Difference between revisions of "Violence in Video Games"

Revision as of 16:11, 28 March 2019

The topics violence and video games are topics that have resulted in significant debate and criticism when discussed in tandem. Ever since video games began gaining significant popularity in the 1970’s, there have been countless arguments and debates as to whether video games and the content in video games can cause negative behavioral and mental effects for the player. Common critics of violent video games are parents, politicians, and religious groups and common Video game advocates consist of developers, producers, and many of the players themselves. Criticism of violent video games stems from multiple studies which indicate that video games cause both increased aggressive thoughts & behaviors, as well as desensitization of aggressive behavior and actions for the players ^[1]. Advocates argue that video games actually increase mental and intellectual capacities, and claim that video games are an effective form of creative expression ^[2]. Their are multiple contradictory studies regarding the effects of violent video games on users which causes this debate to continue to be unsettled and raises significant ethical questions regarding regulations of video games and video game usage.

History of Violence in Video Games

Death Race - 1976

An advertisement poster for the controversial game "Death Race"

Death Race was a driving arcade game released by Exidy in April of 1976 ^[3]. The game was the first video game that had significant controversy due to violence and resulted in the game eventually being discontinued due to controversy. The game was a simple racing game with an added twist of running over stick figure "Gremlins". Once a player hit one of the fleeing gremlins, a tombstone would appear and a short scream would be heard from the arcade machine ^[4].

Custer's Revenge - 1982

Custer's Revenge is an adult video game created by Mystique for the Atari 2600 in September of 1982. The game was the first to draw mass protests and is widely considered one of the worst and most horrific video games of all time ^[5]. The game involves the player to play as General George Custer, a famous American Civil War figure, and to dodge incoming arrows and attacks until finally reaching a Native American woman tied to a pole at the end of the level. Instead of rescuing the damsel in distress, Custer has sex with the woman to gain more points. Many viewers perceived this action at the end of the level to be considered rape, which resulted in masses of women and Native Americans protesting the game, arguing that it promotes sexual violence and racism ^[6].

Mortal Kombat - 1993

An in game image from Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat is an arcade fighting game released by Midway in 1993. Mortal Kombat was one of the first games that portrayed detailed human violence and gore and is known as one of the most gruesome and famous fighting games of all time. Mortal Kombat along with a few more obscure games released in the early 90's became subject to extreme scrutiny that ended in a congressional hearing and review. Congress ridiculed the game and claimed that it was negatively affecting youth. After threatening to make a federal commission for video games during this hearing, the gaming industry decided to form a regulatory body named the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB). This regulatory body is still present today in the gaming industry and was a result from games such as Mortal Kombat ^[7].

Grand Theft Auto - 1998

Grand Theft Auto was a game released in 1998 DMA Design and BMG Interactive. The game involved lots of crime, car theft, prostitution running, and many chances for murder. Grand Theft Auto and other games such as Doom were among the first games to be directly cited as a reason for violence. Events such as the Columbine Massacre of 1999, a shooting in Tennessee in which the shooter claimed he was "imitating GTA", and many other acts of violence were thought to be directly connected to violent video games ^[4].

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 - 2009

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 was released in November of 2009 by Activision. This game was particularly controversial and disturbing due to the 4th mission in the campaign titled "No Russian". In this mission, the player acts as an undercover agent in a Russian terrorist group. To prove he was committed, the player must tag along as the terrorist group guns down and massacres civilians in an airport ^[8].

Studies Regarding Violence in Video Games

Oxford Internet Institute Study

The Oxford Internet Institute at Oxford University conducted one of the most detailed studies to date regarding video game violence and aggressive behavior. The study used data from British teens and parents as well as E.U. and U.S. ratings of game violence. The study consisted of multiple questionnaires of both the players and their parents regarding their gaming and behavioral tendencies. After much analysis and recording, Professor Andrew Przybylski, Director of Research at the Institute, stated that "Despite interest in the topic by parents and policy makers, the research has not demonstrated that there is cause for concern" ^[9]. This study is one of the most definitive studies regarding the topic and claims that there is no correlation between aggressive behavior and video games, additionally, the study claims that many past studies on the topic had significant researcher bias which could be the reasoning for the discrepancy in results. Although there is no correlation to aggressive behavior, the study does concede that players are more prone to talking, competitiveness, and trolling ^[9]

Dartmouth Study

This study done by Jay Hull, a Dartmouth Psychological and Brain Science Professor, sought to link aggressive behavior and "deviant" actions (sex, smoking, drinking, etc...) to violent video game usage by analyzing 24 other studies with over 17,000 participants. The research done by the team indicated the opposite of the Oxford study, and claimed that "violent video game play is associated with subsequent increases in physical aggression" ^[10]

Ethical Implications

Virtue Ethics

This topic regarding violence in video game continues to raise significant ethical questions and concerns. Virtue ethics in particular are very significant in this debate. One piece that brings up important claims regarding ethics and technology is Susan Vallor's "Social Networking Technology and the Virtues". Although Vallor discusses social networking in this article, the main takeaways are still very relevant to violence in video games. Vallor explains that the virtues and vices we encounter with technology will not only affect thoughts but also actions. ^[11]. Vallor believes that this claim has significant merit and if this claim is true, then "technology significantly alters the nature and patterns of activities that people regularly perform ^[11]. In this case, then one would argue that the violent and aggressive virtues that are promoted in many video games do in fact effect users and should be focused more heavily.

Regulations & Ethics

Because there is no definitive answer as to what the effects of video games are on players, regulations and restrictions have created significant ethical concerns. This can be seen in 2010 when California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill which restricted the sale or rental of violent video games to minors. The bill was taken to the Supreme Court and was eventually shot down under the claim that video game developers have the right to free expression and banning sale of video games to minors would be the same as banning movies, books, or violent news reports ^[12]. There are continuous demands for regulations of video games due to ethical issues, however, none of them have really stuck.

See Also

• Mortal Kombat
• Call of Duty
• Ethics in Computer & Video Games
• Grand Theft Auto IV
• Grand Theft Auto V

External Sites

Grand Theft Auto (Rockstar) Call of Duty Mortal Kombat Electronic Software Ratings Board Oxford Internet Institute Dartmouth University

References

1. ↑ “Violent Video Games and Aggression.” National Center for Health Research, 27 Mar. 2018, www.center4research.org/violent-video-games-can-increase-aggression/.
2. ↑ “Video Game.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Mar. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game.
3. ↑ Smith, Keith. “The Ultimate (So Far) History of Exidy - Part 2.” The Ultimate (So Far) History of Exidy - Part 2, 1 Jan. 1970, allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-ultimate-so-far-history-of-exidy_24.html.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} “What We Do.” National Coalition Against Censorship, ncac.org/resource/a-timeline-of-video-game-controversies.
5. ↑ Wise, Deborah (1982). "Video-pornography games cause protest". InfoWorld (November 8): 1,7.
6. ↑ "Gamespy's Top Ten Shameful Games". GameSpy. Archived from the original on April 26, 2011.
7. ↑ Hsu, Tiffany. “When Mortal Kombat Came Under Congressional Scrutiny.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Mar. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/03/08/business/video-games-violence.html.
8. ↑ Peckham, Matt. “Is Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Terrorist Gameplay Artful?” PCWorld, PCWorld, 2 Nov. 2009, www.pcworld.com/article/181140/modern_warfare_2_artful.html.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} “Violent Video Games Found Not to Be Associated with Adolescent Aggression.” University of Oxford, www.ox.ac.uk/news/2019-02-13-violent-video-games-found-not-be-associated-adolescent-aggression#.
10. ↑ “Children's Violent Video Game Play Associated with Increased Physical Aggressive Behavior.” Children's Violent Video Game Play Associated with Increased Physical Aggressive BehaviorUntitled, www.dartmouth.edu/press-releases/childrens-violent-video-games-increased-aggressive-behavior.html.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Vallor, Shannon. 2010. “Social Networking Technology and the Virtues.” Ethics and Information Technology 12: 157-170
12. ↑ Totenberg, Nina. “Calif. Pushes To Uphold Ban On Violent Video Games.” NPR, NPR, 2 Nov. 2010, www.npr.org/2010/11/02/130979773/calif-pushes-to-uphold-ban-on-violent-video-games.