The business of blood: 11 violent video games

Bulletstorm (2011): Beyond it's over-the-top profanity and grisly violence, Bulletstorm had a unique "skill-shot" system which rewards "creative" kills -- like shooting your enemy in the genitals. (Electronic Arts)

Carmageddon (1997): Insipred by the 1975 cult classic movie Death Race 2000, this "vehicular combat" game rewarded players with bonus points for mowing down pedestrians. (SCi/Interplay)

Grand Theft Auto (series): Controversial but also critically acclaimed, GTA let gamers play the criminal, which often meant killing, stealing or even street-racing their way to the top. Pictured: GTA: Vice City (2002) (Rockstar Games)

Manhunt (2003): Though well received by gaming critics, the stealth-based horror game is considered by some to be the most violent video game of all time and was banned in several countries. (Rockstar Games)

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009): First-person shooters are by definition violent, but Modern Warfare 2 upped the ante with its Russian airport massacre level. (Activision)

Super Columbine Massacre RPG! (2005): The game allows players to assume the roles of gunmen Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold during their infamous 1999 school shooting. Mired in controversy, it would inspire V-Tech Rampage which was released in 2007. (Danny Ledonne)

Postal (series): Another title banned in multiple countries, Postal had little backstory but tons of violence. Players completed each level by slaughtering a certain number of "hostiles." Pictured: Postal 2 (2003) (Whiptail Interactive)

MadWorld (2009): This game proved that the Nintendo Wii wasn't just a family console. For it's gratuitous blood and over-the-top violence, the game was banned in Germany. (Sega)

God of War (series): The critically acclaimed series is known for its ruthless weapons, gory kills and violent cutscenes. Pictured: God of War II (2007) (Sony Computer Entertainment)

Mortal Kombat (1992): The classic fighting game known for its extreme violence, most notably, its Fatalities -- special finishing moves that were so gratuitous, they played a part in the creation of the ESRB. (Midway Games)

Soldier of Fortune (2000): The game's model engine, GHOUL, was the first to enable players to not just kill enemies but dismember them, which pretty much tells you everything you need to know. (Activision)