So I had my second ever Kotaku post all thought out, got half-way through it and then decided that I was wrong.

For the record, my original thoughts were the following...

I can understand why Mr. Damon puts action figures and video games in a different category than his films, they are both more likely to end up in the hands of youngsters. That doesn't mean that they should, it just means it is more likely.

That said, at the time I was thinking about youngsters seeing his films at the movie theatre. Once that film comes out on DVD it is as equally likely to end up in the hands of a youngster as the video game is, so my original argument is thereby mooted.

rhacer

Typically Hollywood hypocrisy. Movies have no effect on the culture but those video games, they are ruining society drivel. On the other hand, as many have said Parents need to be parents which I agree unfortunately in our country they are not being parents. Non Gaming Parents have NO clue what their kids are doing. My buddy who is an excellent dad bought his boy a DS and has no idea what the games his kids are playing are. Admittedly the kid is NOT asking for GTA and if he did, his dad would say no but there are too many parents who are saying yes. Teenage years are powerful years in human development. In many ways, teenages are templates that are being molded into who they will be as adults. People here scream Freedom all the time here but whenever you mention responsibility you are called some jackboot nazi. Does anyone care to make any intelligent comments about freedom vs responsibility?

coolkiwilivin

You people are idiots. Matt Damon has no duty to voiceover a game for you. Who cares what his reasons are? He can refuse because he doesn't like the color blue. It's none of your business. If Tom Cruise refused to make some movie because of his Scientologist beliefs, would you go on a public forum stomping your feet and whining like you are here?

Wait. Don't answer that. You'll only embarrass yourselves. Anyway, even if you just MUST HAVE OR YOU'LL DIE a Bourne game, a good voice actor can easily replace Damon. So WTF's the problem?

danebramage

Seriously, where is Witzbold when you need him.

^^ to half the commenters above, WTF? Check the comments on the previous page.

dnzperson

Wait...wouldn't a Bourne game be M For Mature? As in not technically marketable to kids the same way that Rated R movies are not technically marketable to kids? Obviously I'm missing something here. When exactly is The Bourne Double Standardcy supposed to be released?

Purple Dave

I used to like Matt Damon... now I agree with my boyfriend. He's a douche.

goddessakasha

i love the bourne series. damon, damon! why the the hypocrisy?

kw4k

@Netnavi: Well, tehcnically yes, but only with yourself.

But that aside, watching something and doing it are two different things. Witnessing a murder doesn't get you charged with it and while you might have a tough time getting over it, the likelyhood is you won't fel some overbearing guilt for witnessing it.

MasterDex

@RickyTV: That has to be the most idiotic statement I have ever read. Condiering the amount of time I spen on the internet, that is saying a LOT! The best part is YOU are calling someone ELSE an idiot after making a comment with less intellectual substance than a retarded chimp that was born from a crack addict mother.

Mr.SithNinja

I've never liked Damon - always seemed like an incredible douche. More evidence to support that, now.

sir_carrot

"Matt and I don't share the same views about violence in adult films,"

So...Matt Damon likes violent porn, and his mom prefers her porn violence free?? Sounds like she is OK with porn as long as there is no violence. I would have to agree with that. I am not an S&M guy but if that is what Matt is into then good for him.....

That was to illustrate how easily things can be taken out of context. I would rather hear something from Mr. Damon himself. There could be a million different reasons why he backed out of the game, and I would bet it was because not enough millions were offered to him. The violence thing could easily be a PR smokescreen. Then again all of this (and every post before this) is all just speculation anyway.

Mr.SithNinja

Okay, I think I'm freaking out here. I'm having some serious deja vu. And take note that the sarcasm tag is off. I could of sworn I've seen this exact post. Like weeks ago.

AsWater

@meltyman:
I hardly see what I posted as "spouting off." MTV very often takes something small, and blows it up with their own ideas, something they have been doing for three decades. Not just current events (see: 9/11 interviews), not just music, not just games(see: racist RE5 blogs); everything. They obviously have some very talented people working for them which are linked and mentioned continuously on Kotaku, but that still doesn't mean what I meant it to. Who logs on, wonders about whats going on in the video game world, and pulls up MTV before Kotaku, 1UP, Gamespot, et cetera.

aveneyer

this calls for a boycott, don't ever watch a Matt Damon's film….
And seriously... who pays $10 to watch a movie when you can put that money towards a game…
Anyways; I'm done with the movie industry, ever since my son was born I haven't been to the movies (2 years and counting) now I get all my entertainment from a torrent of information (*wink*wink)

bunch.of.wackos

Why is it whenever people think video games they think children? If the game is rated "M", it's not for children. Stupid people.

todde7

*GROAN...*

Hey everyone! It's 1960 again! Violent comic books, movies with the d-word, and Elvis' hips are works of the devil!

Seriously...get with the fucking times, Matt Damon...

agenttrav

matt daaaaaamon!

+ Watch video

exeprime

TBH, if Matt Damon were in this game I'd be less interested in it than I am, so it's all for the best.

Koztah

@battra92: I can count the number of decent movie tie-in games on a single hand. Goldeneye, Spider-Man 2, and I heard good things about the Pitch Black tie-in a few years back. Where are the tie-in games you've been looking forward to more than epic Hollywood blockbusters?

Balius

@iamcool388: there it is.

r3m1x

I really think that the gaming industry should rename the word "Video Games" or something related into words like "Interactive Software" or something.

Its simple psychology, when you say the word "game" the first thing most people would think is kids and toys. If this industry wants to move on to adult entertainment level. The naming convention and basic marketing HAS TO CHANGE.

I don't see anybody complaining about pornography or the various hardcore scenes they do as too unrealistic for children.

Banedon38

Personally, my money's on him actually being unavailable to record the lines because he's still busy protecting our children by f**king Sarah Silverman. Thank god the kids of America haven't seen that one, amirite?

eakolb

BTW, I would like to commend all the posters who logged on, wrote "Matt Damon is a dumbass / little bitch / etc" and logged off. You lads/ladies are the reason why Kotaku limits the amount of posters.

I would also like to comment on the quality of political discourse among gamers. I am sure that all our detractors would change their ways had they read our posts with a single realisation of "my God, I am indeed a dumbass", assume us to be their wiser half and never criticise games again. That is what persuasive arguments are made of.

mcderek3000

By Kotaku law, all people who don't like video game violence are 'little bitches'.

mcderek3000

What an ass. These Hollywood assholes in their Ivory towers are upset that the video game tie-ins are looked forward to more than their crappy films.

But yeah, double standards are so easy when you're a Hollywood Elite Better Than You Ass(TM)

battra92

It's not Matt Damon speaking, it's his mother. And if mother's are placed on this Earth for just one thing alone, it's to embarrass their kids.

"No, Matt hates smoking and drinking...and loose women! Floosies!"

Islandkiwi

so the 70% of gamers that are over 18 need to be protected... gimme a break

deathtastic

What an idiot.

KM91

People, you need to relax. Industry people lie all the time.

What I suspect the case to be is that they probably came up with that excuse because it sounded plausible, to avoid admitting they weren't willing to pay Damon what he was asking for as compensation for his likeness.

The quote from the mother may be legit, but really has no relation to Matt himself, or his apparent 'decision' as presented. It's there to mislead, and add credence to their 'claim'.

/adjusts tin foil hat

trickfred

This guy thinks Video Games = Children

But doesn't think Anime = Children...

Yes, i'm talking to the hentai society and the gory stuff like Shigurui/Elfen Lied

Ultrasinc

@Jcnet: You, my friend, have also just made yourself a worthless piece of trash.

Did you not read the comments on the previous page?

If not, please do. Then come back when you have something decent to say.

dnzperson

MYATTT DYAMMMMMANNNNN

joelface

Matt Damon has been in movies where he executed entire rooms of businessmen before.

Violence in games and movies does not bother me in the slightest but who does he think he is to think violence in movies is ok but not in games... oh is it because the violence in movies makes him a multi-millionaire... no that couldn't be it.

He's a moron.. because of his hypocrisy I am hereby making a ruling as gods 2nd in command saying Matt damon is a worthless piece of trash and now officially has less money than me.

Jcnet

Double standard indeed, but then again he's just swimming with the mainstream.

Nirual

@JoeyJo: Yeah dude, i feel like we're somewhat on the same page. Things started to become clearer to me after the posting hahah. I kinda take back what i said about the sidelines thing.

But i strongly agree with your point that parents don really know what to expect with video games. It's not like every parent is going to be able to spend the 20+ hours it takes to beat the game and screen it for their children, whereas a movie only takes and an hour or 2 to preview. That along with word of mouth from other parents and the many popular movie reviews and commercials are what make it so easy to screen violence in the movies.

BeyondAShadow

@Kenny:
I know... It makes no sense. They stereotype gaming. Thinking only angry 11 year olds play video games.

fadecy

@DarkStreet: And his mother is an even dumber ass. Seriously, hasn't anyone gotten the memo? Video games aren't just for kids anymore. There's even a little rating label on the lower right corner that TELLS you which games aren't suitable for children. If you can't figure this out, you deserve to be cursed with your own ignorance.

Also, "for the children" = fascist doublespeak. The moment you hear that phrase, hold onto your rights as if your life depended on it!

ManekiNeko

Matt Damon is a dumbass.

DarkStreet

I find this title super misleading. Nowhere does it actually state he is against violence in video games in absolute, only that he is against it being marketed to children. Along the same lines that anyone of us would be against cigarettes being marketed to children, but we might not all be against cigarettes absolutely. way to fuel the fire with some spin.
also, good for him for not droping his mother off the face of the earth like so many people do these days.

piffboy

forgot my post.

I think the ratings board should just go with the ratings we have for movies. It took us forever for people to actually understand that crap (remember those posters with granny and the family dog?)
it seems dumb to have a system that parents would have to relearn. Why are parent's so dumb? I'm old enough to be a parent (thank God I'm not yet) and can easily tell what's right and wrong for kids. All you have to do is read about the thing your kid is interested in and actually pay attention to the world they live in instead of being so self absorbed that you let the tv raise them.

Though this has been going on for decades (lazy parents) it would seem better IMO to have the ratings be in line with movie ratings.

Or is there an agenda behind that? The games industry doesn't want to be tied to the movie industry. maybe too many restrictions? I recall there being a documentary about the ESRB.

Netnavi

@RickyTV: "Watching something and actually doing something are one in the same idiots."

Really? Then I must've had sex with 50 women last night because I masturbated furiously. Watching porn is the same as actually having sex right?

Netnavi

I have to agree with many of the commenters here that printing these articles on a constant basis, while interesting tidbits of news) seem to bring out the ugly side of a lot of gamers.

It was only the last few days when there was an article about our knee-jerk reactions to news like this and how it reflects negatively on the community as a whole even if it's just the few that get pissed off for no real reason.

Sure, there's times when stories like this should be reported as in the case of RE5 or Mass Effect since they deal with issues that gaming as an industry is struggling to overcome but using such misleading titles is just asking for knee-jerk reactions from idiots who don't know how to read anything smaller than the title. It should have read Matt Damon's Mom hates Violent Video Games, I garuntee you half the people that got pissed at Matt Damon would just say 'lol, who cares'.

MasterDex

There is no double standard, the rule is "Don't sell violence to kids." There is no duplicity by acting in a violent movie and stating that concern. The problem, the REAL problem, is that too many middle to late aged morons think games are ONLY for kids, and have no idea of the huge 18+ demographic that actually plays them

Their points about children will *NEVER* hurt you directly (though lower sales because less idiot parents buying the games for their underage kids could indirectly hurt you). If you are 18+, this kind of comment is not a concern to you unless you're some kind of prebuscent adulthood advocate or something.

Personally I'm an advocate of adulthood at 21, as we humans progress it seems to take far longer for us to reach emotional and mental maturity, 21 isn't the best bar, but it's better than 18. More consistent too. That whole... you can fight in a war but you can't handle alcohol thing...

cybereal

@cowbean: Exactly my point :-)

dnzperson

blablabla.
All I heard was: "Matt and I watch Fox News too much".

Here's a message to Matt's mom: Kids also watched your son's movie, and guess what? It didn't make them coldblooded killers.
Do yourself and your son a favor: Ignore the idiocy of recent media statements regarding video games.

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

@Captain Impulse: I understand the wait-and-see philosophy and agree with you

That's my point, we should wait and see rather than jumping to conclusions which are quite possibly wrong.

It's a fairly safe bet (I'd take the odds, anyway) that there won't be people/heads exploding or murdered children.

No one here knows for sure either way.

We definitely shouldn't be seeing people attacking Damon's stance and beliefs

But that's what is happening (just read Lainface's comment below yours), and the way Kotaku has reported it has not helped at all.

Title:
Hollywood: Matt Damon OK With Movie Violence, Not OK With Game Violence

I am pleased that a lot of the comment here are stating the obvious though:

Why is this quote from Matt Damon's mother getting so much feedback? She may very well be putting words in his mouth.

I wish everyone had as much sense.

dnzperson

@jasoncourt:
Matt Damon Matt Damon Matt Damon. Matt Damon? Matt Damon Matt Damon!

BPMΔ

Kneejerk much?

It's bad enough that bandwagon-jumping politicians look for any excuse to spew ignorant reactionary vitriol on a mostly harmless activity. Do we as gamers (and you as game journalists) need to stoop to the same level?

Calling someone a hypocrite is pretty heavy, because it's so rare to find an example of a human being who doesn't fit that description. So you've got to back it up with some evidence, some analysis... something other than sheep-like name-calling of people who appear to disagree with you.

Who knows, maybe it will turn out that Matt Damon really does have strange hypocritical stances on gaming. Maybe Ashcraft had access to such info. But all we get from reading the post is another knee-jerk reaction in this war of knee-jerking. When will the tragedy end?

cowbean

Matt Damon is a little bitch.

I mean, he played friggin' Loki in Dogma. The, apparently, fomer Angel of Death.

This mentality just makes him sound like an old geezer.

Xiatter

He's only okay with movie violence because he gets a pay check. He couldn't give a crap about video games. Of course he's "protecting the children."

Watch out kiddies! The video game goblin is coming for your innocence!

Lainface

@Samos42: I understand the wait-and-see philosophy and agree with you, but I believe some comments are way off the reality spectrum. For instance, the possibility of Damon's character killing children or heads exploding, as you mentioned. Possible? Absolutely? Likely? No.

I think its a fair bet to take things from context as being reasonably accurate. It's been shown through videos and developer commentary that they're trying to recreate the feel of the movie with the game. It's a fairly safe bet (I'd take the odds, anyway) that there won't be people/heads exploding or murdered children.

I think the part that's stumping the people getting really riled up is that is obvious the game is an homage to the movies. If that's the case, why wouldn't Damon sign on? If he had issue with the content, you'd think he'd be able to exert at least some influence to change things to a level he deemed acceptable. Sure, he has no real sway over the developers, but I'm sure they'd carefully listen to his input. Instead, what it "looks like" is a blind aversion to support the game based on content. Is that the case? Maybe.

We definitely shouldn't be seeing people attacking Damon's stance and beliefs, but there's nothing wrong with questioning them.

Captain Impulse

Why is this quote from Matt Damon's mother getting so much feedback? She may very well be putting words in his mouth.

As an aside, he's also just some dude who lives in California.

Kai_

@Captain Impulse: Here's the thing. This relates to my other post. You can blow up a character into pieces or make a fictional character's head explode. I could imagine Matt Damon would not like to see his likeness have his head blow up or explode frequently. As far as we know, this could've been an issue in an earlier version or when they were talking with Matt. We don't really know. Maybe they had Matt Damon killing small children. I think it's best to wait for a statement from Matt (assuming we get one).

Samos42

If the movie's marketed toward late-teens and adults, surely it's unthinkable that it's the same demographic buying the video-game adaptation. Obviously, children are the primary targets of games with adult themes.

It's a double standard shared by most of the US. Movies are for the age group stated on the rating, games are for children regardless of rating. So when a movie comes out that features things like mild sexual content, nudity, violence, and full audio swearing, it's fine. If a game implies that sex is happening offscreen, the digital characters have risque outfits on but never get nude, there is similar violence, or swearing in text, it's an assault on children.

Matt Damon is just echoing the common view in the USA. It's all over the media.

Balius

@Captain Impulse: Gotta love the internet!

Lol, you've got that right ;-)

Just to clarify my stance - I didn't think it was right for everyone to jump to conclusions and the vilify him when, as you said, only the people who were there know what he really thinks (e.g. why he took issue with the game's level of violence).

We hate for other's to blindly make statements about gamers, yet judging from some of the comments here, it's okay for us gamers to do it - just not others.

And with reguards to some of the comments aimed directly at Kotaku (not commenters), I can see why LittleBigPlaneteer and DARTH_TIGRIS feel the way they do - just check the title of the article.

dnzperson

It's easy to see why it would SEEM that video games are worse than movies. I honestly get that. And there may even be a shred of validity to those claims. But lumping M-rated games with children's toys and "products" is ignorant and hypocritical.

Again, though, I'd like to remind everyone here that rationality is appreciated. Passionate rage helps nobody.

Trawgdoor!

@dnzperson: Fair enough, and if Damon comes forward with some sort of explanation that clarifies his position, even better. But as it stands, this is how it looks, and the only people with info are those who were there, at least in some aspect. It's possible to have an opinion and keep an open mind, and I think some of the people challenging the commenters here have forgotten that. That said, there are probably a lot of commenters who have also locked in their opinions one way or another, and won't be swayed. Gotta love the internet!

Captain Impulse

I find it hilarious that people like this continually criticize the gaming industry for violence when movies blatantly are equally have a greater display of "bad violence." I mean, most people like Matt Damon assume that kids don't actually watch movies like the Bourne films, but they really do.

And last time I checked, the resolution of these movies might be a little better than this Bourne game. gfx might be a little better too, just a little better.

reduxreaction

i remember in a previous interview where the dev's stated damon wanted too much $$$

daklog

Having seen this first on Multiplayer, I got the distinct impression that he dislikes violence in videogames. Fine. I don't agree with him that it's a problem, but if the man has issues with it, he did the right thing by quitting.

Everyone is free to have their own opinions; the only thing that pisses me off is when other people impress their opinions upon me. That doesn't seem to be what he was doing, so I don't really care. If he went on national television to promote the cause against videogames (like his mother), then I'd have something to bitch about.

shimage

@Captain Impulse: Aha, but isn't that rather hypocritical of society in general?

It sure is, but that isn't what this is about.

My main issue, and I'm sure other here feel the same, is that when ever a major news organisation (sych as fox) intentionally reports on video games in a way that is bound to cause controversy - we here at Kotaku get upset and offened.

Yet now commenters are doing the same thing we hate other to do to us, and it's been made even more ironic by the fact that people are calling Mr Damon a hypocrite.

Luckily, there is still hope for Kotaku commenters (looking at LittleBigPlaneteer and DARTH_TIGRIS).

dnzperson

Matt Damon, you're stock is falling.

LedRush

@dnzperson: You forget that violent video games are not as accepted as violent movies...

Aha, but isn't that rather hypocritical of society in general? ;) Okay, now I'm branching into larger topics, but I think you see what I'm getting at.

It seems like a lot of arguments in his defense are based on his silence. I think it's pretty obvious from the context of what was being inferred by Sadat in the article. I'm sure Damon has a good reason (at least in his own mind) why participating in this game was distasteful to him, but the inflection (from those who would know far more than armchair analysts like us) seems pretty clear.

I'm not saying Damon should be vilified for this, but attacking Kotaku for reporting info from inside sources is pretty out-of-line.

Captain Impulse

Who cares what Matt Damon thinks? Where's Brian Cox?!

boopadoo

@Captain Impulse and Captain Impulse: I had read the article before I made my first comment on this topic.

And while it could be hypocritical (as this article tries to make out) there could be other reasons for it as well.

He has yet to say a word on the topic.

You forget that violent video games are not as accepted as violent movies, so being tied to one (a violent video game) could impact his reputation far more than being in a violent movie, irrespective of what he actually thinks about violent video game (which we don't even know yet).

dnzperson

@Captain Impulse:

There could be a million reasons he pulled out of this particular project. Perhaps the game didn't have enough violence. Perhaps the violence was too much that he thought the game deserved an M rating and knew it was getting a T rating, thus he didn't support the idea of children being exposed to it.

It could be any number of things. That doesn't mean Damon hates GTA does it? Does it mean he hates COD 4? If he doesn't like violence in games then surely he'd hate most games wouldn't he?

Everything at this point is assumptions simply because there is so very little to go on. Yet it's enough for people to vilify Damon based on it. That is not cool

LittleBigPlaneteer

@LittleBigPlaneteer: I see where you're coming from, although I tend to believe someone from the "inside" like Sadat wouldn't be pulling reasons out of his ass. If he says its because of the violence, I don't really have any reason to disbelieve him. Somehow I don't think he made the comment to advance his personal agenda. I think he was just reporting what he'd seen or heard from those working with Damon and in development of the game.

Captain Impulse

@BeyondAShadow:

I agree with what you say, I don't agree that they're different mediums, just percieved to be different. A parent is much more likely to have heard of The Exorcist over Bioshock, they'd probably let their child play Bioshock thinking "oh it's just a silly computer game", but that's what happens when an entertainment industry is so young. In 20/30 years we'll have as much bother from "anti-so-and-so" groups that the movie industry has now.

I disagree with kids taking in violence from the sidelines more so in games. An older brother could just as easily watch a movie and a kid walks in and views it. I watched a whole load more "adult" movies when I was younger than I did play "adult" games. Thanks to video and DVD it's easy as anything for a kid to watch an inappropriate movie.

JoeyJo

@Captain Impulse:

The keyword you're missing is "Apparently". There is very little if any concrete evidence for why he pulled out. Something that is relying on terms like "apparently" can pretty much be chalked up to a rumor.

Unless we can truly find out his true reasoning for pulling out, then I can't say either way that he is being hypocritical. Just not enough to go on

LittleBigPlaneteer

Here we go again. The old sterotype that video games are for children. Yes most children want Video Games. True, but there could just as easily be a child who wants to see a violent movie. Does that mean movies are just for children? It's not like Toys R Us is selling M rated games. When in God's name will the Video Game industry be rid of this annoying stigma that gaming is for children?

Orionsaint

@LittleBigPlaneteer:
I just don't see how you can say that he's not OK with violence in games based on this hearsay and on the quote from his mother.

I think Meelad Sadat's quote makes it pretty clear. If Damon doesn't have problem with violence in games, why would he pull out because of it?

Captain Impulse

@aveneyer:
how about you read the blog before you start spouting off.

MTV videogame blog is one of the best in the business, now i hate MTV the channel just as much as you, but their gaming blog is pretty good, otherwise, Brian and the rest of the Kotaku would not link them all the time

Anyways, thats her opinion, i'm not about to call someone names because they have differing opinions.

meltyman

Disregarding Damon's mother's comments, this is all the article says (paraphrased):

Damon had a problem with the level of violence in the game, and pulled out.

So, with the knowledge of his movies in mind, the only reason he could take issue with the game is if the violence level was far greater in the game than his movies, right? And from what we've seen in videos, this apparently is not the case.

So, one of two things has occurred here:

1) The game's violence is levels above that which is in his movies, and we just don't know it. Nevermind the projected T-Rating or game play videos we've seen, we're missing out on a crucial bit of information that Damon, who was only at the negotiations step, was privy to. Somehow this seems unlikely, considering he would have probably only been privy to an early build and details such as gore would typically be added later in the development cycle.

2) He has an objection to the violence for another reason. This makes him seemingly hypocritical, since he participated in an activity with the same level of violence and restrictions (his movie making) without reservations.

Captain Impulse

Watching something and actually doing something are one in the same idiots.

RickyTV

@antialias02:

That's the thing. We only have hearsay evidence for why he pulled out from the game. We do not know for sure why he did not want his likeness in the game. I just don't see how you can say that he's not OK with violence in games based on this hearsay and on the quote from his mother.

LittleBigPlaneteer

In my opinion, video games and movies are different mediums. And I don't mean that they differ in the degree of violence that they should be allowed to present. The major difference to consider in this matter is the availability of these mediums to younger audiences.

I feel that with movies, the rating system is much easier to enforce, and provides strict limits on the intake of violence. Kids will get carded and blocked from buying tickets to rated R movies. And if a parent wants to allow their child to watch violent movies, that is completely in their control.

Now you're going to say that this stuff applies in the same way to video games, and I would agree. The only difference here is the degree to which a young child might take in the violence from the sidelines. For example, an older brother might be playing and his little brother just sits by watching. Or if the kid goes over to his friend's house to play video games and that kid's parents buy him M-rated games. I mean the social nature of video games among children just makes it harder to control than movies, in my opinion.

@MisterSleep: MisterSleep makes a good point too, about putting the violence in direct control of the player, which may to a degree desensitize one to performing acts of violence.

I dunno, there are so many points to be made it's hard to argue either way, but again, this is my stance on the subject.

BeyondAShadow

@LittleBigPlaneteer:If he pulled his likeness from the game because of the game's violence, then he is speaking with his actions (which people sometimes do) regarding his disapproval of video game violence. Primarily, we assume, because he believes that children are the primary consumers of video game content instead of adults.

Whereas children never watch R-rated movies, you know.

Either way you look at his opinion, something is fishy. We all know that more people play games than just kids. So why, exactly, did he pull his likeness from the game?

...because of the children? That attitude is either ignorant of the fact adults play video games (and should control the games that kids play), or it's a double standard.

antialias02

Talk about Rhinocracy.

mrbloober

The games Rated T not M,so it's not like this is a gorefest or anything.

riffleraffle

@LittleBigPlaneteer: Uh, the quote isn't from Damon, it's from his mom.

Personally, I think Damon's a tool but then, I think that of most of Hollywood. Their elitist snobbery and extreme far-left mind-sets annoy me.

Fonic

@LittleBigPlaneteer: How is it not hypocritical to participate in one activity that he believes could be damaging to children if viewed, but not participate in another activity for the same reason?

You're right that he doesn't come out and say that violent movies aren't bad for children. However, the article states that he was not comfortable with the violence in the game. Ok, fair enough. But does that mean he IS comfortable with the violence in his movies?

It seems he doesn't want kids to get their hands on violent material, whether it be games or movies. But why would be object to participating in a video game due to its violence, but not a movie? Either form of media, in the hands of children, would have the same effect. Why wouldn't he simply hold to the same stance: keep mature movies out of kids hands, and keep mature games out of kids hands?

Captain Impulse

I don't like Matt Damon, but I wouldn't quite say he has double standards. Movies are just movies, kids don't have control over the violence they're watching. But with a video game, kids have full interactive control. I say that's a pretty big difference, since interactive media can be much more powerful than any standard media. We all know this from first hand experience in school, making chemicals blow up by ourselves makes us learn about the process much easier than reading about it from a textbook or from the professor.

neko613

.@LittleBigPlaneteer:

I simply cannot believe how blinded you commenter's are to what Damon's mom said. How can you not comprehend it? Why simply go on Kotaku's title? Ugh, I'm pretty disappointed with most people here now...

LittleBigPlaneteer

wow, and i thought he was one of the few good actors in hollywood instead of a total idiot. of course, killing people in movies is okay, where it's more graphic, but in a video game, oh noo.

Albanian_Killa

Talk about Hippocracy.

ghnvt

Also I could imagine it wouldn't be the most pleasant thing in the world for an actor to see himself die violently often in a game. And less appealing to occasionally see your likeness kill himself...

Samos42

I'm sad to say Kotaku, but you're title couldn't be any more misleading. Tell me where Matt says he's okay with movie violence but not with game violence.

I'm also saddened by the amount of commenter's who can't see past the misleading title and read the quote for what it actually says.

In no way is matt saying he's okay with one and not the other. The second part is referring to CHILDREN being exposed to such violence in games. Is that really wrong to say? Does he say he's for children being exposed to violence in movies? Absolutely NOT.

I hope people read my statement and then re-read the quote.

LittleBigPlaneteer

Those people who are saying us commenters are jumping to conclusions obviously did not read the article. The director of business at the studio making the came states quite clearly:

"So, where was, Bourne himself, Mr. Damon? He turned down an offer to be involved with "The Bourne Conspiracy," High Moon director of business relations Meelad Sadat told me. Damon was in negotiations to lend his voice and likeness when development was getting off the ground, but he took issue with the game's level of violence and pulled out."

I don't think we need a signed confession from Damon to confirm what is already known by someone who was, you know, actually there and involved. Just sayin'.

Captain Impulse

@b1t0: When I was like six, after I saw "Point Break," I put a pillow in my backpack and jumped backwards off of the couch so I could "parachute." For the record, Keanu Reeves didn't jump off after me to tackle me in midair.

Who hasn't emulated something from a movie? Everybody's picked up something from popular culture, but I would say that very few pick something violent or inappropriate.

nadimal

Matt Damon...

w991

The game is going to appeal to, and be marketed towards, fans of the film. Why else would they make a game using the licence? Essentially, it is going to cover the same basic ground as the film, only in a different format.

I can't follow that basic piece of information logically through to that comment above. What does she think is going to happen? Possibly if they were going to release 'The Bourne Identity Kart,' and then bundle it with the movies, i'd understand. But that's pretty far divorced from reality isn't it?

Lov3

I'm not so sure we can base Matt's actual opinion of it off this.

It could easily be like:
Mom: "Those damn videogames and their violence. Grand Theft Auto causes baby rape and AIDS, you know that Matt?"
Matt: "Yes Mom, whatever you say Mom."

Whatever gets her off his back about his movies. ;D

Samos42

There is a difference between seeing someone kill someone else and using a robot(Console, Computer, what have you) to kill someone else yourself. Both aren't real so don't go into that.

Chewbenator

@DARTH_TIGRIS: You have got +99 respect. You deserve a star.

dnzperson

sooo, they matter why? and do we really need a movie tie in game?

number_77

@DARTH_TIGRIS: EXCELLENT POINT.

b1t0

@Alexander-The-Great: i see your point but honestly when I was like 5 years old i saw a make out scene in a movie than went and tried it with a little girl that was over. We both actually wanted to try it. It was so stupid and we even laugh about it now. I just say that to show that "yeah a video game you control someone" but that DOES NOT mean you cant go and try something from a movie. Violence in a game is just like violence in a movie. Parenting is the issue. And i hate how people feel its someone else's job to be Parents rather than the PARENTS!!!

b1t0

As others have stated, don't jump on Matt Damon when he has said NOTHING on the record. Quit being so reactive. It makes us look bad.

@Brian Ashcraft:

C'mon, Bash. Clarify if you're calling his mom a hypocrite (which isn't true because she doesn't like violence in movies or games) or if you're calling HIM one (which isn't true because you have no statement from him), so we can call you out on it. We don't help our position by using Fox News-esque tactics to stir up our gamer contemporaries. This comment page is already full of a bunch of Sara Silverman's ...

DARTH_TIGRIS

@buttpwner:

Agreed. As usual, angry videogamers are ready to torch someone as soon as they hear something they dislike.

It's rather embarrassing.

Benjamin Linus

Buh, he's supposed to be a badass now. WHAT HAPPENED, Big D?! and yes doublte standard, but as some have said, until he says it himself on national television, it ain't his fault(lol)

Master Saji