A Softer Hell Awaits: Agony PC Edition Won't Receive Official, Uncensored Patch After All

[Raevenlord]

Agony may well be one of the more interesting games in recent times when it comes to its art and character direction - it's sort of a malfunction between H. R. Giger's designs and a particularly unpleasant, Escher-esque metamorphosis gone wrong. Many of its design touches touted before launch (which will occur tomorrow, by the way) promised an uncompromising, mentally-demanding experience (whether or not that will translate to a good videogame is, of course, something else entirely). Of course, that also put into question the matter of ratings - and these affect such things as ability for a game to enter some markets at all.

As a result, Agony developer Madmind Studio worked to tone down the graphical liberties with Agony, trying to achieve slightly more open ratings as a result - but at the same time, promised users an official, uncensored patch that would bring the game to its creators' original vision. However, things aren't as bad as they might seem - Madmind Studios said that the censorship-circumventing patch is unneeded because the censoring itself only takes place in two out of seven possible endings for the game, changing the image but for a few seconds on each of those two affected endings. As such, and also as to avoid certain legal troubles, the company has decided against releasing the patch. Tomorrow, on Agony's release, developer Madmind will release comparison videos that show users the differences between the censored, shipping-version of the game, and the original uncensored vision, for users that want to see exactly what they might be missing in the nightmarish scenarios the developers have surely concocted.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Gasaraki]

Booo.... =(

 

[RejZoR]

Booooooooooooooooo. I was interested with all the twisted bizarre stuff, but now I'm like meh. People need to stop being offended over everything and being sensitive over everything. If you can't handle it, then don't play it. Stop ruining fun for everyone else.

 

[natr0n]

Imagines all the people who will get a glimpse of their inevitable home via this game.

 

[TheGuruStud]

Should have executed Tipper Gore all those years ago.

 

[uuuaaaaaa]

First "new" single player game I might play after Doom 2016. Before Doom 2016 it was Crysis 1 (yes played it in 2007 at release).

 

[natr0n]

Should have executed Tipper Gore all those years ago.

I'm going to pray for you.

 

[Space Lynx]

Imagines all the people who will get a glimpse of their inevitable home via this game.

That includes us bud.

Where do you think the minerals come from that make our PC's work properly? North-East Congo - 2/3 of the women brutally tortured from warlords who controlled 80% of the coltan mineral that allows our tv's, fridges, cell phones, and pc's - laptops... unless you become Amish, we all have blood on our hands, whether you want to believe it or not. the Cosmos does not Judge, only feels the vibrations of time ~

 

[R-T-B]

I'm going to pray for you.

The Frog God is not amused.

 

[Arrakis9]

more than likely the cut content is still going to be there... just have to mod the game.... for hot coffee... pretty sure this is what the dev's are trying to hint to us.

 

[PowerPC]

more than likely the cut content is still going to be there... just have to mod the game.... for hot coffee... pretty sure this is what the dev's are trying to hint to us.

Or they'll release the patch after the buzz has calmed down and the people who wanted to buy it already got it.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Booooooooooooooooo. I was interested with all the twisted bizarre stuff, but now I'm like meh. People need to stop being offended over everything and being sensitive over everything. If you can't handle it, then don't play it. Stop ruining fun for everyone else.

Generally I agree, but its the over protective politically correct moms that want to give thier kids the sheltered life the moms wanted as a kid. That being said, it the censors themselves that do the censoring that have to live with the nightmares of seeing such blasphemous content that would peel your skin if they let it.

And with all that mumbo-jumbo I just added it to my wishlist to it can attack my feeble mind while i sleep, I think adult diapers will be needed to play. Cuz, Damn.

 

[RejZoR]

I frankly miss the days when games had no ratings and we just played anything we wanted and no one cared. And then came the "murder simulators" paranoia. There were whole generations of kids who played violent games and we turned out just fine. People don't learn things if you remove the experiences from them, they learn if you allow them to experience them and teach them what is ok and what isn't. But they think just coddling children like they are too stupid to learn a difference from fiction and reality. And that's the real problem. Kids don't learn what violence is and that some people may be dicks to you. Because everyone is so desperately trying to remove experiences from them (be it good or bad). I not even once had to be told that beating or killing people is a bad thing and I've been experiencing it in games since I was like 7 years old. You just learn this naturally if you're raised right. Meaning, if you're raised right as a human being and a person, it doesn't matter what amount of gore, violence and bizarre stuff you see in games, it will not affect you or make you violent or aggressive. So, what's up with this censoring and coddling of children like they can't handle anything anymore?

 

[the54thvoid]

I frankly miss the days when games had no ratings and we just played anything we wanted and no one cared. And then came the "murder simulators" paranoia. There were whole generations of kids who played violent games and we turned out just fine. People don't learn things if you remove the experiences from them, they learn if you allow them to experience them and teach them what is ok and what isn't. But they think just coddling children like they are too stupid to learn a difference from fiction and reality. And that's the real problem. Kids don't learn what violence is and that some people may be dicks to you. Because everyone is so desperately trying to remove experiences from them (be it good or bad). I not even once had to be told that beating or killing people is a bad thing and I've been experiencing it in games since I was like 7 years old. You just learn this naturally if you're raised right. Meaning, if you're raised right as a human being and a person, it doesn't matter what amount of gore, violence and bizarre stuff you see in games, it will not affect you or make you violent or aggressive. So, what's up with this censoring and coddling of children like they can't handle anything anymore?

Unfortunately, there is a real thing called desensitizing people. I'm not for censorship for consenting adults, we have laws to keep us in check. But kids, shown graphic images over and over, adapt to them. We learn from our environment, so if that environment is uncaring and violent, it affects them. It doesn't make them evil, or killers, but it makes them (and us) more apathetic about it.
There is a growing incidence, recorded, of teen boys trying to engage in more abusive sexual practices. This is being attributed to what online porn now shows. This skewing of what is actually normal, places templates of behaviour on them.
Even US troops use desensitizing training techniques. Cleverly, though, it is through a continuous drill where reflex is taught to replace a reaction. This was based on research that showed troops often shot 'to miss'. Killing isn't normal human behaviour. To make it normal, Hand to hand drills, etc were made repetitive, to induce an automated reflex.
Yes, so, age restrictions are good things. As adults we can chose, our minds are less pliable and our morals are generally seated well. But kids require a thing called, parenting and growth.

 

[PLAfiller]

I'm going to pray for you.

I didn't get this one. What is Tipper Gore and why years ago? I suppose its something bad if you are going to pray for him.

Generally I agree, but its the over protective politically correct moms that want to give thier kids the sheltered life the moms wanted as a kid.

Every time I see moms and games in the same sentence I instantly think of "Your mom hates Dead space" campaign....

 

[StrayKAT]

I didn't get this one. What is Tipper Gore and why years ago? I suppose its something bad if you are going to pray for him.



Every time I see moms and games in the same sentence I instantly think of "Your mom hates Dead space" campaign....

Tipper is Al Gore's wife. She was the OG censhorship czar and sparked the Parental Advisory stuff for music back in the day.

It's funny that Al Gore became such a hero to so called "liberals".. because they've always been anything but liberating. No matter what issue it is.

edit: Ahem! That said, I don't want her dead either! In fact, I think the only way out of the rabbit hole is to actually go in and live through it all. The only way people truly learn is the hard way. Society needs a massive, soul crushing police state that drains people's money and minds... just so people finally fight and it never happens again. So bring on more Tipper Gores please

 

[TheTechGuy1337]

How the hell did you get nudes of my ex-wife? That first picture looked like the honey moon. I should have walked then. ROFL....

 

[Fx]

How the hell did you get nudes of my ex-wife?

LOL! This and coffee was a great way to start my day.

 

[natr0n]

I didn't get this one. What is Tipper Gore and why years ago? I suppose its something bad if you are going to pray for him.

He's been talking about murdering people lately.

 

[R-T-B]

He's been talking about murdering people lately.

I think someone is taking things way too seriously. No one here seriously wants anyone dead, and I doubt anyone here qualifies for hell if it even exists (and if they do, well then, thanks God of Tryanny! I'll enjoy the ride).

Unfortunately, there is a real thing called desensitizing people. I'm not for censorship for consenting adults, we have laws to keep us in check. But kids, shown graphic images over and over, adapt to them. We learn from our environment, so if that environment is uncaring and violent, it affects them. It doesn't make them evil, or killers, but it makes them (and us) more apathetic about it.
There is a growing incidence, recorded, of teen boys trying to engage in more abusive sexual practices. This is being attributed to what online porn now shows. This skewing of what is actually normal, places templates of behaviour on them.
Even US troops use desensitizing training techniques. Cleverly, though, it is through a continuous drill where reflex is taught to replace a reaction. This was based on research that showed troops often shot 'to miss'. Killing isn't normal human behaviour. To make it normal, Hand to hand drills, etc were made repetitive, to induce an automated reflex.
Yes, so, age restrictions are good things. As adults we can chose, our minds are less pliable and our morals are generally seated well. But kids require a thing called, parenting and growth.

This represents my outlook.

That said, I'm no saint. Even played Arcanum: Magicka Obscura with all content enabled... even Belle the Sheep. Oh boy.

 

[ryan.voth]

Booooooooooooooooo. I was interested with all the twisted bizarre stuff, but now I'm like meh. People need to stop being offended over everything and being sensitive over everything. If you can't handle it, then don't play it. Stop ruining fun for everyone else.

I agree with you this whole being offended over everything is getting ridiculous. It's going to get to the point where if I make fun of myself someone else will get offended.

 

[R-T-B]

I agree with you this whole being offended over everything is getting ridiculous. It's going to get to the point where if I make fun of myself someone else will get offended.

I find it more odd that people are offended that they offended someone, but I'm certainly pro freedom of speech in this particular context. Political correctness has a time and place. A video game about Hell isn't it.

 

[jigar2speed]

Adults can't eat meat cause children can only drink milk... sheesh...

 

[RejZoR]

I agree with you this whole being offended over everything is getting ridiculous. It's going to get to the point where if I make fun of myself someone else will get offended.

That almost already exists. Not the exact scenario, but just look how many idiots constantly get offended on behalf of others. Remember that girl who wore a traditional Chinese dress to her prom and all the white SJW snowflakes were offended on behalf of all the Chinese people who were like, "lol, let her wear it, we actually like it if people wear our traditional stuff". And same is with a lot of other things. It's always something that offends perpetually offended idiots. So, depiction of hell is gross to you and offends you. Great. Then don't play Agony. I'm not a particular fan of turn based games and JRPG and you won't see me bitching and whining about them how they need to change to my taste (while I'm not even consuming the content of it). It's the same here.There is no need to fuck it up for everyone else who do like it. And as far as "not safe for children" nonsense, where are the damn parents? You made a kid, it's your bloody job to raise that kid, not everyone elses because you're so incompetent that you need others to do your job. Kids were playing violent games for decades and majority turned out just fine. Worry about those who drown cats and shoot birds with BB guns ffs, not those who want to play bizarre grotesque games. It's not on the same level, not even by far.

 

[StrayKAT]

That almost already exists. Not the exact scenario, but just look how many idiots constantly get offended on behalf of others. Remember that girl who wore a traditional Chinese dress to her prom and all the white SJW snowflakes were offended on behalf of all the Chinese people who were like, "lol, let her wear it, we actually like it if people wear our traditional stuff". And same is with a lot of other things. It's always something that offends perpetually offended idiots. So, depiction of hell is gross to you and offends you. Great. Then don't play Agony. I'm not a particular fan of turn based games and JRPG and you won't see me bitching and whining about them how they need to change to my taste (while I'm not even consuming the content of it). It's the same here.There is no need to fuck it up for everyone else who do like it. And as far as "not safe for children" nonsense, where are the damn parents? You made a kid, it's your bloody job to raise that kid, not everyone elses because you're so incompetent that you need others to do your job. Kids were playing violent games for decades and majority turned out just fine. Worry about those who drown cats and shoot birds with BB guns ffs, not those who want to play bizarre grotesque games. It's not on the same level, not even by far.

Yeah, I'm part Asian myself, and I don't even stuff give like that a thought. If I see a white/black/etc girl wearing Asian fashion, more than likely I probably think she looks great in it. The last thing on my mind is proclamations of "cultural appropriation". That's just plain weird... not to mention bad. I don't think you're in the right at all if you impose yourself like this on people. It takes a distinct personality who enjoys power over others to do it. If anything is bad, that is.