Violence in Video GamesViolence in Video GamesWiktor KopecApril 2004CS 335Prof. SloanWord Count: 3109Introduction The numerous technological advancements of the 20th century brought about major changes in our lifestyles. Computers and computer technology perform numerous tasks for us, ranging from doing our taxes, cooking food, flying an airplane, or finding the nearest route from one city to another. Alongside the numerous benefits of convenience, productivity, and automation, came a new form of entertainment. Video games allow the player to interact with the objects and characters they see, and in some of today’s video games, the level of realism creates a very immersing environment. The player is no longer the bystander, as in television shows, but an active participant.Video games share something in common with television programming: the trend towards violence. There are several issues that result from this. The first issue is the potential impact on those who play violent video games, in particular young adults. While there have been limited studies on the subject, a comparison could be drawn between violence in video games and violence in television. The second issue is the changing legislation that affects the level of violence allowable in video games. Both of these affect video game developers and publishers. History of Violent GamesThe very first video game to cause controversy because of its violent content was Death Race. The game was published around 1975, and the main purpose of the game was to drive over gremlins. Even though these gremlins looked like stick figures, the game caused major controversy, because of its “violent” nature.1Around 1981, another controversial game was released. Castle Wolfenstein consisted of the player walking around and shooting as many Nazis as possible2. Following Wolfenstein,other first person shooters appeared. In this genre of gaming, the player takes the first person perspective of someone with a gun, grenade, or knife. The main purpose is to kill. In 1992 one of the most controversial video games was released for coin-operated arcades. Mortal Kombat pit two players against one another in a gory fight to the death. Rippingthe opponent’s head off, burning them alive, or dismembering them was common. The game also had photo-realistic graphics because the fighters were actually actors, filmed in their variousstances, with effects added into the final game. Mortal Kombat was highly successful, with numerous sequels, including one to be released this fall.Some of today’s video games are extremely violent. With the advancement of computer technology, especially in graphics processing units, the average first person shooter features realistic graphics, physics, and weapons. Some games not only let the player put a bullet throughsomeone’s head with a sniper rifle, but allow him or her to maim the corpse afterwards (Soldier of Fortune). For others, the game’s sole purpose is to engage in violent behavior for no particular purpose, ranging from setting a marching band on fire with gasoline, to poisoning police officers with anthrax and then urinating on them (Postal 2). In Grand Theft Auto III, one of the more popular and controversial video games, a lot of players pay a hooker to get into the backseat of the car and then beat her to death with a bat to get their money back. And that’s usually after killing a few hundred pedestrians by driving them over, shooting them with an Uzi, or throwing a few Molotov cocktails. Violence in video games, among other things, led to the development of the ESRB, or theElectronic Software Rating Board. The ESRB provides information about the appropriateness ofvideo games for certain age groups, just as a movie rating does. The ratings range from Early Childhood, Teens, Everyone, Mature, to Adults Only. Most of the games listed above have aMature rating, which means the game is appropriate for those who are 17 and up. In 2003, of all the games the ESRB rated, 57% received E for Everyone, 32% received T for Teens, 10% received M for Mature, and 1% received EC for Early Childhood3.While many games are violent, there are also many that are not. Some games, especially in the adventure game genre, are designed to be educational and engage the players in challenging puzzle solving and thinking, as opposed to testing their trigger finger. Games like Myst, Zork, and the Journeyman Project were actually highly successful when they were first released (around ten years ago). Today the genre is probably the least popular, with a limited amount of games, most of which cost about half the price of mainstream video games.IssuesOne of the major concerns regarding video games is whether or not exposure to the excessive violence in some of these games can have negative impacts on younger players. This concern most likely results from studies on television violence and its influence. According to a meta-analysis at the University of California, television violence does, in fact, have negative, anti-social effects on its viewers4. Other studies seem to support this conclusion.The study points out three main consequences of watching violent programming: learningaggressive behaviors, the desensitization to violence, and the fear of being victimized by violence. However, it is important to note the impact of context of the violence in television, as each scenario presented will not have the same effects on the viewer. For example, unjustified violence and punishments are likely to decrease the learning of aggression, while the presence of weapons, level of realism, or the presence of humor in the situation are likely to increase it. A variety of other factors may influence the desensitization, violent behavior, and fear effects, suchas the character of the perpetrator (the one performing the violent act), the character of the victim, and consequences of the violent behavior5.Video game violence has not been studied as much as television violence partly because video games are a much more recent invention. Video games are also different in nature. The key difference between the two is that video games are interactive. A movie or a show usually has a protagonist of some sort. The viewer merely observes him or her. In a video game, the player is the protagonist, and can take whatever course of action they choose to, within the scopeof the game.Another key difference between