Violence in Video Games

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Violence in Video Games

• Sean Y. Gyatso
• Assignment 7
• CS 100-32

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Technology has come a long way over the years.
In the present time we are seeing more and more
violence as technology advances. The main targets
are young kids from ages 8 to 24 who are involved
in playing video games. Some of the graphics on
video games are affecting the kids in a
psychological way. Where aggression, violent
behavior and health are at risks. The video game
industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that
are making parents concerned about the kids
spending to much time playing games. Therefore,
weve raised the following questions If you play
video games with high violent content, does that
mean that the gamer will show a greater degree of
aggressiveness and violent towards others in
everyday lives? If not, why not? Does the outcome
depend on the personal and social characteristics
of the gamer such as age, gender, and educational
level? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
The application of science, especially to
industrial or commercial objectives.
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• For example, on the market there is the
  Sony Playstation, Sony Playstation II, the X-Box,
  Nintendo 64, etc. However, the majority of games
  still consist of punching, kicking, whipping,
  shooting, or otherwise killing the opponent in
  order to win the game. According, to Ken Writ,
  assistant vice-president of NEC, violent games
  are the most popular because the people who spend
  the most money on games are boys ages 10-16.
  People enjoy the action in violent games. In
  fact, between 1952 and 1964, television saw a 90
  increase in violent programming. Advertisers and
  producers created more violent shows because it
  quickly became apparent that Americans would soon
  watch something violent than something
  non-violent. Video game is like a virtual world
  where you have to complete the mission of the
  game and get points for reward. From the
  beginning, video games have contained violence
  whether it is destruction or killing the bad
  guys. Early games like space invaders contain
  violence because the player destroys waves of
  alien aircrafts towards you. Some people might
  argue that this is not a violent game because it
  has cartoon like graphics and not to detailed,
  but the question is what happens when the story
  line involves human characters and the graphics
  are much more detailed, with advancement of new
  technology and programming techniques.

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In a nut shell

• On the other hand, good-quality video games
  offer lots of benefits to kids such as
• provide a fun and social form of entertainment
• encourage teamwork, and increase children's
  self-confidence and self-esteem as they master
  games
• make kids feel comfortable with
  technologyparticularly important for girls, who
  don't use technology as much as boys
• develop skills in reading, math, and
  problem-solving
• improve eye-hand coordination and fine motor
  skills

• The main concern that crosses many peoples mind
  is how violent games have become. Parents blame
  the companies for creating the aggression with
  held in the games. In 1990 the Nintendo
  Entertainment System sold over
• 7.2 million control decks,
• 60 million game packs
• 3.2 million Game Boy portable hand-held units
• 9 million Game Boy game packs.

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Conclusion

• In conclusion, although there are many
  studies examining the effects of video games and
  violence, these studies seem to focus mainly on
  the possible short-term aggressive effects. There
  are very few and incomplete studies of long-term
  effects from violent video games. Further studies
  on the long-term effects from violent video games
  are needed as experts mentioned. I felt that the
  games are not the problem, but the lack of
  parents being there for their kids. Also, its up
  to the individual to control themselves, which
  involves emotions and making the right decisions.

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Credit

• Buchman, D., Funck, J. (1996). Playing Violent
  and Computer Games and Adolescent
  Self-Concept. Communication, Vol.26 (2),19-32.
• Violence and Video Games (n.d). Retrieved April
  9, 2003, from           http//www.gamezero.com
•  Quittner, J., (1999). Are Video Games Really so
  Bad?. Time, Vol.153 (18), 30-34.
• Griffiths, M. (1999). Violent Video Games and
  Aggression A Review of Literature.     
  Aggression and Violent Behavior, Vol.4 (10),
  203-212.