I know kids play COD (LOL The video was funny). Most parents ignore esrb ratings to shut their kids up when buying these games. Funny thing, its mostly mothers being neglectful. My mother would've never let me touch this game. I would have to find a friend with a parent that doesn't care. lol That kid is going to be trouble in school for his teachers. Twas funny when he had to be saved though "SAVE ME!"

Yeah, he was being nutty :)

When I grew up playing super mario I only needed two buttons to jump and spit fire. The skill came at how much enemies and environments hurled themselves at you and how you best avoided them. I played harder games as a child. Complex control schemes in hardcore games are demanding and really demand mastering of complex control schemes. Also, we know the audience has grown up, which is why these games have these mature themes and stories. Nintendo knows exactly who they are trying to get the attention of with Super Mario, but everyone can play the game. Mario Sunshine was probably as hardcore as its ever going to get for Mario. 

blackstarr said: Mummelmann said: Is this a thread to show that "mature" games on PS360 are stupid and childish? Maybe a thread to show that "mature" games have very little likelihood of ever attracting a female audience. Note the focus on adolescent male fantasies. I'd much rather prefer games that indulge adolescent male fantasies than adolescent female fantasies. I... I don't even know what those games would look like. I could argue that Miyamoto's entire career was based on indulging his "adolescent" male fantasies, since all of his games are products of his childhood.

Given the OP's history, I think my guess is more likely. And I can't say that he's entirely wrong either, most "mature" games are a tad silly and many are downright bad.

To this day, I still find completing Super Mario Bros. on the NES a challenge.

Does complexity of controls really make a game hardcore, or does the difficulty level make it more hardcore (catering to advanced gamers)?

Majora's Mask.

Sex scenes in AC.

Super soldiers in Halo.

Command & Conquer
Transformers War/Fall of Cybertron
Enslaved
Tomb Raider
Portal
Mirrors Edge
Fable
Star Wars games in general
Alan Wake

I'm sure I could come up with a ton more if I had to. But since I don't, this is what I come up with off the top of my head.

Eternal Darkness, Metroid Prime trilogy...

Both I think. I specifically remember one at the start of Brotherhood though because I started playing it again a few days ago.