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Video game controversy (view source)
Revision as of 13:07, January 28, 2008
, 13:07, January 28, 2008no edit summary
== Violence ==
== Violence ==
Some argue that [[Columbine High School Massacre|Columbine High School]] mass-murderers Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris were driven to violence partially because they were fans of violent video games such as ''[[Doom]]'' and ''[[Duke Nukem]]''.<ref>http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/320331.html</ref> Others disagree, arguing that, while video game usage has been increasing in recent years<ref>http://www.betanews.com/article/Nielsen_Video_Game_Usage_Up_18/1173124761</ref>, a similar trend does not appear in violence statistics.<ref>http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/glance/tables/frmdth.htm</ref>
Some argue that [[Columbine High School Massacre|Columbine High School]] mass-murderers Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris were driven to violence partially because they were fans of violent video games such as ''[[Doom]]'' and ''[[Duke Nukem]]''.<ref>http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/320331.html</ref> Others disagree, arguing that, while video game usage has been increasing in recent years<ref>http://www.betanews.com/article/Nielsen_Video_Game_Usage_Up_18/1173124761</ref>, a similar trend does not appear in violence statistics.<ref>http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/glance/tables/frmdth.htm</ref> Cho Seung Hui, the man responsible behind the Virginia Tech shootings, was reported to have played games such as CounterStrike on his computer prior to the shooting, as well. No official link has been established by any investigating organization on this matter, however, and the link between violence and video games remains speculation.
== GTA: San Andreas 'Hot Coffee' ==
In June of 2005, an independent gamer found a patch in the PC version of the popular 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' game, which depicted two of the characters having virtual sex in the game as a side-part of the gameplay. The patch, named 'Hot Coffee', soon spread throughout the internet and the console versions using 'game enhancing' tools seperate from the game.
The patch soon spread through the internet, and came to the attention of critics. Those who were critical of the game soon attacked Rockstar Games [The developers] the [[Entertainment Software Ratings Board]][ESRB, responsible for rating game content] for the inclusion of the mini-game into the main game's code, even though it could not be accessed without subverting the original programming.
At the height of the scandal, Sen. [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]] and [[Jack Thompson]] worked to ban GTA: San Andreas, as well as many other games, such as ''Killer 7'' and ''Bully'', going as far as starting investigations upon the ESRB and Rockstar Games. Rockstar Games soon stopped sales of the original GTA:SA, removing the original 'Hot Coffee' coding from the game build, then re-released the 'clean' version after the game was altered. A 'Cold Coffee' patch, released to address various problems in the PC version, also removed the code.
The impact of the scandal also reached past the original title, hampering the production and sale of other controversial games, including ''Manhunt 2'' and ''Grand Theft Auto 4''.
== Manhunt 2 Ratings ==
In August of 2007, Manhunt 2, a stalk-survival game released by Rockstar Games, was originally set to be released for an Adults Only 18+ [AO 18] label by the ESRB, due to some of the more gruesome torture scenes present in the game. Some compared the game's bloody aesthetic to movies such as the ''Saw'' and ''Hostel'' series of films, depicting copious amounts of blood, gore, and partial nudity. The game was soon backlashed by retail sellers such as Wal-Mart, Electronics Boutique, and GameStop for the AO rating, which made it prohibited to be sold in retail stores. The game was soon toned down, and after months of edits and changes to the game, it was released with mild fanfare in October of 2007
== References ==
== References ==