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When video games first appeared in the 1970s, not many people thought that they are going to become one of the most important sources of entertainment a decade or two later. Many just thought that computer games were something of a craze that is very likely to die out.
Since the very first video games systems, like Atari or ZX Spectrum, the games industry has rapidly grown and both quality of games consoles and games themselves has improved at an outstanding rate. Nowadays the games consoles allow users to gain access to high quality standard of gameplay and superb sound and graphics. Certain consoles like Sega Dreamcast offer users to access Internet in order to play against other human opponents on the World Wide Web. Sony has already announced plans for producing a hard drive which will enable owners of Playstation 2 to access the Internet for the same purposes.
So, why do games provide such good entertainment for teenagers? Well there are a few reasons:Games
-· Let the player feel a sense of challenge, control and, in time, mastery.
-· Gauge their level of difficulty to the player’s ability.
-· Provide immediate and continual reinforcement.
-· Provide an escape from the complexity and unpredictability of real relationships and interactions
Playing computer games seems a very innocent action but in the past few years the companies who produce video games have faced many criticisms coming from psychologists and the society
These people are confident that certain video games affect the way teenagers behave. We are talking about video games (i.e. 3-D shooters and action/adventure games), which apparently encourage teenagers to act in a violent manner after being influenced by the images portrayed in these games. Researchers warn that violent video games could be more harmful than violent TV or movies because they are interactive, and require the player to identify with the aggressive character
Even though people get more worried about the kind of influence violent video games have on the younger audience, 3-D shooters are still the most popular games out there today, maybe just losing out to sport simulations. One of the most important factors behind the popularity of these games is that the player can control the violence.
Many researches suggest that the video games can be a negative or a positive form of entertainment. Many game developers have been trying to approach the younger audience with games which could actually have a positive effect on them. Many unviolent games like Myst or Moses Prince of Egypt kids entertainment AND try to teach them something which could be useful for them in the future. Many games try to encourage puzzle solving in youngsters and some let them interact with their favourite TV characters and carry out different tasks. These games could fall under the Educational category.
But unfortunately these games just fail to catch the attention of young players. More and more kids just want to play violent games because they are the best form of entertainment for them. The most terrifying thing is that children as young as six prefer playing gory video games and the number of young children preferring gory games to other games is increasing. Strangely enough some psychologists say that violent video games can have a positive effect on children-known as a catharsis effect. That means that by watching violence or being engaged in violent actions in games children get rid of their own aggression.
There have been a number of surveys and studies carried out over the past few years which tried to investigate whether there is any connection between violent behaviour and playing video games. The difficulty is that the results are very different: some do find the connection between the two factors, some of them find that games only affect the behaviour temporarily, and some do not find any connection. However it is interesting to see that the relatively older studies do not find the connection between the factors while more recent ones do. This might be due to the fact that more realistic games have been used in the more recent studies. So, it is not hard to notice that the more realistic the violence, the greater the influence. Therefore the influence of game violence will grow as game technology advances. The recent studies show that:
· The influence seems to be the strongest among children 8-11 years old.
· Violence in video games can make children immune to real violence. So they could behave more aggressively in the future because they will be used to violence.
· Frustration during playing video games can cause aggressive behaviour. It could stimulate violent behaviour in general. In the survey produced by the Dutch psychologist Marcel Kleij three groups of kids played a violent video game Mortal Kombat. One group played the game on the easier difficulty, the other played it on normal difficulty and the third played it on the hardest difficulty. Afterwards the last group was behaving more aggressively than the others because they have been frustrated the most.
It is very interesting to see that most children and parents do not actually feel that violent video games affect their behaviour in any way. Out of all people under 18 who admitted they play violent games 88% think that they are not affected by games. Out of all parents 75% think that their kids are not harmed when they play violent games. Psychologists say that this may be due to the fact that parents do not realise what sort of games their kids play
Despite all these views, it is a given fact that certain games could make the person act in a more aggresive way. But apparently many people are stimulated by the fast pace of action films and games, rather than violent content.
So, is there a way to solve the problem? Sometimes the games are so extremely violent that some people fear for their children’s mental condition after playing them. Lots of people think that the government must take countermeasures. However it is nearly impossible for the government to do something. It could ban certain games from the market but nowadays the illegal market is so extensive that even if a game is prohibited, it is not going to be a problem to get the game. Moreover, if a game is banned in one country, it will still be possible to get the game via the Internet from another country or people could just go to that country and get the game themselves. So if the government wants to prohibit a game, it has to be done before the game is released and the prohibition has to be worldwide. This is virtually impossible due to the fact that some countries may not find the game offensive or violent. Games could also be copied easily and fast due to the development of CD-Rewriters. Infact, the game is only going to get more popular due to the media attention if the government is going to take some action.
So, since the government can not do much it is up to the parents to decide whether they want their kids to play games which are violent. The only sensible thing a government can do is to provide the parents with information about the games so they know what their kids are playing. This can be done by warnings on games and age labels.
What do you think? Thanks for reading
Since the very first video games systems, like Atari or ZX Spectrum, the games industry has rapidly grown and both quality of games consoles and games themselves has improved at an outstanding rate. Nowadays the games consoles allow users to gain access to high quality standard of gameplay and superb sound and graphics. Certain consoles like Sega Dreamcast offer users to access Internet in order to play against other human opponents on the World Wide Web. Sony has already announced plans for producing a hard drive which will enable owners of Playstation 2 to access the Internet for the same purposes.
So, why do games provide such good entertainment for teenagers? Well there are a few reasons:Games
-· Let the player feel a sense of challenge, control and, in time, mastery.
-· Gauge their level of difficulty to the player’s ability.
-· Provide immediate and continual reinforcement.
-· Provide an escape from the complexity and unpredictability of real relationships and interactions
Playing computer games seems a very innocent action but in the past few years the companies who produce video games have faced many criticisms coming from psychologists and the society
These people are confident that certain video games affect the way teenagers behave. We are talking about video games (i.e. 3-D shooters and action/adventure games), which apparently encourage teenagers to act in a violent manner after being influenced by the images portrayed in these games. Researchers warn that violent video games could be more harmful than violent TV or movies because they are interactive, and require the player to identify with the aggressive character
Even though people get more worried about the kind of influence violent video games have on the younger audience, 3-D shooters are still the most popular games out there today, maybe just losing out to sport simulations. One of the most important factors behind the popularity of these games is that the player can control the violence.
Many researches suggest that the video games can be a negative or a positive form of entertainment. Many game developers have been trying to approach the younger audience with games which could actually have a positive effect on them. Many unviolent games like Myst or Moses Prince of Egypt kids entertainment AND try to teach them something which could be useful for them in the future. Many games try to encourage puzzle solving in youngsters and some let them interact with their favourite TV characters and carry out different tasks. These games could fall under the Educational category.
But unfortunately these games just fail to catch the attention of young players. More and more kids just want to play violent games because they are the best form of entertainment for them. The most terrifying thing is that children as young as six prefer playing gory video games and the number of young children preferring gory games to other games is increasing. Strangely enough some psychologists say that violent video games can have a positive effect on children-known as a catharsis effect. That means that by watching violence or being engaged in violent actions in games children get rid of their own aggression.
There have been a number of surveys and studies carried out over the past few years which tried to investigate whether there is any connection between violent behaviour and playing video games. The difficulty is that the results are very different: some do find the connection between the two factors, some of them find that games only affect the behaviour temporarily, and some do not find any connection. However it is interesting to see that the relatively older studies do not find the connection between the factors while more recent ones do. This might be due to the fact that more realistic games have been used in the more recent studies. So, it is not hard to notice that the more realistic the violence, the greater the influence. Therefore the influence of game violence will grow as game technology advances. The recent studies show that:
· The influence seems to be the strongest among children 8-11 years old.
· Violence in video games can make children immune to real violence. So they could behave more aggressively in the future because they will be used to violence.
· Frustration during playing video games can cause aggressive behaviour. It could stimulate violent behaviour in general. In the survey produced by the Dutch psychologist Marcel Kleij three groups of kids played a violent video game Mortal Kombat. One group played the game on the easier difficulty, the other played it on normal difficulty and the third played it on the hardest difficulty. Afterwards the last group was behaving more aggressively than the others because they have been frustrated the most.
It is very interesting to see that most children and parents do not actually feel that violent video games affect their behaviour in any way. Out of all people under 18 who admitted they play violent games 88% think that they are not affected by games. Out of all parents 75% think that their kids are not harmed when they play violent games. Psychologists say that this may be due to the fact that parents do not realise what sort of games their kids play
Despite all these views, it is a given fact that certain games could make the person act in a more aggresive way. But apparently many people are stimulated by the fast pace of action films and games, rather than violent content.
So, is there a way to solve the problem? Sometimes the games are so extremely violent that some people fear for their children’s mental condition after playing them. Lots of people think that the government must take countermeasures. However it is nearly impossible for the government to do something. It could ban certain games from the market but nowadays the illegal market is so extensive that even if a game is prohibited, it is not going to be a problem to get the game. Moreover, if a game is banned in one country, it will still be possible to get the game via the Internet from another country or people could just go to that country and get the game themselves. So if the government wants to prohibit a game, it has to be done before the game is released and the prohibition has to be worldwide. This is virtually impossible due to the fact that some countries may not find the game offensive or violent. Games could also be copied easily and fast due to the development of CD-Rewriters. Infact, the game is only going to get more popular due to the media attention if the government is going to take some action.
So, since the government can not do much it is up to the parents to decide whether they want their kids to play games which are violent. The only sensible thing a government can do is to provide the parents with information about the games so they know what their kids are playing. This can be done by warnings on games and age labels.
What do you think? Thanks for reading
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The Exterminator wrote:
> Well Triple_H, where the hell did you get it affected young minds.Im 11 ive
> played some of the goriest games there are and it hasnt affected me one
> bit,from gta3,doom,Max Payne,silent hill 1 and 2.So there it doesnt affect
> anyone.
There has been mass investigations and even actions taken against developers about the fact that it is 'believed' that games can effect some players mental stability and cause them to take action that has been done in a game. Most people in the gaming industry deny this, and personally i dont think it does too.
I think if someone does copy something from say GTA 3 then they were mentally ill before hand.
> Well Triple_H, where the hell did you get it affected young minds.Im 11 ive
> played some of the goriest games there are and it hasnt affected me one
> bit,from gta3,doom,Max Payne,silent hill 1 and 2.So there it doesnt affect
> anyone.
There has been mass investigations and even actions taken against developers about the fact that it is 'believed' that games can effect some players mental stability and cause them to take action that has been done in a game. Most people in the gaming industry deny this, and personally i dont think it does too.
I think if someone does copy something from say GTA 3 then they were mentally ill before hand.
Triple_H wrote:
> Samos wrote:
> ermmmm*right click, copy and paste. aaah that was
> easy*
How the hell can you judge someones posting like that? You posted the
> reply 3 minutes after I posted the topic. It took me a while to wriote this and
> I am not going to be insulted by the likes of you....
On the other hand
> Desert Beetle, I totally agree with you. People are just looking for excuses to
> blame game developers for "ruining" their children and just being a
> bad influence. If you dont want your kids playing these games, DONT LET THEM.
> Parents should talk to their kids more and at least know what they are getting
> up to in their spare time...
These days parents are terrible irresponsible. They go to work early, with their kid having to get up, get dresses, eat, go to school etc on his own (which can be lonely). Then he comes in, cooks his own tea and waits for his parents to come in late. Heh, my dad stays home to entertain us, so I'm quite lucky there, and I still have a decent household with 4 consoles and 2 computers!
> Samos wrote:
> ermmmm*right click, copy and paste. aaah that was
> easy*
How the hell can you judge someones posting like that? You posted the
> reply 3 minutes after I posted the topic. It took me a while to wriote this and
> I am not going to be insulted by the likes of you....
On the other hand
> Desert Beetle, I totally agree with you. People are just looking for excuses to
> blame game developers for "ruining" their children and just being a
> bad influence. If you dont want your kids playing these games, DONT LET THEM.
> Parents should talk to their kids more and at least know what they are getting
> up to in their spare time...
These days parents are terrible irresponsible. They go to work early, with their kid having to get up, get dresses, eat, go to school etc on his own (which can be lonely). Then he comes in, cooks his own tea and waits for his parents to come in late. Heh, my dad stays home to entertain us, so I'm quite lucky there, and I still have a decent household with 4 consoles and 2 computers!
I think that is the main reason Rare ditched the face mapping feature for Perfect Dark. Shooting at each others faces would have taken it to a new level, and if anything tragic happened with a child, and he was found to have played PD with this feature on, videogaming wouldn't have recovered.
I think the main point is that the majoriy of us arnt affected, and thats all cool.
But there is always going to be someone that reacts in a different way and goes over the edge. Whether Video games are totally to blame is another question. If Games were totally to blame then quesions should be asked about the persons domestic situation.
It cant just be pin-pointed to Games. People who are close to the edge may be tipped over by playing a violent game, but other things around the persons life are much bigger factors.
Age ratings are there for a reason. All of us have played games that arnt supposed to be for us though havnt they? Every PS2 owner has GTA3. But is every one of those owners over 18? Its the parents job to make sure they dont have the access. But there is always a way of getting around these things.
This is a bloody huge topic. So many points to consider. You could probably write a book on it.
But there is always going to be someone that reacts in a different way and goes over the edge. Whether Video games are totally to blame is another question. If Games were totally to blame then quesions should be asked about the persons domestic situation.
It cant just be pin-pointed to Games. People who are close to the edge may be tipped over by playing a violent game, but other things around the persons life are much bigger factors.
Age ratings are there for a reason. All of us have played games that arnt supposed to be for us though havnt they? Every PS2 owner has GTA3. But is every one of those owners over 18? Its the parents job to make sure they dont have the access. But there is always a way of getting around these things.
This is a bloody huge topic. So many points to consider. You could probably write a book on it.
Well Triple_H, where the hell did you get it affected young minds.Im 11 ive played some of the goriest games there are and it hasnt affected me one bit,from gta3,doom,Max Payne,silent hill 1 and 2.So there it doesnt affect anyone.
Triple_H wrote:
Anyway I really feel like telling these people why their
> children really done that....Bad parenting i tell ya....
That may be true, but im sure other things come into it too, like school life. Just say a person is bullied ect they may just feel depressed and that and want revenge on the world and stuff.
I dont wanna get into that though, its something i know little about.
Anyway I really feel like telling these people why their
> children really done that....Bad parenting i tell ya....
That may be true, but im sure other things come into it too, like school life. Just say a person is bullied ect they may just feel depressed and that and want revenge on the world and stuff.
I dont wanna get into that though, its something i know little about.
Cheers guys. I was just going to comment on the shootings in american high schools. As you said Dame, they were unstable and it wasnt Quake or Doom that inspired them to kill their class mates. I mean who in their right mind would go out and shoot their mates hjust because they played a violent game. For one, the USA governemnt hasnt got any tough laws on carrying guns, so it wasnt a problem for the kids to get them. Two, parents should hide their weapons better and not let their kids walk around with the guns shooting cans and stuff.
And its always the media that gets the blame. Its not that the kids have unstable families, or that they have rubbish teacher in school. NO. Its always TV and GAMES that get the blame. And parents immediately want to sue the companies because they know hopw much cash these companies got. Pah, they never think of their kids....
Anyway I really feel like telling these people why their children really done that....Bad parenting i tell ya....
And its always the media that gets the blame. Its not that the kids have unstable families, or that they have rubbish teacher in school. NO. Its always TV and GAMES that get the blame. And parents immediately want to sue the companies because they know hopw much cash these companies got. Pah, they never think of their kids....
Anyway I really feel like telling these people why their children really done that....Bad parenting i tell ya....
In my opinion, people talking about games effecting your mental attitude is total rubbish. If you do carry out an act from a game its not the game that made you do it, its the fact that you already were unstable first to do such a thing, and therefore should not even be playing them anyway. I dont see how they can possibly think that a game influences people in such severe ways, films are released every year that are far worse in what they show than any game can. Ok, i take the point that in games you control the violence and it may have more of an impact, but still, its only a game. And thats what these people need to remember its only a game.
As for talks of the goverment having stricter age limits on games, that wont do any good as you have said. Any under age gamers will find away to get the game if they really want to, i know i did. And as for going as far as banning them, thats out of the question. Again as you said, you can easily buy them abroad using the net, but also there is far too much money at stake. Its like the advertising of cigerets at F1 races, if they were to stop that, and stop games being sold they would loose a heck of a lot of money. You all know how big this industry is, it brings millions of money in and the government would loose so much money that way, not to mention the developers which will in turn affect us by not getting action games quite the same anymore and the fact that they would not spend as much money on making them either, meaning they would be rubbish.
Anyway, good post mate, some valid points.
As for talks of the goverment having stricter age limits on games, that wont do any good as you have said. Any under age gamers will find away to get the game if they really want to, i know i did. And as for going as far as banning them, thats out of the question. Again as you said, you can easily buy them abroad using the net, but also there is far too much money at stake. Its like the advertising of cigerets at F1 races, if they were to stop that, and stop games being sold they would loose a heck of a lot of money. You all know how big this industry is, it brings millions of money in and the government would loose so much money that way, not to mention the developers which will in turn affect us by not getting action games quite the same anymore and the fact that they would not spend as much money on making them either, meaning they would be rubbish.
Anyway, good post mate, some valid points.
Excellent points raised there mate, my view is that violence should still be in games just as long as people still enjoy them and not do anything silly resulting from playing a violent game, with games like GTA3 and the soon to be released State of emergency i think they have shown us just have fun gaming violence can be, but on a serious note it should not be taken seriously, some people take it way too seriously saying its bad for gamers and namingly kids. I have only one thing to say to this, and that its Rated 18 for a reason, so to many of the parents complain that its too violent, the under 18's should not be playing it!, simple as that, its an 18 for a reason not just for show.
Many of us here are under 18 and have enjoyed playing the likes of GTA3, none of us have taken it seriously (well i hope not! ;)) and we enjoy the games, as long as the fun factor stays there i am happy with the violence, sometimes it adds more reality to it as well.
You rasied a good point that you feel as if you are in control, i have to strongly agree that in cases such as GTA3 you feel as if you are in total control of your surroundings, including the pedstrians, i suppose games like GTA3 are good for stress relief as well!
Again, good post!
Many of us here are under 18 and have enjoyed playing the likes of GTA3, none of us have taken it seriously (well i hope not! ;)) and we enjoy the games, as long as the fun factor stays there i am happy with the violence, sometimes it adds more reality to it as well.
You rasied a good point that you feel as if you are in control, i have to strongly agree that in cases such as GTA3 you feel as if you are in total control of your surroundings, including the pedstrians, i suppose games like GTA3 are good for stress relief as well!
Again, good post!
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