So I was watching the movie Blazing Saddles the other night. For those of you unfamiliar, it's a comedy from 1974 by Mel Brooks. Frankly, it's one of my favorite comedies of all time. No matter how many times I see it, it's as funny to me as the first time I watched it. However, as I was watching it occurred to me that, due to the subject matter and the way it was presented, there is absolutely no way that movie would be made (at least in Hollywood) today.

So, I got to wondering. Are there any games from yesteryear that, based on their subject or content, would not be made today? I don't mean due to technical advncements in graphics or even necessarily changing tastes in genres. I mean because the general public would find the subject matter objectionable.

I can't think of a single example off the top of my head, so I've come here to see if any others might offer suggestions. Thoughts?

Wasn't Hitler one of the leaders in the original Civilization or am I misremembering some imaginary controversy? I tried to Google it but the only hit comes for a mod. I know I read something about it years ago but don't remember any details really, so not sure why I really posted here :).

Nope, it was... Charlemagne, I think.

I don't know if there is any recent game out there with Soldier of Fortune levels of violence that you can inflict. The new ROTT is probably the only gory game that I can think of in the past few years.

For some time, Wolfenstein 3D was controversial because you kill dogs in it.

Other than that, I don't see anything like Shadow Warrior's Lo Wang appearing again anytime soon (the way he was portrayed then, of course).

I think a game like Phantasmagoria might have trouble getting made. Even back in 1995 there was controversy surrounding the game's violence and sex.

Also maybe the Postal games.

Postal 1 and 2... Because people today are pussies !

Many critics claim Leisure Suit Larry Reloaded to be misogynistic and shouldn't have been remade, like this one http://gamasutra.com/view/news/196824/Opinion_Why_Leisure_Suit_Larry_should_never_have_been_remade.php. A lot of gamers who suddenly have white knight syndrome have trashed the game too so I don't think we will get another game from Al Lowe...

Thanks, folks. I thought of games like Custer's Revenge and Manhunt. But those were considered (at the very least by some) objectionable at the time. What I'm really looking for are games which no one really had a problem with back in the day but, due to changing mores, sensibilities, whatever, would cause at least some outcry today. One of the things I like about you is your ability to consisitently sum up a situation in as compact a way as possible. :-)

A hooker told me that once :) BTW -" consisitently" ? :P

"Mongo only pawn in game of life."

I would imagine that C&C Renegade would have trouble getting made today; not because of it's content but because it sucks.

Yeah, like you were going to get a strait answer from me. :P

Fallout 1 and 2.

Beth's take on the Fallout series are for kids.

Fallout New Vegas is a little more adult (introduces rape, and in the Dead Money DLC there are remains of dead children), but still not as all out as FO1 and 2.

Goddamn censors and morality groups...

I imagine similar troubles for other FMV games like "Harvester." For whatever reason, those games tended to go into really crazy places that regular games seem hesitant about (cannibalism, sexuality, etc.).

I just realized that in my attempt at humor I may have hit on something; games not being made today because today they would have hindsight and be able to perceive that for whatever reason the game would be a dud. Doesn't really have the thrill of the "questionable content" angle but it's still a valid point. Think of some of the series that were ruined by poorly done sequels or TOO many sequels. With hindsight do they not make the game to avoid over-saturation (is that a word)? Do they not make TR Angel knowing that the game would set the series back and actually start to turn some people off the game?

Hmmmm, perhaps these questions and more can be answered in "Dianetics"!

It was Friedrich the Great.