Violence in Video Games

Let's face it. Violence is everywhere in video games. Even older games like Asteroids and Space Invaders had violence, however unrealistically portrayed. However, since the tragedy at Sandy Hook, some powerful people (I'm looking at you, Wayne LaPierre) have decided that the violence in video games is one of the causes for tragedies such as the one in Newtown.

This isn't the first time this kind of thing has happened. Often, when a violent crime occurs, there's someone pointing the finger at video games. A notable recipient of these claims is the Grand Theft Auto series. Admittedly, the series is quite controversial, but to say that video games are to blame for violent crimes is unrealistic and outright ridiculous. If a violent crime is committed and the police find a copy of a Grand Theft Auto game in the home of the perpetrator, the only conclusion one should come to is that the person plays Grand Theft Auto, not that the game is responsible for their actions.

And frankly, that's just lazy. There's a real gun culture in this country and the issues we face with these mass killings is a social issue and not just about banning guns. To say that video games are to blame just says to me that the people lobbying against violence in video games aren't actually interested in solving the problem and more interested in just finding someone or something to blame.

First, I can't say I know of anyone who has ever said after playing Grand Theft Auto "Hey, you know what would be cool? If we went out and went on a rampage through the streets just like we did in the game." Do you know why? Most people are able to easily differentiate between real life and fiction. Personally, I laugh at the things I do in the Grand Theft Auto (and similar) games, but doing those things in real life? If I were being chased by the police and smashing my car into other cars and people and barriers, I wouldn't be laughing.

Second, in the entertainment industry, video games are one of the most regulated. Let me explain. If you've ever bought CDs, you know that some of them  have a sticker on it that says "Parental Advisory Explicit Lyrics" or something to that effect. Did you know that there are no defined requirements for it? The record company is the one that decides whether or not to put that sticker on it. Film and TV are on a similar level as video games, admittedly, but this is just to discuss video games.

Video games in all countries have ratings, much like film and TV. North America has the ESRB. Europe has the PEGI. Japan has the CERO. These assign a rating based on the content in the game. (again, much like film and TV) The most contentious of these ratings is M (Mature) which accommodates more graphic content. However, there's another rating that's abbreviated to AO. (Adults Only) AO rated games are very few and far between and highly restricted. Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo all have polices against allowing AO rated games on their consoles.

Returning to M-rated games, a lot of stores require an identification before purchasing the games if there's a doubt that they're not 17. (The M rating has 'Mature 17+' written above the M) And games have clearly written content descriptors on the back. (again, similar to film and TV)  So, ultimately it's up to parents to decide what they allow their children to play. If they have a problem with what their children are playing, they should do a better job of monitoring it, rather than blaming video games and the companies that make them for the content they allow their own children play.

Third, as the years have gone on, the ability to make games more realistic has increased drastically. And maybe that's contributed to the hysteria. There's evidence to support that hypothesis. As I said, violence has been around in video games basically since their inception, but where was the outcry then? In fact, the ESRB wasn't put in place until 1994 when games were incorporating increasingly graphic content. But, why should we blame people for making use of advancing technology? The ones who work on movies and TV shows use advances in technology for the same purpose; to make things look more realistic.

Finally, if you want to blame video games and violence in them for violent crimes, why not look at other forms of entertainment? There was a movie recently released titled Bullet to the Head. Need I say more?

What it comes down to is these powerful people like Wayne LaPierre being completely out of touch with the public. Instead of finding something to blame, they should look for an actual solution.