Spec Ops: The Line Writer Wants Less Violence, More Creativity

During GDC, Spec Ops: The Line writer, Walt Williams, called for less violence and more creativity.

Williams said: “We’re in an industry full of very intelligent, knowledgeable, and progressive people. It’s getting harder and harder for us to play these games and to look at them critically and say, ‘This is OK, this makes sense,’ especially as we get older.”

“I would like to see less violent games out there. Not because they’re bad or wrong, but because I think creatively they’re too easy,” he added. “How can you make another shooter that leaves your characters arguably alive? I think we need to get to a point where we can move back to maybe trying to write characters that are a bit more hopeful. I think that might be a good first step.”

When asked about the success of Spec Ops: The Line, Williams said that it was a ‘bit of a surprise’ that it even made it to the shelves.

What are your thoughts about taking a different approach to create less violent games?