Media13.com is a source of free to republish or reprint articles, writers may submit your articles in our database as long so you agree that your article will be freely republish or reprint by other.

Submit Article

Search our database

Received article from us.

Name

Email Address

Friends

Bollywood News
Link building
Article submission service
Freelance Writers
Laser hair removal

We have been looking for freelance writers. Contact us

Video Game Violence...What do you think about it? by Daniel Punch

Ever since video game designers were able to put red pixels on their imaginary characters that had recently deceased, there have been people crusading against their subversive ways. The outrage at video games seems to be cyclic, fading very briefly before exploding into the public eye once more with renewed frenzy. The controversy seems to have sparked up again in recent times, with numerous crimes being blamed on the corruptive influence of video games. There have also been various `controversies` surrounding recent video games and their content in the areas of both violence and sexuality.

The first game to receive widespread criticism and media attention was the martial art fighting game `Mortal Kombat`. This game included large spurts of blood emitted from attacks and also `Fatalities` that could be performed on stunned opponents after their defeat. These Fatalities were gruesome animation sequences showing the victorious player killing their defeated opponent in a vast variety of ways. Gamers revelled in this new experience and the controversy surrounding the violence caused mass hype that informed the less informed gamers that the game was out there. Consequently gamers played the new game just to find out what all the talk was about, thereby greatly increasing revenue.

One of the largest sparks of controversy has been the recent `Hot Coffee` modification for `Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (GTA:SA)`. This involved unlocking a sexually oriented mini-game that had been removed from the game before release, although evidently not from the source code. The creators of the game, Rockstar Entertainment, obviously realised that this particular part of the game was not appropriate for the video gaming public and removed access to it. An enterprising fan of the game found out and modified the original code to give access to the content once again. Lawsuits were brought against Rockstar for including such content in their game, although the validity of the lawsuit has to be questioned. If the game is simply purchased and played as intended by the developers, this admittedly tasteless and inappropriate mini game would never be encountered. It is not until the user-made modification is downloaded and installed that the player is able to access the content.

Regardless of who`s to blame, `GTA: SA` was re-rated in America and banned from sale in Australia. Oddly enough the gratuitous and encouraged violence in the game went largely unnoticed in the wake of the `scandalous` sex scenes involving clothed, cartoonesque people.

When examined objectively almost all games contain a certain amount of violent content. The kid-friendly bright and colourful `Mario` games by Nintendo feature a character stomping on animated creature`s heads. In fact the majority of games, even children`s games, involve the protagonist crusading against an enemy horde of some sort and generally `disposing` of them in some manner, whether it be striking them with a weapon or body part (feet, hands, possibly a tail depending on the nature of the character). The only real stand out difference is that in a children`s game the `bad` characters will generally bounce backwards in a cute manner and explode with a humorous puff sound (or simply disappear) whereas in a game oriented towards older mature players, the characters are more likely to be (somewhat) realistic, spraying a gusher of red upon their demise.

Whenever some young person somewhere commits a violent crime these days it seems to get blamed on a video game, from `Duke Nukem` and `Quake` being accused for the Columbine High massacre, to a more recent incident involving a group of minors attributing their violent actions to the `Mortal Kombat` video games. Without any solid evidence either way it`s hard to say whether or not video game violence actually has much of an influence on players. To really be sure you`d probably have to have a control group of isolated children that have never seen a violent movie or played a bloodthirsty video game. History does however show that brutal crimes were committed long before video games or even movies came into existence.

Children are quite easily influenced by something that they`re excited about and I`ve seen this happen a lot. Playing a wrestling video game with a group of eight year olds often leads to the eight year olds screaming raucously and trying to pin each other down on the ground. Pre-teens will often punch and kick their way out of a cinema in terrible combat stances after having viewed a martial arts movie. The current content rating system in place is not geared towards consumer restriction; it is largely aimed at simply informing the public about what they are going to experience. Legal restrictions are not actually put in place until the higher, more severe ratings like in x-rated films. Parents, guardians, and society in general need to start taking an interest in who is viewing certain types of content. Instead of complaining about the entertainment a child is enjoying, the parent could be there at the beginning looking at the rating that is printed clearly on the packaging of all entertainment. A simple `I don`t think that`s suitable, how about this game? It has a lizard!` distracts the child a surprising number of times. In my experience, children genuinely just want people to take an interest in what they`re interested in, not just murmuring indistinctly, `Yes dear, that`s nice.` as the child installs the newest violent game.

What about the children that are playing the games in the restricted ratings categories? The only way that they can even get the game into their possession is if a parent (or someone of legal age) purchases the game for the child, or if the store disregards the rating guidelines in place and sells it to them regardless. Either way the fact that a game`s content has fallen into a minor`s hands is not the fault of the game developer.

I`m not out to defend the integrity of artistic vision presented in video games as many other gamers are. Frankly there seems to me to be little artistic integrity in rendering blood that is ever more liquid in appearance. I do however enjoy playing some games that are quite violent in nature and in many cases the violent nature of the game increases my enjoyment. Video games are escapism, there`s (arguably) no point in playing a video game that simulates something you can just walk outside and do (and yet sports games somehow consistently sell in large numbers... curious...). Interestingly I have never yet felt the overwhelming desire to break down into a kung fu stance and commit murder. Perhaps more important than simply banning questionable content in video games would be studying why this content is so appealing to today`s society?

Author Info:

Daniel Punch
M6.Net Web Helpers
http://www.m6.net

Latest 20 articles

A California Labor Law Attorney: Just What You Need in Times of Trouble! In a time where California labor law is constantly changing and employers are playing it “fast and loose” in order to make ends meet, a California labor law attorney may be just what the doctor ordered to explain the complex California overtime laws. With a weakening economy, and jobs being shipped overseas, it is not uncommon to see rampant abuse of the California overtime laws. Employers r

Tax Debt Help Needed - How Can I Stop an IRS Bank Levy? The IRS does give you ample warning that they intend to levy your bank account. You undoubtedly received the notice and demand for payment from the IRS which included the amount you owed in back taxes. You probably did not contact the IRS at that time, and that was very important. The next communication you received was called the “Final Notice” which did express their Intent to Levy and also inc

California Labor Laws: Asserting Your Employee Rights Many employees when experiencing a labor violation are confused as to where to turn and typically take one of four paths. 1. A very common path and usually the most treacherous, is doing nothing at all. When an employee is hesitant to hire California overtime lawyers or California labor law attorneys to handle a situation, it usually gets worse before it gets better. Complacency will typicall

California Overtime Laws: Top 4 Common Employer Mistakes A California labor law attorney has revealed the four most common mistakes that employers make in violation of California overtime laws. Although California labor laws for breaks and lunches are clear, nevertheless employers tend to overlook something as simple as giving their employees a meal or rest break. While this is only one of our top three violations, it is often the most overlooked.

A Christian Debt Relief Solution: Debt Settlement Christian families are impacted by difficulties with mounting credit card debt just like non-Christian families. Christians often can be particularly sensitive to finding themselves faced with a situation where they may not be able to meet their unsecured debt commitments. There are many types of Christian credit card debt help out there, and quickly becoming one of the most popular is Christian

Finding Affordable California Health Insurance If you reside in California, it is a strong bet that you need affordable California health insurance. There are many different insurance companies and different types of plans available. Deciding on which one is best for you and your family will require some research. It may be overwhelming but it is paramount to finding the right policy for your particular situation. California individual

IRS Tax Settlement: Could It Provide The IRS Tax Relief You Need? The IRS is coming after you! You owe them money and can’t hope to ever pay the debt! The IRS has threatened to seize your bank account or garnish your paycheck! Everything seems hopeless and there doesn’t seem to be any doubt that the IRS is going to ruthlessly take everything of value that you have. However, there are options to rolling over for the IRS. There are IRS tax relief solution

Credit Card Debt Reduction: Do it Yourself Tips Anyone who's ever owned a credit card, taken out a student loan, financed a car, or paid a mortgage has gathered debt. Debt can feel like a deep pool, but you don't have to drown in it. All you need is a little common sense and some solid budgeting. Remember, you own the debt – it doesn't own you. Here are a few tips that can help you get credit card debt relief you seek. It's like a “do it you

Debt Settlement: Know the Pros and Cons Many people who select a debt settlement program may have already tried credit card consolidation in an effort to resolve their financial difficulties, but may not have been satisfied with the arrangements or the amount of time it was taking to pay off what they owed. For these individuals, debt settlement may provide a faster way to eliminate their debts for the least possible amount of money, wh

Debt Settlement – How Does It Compare? Debt settlement has quickly become one of the preferred methods of reducing credit card debt and starting a new financial future that is free of the vicious cycle that credit card debt problems create! Why has debt settlement become so popular lately? The benefits of a debt settlement program can probably best be illustrated by comparing it to the other options available to consumers caught in th

LCD Wall Mounts and Brackets: WeMountU Offers Versatile Product Range TV wall mounts are undergoing a revolutionary phase of technological improvements. High- end technology has enabled manufacturers to design products for common consumption. Smaller size high- definition TVs have now filled the market stores and anyone with a desire can now afford such luxuries with entertainment.LCD technology based smaller screen size TVs are very common among the customers aro

TV Wall Mount and Brackets Best Buy Online with WeMountU If you have recently purchased a high definition TV based on LCD, TFT, or plasma technology then you must have thought of enjoying viewing digital media experience of the 21st century in its complete sense. Gone are the days when the digital media like the TVs used to be put on a wooden platform or a metallic stand. Wall mounting is the current trend and consumers across the world are enjoying thi

Cantilever TV Wall Mounting: A Revolutionary Concept in Viewing Digital Media with More Comfort Cantilever technology has entered in to a new phase with the incoming of wall mounting feature of the popular digital media. Variable screen sizes of these new age digital media such as the high definition LCD, Plasma, and TFT screen TVs are increasingly becoming popular among the users across the globe. Wall mounting feature of these entertainment hubs has made them even more flexible and people

Large TV Mounts and Brackets: Innovative WeMountU Technology for Large Size Digital Media Size matters and it matters a lot when it comes to TV viewing. The more is the size of TV screen the more it is convenient to view and enjoy with complete comfort. Oncoming of large screen size TVs is mainly because of the introduction of high end technology based LCD, Plasma, and TFT TVs. large size TV wall mounts and large size TV wall brackets are required to place the big screen TVs on the w

TV Wall Mounts and Brackets: Achieving Compatibility with High Definition TVs We are living in an age of high definition wall mounting TVs as the entertainment hubs inside our homes. Things around us have high technological standards and user friendly set ups. Entertainment has undergone a sea change during past few years. We do not view things as we used to view them on televisions .The digital world has changed the whole concept of television viewing. We now have high def

Large Digital Photo Frame: Best Option for Public Display Digital display technology is achieving new echelons with the digital photo frames. Displaying pictures and videos on a screen that can be placed as a simple frame on the shelf or can be fixed on a wall is such a comfortable viewing concept that it is gaining acceptance across the world among millions of users. Display and clear viewing is somewhat proportional to the screen size. It makes an eq

Pictorea-Pro: an exclusive Range of Digital Photo Frames from UDiggit Digital photo frame is an advance technology device that facilitates you with displaying your family photographs, images, presentations, videos, and movies. UDiggit brings a huge range of such digital picture frames for you. The company also enjoys a leading role in this segment across the UK markets There is an exclusive range of digital photo frames offered by UDiggit for customers who are

Best Buy Digital Photo Frames from UDiggit: Go For Something Unique and Elegant A specialist knows what and when to deliver in best way. Exponentially growing technology based market is becoming digital in all aspects very fast .Digital display technology has now achieved a new hallmark with the introduction of huge range of digital photo frames by UDiggit, a market leader in the United Kingdom. As a manufacturer and a retailer both, UDiggit has attained a level of digital ph

Boardroom Digital Photo Frames: A Customized Digital Display Device for Corporate ‘Screen’ is the keyword for present day digital media that propagates and disseminates information by all means. Whether it is a presentation, a discussion, a meeting, or a boardroom deliberation screen comes in the central role. Digital photo frames are actually an advance form of a simple screen. In corporate world the boardroom digital frames are actually the large size display screens. This