Violence in Video Games and Its Affects on Teens

Violence in Video Games and Its Affects on Teens

Ever since their conception, video games have contained violence; violence being to cause pain or death onto other beings. From early video games to the most advanced, violence plays an important role. Early games like Wonder Boy and Space Invaders contain violence. Space Invaders involves shooting and killing as many alien as possible. Wonder Boy has our hero killing monsters that vanish upon death. The hero is also subjected to violence as enemies swing swords, and throws rocks at him. The degree of violence in video games is based upon personal preference. Does violence in video games contribute to violent act committed by teens? And, what makes teens turn to violence?

Being exposed to violence everyday, kids become blunt to it and it becomes a normal thing. It a defense mechanism, a form of denial says Dr. Peter Nieman, a Pediatrician. Video games are seen as fantasy but really help to make violence more acceptable in our society says university of Toronto Sociologist Walter Podichak. There are still many questions whether some video games are more violent than some comic books or some cartoons. It' s a problem for some kids who are not connected and are dealing with violent images, they may think this is an appropriate behavior. If they have access to a gun, you may see a problem says Det. Sgt. John Muise, of the Ontario office of victims of Crimes. (Source 3)

Examples of violent video games and their content

In modern day popular video games like Goldeneye 007 (James Bond) bad guys no longer disappear when they are killed. Instead, they react to there gunshot wound by hopping around, rolling around, or just dieing , but the body and the blood remain. In other games like Unreal Tournament and Half Life gore plays a huge factor. In these games when characters get shot or brutally beaten large sprays of blood squirt out, even when explosives are used body parts fly all over. (Source 4)

Games like Max Payne, Metal Gear Solid 2, and Grand Theft Auto 3 are rated for mature and are to be sold to anyone under the age of seventeen, yet they are flying off the shelves at high speeds. Within the first three months of its release Grand Theft Auto 3 sold almost 2 million in North America alone. GTA3 witch sells for