If you are critic to the trailer, for a game in which violence and sexual imagery, you should be critic about almost 80% (I think it could be even more) of all the games that are out there already. Violence is the reason why so much games sell like they do. The fact that the trailer have a group of women dressed like nuns (I don't think they can be called as nuns, you know, for the guns and the killing), makes no difference of the other games in which you kill without any obvious reason. The moral basis in the video game marketing  is already lost (so long ago), so making such a big racket about a trailer doesn't make to much sense now, is it? I agree with SnakeEyesX80, the fact you criticize a trailer and not the fact you are killing families or invading countries in the actual games shows a double standard in the way we feel about games.

For me the trailer failed in every aspect: it doesn't reflect the type of gameplay in the series, it doesn't attract new fans unless they're 14-year old shut-ins, and it doesn't create a positive buzz about the game. It's created controversy when there was no need for it, and the fact that the so-called nuns were actually assassins is incidental. It's in poor taste in much the same way the Manhunt games were, and you're more likely to reduce your target audience than increase it with that kind of advertising.

Bottom line, it was unnecessary and offensive. Unnecessary is the key word here, because that's the most important part of this discussion.  There was no need for a controversial trailer like this and, if the game is as good as it's supposed to be, why not simply show gameplay?  It's not like this game is being marketed towards casual gamers, and the last time I checked the only thing hardcore gamers care about when it comes to trailers is whether it has legitimate gameplay footage within.  It's too bad as well, because from what little gameplay and articles I've had the time and inclination to read and watch concerning this game, it actually looks pretty good.  It's sad really...

It's a video game! Actually, scratch that, it's a non-playable trailer to a video game! I'm more than sure that there will be nothing to that extent in the game itself. I still don't see how this is any more "shocking" than MW2's stupid 'No Russian' level or MW3's me too blowing up of a young family, including a small child, on vacation in London (and those were playable!).

I don't know, I think overall it will attract negative attention, but will not ultimately hurt the game.

Although like a lot of other people here I can't say the trailer shocked me in any way I do think in some ways it insults gamers intelligence to assume they would be more interested in buying the game after seeing barely clad women being brutally killed by a man. 

Maybe I'm wrong but I think gamers are actually more interested about the narrative and theme of a game and want a trailer that reflects that in a unique and exciting way.

Either way though once people get to see some reviews and more gameplay I don't think the discussion of this trailer will sway people for or against it. Unfortunately it will just be forgotten until the next controversy occurs. 

I've got zero interest in the Hitman series as a whole anyway, their trailer for the latest one is yet another prime example of the immaturity and backwards way of thinking that is strong in the video game industry where they think killing, the mistreatment of females in games and the usual 'Be a man and KILL KILL KILL!' mentality that is so enforced within the media is the only way to make profit.

It's a common practice in the media, killing and violence are always shown as exciting and glamorous.

I could write a beatifully writen and elaborate text to express my reasons why we should not judge a game by a cinematic trailer... but since my english sucks you will have to live with this. I will ask you to remember that if you are ok by playing as a cold assassin which does not have any regard for human life, and would kill any men(women) if the money was good enough. Then, I fail to see the big deal with the nuns.

This is why I can't support people fighting against sexism.

Sexism is impossible to get rid of, and in the end, it feels like activists fighting to abolish it are inadvertently asking for special treatment. 

This trailer doesn't really bother me, but of course, I can understand why it would offend some people. So if you find it in bad taste, don't buy the game. Nothing could be simpler. 

And I hate to sound so incredibly wrong, I guess, but am I the only one who realizes men and women aren't equal...? Spoiler alert: there's nothing wrong with that.

*fap fap fap fap fap fap fap*

In all seriousness, remove any one of the triangle (women, sexualisation and violence) and no-one would have an issue because it's all been done before. 

When I watched it, it didn't do anything for me - that's to say a) I didn't think it was relevant to anything to do with the Hitman universe - I raised an eyebrow, laughed at the new depths SE were sinking and forgot about it - and b) I didn't get a semi. Hell, even me as a 14 year old (where all I had to do was see a bra strap on TV and I was reaching for the settee pillow) wouldn't have thought anything. 

 It goes back to game trailers having very little to do with the final game - a-la Dead Island.

Jane, if you get a chance to speak to one of the game developers ask them for their thoughts on the trailer and whether the marketing team has done the game a service or disservice.  

Long has been since the last time I payed real attention to trailers and marketing. I just use them to know about the existence of games. And since the time I played Manhunt and dropped it to garbage, I dont feel very atracted to violence- focused games. As a violent person that enjoys in-game violence in all its ways and presentations, I wouldnt buy a game for "how cool the kills are"; for Its just an accesory to me.

For me, this trailer just means an empty game with lots of gore. So, im moving to the next one.

That trailer seemed just way too removed from the original game, like some people wanted to ride on a Tarantino B-Movie vibe but got it mixed up with his fetish for nuns in latex and not enough people notified them, that it's a very special interest they are catering to there. They lost my respect earlier with their "The ORIGINAL asassin" stabs, like a pouting child, jealous of the other kid's success/attention, now that child is pulling down it's pants to get attention, I'm no parent but I'll react with ignoring it's antics from now on.

That trailer wasn't the only disturbing one this year though, kills get more and more brutal and celebrated, they go on forever and a often reach Manhunt gruesomeness now, the difference being that there was a ramping up to where we are now with brutality in games, so they don't stick out that much anymore and most modern games do a better job at "justifying" all those kills than Manhunt did. Watching all the press conferences this year, made me sick after a while. At least "The last of us" somehow got it right, same with Beyond though we haven't seen a lot so far. Those are titles where you are just defending yourself though (in a genuine way, not being stalked by a group of latex nuns :p) and not go out to kill everyone in sight.

Hitman trailer is thoroughly disturbing, and it's just another example of the often used imagery of suffering women as some kind of art (it's very common in fashion unfortunately - why are there so many pictures of women in painful poses, or even dead??). The two links you shared are really great and on the spot. Objectifying women (and indeed objectifying any living being) is a big issue.

All of you who attack the critics of the trailer: READ the links Jane Douglas shared, and then read your comment again. You missed the point. Please read what the two journalist had to say about it, and then try to think it over again.These kind of 'I'm a realist, don't you get how the world works?' comments aren't helping anybody. If the issue at stake is seen everywhere in pop culture, that's not a reason to shrug and say 'that's the state of things, live with it'. It's all the more reason to discuss it and label it as unacceptable.

Hitman trailer is thoroughly disturbing, and it's just another example of the often used imagery of suffering women as some kind of art (it's very common in fashion unfortunately - why are there so many pictures of women in painful poses, or even dead??). The two links you shared are really great and on the spot. Objectifying women (and indeed objectifying any living being) is a big issue. All of you who attack the critics of the trailer: READ the links Jane Douglas shared, and then read your comment again. You missed the point. Please read what the two journalist had to say about it, and then try to think it over again.These kind of 'I'm a realist, don't you get how the world works?' comments aren't helping anybody. If the issue at stake is seen everywhere in pop culture, that's not a reason to shrug and say 'that's the state of things, live with it'. It's all the more reason to discuss it and label it as unacceptable.

On some level I agree, but at the same time I'd really like to say "relax", followed by "vote with your dollars".

It's make-believe, let's keep things in perspective here.

Hitman trailer is thoroughly disturbing, and it's just another example of the often used imagery of suffering women as some kind of art (it's very common in fashion unfortunately - why are there so many pictures of women in painful poses, or even dead??). The two links you shared Jane are really great and on the spot. Objectifying women (and indeed objectifying any living being) is a big issue.

All of you who attack the critics of the trailer: READ the links Jane Douglas shared, and then read your comment again. You missed the point. Please read what the two journalist had to say about it, and then try to think it over again.These kind of 'I'm a realist, don't you get how the world works?' comments aren't helping anybody. If the issue at stake is seen everywhere in pop culture, that's not a reason to shrug and say 'that's the state of things, live with it'. It's all the more reason to discuss it and label it as unacceptable.

The fuss about this trailer is beyond bullshit. Imagine if you will that agent 47 is a woman. And in this trailer a group of men dressed as priests turn up to kill our gal. She of course being super cool hitwomen, dispatches them all in horrifically graphic and over sexualized ways(ie kills at least one them between her legs as female action stars always do).

Now if that was the trailer being put out, you just know there would be no fuss. If anything it would be ridiculously popular  with the gamers geeks that go nuts over these super badass chicks that kick every guys ass no matter what the format. So if its perfectly alright for  woman to kill men, why not the other way around? It not like these were defenseless housewives being beaten to death coz the turkey pot pie was overcooked. They were all killers, and meant to do agent 47 some serious harm. 

If equality is to mean anything between the sexes, it must be true equality, and not a stacked deck against the males. I know the history of women being 2nd class throughout history and there is really nothing we can do about the past. All we can do is move towards the future as equals and leave the stereotypes of weak women and strong men in the past.

As for the over sexualization of the women. All I can say is if you have a problem with it here, you must have a problem with everywhere. Women to this day are still being exploited in that regard. The last believable action heroin I can think of that I found to be believable, was Ellen Ripley. She was strong, without being over the top, and didnt have to rely on skimpy outfits to be interesting. I long for the days when I can watch a female action star kick someones arse without rolling my eyes at the sexually provocative manner in which she does it.

The imagery of a sexy dangerous woman or female assassin is hot, but the fantasy then goes like 'she throws me down to the ground and ties me up', it does not involve fighting or killing them. I seriously do not like that.

They focus way too much on the hitman-thing (yeah, I know what the game is called). I want agent 47 to be something like 'the punisher' who (at least in most stories) only kills severe criminals, NOT like a real hitman who would kill women (and innocents and not-severe criminals). Hitman: blood money already was going into that direction (also 2 female assassins attacking him with few other options than to kill them, that game also made you kill a blackmailer and at least one complete innocent). I don't like it when a game doesn't give you the option to play at least as a good guy or at least as a not really bad guy. I already wasn't in the mood to play another hitman-game because of those elements in the previous game, this trailer only confirms that.

The problem with great graphics also is that violence may become too realistic, shooting a low-polygon female character may not be a big problem, but this is too much. It may only be animation, but this is not a cartoon anymore.

Hitman trailer is thoroughly disturbing, and it's just another example of the often used imagery of suffering women as some kind of art (it's very common in fashion unfortunately - why are there so many pictures of women in painful poses, or even dead??). The two links you shared @janedouglas  are really great and on the spot. Objectifying women (and indeed objectifying any living being) is a big issue.

All of you who attack critics of the trailer ( @Sergeant_ , @bhmg , @Avenger1324  etc): READ the links Jane Douglas shared, and then read your comment again. You missed the point. Please read what the two journalist had to say about it, and then try to think it over again.

These kind of 'I'm a realist, don't you get how the world works?' comments aren't helping anybody. If the issue at stake is seen everywhere in pop culture, that's not a reason to shrug and say 'that's the state of things, live with it'. It's all the more reason to discuss it and label it as unacceptable.

Hitman trailer is thoroughly disturbing, and it's just another example of the often used imagery of suffering women as some kind of art (it's very common in fashion unfortunately - why are there so many pictures of women in painful poses, or even dead??). The two links you shared janedouglas are really great and on the spot. Objectifying women (and indeed objectifying any living being) is a big issue.

All of you who attack critics of the trailer (@Avenger1324, @Sergeant_ etc): READ the links Jane Douglas shared, and then read your comment again. You missed the point. Please read what the two journalist had to say about it, and then try to think it over again.

These kind of 'I'm a realist, don't you get how the world works?' comments aren't helping anybody. If the issue at stake is seen everywhere in pop culture, that's not a reason to shrug and say 'that's the state of things, live with it'. It's all the more reason to discuss it and label it as unacceptable.

The imagery of a sexy female assassin is hot, but the fantasy then goes like 'she throws me down to the ground and ties me up', it does not involve fighting or killing them. I seriously do not like that.

They focus way too much on the hitman-thing (yeah, I know what the game is called). I want agent 47 to be something like 'the punisher' who (at least in most stories) only kills severe criminals, NOT like a real hitman who would kill women (and innocents and not-severe criminals). Hitman: blood money already was going into that direction (also 2 female assassins attacking him, that game even made you kill a blackmailer and at least one complete innocent). I like games that give you the choice to play as a good or a bad guy, but mainly because I consciously want to choose as playing as the good guy (or at least not as a really bad guy). Maybe not having that option in this game is another problem that's not even addressed by this trailer (though with a lot of luck the new game may not force agent 47 to kill small time crooks or innocents). I will probably not play this game though because of the last game, this trailer confirms that.

The problem with great graphics also is that violence may become too realistic, shooting a low-polygon female character may not be a big problem, but this is too much. It may only be animation, but this is not a cartoon anymore.

After seeing the trailer and reading both articles, I'm still struggling to figure out what the real issue is here. Is it the glamorisation of violence? The fact that women are getting beaten up? The religious aspect (nun habits etc.?) Or is it the sexual exploitation? After all it's only an animated trailer, so it isn't real. Not supporting the trailer or the creators of it, just saying it's not the worst videogame trailer I've seen. Which is why I don't understand the reason for the sudden outbursts.  

I was not shocked seeing this trailer, this is a game...We do not need to take seriously and as something real...a game, a book a film and so on...

Well, when I read the article, my weak heart was ready to be shaken. But when I saw the nuns were actually just hit-women using disguises, everything that followed after that really didn't evoke any emotional reaction what so ever, and I actually thought it was a cool looking trailer. It was well animated and had good action. Just because they were women, doesn't mean we should all say It's unacceptable and violent should we? The idea is they were going to kill him anyway and they were probably horrible people so who cares if they died? I don't know, to me this is an incredibly overhyped trailer and doesn't really do anything new. People are just too sensitive... And I thought I was bad. Take a look at any violent movie and it puts that trailer to shame.

It's a trailer designed to get attention, and it's succeeded by provoking those it knows will be quickly and easily offended. Someone shout "sexism" or "promoting violence against women" and I'm sure the Daily Mail brigade will be all over it like a rash.

It is not the first Hitman game to feature scantily clad woman in a sexual context - Blood Money had a playboy style mansion, while other levels in the series have featured S&M / torture type rooms, strippers, brothels and drug use.  Any character on the level has been possible to kill - regardless of gender or whether they were a target or bystander.

With regards to the level of violence - the Hitman series is known to be fairly brutal but again has nothing to do with gender or sex. Garrotting with a fibre wire, snapping necks, using people as human shields - actions being vilified by some journalists alongside stills from the video - have all been part of the series from the start.

If the trailer had been 47 killing a group of men - like the police in the library in the first video - in the same way we would probably be discussing how the graphics had improved to show that slow-mo nose breaking, and if using a body as a human shield were a perk in COD then it would probably get "cool idea" comments.

The whole premise of the video has a lot of similarities with the film Transporter 2 - swap 47 for Jason Statham, and slutty nuns for slutty nurse, and you've pretty much got the same thing down to the automatic weapons and rocket launcher.  I don't recall that having such a backlash in the press.

I think it's strange that IGN has a "Related Video" featuring the Babeology photoshoot of Tori Black, an american pornstar.  Why does a videogame website have a profile, interview, and underwear shoot of a pornstar?  They also have a video of Natali Portman in a thong.  Side issues, but it seems to be indicative of the fraternal culture in the current gaming market. 

I thought the trailer was in poor taste, but I think it points towards a lucid plot.  One of the "nuns" has an occult tattoo on her shoulder featuring a skull and crossbones wearing a crown inside of a triangle.  There's something written under the crossbones, but I couldn't read it.  Similar symbols have been used by elite occult groups throughout history.  The triangle points upwards and may mean that these "nuns" represent perfect or divine assassins.  Since occult groups are almost always patriarchal, it is interesting that they're all women.  This is a major hint as to the adversaries Agent 47 will be facing in the game.  

I really liked the second link, that's a good read.

Problem is, Eidos would never do a trailer like this, it is not Hitman. However, Enix would..

Marketing strategists - integrity, they have nun! :|

I personally think the trailer would have been good enough without that. I mean when iwas watching it i was like, really now? That use of the scene won't make me buy the game(if anything makes me doubt the game), I'm looking for the gameplay not random maybe fake scenes.

I think Square Enix was taking a page out of Hollywoods play book and marketing this game as violence porn the same way they would market a movie like Hostel or the Saw films and the like, even if it does not represent actual game play. Sex and violence sell in a movie or video game. Perhaps we as gamers do not have a right to be too self-righteous about this, after all we slaughter thousands of virtual characters for entertainment every day, both male and female. But then again there is such a thing as good taste. BTW I do not think the ladies in that trailer were really nuns. Ha.

I thought the trailer was lame. It got attention all right, but it comes off like such a transparent, deliberate cry out for attention that it feels artificial and childish. It didn't work for me on a marketing level either because as a game advertisement, it's a lowest common denominator shock piece that isn't so much offensive as it is an insulting statement towards the people the game thinks is its target audience. The trailer made me not want to buy the game, but not because I thought it was offensive. It made me not want to buy the game because I thought it was stupid and takes the same attitude towards its target market as it did the machine gun nuns in the video.

Bottom line is NO matter who you are,Whatever you do or whatever your gender is If you go Gun blazing on 47 you will get your rears handed to you, and the types of executions are not always on the menu.

I wouldn't say I found it objectionable per se but the content of the trailer just made it all seem ridiculous and over the top.  Last time I checked it was a stealth assassination game series, not a grind house flick.  Just seems to be a poor representation of the final product I'm expecting.  At least I hope it is...

Well, I can't say I was particularly shocked by the trailer. To tell the truth I've gotten used to sexualization and the ridiculous - and often unnecessary - violence. 

Do I think it's a good trailer? Nope, even I, who played just a few hours of a single Hitman game know that this isn't what the game is like and I think this trailer gives ammunition to anyone who says gaming is a bad influence on people.

I think they want appeal the game to bigger audience. since stealth isn't for everyone I think. and the whole Nun thing was complete non-sense!

I was shocked at the trailer, this is not the mature game it was anymore. Why use stuff like this as an example to sell games instead of actually making the game sell itself to us? Disgusted..