Topic: violence is not the only answer.

[8ullfrog]

I've got a saints row 2 save I load up every once in a while, but my character is strictly domestic. He doesn't commit crimes, and his greatest vice is savescum gambling. This allows me to buy all the fun toys in SR2 without resorting to murder. I had picked up the stun gun as a nonlethal option, but that does occasionally kill people, so I put it away.

I've even managed to run through a couple of the missions by recruiting followers, but I'm not sure if that's the right way to go, as those psychopaths tear through enemies and civilians alike.

I'm also aware that this process would be absolutely impossible in the third game, as you have to kill your way out of the opening scene.

Do you play any games in a nonstandard way?

[chekovsulu]

I didn't realise that was possible in Saints Row, I'm going to try it out.

I usually start playing GTA: Vice City trying not to kill "innocents", but they just don't stay out of the way!

Deus Ex is the only game I've successfully completed without hurting too many people.

[SACPOP]

I have played Super Mario Brothers without squashing any of the bad guys. It makes it a little more difficult but works well for speed runs since I didn't waste all that time squashing baddies.

I tried the same thing in Quake a few times, but I didn't like it as much. That just seemed to defeat the purpose of the game and take a lot of the fun out of it.

[mishca09]

most of the games I play you can;t not kill the bad guys. expect for the game I'm currently playing , which encourages you to be sneaky and use non lethal means to get rid of your enemies. usually though I play the game  pretty straight  forward.

[dweez]

I don't mind games with violence and stuff but I also know that it's just a game and doesn't reflect real life.  Not all minds (development-wise) can understand this.

[8ullfrog]

It's fairly tricky in SR2. I managed to buy all the player housing by getting my character addicted to blackjack and save scumming. It kinda sucks because SR2 saves load you back to the safe house, but I keep a helicopter ready near the casino.

I've managed the intro storyline and also managed the first two stronghold missions, where you must evict homeless people from shanty towns. The first instance is fairly easy, as psychopath Johnny Gat mows down hostiles. I had trouble with the second stronghold as I had to knock over shanty towns, and the nightstick wasn't cutting it. I managed to knock them over with a bag of garbage, plus the homeless hostiles shot their own hideouts up while trying to kill me. I've accidentally picked up a Vice 9 pistol, T3k urban smg, a tombstone shotgun, and a variety of melee weapons. I have not found a way to remove the weapons.

My secret is helicopters. I fly a thompson helicopter everywhere, to avoid running anyone over, and also avoid enemies.

[chekovsulu]

I find I'm more sensitive to violent video games now that I'm a mature adult, than I was a few years ago.  Usually, I will try to avoid killing people, but not if they're alien, machine, terrorist or 12.

[8ullfrog]

So you specifically target children? I understand that Rockstar left children and animals out of the GTA games to avoid hysterical reactions, and that many sandbox shooters do the same. The game I'm doing my nonviolent play through on - saints row 2, also lacks animals or children.

I believe you have to mod the fallout games to be able to kill children, and some of them are absolute shits.

[chekovsulu]

I've just realised how wrong that part of my previous post sounds.  I'm a bit dense. 

No, I don't target children, except maybe the Nihilanth from Half-Life.  I've heard Doom 3 had scary babies, but I'm too chicken to play that game.  Maybe after I'm brave enough to finish System Shock 2.

Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis had the option to complete the game using your wits.  I could never figure out the balloon in the desert, so I'm not sure how much fighting it involved.

[8ullfrog]

Re: bent up babies:
http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/10/26


Warning: The following video is being presented by machinima. Disable annotations to avoid their annoying poo.

Well, this made me feel like a complete bless'ed monster.