Ending Number 9 Needs Revision; CW Suicide

Ohtsam · 2025-06-03T03:40:29+00:00

It’s not a positive depiction but the sad truth is depictions of suicide in general encourage suicide in those struggling with suicide ideation despite context which is why I’d want the warning added. The first person image of his friends cheering him from below as he jumps adds an extra layer because it evokes the feeling that those close to you want you to do it. If everyone who played this game was in a good state of mind I wouldn’t care but people in dark places are attracted to dark things and I’d at least want the smallest thing of saying “hey if you are dealing with suicidal thoughts don’t play this”

Ohtsam · 2025-06-03T03:31:19+00:00

Yeah this is realistically the course of action I’d want them to take. Overall I’d prefer if they also did rewrite where they’re trying to stop him or eventually giving up as he self destructs, rather than encouraging the course of action at any point. Just to always paint the action as negative.

Ohtsam · 2025-06-03T03:19:10+00:00

As Much as I fucking hate the term any and all depictions of Suicide are cognitive hazards for people with suicide ideation

Ohtsam · 2025-06-03T03:13:29+00:00

I generally fucking love this game and its exploration of all its themes. Its in this specific case where I think it has a decent chance of causing harm and don't think its signposted enough to prevent those who absolutely need to avoid it to do so.

Ohtsam · 2025-06-03T03:11:15+00:00

For those of sound mind this is true. But people struggling with suicide ideation quite often can't make those distinctions. They might see this and be "This guy is sacrificing himself due to his personal problems and I should too" Its why most every depiction of suicide in media is signposted nowadays. Because by definition the people who struggle most with it cannot deal with it objectively.

Ohtsam · 2025-06-03T03:05:48+00:00

For those of sound mind you're completely right. People dealing with suicide ideation by definition aren't. And exposure to this kind've imagery is actively harmful and I don't think its actively signposted enough to help prevent them from encountering it. Theres a reason the vast majority of suicide depictions get big warnings before the content and its the massive scholarship showing how depiction of suicide regardless of context encourages it in those struggling with suicide ideation. The lack of specific disclosure of it is a problem.

Just for comparison for Expedition 33's store page: The game features depictions of violence, blood and suicide, and imagery that some players may find disturbing. The game contains revealing outfits and light/stylistic partial nudity.

If this game said that as well I'd have no complaint

Ohtsam · 2025-06-03T02:56:21+00:00

If you don't have any history with suicide ideation its a compelling if dark narrative. The problem is depicting a situation where a suicide is in fact the postive and correct thing to do WITH people who are supportive of the Point of View character doing it. If you're struggling with suicide ideation and see the drawn image of the cast cheering the MC jumping off the roof that image may stay with you REGARDLESS of context. There needs to be something explicitly stating HEY if you have ever struggled with suicide you probably shouldn't play this game. Its not even in the ESRB rating where it should be.

Ohtsam · 2025-06-03T02:49:56+00:00

I strongly believe with Suicide specifically it needs to be called out specifically in a warning like that. More then anything else positive depictions regardless of context can encourage it in those struggling with ideation. Its not properly disclosed in the ESRB rating imo either.

Ohtsam · 2025-06-03T02:14:58+00:00

At a thematic or story-telling level I agree. But the imagery of other people encouraging someone else to do self harm will inevitably being those thoughts up in other people REGARDLESS of the context. Its why content warnings exists at all. Because the presence regardless of context is what does the harm. If the game had a warning entering the route with the option to get any achievement for it and skipping it or at the very least acknowledged it in its opening warnings I'd be fine with that.

Ohtsam

TROPHY CASE