Video games

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A video game is any electronic game, played by means of a video screen on a computer or console, often emphasizing fast action [1]. The nature of video games varies, ranging from educational games for children, electronic versions of classic board and card games (such as online poker), through to more violent to war and fighting games. The video game industry is an important part of the knowledge economy and actually grew during the late-2000s recession.

Video games have been linked to murders and other violence, stress-induced health problems (including unexpected heart attacks), atheism, serious addiction and disconnection from reality, obesity,[2] and sexual immorality.

Nature of Video games

The games vary greatly in type and complexity, but all games are alike in that they translate player input (from a controller, mouse, keyboard or motion sensor) into onscreen actions. Games are usually stored on some sort of digital media - ROM cartridge, CD, DVD, or even cassette tape for early computer games - though older or more inexpensive games may have dedicated chips which are pre-programmed to play certain games only. In recent years, game developers have moved to digital distribution, allowing anyone with a credit card or Paypal account to purchase games online.

Home consoles are classified by generation to indicate their relative power and date of release. The current major consoles (XBox360, PS3, Wii) are considered seventh generation. Handheld consoles are not generally put into generations due to their more irregular release schedules.

Video games have also been shown to help people to become more attuned to their surroundings and increase coordination, and in the future may be used to treat people with visual problems and to train soldiers. [3]

Various genres

Video games in the course of their existence have grown from the simple arcade style games, and have become more detailed and separated from one another. Genres can now include first person shooters, racing, simulation, role-playing, sports, action, platformers and many others. Even then, games can combine genres, such as Mass Effect (Role Playing and Third Person Shooting), or not fit nicely into any genre, like The Mystery of the Druids. Some genres have spawned sub-genres, for example, Super Mario Bros. was the first sidescroller, a sub-genre of the platformer.

Popularity & Controversy

Games have risen in popularity over the years, as is shown in the rise of video games sales from the 1980s until today. This has brought with it a various amount of controversy as the video game industry continues to grow with its original player base.

Video games are addictive activities targeted at all ages, sometimes with tragic results.[4] Certain genres of games are becoming increasingly violent and offensive, attracting the attention of legislators in many states to protect the exploitation of children by them. Games such as Grand Theft Auto are very violent, sexually explicit, and feature criminal behavior. These games are rated "M (17+)" for "Mature" or "AO (18+)" for "Adults Only" by a private board that has much influence throughout retailers, but courts have stricken down laws preventing retailers from selling them to children, under an interpretation that the First Amendment protects offensive video games even for children.[5] After a Conservapedian filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court to consider this issue, it surprised liberals by granting certiorari.

However, in 2011, the Supreme Court denied a ban on the sale of violent video games in California, claiming they were protected as they "qualify for First Amendment Protection" and pointing out that there has historically been no shortage of violent imagery in children's fairytales, classical literature, and comics. Writing for the majority, Justice Scalia pointed out that "disgust is not a valid basis for restricting expression", and continued that any effects of violent video games on children "are both small and indistinguishable from effects produced by other media".[6]

It has also been suggested that it is the role of parents to regulate what their children play, and that laws restricting video game vendors are an effort to replace parents' decisions with the government's decisions.[7] [8] [9]

[10]

A number of Norway stores have pulled violent video games from sale - including several Call of Duty games and World of Warcraft - in the wake of the massacre carried out by Anders Behring Breivik on July 22.
[11]

Violence

Most of the controversy comes from the rising trend toward violence in video games, as pioneered by Doom, Quake, and the Grand Theft Auto series.

Some people[Who says?] point out that violent video games cause violent behavior in some children. The effects of violent video games on the developing psyche of children and adolescents vary greatly and of course have much to do with the mental stability of the subject in question[Citation Needed] . Serious crimes have often been associated with video games. For example, a 14-year-old brutally murdered a video arcade employee one morning and his cousin stands trial for murdering the store manager when he entered the store shortly thereafter.[12] In the USA, all retail games carry ratings from the ESRB, a video game ratings organization.

Some claim that kids who don't play video games at all seem to show more violent tendencies. Of course, as expected, those who played violent video games for large amounts of time also showed violent tendencies, however the study claims that this is a "risk marker", not an actual cause.[13]

Multiple studies have shown a correlation between violent video games and levels of real life violence, caused by playing some of the aforementioned video games.[14]

Sexuality

Although nudity is not prominent in western video games, there are various products containing sexually-suggestive material. One reason for the relative lack of explicitly sexual material in western games may be the refusal of most major retailers including Wal-Mart[15] (the leading distributor of video games in the United States) and Toys R Us[16] (the world's largest toy themed retailer) to sell games carrying an "Adults-Only" rating, and AO rated games can't even be sold on eBay except for in the adult section of the website. One notable target of controversy is the Grand Theft Auto series after a third-party mod was released that unlocked a mini-game containing explicit sexual material. Mods are, as "third-party" would imply, fan-made and are not the responsibility of the game's developer. Other sources of this criticism relate to the game Tomb Raider as it was one of the first games where a female character (the protagonist) is depicted and advertised as a sex symbol.[17]

Video Games and Society

As video games become more popular, their impact on society becomes ever more present. A prime example of this is the massive ad campaigns for the Halo series, as well as Grand Theft Auto. Advertising, merchandising, and even social pressures have changed in the ever-growing influence of video gaming.

Due to their popularity, various corporations have begun placing advertisements for their products within the context of the game. Second Life, an Internet-based virtual world, has attempted to blur the lines between real-world and virtual world, and companies such as Adidas, Reebok, and Dell have set up virtual stores selling real-world products within the game. Reuters also operates a news bureau reporting news in the game.

Many Massively Multiplayer Online Games, such as EverQuest and World of Warcraft, have become controversial due to their addictive game play. There are many instances of personal and parental neglect, some of which result in death. Addiction to video games can derail academic progress and cause social isolation in students of all ages, and is known to destroy marriages when one partner becomes addicted.

Education in Video Games

While most popular video games are experiencing an increase in violence, language, and sexuality, other gamers and game developers are beginning to view video games as an educational opportunity. Firaxis Games, a noteworthy video game development company, has been creating a video game series called Civilization for nearly a decade. [18] Civilization is a simulation game that allows the player to lead a nation from ancient times to modern day. It features a dynamic military system, politics, trading, and historical content. It has been recognized for its unintentional educational properties. [19]

Microsoft Flight Simulator is another example of a video game being recognized for its unique educational properties. [20]

The popularity of several of the favorite sports video games has led to an uptake in children wishing to take part in them. If an adult plays video games with their children, they can learn about their child's personality and interests.

Faith in Video Games

Faith in Video Gaming has, as a rule, either led to the creation of new and dynamic antagonists, or video games that are mediocre, such as Spiritual Warfare and Bible Adventure for the Nintendo, or The Bible Game for various systems. Bible Adventure in particular is infamous for its poor design and playability.

The Bible, or other such religious texts, tell a story spanning many different viewpoints. Turning these ideas into a video game, however, most often leads to games that tend to bore most video game audiences.

Religion has, however, taken a prominent place amongst the various heroes and villains in video games. The Breath of Fire series and the Shin Megami Tensei games, in particular, use a god as a main antagonist in many of its incarnations. Other games to use religion in some way include the Final Fantasy series, Left Behind: Eternal Forces, Black and White, Heaven and Hell, Xenogears, Okami, and the Tales series, particularly Tales of Symphonia. Unfortunately, many (not all) of the aforementioned games (And nearly any Role Playing game from East Asia) present religion (or it's respective church and followers) as evil, fake, or having ulterior and nefarious motives.

The computer game Civilization IV has a religion element that enables players to spread their civilization's culture through religion. Available religions include Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Taoism, Confucianism and Hinduism.[21]

Games may include a fictional religion as part of the setting if the use of a real religion may invite undesirable controversy.

Video game reviewers have sometimes unjustly attacked and reviewed games where real-world religion plays a notable role. One of the most prominent examples of this is the game Left Behind: Eternal Forces.[22].

Video Games as Art

Recently, video games have gained the legal protections of any other art form due to an official ruling by the supreme court[23], ruling that video games are as protected as any other art form by the First Amendment. Video games are fully capable of communicating moral and social views through tropes universal in other mediums, such as characters, dialog, and symbolism, in addition to it's unique characteristic, interactivity. A Smithsonian exhibit on art in video games is planned for 2012. Some individuals within the games industry have argued that the immensely profitable first-person shooter model is stifling the development of games as an art form, and that the profitable areas of gaming must diversify in order to improve games as a cultural medium worthy of appreciation.

Most popular video games

Game Platform Sold Rating
Wii Sports Wii 76.76 million E
Super Mario Bros. NES 40.24 million E
Tetris GB 35 million E
Mario Kart Wii Wii 28.23 million E
Wii Sports Resort Wii 27.68 million E
Wii Play Wii 27.38 million E
New Super Mario Bros. DS 26.88 million E
Pokémon Red, and Blue GB 23.64 million E
Nintendogs All versions DS 23.26 million E
Pokémon Gold and Silver GB 23 million E
Wii Fit Wii 22.61 million E
New Super Mario Bros. Wii Wii 21.94 million E
Mario Kart DS DS 21.04 million E
Super Mario World SNES 20.60 million E
Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! DS 18.72 million E
Wii Fit Plus Wii 18.49 million E
Super Mario Land GB 18.06 million E
Super Mario Bros. 3 NES 18 million E
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl DS 17.39 million E
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas PS2 17.33 million M
The Sims PC 16 million T
Sonic the Hedgehog Sega 15 million E

See Also

External Links

References

  1. Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Video Game http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/video+game?show=0&t=1322499353
  2. Childhood Obesity Department of Health and Human Services, retrieved Sept 18th 2011
  3. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/05/0528_030528_videogames.html
  4. http://www.theesa.com/facts/gameplayer.asp
  5. http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/148962.html
  6. BROWN, GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA, ET AL. v. ENTERTAINMENT MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION ET AL.
  7. http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/45083/
  8. http://www.gameculture.com/2010/11/10/editorial-parental-responsibility-and-today039s-media
  9. http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-games28-2009feb28,0,1556900.story
  10. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-316491/Teenager-gets-life-Manhunt-murder.html
  11. http://www.metro.co.uk/tech/games/871121-norway-stores-pull-violent-video-games-including-call-of-duty-after-massacre#ixzz1erUdaLo5
  12. http://www.nj.com/starledger/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1212467732102240.xml&coll=1
  13. http://wii.qj.net/New-research-reveals-kids-who-don-t-play-videogames-at-all-are-more-at-risk-of-violent-tendencies/pg/49/aid/118505 New research reveals kids who don't play video games at all are more at risk of violent tendencies
  14. http://www.apa.org/science/psa/sb-anderson.html
  15. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=440903
  16. See Toys "R" Us's video games policy
  17. Ashley, Robert. "The Secret History of Videogame Sex." Official Playstation Magazine Feb. 2006: 96-99.
  18. http://www.firaxis.com/company/
  19. http://www.firaxis.com/community/teacher.php
  20. http://www.microsoft.com/Products/Games/FSInsider/product/Pages/InfoEducators.aspx
  21. http://guides.gamepressure.com/sidmeierscivilization4/guide.asp?ID=599
  22. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/pc/left_behind
  23. http://articles.cnn.com/2011-06-27/tech/supreme.court.video.game.art_1_sale-of-violent-video-video-games-hansel-and-gretel?_s=PM:TECH