Posted on 10/02/2004 7:45:33 PM PDT by qam1
It’s very, very naughty to throw a hand grenade at an ambulance.
I long for the days when I could massacre the undead in video games and not worry about corrupting myself or society. But wait … who am I kidding? The controversy over violence in video games is far older than most people realize.
From 1976’s “Death Race,” to “Mortal Kombat” in 1992, to the 2001 release “Grand Theft Auto III” and beyond, the controversy pesters whenever over-anxious parents, watchdog groups and legislators are looking for an “easy basket” against moral corruption. In all the hubbub, these arguments have missed a fundamental question: What ever happened to the children that first played violent video games?
It’s been more than 25 years since the Atari 2600 mainstreamed the industry and 20 years since the original Nintendo. The granddaddy of violent video games, “Mortal Kombat,” is already a tween. Countless violent video-game playing children have grown up to be adults. Has anyone sat down and looked at what’s become of these children?
I know I was curious, so I sought them out. It ends up they’re everywhere. Starting at my law school, it turns out many fondly recall “finishing” opponents with blood-soaked vengeance in “Moral Kombat II.” Over in the Medical School, I found students who, when not learning how to preserve life, routinely gather to dissect each other with bullets in “Halo.” Heck, I even spoke to members of law enforcement who passionately enjoy carjacking vehicles in “Grand Theft Auto.”
What’s going on here? Not one was in prison for murder, arson or even tax evasion! Many scoffed at the thought of even owning a gun.
I’ve observed sizable numbers of doctors, lawyers, junior executives, political consultants and many other young professionals who play or have played violent video games to some extent in their lives. Weren’t these the same kids who were supposedly being corrupted by video games? Yet here they are, taking up the mantle of leadership in society. Might these be mere games and not devious engines of social corruption?
Yet, just the other day, the British Broadcasting Corp. continued the rage against the video-game machines, citing games where players “murder” their opponents in games such as “Doom III” (omitting that their opponents are ghouls, but I’ll hold off on that issue). They even awoke the “classic” anti-video game argument, that mimicry encouraged people such as the Columbine shooters.
Hmm — Did I just not understand Columbine? Two unholy sociopaths shoot up their school, and it was because of their video games? As though playing violent video games made them in any way different from any other teenage male for the last 25 years? It seems as though violent video games are an easy answer for those who’ve never played them.
What is it that’s happening in this handful of marginal cases? Are these instances of people being morally corrupted by video games, or morally corrupt people who happen to play video games? Why not just point these arguments at all media, including movies and books?
To a much lesser extent, they are, but because video games are still a relatively new medium, they bear the brunt of worse misconceptions. After all, even holy books are interpreted to mean vile and terrible things (just look at Brother Jed) — video games are no different (and in the case of the Bible, no less violent).
Still, I have hope. As each generation of gamers gets older, we will hopefully carry this same understanding to our own children: Just because you shoot some zombies on the Play Station 2, doesn’t mean you’re going to shoot people at your high school, reality and fiction are separate, and it’s very, very naughty to throw a hand grenade
ghost recon bump
Very Nice read. I myself work in the industry and the attacks we weather are very ludicrous. I appreciate your support. You've made it very hard for the naysayers.
I can't wait for this game. It's going to take gaming into a new era.
Doom III rocked.
Is Islam rated "M" for violence?
I love Postal 2. Great game. It doesn't get any better when it comes to mindless violence for the sake of violence. It even pokes fun at itself.
You really have to play BF on a LAN with 20+ other people to make it interesting.
Go to your local cyber cafe and pay the $4 bucks an hour, its worth it.
Wolfenstein, Duke Nukem, Doom, Quake and Unreal...
If it moves, kill it. Head to head is the most fun. It use to be modem to modem, then later the Internet. My friend and I have ISDN lines primarily so we can play head to head (direct connection, computer to computer with ISDN) for the lowest ping we can afford...
I started with Wolfenstein on an Apple II. It wasn't even "3D" back then in the early 80's...
Almost felt like I was actually in the base walking around and talking to the other soldiers.
(Doom III rocked.)
Hell, for that matter Doom 2
rocked and still does if you don't have enough computing power to run Doom3.I also like Quake 1 ,Duke Nukem 3d and Shadow Warrior on my older machines.Any hot tips for getting Doom3 to run smoother on something on the ragged edge of thier system requirements?
LCD monitors are generally a bad choice for action games like Doom 3. They are too slow.
Even CRT monitors have to have their refresh rates set as high as the computer/video adapter and monitor can handle to get good play. Generally at least 120 Hz.
I would go with the NEC 22" CRT Flat Screen MultiSync FE2111SB, it's supposed to be the best out now for high end machines.
Been waiting for Half-Life 2 for months; they keep pushing the release date. I liked Half_life 1 much more than Wolfenstein.
I cannot even tell you how many people I have beaten to death with a baseball bat in GTA III & Vice City.
Ditto. I have mercilessly "capped" scores of Nazis in Return to Wolfenstien. Let us not forget the hundres of Mechs and buildings that have felt my wrath in Mechassault. These games, and others, are just a stress reliever for me. After a long day filled with annoyances and BS, it is good to have a relief valve.
I long for the days of quake1 ctf on elder god shrine. ahh, the feel of sinking a grappling hook into an enemy, then whacking on him with my axe (even better if I had haste rune)
To much Raiden
To fruity for my tastes.
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