look at the number of dogs killed by knives, guns, or by breaking their necks in Modern Warfare, World at War, and Modern Warfare 2.)

[Frank Fountaine]

I think Modern Warfare 2 really opened up our eyes as to what developers could add if they wanted to; stirring up controversy, but it certainly added a lot to the actual story.

Killing kids and animals would be controversial. But it would certainly help pave the way for more artistic freedom and more daring ideas and levels in video games...

(I don't think PETA or whoever would really care about animals. Look at the number of dogs killed by knives, guns, or by breaking their necks in Modern Warfare, World at War, and Modern Warfare 2.)

Yes. But for some reason when it's done in a sandbox game it's taken more seriously. Though I agree contreversy is nothing new in this day and age. An to see 2K Czech take a leap, and doing something controversail (like being able to kidnap, or kill children) would really be something refreshing....

Now, please don't get me wrong. I'm not supporting games, to allow you to be children rapists, or murderes. But I guess, if it's done in the movies, why not video games?

[MafiaFan]

If 2KC puts children in the game it will be tasteful, no doubt. For example, I can only see your character "saving" a child from a dangerous situation. This is essentially what Tommy did when he saved Frank's family. Very cool!

Kidnapping (for ransom or whatever) or harming a child has no place in the game and would only heap criticism on 2KC, thereby killing sales and the possibly the franchise. They don't need that, nor do we as fans.

The dogs you could kill and it was a good idea to do it, because they diminished you health. It wasn't graphic in any way, so it didn't come across as glorifying it. Nor was it gratuitous. Dogs were only in 3 or so missions (the one at the gas station, the one where you assassinate the political candidate, and the side mission where you steal the car in Chinatown). By the way, you didn't even have to shoot them. Sometimes, like in the Chinatown mission, you could just let them escape and get run over by the passing cars on the road. :-p That was a nice touch. Ha, ha. Anyway, it was tactfully done.

I hope critics don't take it too seriously if 2KC does it like tastefully like they did before. It would be uncalled for and unfair.

[ZOSO]

Wait,even if they put in a locking sight,what would stop people from knocking down children?

[MafiaFan]

You're missing the point, zoso. It's not about being able to do it or not. It's the way in which it's presented/implemented.

[Don_Vito]

Saw what, a dog or child being killed? I'm not sure I get your point Don. We all know there's dogs and kids in the game, that's why we are discussing their mortality (or lack thereof) in the gameworld.

He said we'll see kids mainly in cutscenes but we've seen one in gameplay footage

[Frank Fountaine]

He said we'll see kids mainly in cutscenes but we've seen one in gameplay footage

where's the video?

[Boomer-Australia]

well you did kill dogs in Mafia 1 no controvesty about that when that happened so i don't really see why their would be with Mafia II as for kids.......who knows really

[w0onka]

Well about killing dogs, i dont think there is a problem. In Hitman Blood Money you could kill a dog with a baseball bat or with a poisoned sausage, and the PETA didnnt complain. For kids, they can do like in Scarface, when Tony aims to a civilian, and you right click he say: I am not a worm! , and he refuse to shoot. Can be something similar with kids.

[Cufflinks]

i think we need to ask our selves is it needed?....

the dogs in mafia 1 played a part, the mafia script writers are by far the best ive had the pleasure of playing and i dont see them using kids to get a shock factor, i just dont see it, if anything it will be the other way around like in M1 at the airport, the little girl played a big part in the story without any shots being fired but that level was one of the most owerfull levels ever....

but ok kids are in M2 the shooting problem is easily fixed, with the trigger lock, as for car incidents? well if they are in game to this degree i think they wil just errrrrr very agile LOL...

but no, i carnt see the master's of story telling dropping to such levels, im very open minded but if they did i would be disapointed simply because its not needed IMO...