You're right, Splinter Cell isn't a detailed depiction of the torture. In fact, the essay talks about how the game makes torture seem much quicker and easier than it actually is. I meant "torture porn" in the sense that it glorifies torture as the Swiss army knife of problem solvers in any situation, and contributes…

It's all semantics. It's like when corporations call themselves "job creators" or when they call oil drilling "energy production." It makes it sound less evil, but it's the same thing. Another passage from the essay:

I'm sorry, I should've clarified. I played the first one all the way through, and only played segments of the second two. I played them in college while taking the Videogames in Critical Contexts course taught by the professor who wrote that essay.

From the essay:

The article backs up everything it says with examples from the game. And I've played the first three games in the series—maybe it gets less "torture is always great!" in later sequels.

I've never been able to get into Splinter Cell because of its post-9/11 torture porn overtones.

Lately I've been getting really into John Layman & Rob Guillory's Chew. At first the art style put me off, but the more I read it, the more I love it. Who knew there'd be such a long-lasting series about a detective who gets psychic imprints from food?

I used to read Batwoman and Swamp Thing, but both series have great art with mediocre writing. I'm worried the same thing is happening to Batman.

If you want to read about Peter Parker, you realize there are DOZENS of other Spider-Man series you could read? Ultimate Spider-Man isn't even the flagship Spider-Man. Let Miles have his tiny slice of the pie.

It's the next series I plan on getting into. But as far as worthwhile New 52 series go, Animal Man is fantastic.

"I'm not racist but..."

If he's gay, couldn't he just woo guys with his Lego stuff? How is that any different?

-Saw Evan's post about Miles Morales

Sigh. If I weren't flat broke, I'd buy a Wii U just so I could play this.

If you're dating someone who works at DC, can you tell them to un-cancel Dial H?!

Not to mention the ensuing superheroes conjured by the H-Dial, like Boy Chimney and Open-Window Man. But that might be cheating.

But does it have... the H-Dial?

The inclusion of the Brazilian league is crucial because Brazil is an increasingly important market for games.

Far Cry 2 had great main characters... who were also the villains!

Surprised no one made any A Clockwork Orange 'shops.