Violence in Video Games (Discussion ?'s)

[patrickrrastatter]

1. Does playing video games blur the line between reality and fantasy?

2. Is video game regulation a First Amendment issue?

3. Is there a difference between the violence in video games and other sources of entertainment containing violence such as books, movies, music, etc.?

[Ava Nova]

Testing.

[Cris]

This discussion was an interesting yet difficult one, because the majority of the class already thought that the violence in video games usually doesn't lead to major problems in real life. It took me a decent amount of the time just realizing how desensitized I was to the violence so regularly seen. The most interesting part of the discussion was watching as the clips played from the games and remembering saying, "wow, that's pretty cool."

[Nick Pipher]

I found this discussion very interesting, because I have played video games for a very long time and never really thought about how desensitized to violence I might have become. I feel as though, compared to someone who hasn't played as many violent video games as myself, I wouldn't be as affected by a violent scene on the news or in front of me than someone who had never played a violent video game. These violent acts seem to become lodged into one's brain after seeing it so many times on a TV screen.

[Mihir Sheth]

This discussion was very relevant to me because I have played video games from a very young age. Personally, my parents did not allow me to play shooter or GTA-like games until high school. However, while that may not give me as much experience with the topic, I feel that if I had started from a younger age, the themes in the game may have had a bad effect on how I viewed violence and indecency. The most interesting part of the discussion for me was when Nick brought up the point about violence being present even in sports games, like the hit-stick in Madden. I never thought about violence in the context of sports, but I now realize that video games almost reinforce brutality in many different forms.

[Philip Sapp]

Video games are something that almost any teenager can relate to and this presentation definitely sparked my interest. Thinking back and actually realizing how violent and gruesome video games can be, I understand why some people believe they may have negative affects. What really captured my attention was the third discussion question that was presented. I had never thought about the correlation between violent video games and violent scenes in movies or other forms of entertainment. I believe there is a slight difference between the two, but both can be very gruesome and one can argue that they can both have negative affects. Video games are different then movies because you are actually doing the killing or stealing, while movies you just watch the violent actions unfold before you. In both forms of entertainment the mind is processing the gruesome or violent scenes and there really is not that big of a difference between them. The violence is video games is regulated on a certain scale by the ESRB and movies rating are also determined by the MPAA. Any form of entertainment (video games, movies, news, etc) can have violence and when the mind interprets these scenes it is ingrained in the brain.

[Neal Patel]

In a response to question three, and Philip’s post as well, I think that there is a big difference between violence in video games and in other sources of entertainment. While I can understand that watching violent TV shows or movies can have an affect in encouraging violence and aggression in impressionable children in ways similar to playing video games, I think that being able to control the characters in video games and having some sense of “responsibility” for their actions encourages this violence in ways that other forms of entertainment don’t. Games like GTA cause players to associate aggressive actions to pleasure and happiness to an extent that simply observing violence cannot. Critics of the law cite violent stories such as those of Hansel and Gretel, but can they really be compared to video games?


The Supreme Court has a long standing history in protecting rights of media under the first amendment, even when is comes to youth. While movies and video games are being regulated by organizations like the MPAA and ESRB respectively (as Philip mentioned), these are privately run industry-affiliated groups that do not derive their power from government legislation. Yet, I think that as technology exponentially grows in its ability to present children with more vivid, interactive, and life-like depictions of violence, government intervention will be inevitable. If today is the time for that to happen with games like GTA, or if we will have to wait until more realistic simulations of violence hit the markets, it is something that is bound to happen as the public begins to question the Supreme Court’s policies more and more as they did in California, and as they have “in six other states, including Michigan and Illinois,” as mentioned in the article.

[Chelsea McDermott]

In response to question one, I believe that playing video games can blur the line between reality and fantasy. I think that it depends upon the personality and age of the person playing the game. Young children are much more impressionable than adults. I think adults can clearly distinguish the line between reality and fantasy when playing video games. I think that kids lose themselves in the game, and in some ways the game becomes their reality and their actual life becomes the fantasy.

On average boys play violent video games up to thirteen hours a week. According to the American Psychological Association, violent video games can increase children's aggression. The number one negative effect of violent video games on children is that the kids are begging to resolve anxiety by externalizing it. Instead of solving their problems by talking to someone about it, they attack something, such as kicking a wall or being mean to a dog or pet. I would say that this could be a effect of playing violent video games blurring the line between reality and fantasy.

In response to question three, i believe that there is a difference between the violence of video games and other sources of entertainment containing violence. With books and movies, the child is not physically participating in the violence. They are seeing it on a screen or imagining it in their head. With video games, the child is involved in the violence. In video games a child can make their character steal and kill. I think this is much more detrimental than seeing it happen.

[Brittany Fischer]

Violent video games, though inappropriate for some viewers do have the freedom of speech and should be allowed to create what they want. They should not be restricted from creating what they want. The regulations in place now do their best to restrict children from getting a hold of mature games, but telling a company what they should and should not produce definitely encroaches on the Bill of Rights. I think that the decision should be left to the parent or guardian of the child on whether or not they should play the game, and how much they should play.
In regards to the blurred line between reality and fantasy, I can see how that could happen to some people. Unlike movies or other entertainment sources video games give you control of the main character. I could see how some could essentially start to associate themselves with the character, and start to react to situations the same way the character would react, but I feel like this would be rare.
Ultimately it is probably the society, not the video games that has caused the violence in today's society. It should be left up to the parents of the child to choose whether or not they are allowed to play violent games and to discourage violent behavior. I do not believe that video games causes any of the behavior issues, although they may add to it. Therefore, parents who have children with violent tendencies may want to restrict the amount of violent things that they are exposed to, including all other types of media, not just video games.

[zach baronner]

This discussion was very relevant to me since I have played violent video games before and have seen multiple news stories about people shooting or harming others due to a video game. Even though I would not be as affected from a violent scene or game I can understand how others might. During the discussion I was thinking on children with some psychological problems could get some bad ideas from these violent games. When we watched the clip of COD it kind of made me laugh that it was so violent and bloody but then realized that these games are causing more rage and violence with the kids playing them.

[zach baronner]

This discussion was very relevant to me since I have played violent video games before and have seen multiple news stories about people shooting or harming others due to a video game. Even though I would not be as affected from a violent scene or game I can understand how others might. During the discussion I was thinking on children with some psychological problems could get some bad ideas from these violent games. When we watched the clip of COD it kind of made me laugh that it was so violent and bloody but then realized that these games are causing more rage and violence with the kids playing them.