Since the first iteration of the Nintendo game console, video games have become integral part of our entertainment experience. In the last 20 years the improvements in video technology has only bolstered the appeal of video games, making them one of the top forms of entertainment for all ages and genders. The amount of people playing video games continues to rise at an alarming rate. Video games are a great way to alleviate stress, they allow you to relax, escape from reality and just decompress from life.
Violent video games desensitize players, glorify violence, smoking, drinking, illicit drug abuse, and perpetuate violence toward women. Another concern is that they promote a gangster lifestyle in society. Violent video games play to our more carnal behaviors, while allowing us to engage in immoral and unethical experiences in a virtual world. Video game creators argue that responsibility falls on the consumer and their ability to choose whether or not to purchase violent video games. The creators are faced with a dilemma regarding the questionable game simulations and the ethical responsibility they have as producers, and the possible impact these games may or may not have on their audience. Using Reynolds’ Seven-Step Ethical Decision-Making Approach I will attempt to come to an ethically balanced conclusion.
The Facts
Playing video games may increase aggressive behavior if violent acts are continually repeated during video game play. Repetition is an effective
Does playing video games increase aggressive behavior in children? Both the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, according to Susan Scutti, take a firm stance against children and teens playing violent video games. Violent video game playing and aggressive behavior are correlated, but not causational. With the use of scientific experiment and random sampling, one can conclude that violent video games do have a significant effect on aggression, but not in the way that we think.
Since video games have been introduced, video games have been accused of contributing too many atrocities, and acts of violence. News outlets paint video games as being a source of which some acts of violence happen. Yes, violent video games have become more popular, meanwhile becoming controversial, but still there exist no links between aggression and video games. The University of Bologna says that “owning videogames does not in fact seem to have negative effects on aggressive human behavior” (Koffler par.7). Meanwhile, news outlets keep on missing the point on how beneficial video games are. Video games do not contribute to violence, can be educational, and they can improve us in different ways.
In 2008 an eight year-old intentionally, living in slaughter louisiana,shot his grandmother in the head right after playing grand theft auto IV. In America the rate of mass shootings and obesity each year. Video Games also teach antisocial behavior. Video games are responsible for increase of violence in schools, desensitizing American youth, and prompting unhealthy behaviors.
Are violent video games directly correlated to teen violence? This is the burning question many researchers are dedicated to answering. The common form of the question is “Is the increase in violence in games creating killer kids?” The simple answer is no. Instead the opposite has occurred, as games became more violent, the players became calmer. The games create a “safe” outlet for any anger or angst that young people possess. Crime rates in the teen population have lowered and violent teens admit to having little to no interest in violent video games. The games that most people fear are destroying the youth may actually be one of the things helping them grow and become “normal” members in society.
Video games have been around for over fifty years and have become quite popular over the past four decades. In fact, they are so popular that a certain subset of them have recently come into scrutiny and are a topic of hot debate. This subset contains video games that are violent in nature, which, many people loathe. Those people try to use many fallacious tactics to persuade others to join their cause. Take the article ‘Violent Video Games Can Desensitize Players and Increase Aggression’ for example, firstly it hooks an audience with its hasty generalization that violent video games create mass murderers, secondly it uses cum hoc ergo propter hoc to provide evidence that video games contribute to and enforce desensitization and aggression, and thirdly it uses appeals to anonymous authorities to provide accreditation for the content it discusses.
A significantly large portion of the video games created within the past 5 to 10 years contain some form of violence. On top of that, some of the most popular video games out in the market today are extremely violent and warrant an “M” rating for mature. Video game developers are well aware of this trend and continue to produce more graphic, interactive, and realistic content. Therefore, there is a concern that the vast amount of violence in video games is changing how youth develop and what they perceive as normal. Many researchers believe that there is a link between video games and increased aggression in the people who play them.
No matter if it is by reading or watching, the news is frequently telling about another mass shooting in America. In these growing number of mass shootings, one that continually pops up is the mass shootings in schools from the Columbine shootings to the Sandy Hook massacre. All shooters were individuals who were found with different mental illnesses but also played violent shooter games. While violent video games should not be solely blamed for this horrific incidents, it needs to be said that the distribution of mature games should be monitored more strictly because some of the negative side effects can be very damaging to some individuals.
Still think violent video games are harmless and fun? Consider putting down the remote control and listen up. December 14th, 2012. At Sandy Hook Elementary School a day of learning was interrupted by the sounds of gun shots. That day 20 year- old Adam Lanza shot over 20 children between the ages 6-7. Such a horrific event that had a cause of what seems an everyday occurrence to teens and kids. Violence simulated video-games. These games can cause a negative mindset that violence is okay. Look at the Sandy Hook Shooting, the murderer was proclaimed to play too many video games. That is just one example of how these video games can create that ambiguous mindset that violence is just a game. Let alone it also shows how the influence of constant
The debate about violence in media, such as video games, has been going on for years now, however, there is no definite answer on what to do about it. Should adolescents be able to differentiate between video game fantasy violence and real life? Is it partially the parents’ fault for not controlling their access to these games? Perhaps there is more to it than just the scientific side of things. Adolescents should be able to differentiate violence in video games from real life and be able to recognize patterns in gender role and age. In turn, adults should be held responsible for what the adolescents play by controlling access to this media in the first place.
Throughout the history of video games, one of the most important parts of having a video game is the controller. For years ever since video game consoles have been invented it has had a controller to operate all of its features.Without the controller you would not be able to operate the video game console because the controller is like a beacon to the console,it does whatever the controller operates it to do. The controller structure is a very unique design and model. It is built into a way that it can be held and it fits the grooves of your hands so that you can manage to operate all the buttons on the controller to perform the actions that transfer to the game system which shows up on the television. Although due to failures in the video game, the controller becomes the most frustrating aspect of the game.
In 1972 Magnavox Odyssey and Atari developed and released what has come to be understood as the first video game titled, Pong. A simple tennis game where the goal is simply to keep the ball within the bounds of the screen. Since then, video games have flourished into a diverse industry varying in several genres. It has become an industry where companies work to develop a game as a form of art, or simply an immersive action packed adventure. While the significance of this topic is not to be disregarded, as video games have become an extremely popular hobby among children and teens. As gamers around the world play for an astonishing three billion hours every week. However, video games especially first person shooter games (FPS) have come to portray a very negative connotation among parents of millennials, as they are believed to cause aggression in adolescents. Interestingly enough, research shows they actually have various positive effects like an increase in hand-eye coordination, problem solving skills and situational awareness. So when it comes to titles intended for more mature audiences, the decision falls to the parent on whether or not to allow their child the possession of said title.
How does violence in video games affect people? Sometimes people think about video games and think oh no big deal but there is a lot that goes into them and they can have different effects on people. Violent video games have the most effect on people and most of them are negative. Educational games tend to have the best effect on people and can help them. Many people argue both sides and do not see them for what they are and think my kids won’t be affected but they will as more articles state and discuss these issues. Violent video games can lead to many different things such as, Gun violence, violence, and aggression. Gun violence is a bad thing and these games promote guns in many different ways and has different effects. Violence is
As video game images become increasingly more realistic and graphic. Therefore, is there any link between the violence depicted in those games and violence in real life? Students are the main group people who played violent video games very often. Also, losing a game causes many people to have a negative impact. Last, the attitudes on violent game and antisocial. Games are everywhere around us, such as cellphones, televisions, or computers, but violent games are the most popular type of game. The scene inside the game may lead to real things happen, especially for children, who are eager to experience it. Therefore, violent games may cause many impact, such as crimes, antisocial, and negative effects.
Are violent games danger to the consumer/player? The violent video game is causing the consumer/player to mental problems by doing bad things and think that is alright. Violent video games are harmful because it allows the consumer/player to actively do crime without being punished. We should increase the age of the consumer/player so they won’t be able to purchase these violent games and some of the consumer/player isn’t mentally stable and if they get shooting fighting games would mess with their mental state even more.
Most of us have certainly pondered on the thought if video games truly create violent citizens, I personally believe that video games do not what so ever. One must distinguish this topic accurately and consider learning to differentiate and not have a biased or radical opinion. There have been many attempts from a number of different people who have tried to give a bad name to video games due to the simulations and realness and say that video games will create a negative environment for anyone who plays them, especially in children. Enthusiasts of video games have spent decades asserting that there is no underlying link between playing violent titles and engaging in the violent real-world behavior. Brand-new data confirms their contentions.