The Wii is just plain adorable.  With its minimalist box design, library of family-friendly titles and its focus on physical gameplay, Nintendo’s sales machine has become the undisputed console of choice for those concerned about violence and unsavory content in video games.  So what the hell is up with MadWorld?  Sega’s hyper-violent, Sin City-inspired murderfest is appearing exclusively on the Wii, causing parents groups to lament the supposed “End of Innocence” for the charming little console.

As a result, some have called for the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) to refuse to classify the as yet unrated game. John Beyer, director of Mediawatch-UK, said: “I hope the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) will view this with concern and decide it should not be granted a classification.  Without that it cannot be marketed in Britain. What the rest of world does is up to them.”

Now I’ll admit that it’s a little weird that the Wii, and only the Wii, is getting this very mature title, but does a history of all-ages titles necessarily mean that a console can’t have some grown-up, even violent titles in its library?  Beyer certainly believes so, stating that “(MadWorld) will spoil the family fun image of the Wii.”  But couldn’t concerned parents and other offended consumers simply not buy the game if they’re concerned about it somehow infecting their Wii?

Obviously, Mediawatch-UK hasn’t been doing a good job of, um, watching the media, as they seem to have missed the fact that there have already been quite a few M-rated titles for the Wii, such as Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double Agent, The Godfather, and the infamous Manhunt 2, which has basically the same themes as MadWorld, but in a more realistic setting.  Regardless, the call for the BBFC to not rate the game amounts to tacit censorship, which I can never condone under any circumstances.  What it comes down to, as usual, is a few people trying to dictate what everyone should have access to.  The statement “We need to ensure that modern and civilized values take priority rather than killing and maiming people” basically declares their desire for censorship, and displays a staggering level of arrogance.  Once the British people elect this organization to decide what “modern and civilized values” are, then they have the legal and moral authority to call for games to be essentially outlawed.  Until then, it’s just a few busybodies trying to run peoples’ lives.
 

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