I remember how I debated with my father about it, and I remember him saying how first person shooter games like Call of Duty and Halo taught how to shoot and reload guns to players. Well, I agreed that FPS games like Duke Nukem, COD and Halo taught how to reload and shoot, but still that wouldn't still teach a child how to submit to violence. Besides, children don't buy violent games, it's the parents that buy it for them without researching for it first before they even consider buying it. Another thing is that whenever there are nudity and sex in video games, the media and politicians think that it's pornographic, which is another fallacy. When I see that there is sex and nudity in video games such as God of War, Assassin's Creed, Mass Effect, and Heavy Rain, is like if you're watching an R-rated movie, not like if you're watching porn. I am an enemy of pornography, and I don't think that sex in video games are pornographic.
Video game controversy started around the time when Wolfenstein 3D came out due to multiple depictions of the Nazi Swastika, and the game itself was banned in Germany because the symbol was banned at the end of World War II. But then it grew with the release of the first Mortal Kombat game by Midway, due to blood violence and techniques of finishing opponents when they are very weak to fight. I remember also how religious groups were bashing the video game Doom mainly because of extreme violence and loads of satanic imagery, and even the media itself was attacking that game.
Jack Thompson would later represent many angry parents when filing lawsuits against the highly acclaimed video game, Grand Theft Auto. Many teenagers armed with guns whether real guns, BB guns or squirt guns would be arrested by the police after walking with them, or robbing someone. Some have claimed that their inspiration came from GTA. Grand Theft Auto was controversial due to violence, sexual content, drug use and swearing. When I played this game at age 16, at least I was taught way before that what is real and what is not real, and taught not to do everything they do in movies and video games.
Dead or Alive was controversial due to partial nudity, and in Xtreme Beach Volleyball, there was nudity. DOA was known for the female fighters being very big breasted such as: Helena, Kasumi, Ayane, Tina Armstrong, Lei Fang, and so on. But it was a fighting game, and Xtreme Beach Volleyball was a sports game, but even with the women being very sexy and busty, I find nothing wrong with that. As for God of War, it was controversial due to extreme violence and sexual content. This game was more like a movie to say the least.
In 2007, the Virginia Tech shooting occured, and the media and Thompson blamed it all on video games and movies, which was stupid of them to do so in the first place. He was a disturbed kid who wanted to end the torment and the bullying in school. Now, if some kid is being bullied in school he should tell the teacher, the principal or his parents to help him. Problem is, at times some parents can't be relied upon because they're either too busy with their work to help their kid who is being bullied, when at the end he or she may find a gun and try to end it all by resorting to violence.
In September 25, 2008, gamers celebrated nationwide when Jack Thompson was disbarred from being a lawyer, but his anti-video game activities did not cease with such disbarring. There were still other anti gaming activists such as Ralph Nader, who sees video games a simulation for child molestation, and that my friends, is a complete biased fallacy. Video games don't teach violence, people kill people and it takes a finger to pull the trigger, not a video game.
When Heavy Rain was released, because of the nudity and sex scenes, the media believed that it was pornographic, which enraged me even more, just like many gamers were so angry. Problem is, the media and politicians just don't get the point. WHERE ARE THE PARENTS?
In 2012, two tragic events occured. In July 19, 2012, there was a mass murder in Aurora during the premiere of the hit movie The Dark Knight Rises, but at least video games weren't blamed, instead this guy who shot these people was crazy out of his mind and trying to imitate movies. Five months later on December 14, 2012, a tragic shooting occurred at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Massachusetts caused by Adam Lanza, and video games like Mass Effect, Mortal Kombat, and Dynasty Warriors were blamed, prompting West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller to introduce a bill that would target violent games.
Now, I am sick and tired of the media, groups, and politicians blaming video games for all the violence among our youths, and all the problems of the world. Let's face it, people have killed in the name of many things such as religion, racial purity, and persecution whether of religion, sexual orientation or race, over dust and rubble or words in books. Many pro-gamers fight for their rights, as I do fight for video games to be left alone, and parents should take their heads out of the sand and research violent games before they even think of buying it for their kids. And in my opinion, kids below 13 shouldn't be playing violent video games like Call of Duty or Halo. They need to be taught what is real and not real, problem is, parents are just too soft these days.
God Bless and Play Hard Gamers!