Controversy: The Influence Of Violence In Video Games

Videogame violence is nothing new. As was noted in a recent Washington Times article by Eric Rozenman, one of the earliest videogames, Death Race, created controversy back in the mid-1970’s: “The game involved an automobile driver running down pedestrians. The later expired with unconvincing moans, the skilled motorists recording a tally of crucifixes.”

In recent years, we have seen many video games criticized and bashed in the public eye for their disputable content. However, the game industry has been subjected to controversy since the creation of its first adult themed games such as Death Race 1976 or Custer 's Revenge 1982. These two graphics limited games have introduced video game violence to the public and since then debate about morals and ethics of video games evolved over the years together with the game experience thanks to modern technologies. Violence is one aspect of many that can cause great controversy that’s why it is important to create a suitable ethical, cultural and legal context as it can determine its failure or its success. In this paper, I will present an example

As the world is getting into more of a technological era, video games are getting more realistic. Professional researchers are deeply concerned that a plentiful amount of gamers soon will not be able to define a difference between fantasy and reality in a video game (Jaccarino). Examples of violent video games that can soon lead to murder are the following: Grand Theft Auto: V, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, and the latest release, Mortal Kombat: X. Games like these encourage violence in various ways. This problem started when violence in video games was first introduced to homes when the game Doom came out in April 30th, 1995. Ever since then, this problem has only gotten to more of a critical state. In 1997, Evan Ramsey decided to discretely sneak a 12- gauge shotgun into his local high school, and then murder two innocent people. Ramsey injured two others as well. Evan Ramsey did not understand that there is a complete difference between a violent video game and reality. He said, “I did not understand that if I pull out a gun and shoot you, there’s a good chance you’re not getting back up. You shoot a guy in Doom and he gets back up. You have got to shoot the things in Doom eight or nine times before it dies” (Jaccarino). Furthermore, in the popular game, Grand Theft Auto: V, the player is in complete control of their destiny. The player can violently attack ordinary, law-abiding citizens at complete random for no

Now, violence in games does not just exist for the sake of bloodshed. Violence in games is not any worse than that founds in other forms of media such as movies, music, and television. Ever since the hunter-gatherer days, humanity has been partially hardwired to crave violence. From gladiator fights to public executions, people have always flocked to the scene of the carnage. Admittedly, a normal citizen nowadays would be much more able to access violence at his or her fingertips – turn on the radio, and Jay-Z blasts on the Top 40, rapping about Kurt Cobain’s suicide. Power on the television and the entire wedding congregation is massacred on Game of Thrones. Head to the theaters, and they will be advertising Hunger Games: Catching Fire, a movie marketed the PG-13 audience about twelve teenagers fighting to the death for the entertainment of the country. Why should video games be treated any differently?

Ever since the spawn of video games people have been glued to the fun and challenges they present. Over the years, these fun and challenging games evolved into violence and shooting. As a result of this evolution, controversy has arisen about violent video games leading to behavior issues. Do they lead to aggressiveness and hostility? Does excessive video game violence change how the brain reacts to violence? These are just a few common questions doctors and researchers have been trying to answer. Through all of this debate, a common consensus has been established. The constant and repetitive violence in video games can lead to a wide variety of behavioral issues despite some debate.

The first game to come to a lot of peoples minds when prompted with “violent video games” is Mortal Kombat. Mortal Kombat is known for being extremely violent and gruesome with their death and fighting scenes. Spines being torn out, blood spraying out of bodies, organs being ripped out, its no wonder it got so much attention even with its first game. In fact, Mortal Kombat is the reason that the Entertainment Software Rating board, or the ESRB ratings, exists at all. Since then it’s been a constant thought in peoples minds that the things we see and play in video games can lead to violent natures outside in the real world. There are two sides to the argument and both seem to have credibility.

Video games are well known as violent and gruesome and sometimes even dangerous. The reason why that is because video game companies can do whatever they want because they have so much money and power. These big gaming companies bring out games that people would enjoy playing give an example Call of Duty, they come out with a new Call of Duty every year to make things interesting for gamers at home. The creators of Call of Duty this year was

Death Race opened the door for many more controversies surrounding video games, in later decades more violent video games would be released such as Mortal Kombat which urged Congress to hold hearings on regulating video games. “Attorney General Dan Lungren testified that violent video games have a desensitizing impact on young, impressionable minds.” (Violent Video Games - ProCon.org). As a result, the video game industry created the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). This new rating system would notify consumers of anything that could be labeled as violent or mature on the label of the game when going to buy it.

Ever since the nineteen eighties people, usually politicians and the news media, have been quick to blame video games for societal woes, saying violence in video games causes violent behavior and makes people anti-social. Some have even argued video games cause racism, sexism, and cause health problems, but most research that points towards video games being bad are inconsistent and sometimes contradictory. And yet people still want to restrict and censor video games, even though they are an art form just like film or paintings or what have you, and because they are an art form they are a form of media and are protected under the first amendment. Violent video games do not cause real world violence like any art form they only mirror the violence of the real world, and it is contradictory to think that they cause actual violence. Video games have even been shown to be healthy, they relieve stress and increase hand eye coordination, and are a positive, non-violent form of relieving aggression in a way that does not cause physical harm to others.

Violent video games have been an issue and a big controversy , mainly because violent video games have been blamed to be the root of violence which have been a current issue examples are School Shooting , Bullying , and Violence towards women that just have been in the news recently. Experts says that these kind of games desensitizes some video game players to committing violence, recompense players for simulating violence, and teaches youth that the only way to resolve their conflicts is through violence. Critics also argue that these games should be subjected to legislative oversight and restrictions because it’s harmful and should

The adrenaline pulses through his veins. Every challenge he has faced has led to this moment. His grip on the remote controller tightens. His mind races at one hundred miles per hour. A few minutes is all he needs to defeat his adversary. Both thumbs dart across the video game controls at lightning speed, and the final strike brings his opponent crashing to the ground. After countless hours of puzzles and quests, he has finally beaten the game. During the current day and age, violent video games have increased in popularity and prevalence among households. They entertain gamers, teach them how to solve various problems, and even decrease violence in many cities. Even though many parties offer evidence to promote banning violent video games, their information is unreliable and proves that these games should not be banned from minors.

Violence in video games is well-known for toeing the line between entertainment and immorality. The controversy began as early as 1976, when protestors destroyed an arcade game that revolved around hitting human-like creatures with a car. As computers grew more advanced in the next two decades, video game violence became increasingly realistic (“Background of the Issue”). This prompted the creation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board, commonly abbreviated ESRB, in 1994 for parents to make informed decisions regarding the content their children were exposed to. The 1999 shooting at Columbine High School fueled the debate further, drawing potential connections between virtual violence and real-world consequences (“Background of the Issue”). In the years following, laws regarding the sale of video games with graphic violence sprouted up across the nation. Even the Supreme Court was involved (“Background of the Issue”). Today, “as many as 97% of US kids age 12-17 play video games, contributing to the $21.53 billion domestic video game industry” (“Violent Video Games”). Critics of video game violence argue that it directly increases a person’s violent behavior and lowers their tendency to act for the benefit of others. Defenders of video game violence argue that media coverage of video game violence is heavily biased, studies that link it to acts of violence are flawed, and that video game violence is a harmless outlet for emotions of aggression.

One important instance in video game history was the formation of the ESRB. That is the Entertainment Software Rating Board and they are responsible for giving video games ratings based on what is in them. This was formed due to Congressional hearing in 1993 where the main focus was two controversial video games. It was formed to deflect potential video game regulation by the government as its own entity (NCAC). This allowed for the very controversial game “Mortal Kombat” to stay in stores. This was a fighting game that was the first to feature real ‘lifelike’ violence. It not only featured blood and gore, but also more realistic looking characters. The premise of the game was, the player would pick a character and fight other characters to the death, whichever character won gained the ability to perform a finishing move that was very brutal and involved some form of mutilation to the other character. This was the main aspect that had people in uproar. Though due to the formation of the ESRB “Mortal Kombat” remained in stores. After the formation of the ESRB, there were still instances of uproar over video game violence. In 1997 Jack Thompson files the first of many lawsuits that claims violent video games are responsible for violence in teens (NCAC). This suit was brought about due to the shooting that happened at Heath High School that year. Though the biggest action taken against

When films were first created, they were not always treated as the art form that they're known as today. They were treated as inferior to classic art forms like paintings and music. However, with time films have began to be respected as art and with that, many people analyzre the various ways they effect people. In a mirror image, video games have only been around since the early 1980's having many people believe the same thing that they did when films were first created. What follows is an analysis of how video games affect the end-user i.e. Gamer physically, mentally, socially, emotionally, and culturally.

In 1976, a game called Death Race was released. This started the argument about whether children were allowed to play violent video games. 97% of teenagers in the world play violent video games. Of the top selling games, 28 are violent and were blamed for bullying, school shootings, and other major problems. These games are wrong in teaching young adults that violence is an acceptable way of solving problems. Some supporters think that research on the topic is deeply flawed and has no relationship with real violence. They feel like violent video games are a way to release anger and stress in a safe manner. Others who oppose children playing these games, believe that it introduces children to cruel and unacceptable behavior. Video games lead to bad behaviors and violence, if you are younger than 17.