MadWorld

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MadWorld is a video game developed by Platinum Games and published by Sega. It was released exclusively for the Wii on March 10, 2009 in North America, and is scheduled to be released March 20 in Europe and March 26 in Australia.



Developer Platinum Games
Publisher Sega
Designers
Atsushi Inaba (producer)
Shigenori Nishikawa (game designer)
Yasumi Matsuno (writer)
Composer Naoto Tanaka
Native resolution
480p (EDTV)
480i (SDTV)
Platform Wii
Release dates
NA March 10, 2009
EU March 20, 2009
AUS March 26, 2009
Genre Beat 'em up
Modes Single-player, multiplayer
Ratings
BBFC: 18
ESRB: M
OFLC: MA15+
Media Wii Optical Disc



Gameplay

From a third-person perspective, the player controls Jack, a mechanic and former marine with a chainsaw on his arm, as he competes in a violent television show. Control is handled through the Wii Remote and Nunchuk attachment, with the Remote controlling his weapon and the Nunchuk moving Jack. MadWorld does not make use of the Wii Remote's infrared sensor, as its developers found it unnecessary to pinpoint movements on the screen in order to attack. Players perform brutal melee attacks on enemies using objects found throughout the environment, such as impaling an enemy's head with a caution sign.

The game features extreme, over-the-top violence, but designer Shigeunori Nishikawa intends it to be seen in a comical light despite the dark tone of the game. For example, in a minigame called "Man Darts", players must hit enemies onto a giant dartboard with a baseball bat to score points. However, because of the intended level of violence PlatinumGames is unsure of whether or not the game will ultimately be released in Japan, stating "In certain markets there are a lot of limitations on the amount of violence you can show, so we definitely have the Western market much more in mind".

MadWorld features highly stylized graphics that use a limited color palette of high contrast black and white with red blood, partially inspired by Frank Miller's Sin City graphic novels.



Plot

In MadWorld, Varrigan City has become a target for a group of terrorists known as "The Organizers". The Organizers have taken over the city and transformed it into the setting for a game show called Death Watch, where the city's citizens are being forced to fight for their lives against mysterious enemies, for a prize of 100 million dollars.

Characters

* Jack: A mechanic and former marine with a chainsaw equipped to his right arm, Jack is sent to Varrigan City by the President in order to help collapse Death Watch. Jack is the lead protagonist and player character of MadWorld, and is voiced by Steven Blum.
* XIII: A representative for one of the sponsors of Death Watch, XIII is named because he represents the thirteenth sponsor. XIII makes appearances on television screens throughout Varrigan City.
* Little Eddie: A hulking, deranged brute with a giant ball and chain, who serves as a boss.
* Herr Frederick von Twirlenkiller: A man who can create cyclones using the jet turbines in place of his hands, who also serves as a boss.
* Rinrin: A young Chinese woman who represents Varrigan City's Chinatown. She fights using two large bladed fans.
* The Black Baron: The host of Death Watch, the Black Baron appears in a minigame used to introduce the player to MadWorld. Here, he is killed by his partner, Mathilda, to demonstrate how the game is played.



Controversy

MadWorld has been the subject of controversy in the United Kingdom due to its violent subject matter. John Beyer, director of mediawatch-uk, has expressed his distaste over the game's content, stating his desire for it to not receive a rating from the BBFC, which would effectively ban it from being sold. He stated "We need to ensure that modern and civilized values take priority rather than killing and maiming people." European fans' response to the organization have been hostile, accusing mediawatch-uk of being "cowards" and "narrow-minded bigots."

On August 19, Sega announced that MadWorld will not be released in Japan. However, Sega plans to release MadWorld in Australia, another country with strict video game classification. Despite this, it has been reported that the game will officially be released in Australia in its original, unedited format with a MA15+ rating.

Nintendo representatives have supported the game, reiterating that the Wii is a system for anybody, including adults, and that the game, like all video games, would be rated and would therefore be available for purchase to people of and above that age rating. In a preview, Eurogamer commented: "It's difficult to understand why there's so much controversy surrounding MadWorld when the violence is so very Tom and Jerry... It really is hard to be offended... because it's just so ridiculous."

On March 10, the National Institute on Media and the Family issued a press release expressing their disappointment in Nintendo for allowing Madworld to be released on the Wii. Stating, "In the past, the Wii has successfully sold itself as being the gaming console for the entire family and a way to bring family-game nights back into people's living rooms. Unfortunately, Nintendo opened its doors to the violent videogame genre."

Official North America website
Official European website

+ YouTube Video

[ghost]

I must play this. I might rent it out on wed, see if its worth buying. I like some of that classic Noir volence.

[UHero]

This game looked incredible, i was thinking about getting a Wii just for the sole purpose of playing this.