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Recently the argument of videogame violence flared up again. People are claiming that videogames promote an aggressive attitude amongst gamers. We have the situation where in America lawsuits are being brought against many computer game companies. Well what do you all think of this argument. Here are my thoughts:
How often have you seen someone get a bit ‘carried away’ playing a videogame, and start shouting etc at the game.
Videogames such as Perfect Dark reward the gamer for killing and depicts graphic violent scenes.
Violent and arrogance are portrayed as cool and this will rub off on gamers.
These are some arguments claiming that videogames cause violence. Well in my opinion as someone who has played videogames from when I was a kid until now I can come to the conclusion that all of the above have no affect on gamers. When someone gets ‘carried away’ is it a display of violence and anger, is it mere frustration? Most of the time I would conclude that it is frustration and inability to complete a task that causes these reactions.
Do videogames encourage violence? If I play a wrestling game, will I pretend I am the Rock, grab somebody and proceed to chant ‘It doesn’t matter’ as I try the Rock Bottom on them over and over. Of course not. Violence is everywhere in our society. Gamers cry out for realism within our games, yet the companies cannot make them realistic as it would be ‘corrupting’ the children. What about The News, Newspapers, etc they report on facts (granted sometimes this is debatable) and deliver it as a service. Does this cause violence? Living in a violent society when the media points towards videogames as encouraging violence but when will parents start to take responsibility for their children’s actions. If they feel a game is to bad don’t let your kids play it. But don’t enforce your principles on other people.
Whatever happened to freedom of Speech. We are supposed to be living in a free country. Yet we are told what we can watch, play, listen to etc.
I conclude, the videogame industry is relatively new, and is starting to face these criticisms because people are trying to place blame, the media is making a scapegoat out of games as mostly young people play them and they think they are an easy target, if allowed to happen then the future will be cute, cuddly and unrealistic.
Stopping freedom of expression - that is the criminal offence, not shooting a videogame sprite.
How often have you seen someone get a bit ‘carried away’ playing a videogame, and start shouting etc at the game.
Videogames such as Perfect Dark reward the gamer for killing and depicts graphic violent scenes.
Violent and arrogance are portrayed as cool and this will rub off on gamers.
These are some arguments claiming that videogames cause violence. Well in my opinion as someone who has played videogames from when I was a kid until now I can come to the conclusion that all of the above have no affect on gamers. When someone gets ‘carried away’ is it a display of violence and anger, is it mere frustration? Most of the time I would conclude that it is frustration and inability to complete a task that causes these reactions.
Do videogames encourage violence? If I play a wrestling game, will I pretend I am the Rock, grab somebody and proceed to chant ‘It doesn’t matter’ as I try the Rock Bottom on them over and over. Of course not. Violence is everywhere in our society. Gamers cry out for realism within our games, yet the companies cannot make them realistic as it would be ‘corrupting’ the children. What about The News, Newspapers, etc they report on facts (granted sometimes this is debatable) and deliver it as a service. Does this cause violence? Living in a violent society when the media points towards videogames as encouraging violence but when will parents start to take responsibility for their children’s actions. If they feel a game is to bad don’t let your kids play it. But don’t enforce your principles on other people.
Whatever happened to freedom of Speech. We are supposed to be living in a free country. Yet we are told what we can watch, play, listen to etc.
I conclude, the videogame industry is relatively new, and is starting to face these criticisms because people are trying to place blame, the media is making a scapegoat out of games as mostly young people play them and they think they are an easy target, if allowed to happen then the future will be cute, cuddly and unrealistic.
Stopping freedom of expression - that is the criminal offence, not shooting a videogame sprite.
In a way Games do affect our life.
Ever since I got my Amiga I have bid goodbye to every sport or outdoor activity and I'm hooked, its like a hobby becoming a habit.
As for Games inspiring violence in people This is a half truth. To the mature gamer who can relax and not take things so seriously video games are not a source of violence meerly a quiet way to vent anger and frustration in a similar way to punching a pillow instead of a face.
However I can see the argument that Parents have against games, they think that everybody is getting influenced by killing others, this is nothing new, Half of them probably played some sort of war game when they were younger- if you like the video games of yester year.
Some impressionable children will be affected by extensive playing of video games and it way warp them, it's up to the parent entirly what the child should play or watch. Parents who complain may have experienced problems with their children so its only right to complain but not to spoil it all for others.
I may no longer like football and because of that I have lost a few friends but i blame them and me not the sport.
The same goes for films.
As soon as saving Private Ryan came out I wanted to go and see it I'm only 13 and it was a 15 my parents let me go because I'm mature enough but at the cinema I was refused even though my parents told the cinema it was ok.
Age certificates should be simply a guid line not a restriction, After all in a month The film will come out on video.
I totaly agree with your comment that its up to the parents I'm sick of being governed by a man who I have never met who thinks he can judge my maturity.
Ever since I got my Amiga I have bid goodbye to every sport or outdoor activity and I'm hooked, its like a hobby becoming a habit.
As for Games inspiring violence in people This is a half truth. To the mature gamer who can relax and not take things so seriously video games are not a source of violence meerly a quiet way to vent anger and frustration in a similar way to punching a pillow instead of a face.
However I can see the argument that Parents have against games, they think that everybody is getting influenced by killing others, this is nothing new, Half of them probably played some sort of war game when they were younger- if you like the video games of yester year.
Some impressionable children will be affected by extensive playing of video games and it way warp them, it's up to the parent entirly what the child should play or watch. Parents who complain may have experienced problems with their children so its only right to complain but not to spoil it all for others.
I may no longer like football and because of that I have lost a few friends but i blame them and me not the sport.
The same goes for films.
As soon as saving Private Ryan came out I wanted to go and see it I'm only 13 and it was a 15 my parents let me go because I'm mature enough but at the cinema I was refused even though my parents told the cinema it was ok.
Age certificates should be simply a guid line not a restriction, After all in a month The film will come out on video.
I totaly agree with your comment that its up to the parents I'm sick of being governed by a man who I have never met who thinks he can judge my maturity.
I played boulderdash a lot but I don't have a perchant for destroying rocks. I played soul caliber but have no wish to walk around waving a big sword.
Driving games, however, seem to affect me a bit, especially playing them before going out in my car. Fortunatly, they don't affect me too much otherwise I would have lots of speeding tickets and possibly a crumpled car too.
I used to play Jet Set Willy a lot too...what could that mean???!
Driving games, however, seem to affect me a bit, especially playing them before going out in my car. Fortunatly, they don't affect me too much otherwise I would have lots of speeding tickets and possibly a crumpled car too.
I used to play Jet Set Willy a lot too...what could that mean???!
I can't say playing video games all my life has affected me, although my brain does talk to me everynow and again... (Hi everyone...)
They once said that Doom could teach you to fire a gun.
Yes.
The same way that Ecco could teach you how to swim...
They once said that Doom could teach you to fire a gun.
Yes.
The same way that Ecco could teach you how to swim...
Some of the games mags a few months ago carried articles stating that a recent study showed that there was no link whatsoever between game violence and real violence.
I personally think that it's all bull. I've been playing computer and videogames since I was 8. I'm now 29, and have never had any violent tendencies - well, not as a result of games, anyway!
If we all *didn't* do something because it *might* affect *one* nutcase somewhere in the world, we'd all be sitting around doing nothing, and afraid to talk to anyone in case we corrupted them.
If someone's going to go over the edge, then anything could tip the balance. I've been closer to committing GBH while standing in a queue than I've ever been after playing a game.
You can just see what would happen if the Mary Whitehouse brigade had their way, can't you? The World and his Dog would be waiting patiently for "'Dress Me Up' Barbie 7: Ken Files For Divorce" rather than "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty"
I happen to like action and violence in my games. After a bad day at work, I like to come home and relieve the stress of the day by beating seven shades out of Tekken 3 or blowing people away in Time Crisis or Soldier of Fortune. It sure prevents me from doing it in real life!
Then, when the stress has gone, I might settle down for a nice, relatively calm game of RollerCoaster Tycoon or something similar.
And - whether it be game or film censorship - I absolutely, totally and utterly object to some other human being, who is no better than me, telling me what is and isn't suitable for me to look at.
Pass the job of parenting and back to the parents; let *them* decide whether Little Johnny plays Resident Evil or Teletubbies, and let the rest of us make our own frelling decisions.
I personally think that it's all bull. I've been playing computer and videogames since I was 8. I'm now 29, and have never had any violent tendencies - well, not as a result of games, anyway!
If we all *didn't* do something because it *might* affect *one* nutcase somewhere in the world, we'd all be sitting around doing nothing, and afraid to talk to anyone in case we corrupted them.
If someone's going to go over the edge, then anything could tip the balance. I've been closer to committing GBH while standing in a queue than I've ever been after playing a game.
You can just see what would happen if the Mary Whitehouse brigade had their way, can't you? The World and his Dog would be waiting patiently for "'Dress Me Up' Barbie 7: Ken Files For Divorce" rather than "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty"
I happen to like action and violence in my games. After a bad day at work, I like to come home and relieve the stress of the day by beating seven shades out of Tekken 3 or blowing people away in Time Crisis or Soldier of Fortune. It sure prevents me from doing it in real life!
Then, when the stress has gone, I might settle down for a nice, relatively calm game of RollerCoaster Tycoon or something similar.
And - whether it be game or film censorship - I absolutely, totally and utterly object to some other human being, who is no better than me, telling me what is and isn't suitable for me to look at.
Pass the job of parenting and back to the parents; let *them* decide whether Little Johnny plays Resident Evil or Teletubbies, and let the rest of us make our own frelling decisions.
Yeah, I'd like to give Lara Croft a cuddle...
If she was real...
If she was real...
Recently the argument of videogame violence flared up again. People are claiming that videogames promote an aggressive attitude amongst gamers. We have the situation where in America lawsuits are being brought against many computer game companies. Well what do you all think of this argument. Here are my thoughts:
How often have you seen someone get a bit ‘carried away’ playing a videogame, and start shouting etc at the game.
Videogames such as Perfect Dark reward the gamer for killing and depicts graphic violent scenes.
Violent and arrogance are portrayed as cool and this will rub off on gamers.
These are some arguments claiming that videogames cause violence. Well in my opinion as someone who has played videogames from when I was a kid until now I can come to the conclusion that all of the above have no affect on gamers. When someone gets ‘carried away’ is it a display of violence and anger, is it mere frustration? Most of the time I would conclude that it is frustration and inability to complete a task that causes these reactions.
Do videogames encourage violence? If I play a wrestling game, will I pretend I am the Rock, grab somebody and proceed to chant ‘It doesn’t matter’ as I try the Rock Bottom on them over and over. Of course not. Violence is everywhere in our society. Gamers cry out for realism within our games, yet the companies cannot make them realistic as it would be ‘corrupting’ the children. What about The News, Newspapers, etc they report on facts (granted sometimes this is debatable) and deliver it as a service. Does this cause violence? Living in a violent society when the media points towards videogames as encouraging violence but when will parents start to take responsibility for their children’s actions. If they feel a game is to bad don’t let your kids play it. But don’t enforce your principles on other people.
Whatever happened to freedom of Speech. We are supposed to be living in a free country. Yet we are told what we can watch, play, listen to etc.
I conclude, the videogame industry is relatively new, and is starting to face these criticisms because people are trying to place blame, the media is making a scapegoat out of games as mostly young people play them and they think they are an easy target, if allowed to happen then the future will be cute, cuddly and unrealistic.
Stopping freedom of expression - that is the criminal offence, not shooting a videogame sprite.
How often have you seen someone get a bit ‘carried away’ playing a videogame, and start shouting etc at the game.
Videogames such as Perfect Dark reward the gamer for killing and depicts graphic violent scenes.
Violent and arrogance are portrayed as cool and this will rub off on gamers.
These are some arguments claiming that videogames cause violence. Well in my opinion as someone who has played videogames from when I was a kid until now I can come to the conclusion that all of the above have no affect on gamers. When someone gets ‘carried away’ is it a display of violence and anger, is it mere frustration? Most of the time I would conclude that it is frustration and inability to complete a task that causes these reactions.
Do videogames encourage violence? If I play a wrestling game, will I pretend I am the Rock, grab somebody and proceed to chant ‘It doesn’t matter’ as I try the Rock Bottom on them over and over. Of course not. Violence is everywhere in our society. Gamers cry out for realism within our games, yet the companies cannot make them realistic as it would be ‘corrupting’ the children. What about The News, Newspapers, etc they report on facts (granted sometimes this is debatable) and deliver it as a service. Does this cause violence? Living in a violent society when the media points towards videogames as encouraging violence but when will parents start to take responsibility for their children’s actions. If they feel a game is to bad don’t let your kids play it. But don’t enforce your principles on other people.
Whatever happened to freedom of Speech. We are supposed to be living in a free country. Yet we are told what we can watch, play, listen to etc.
I conclude, the videogame industry is relatively new, and is starting to face these criticisms because people are trying to place blame, the media is making a scapegoat out of games as mostly young people play them and they think they are an easy target, if allowed to happen then the future will be cute, cuddly and unrealistic.
Stopping freedom of expression - that is the criminal offence, not shooting a videogame sprite.