Video Gaming and Violence

Remember the days of the 8-bit Nintendo? Remember the days and endless nights of Nintendo 64? Perhaps you remember the brief life of the Sony Dreamcast? These may bring back some memories to some of our readers and listeners. You may be accustom to systems such as the XBOX, PS3, Wii, or PC gaming. The advance of gaming is amazing in terms of realism and capability. Video games are a true testament to 21st century technological advancement. Whatever your experience (or non-experience) with gaming has been, it is worth discussing the influence of video gaming technology on our society.

The video gaming industry is a billion dollar enterprise that is widely used and persistent in all age groups and cultural circles. Tournaments, now dedicated to single games such as Madden and World of Warcraft, are salient through society. Guitar Hero has become an international sensation, spawning YouTube videos and spots on syndicated TV shows. Games such as Grand Theft Auto and God of War have historically been under attack for excessive violence, guns, and killing. Several agencies and individuals are upset because younger audiences are getting these games through rental stores, online venues, piracy, and retail stores regardless of the current rating system. Many authors, newscasts, and individuals argue that the video gaming industry is deteriorating family, corrupting youth values, and causing excess violence.

Currently, Germany is working on banning the sale and production of violent video games. This is unfair to the video gaming industry and do not see this movement occurring in the US. The banning of violent video games does not address the root cause of violence in our society. Movies and television programs are designed to create a false reality in our minds. The problem – we associate movies and TV shows with reality, slowly resorting to what is seen on screen. If restrictions are placed on the gaming system, the same restrictions should be placed on other violent outlets. A word of caution to consider – this sort of ban on games may create an underground system for illegal activity, sale, and production of violent games.

The rating system is simply a tool designed to inform parents and users as to the content of the video game. As www.esrb.org reports, the gaming industry has a seven-tier system in place for rating games. Movies have a five-tier system (www.mpaa.org) and TV shows have a seven-tier system. By definition, the rating system is subjective and therefore open for interpretation by parents, users, and critics. The key to understanding the rating system is personal participation. Find out for yourself what the ratings mean, the details regarding specific wording, and what is appropriate for your child and yourself as a video gamer. The impact of video gaming on society is evident.

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