The Retort

Blame the Game

February 18th, 2011 by Alex Hanson Of The Retort Staff

Video games are seen as brain rotting devices by many who do not indulge in the pleasure that many games bring. A portal through which all evils can be experienced in one way or another and give the player options that wouldn’t be obtainable in real life. For many, video games are a casual experience, just a chance to sit down with a couple of friends and waste an hour or two. For others it is a release where you can escape into an alternate reality that puts you behind the wheel of the world’s finest vehicles or even the shoes of a military specialist sent to infiltrate an enemy base alone. But throughout the past decade video games have become an easy target to blame for all that is wrong on the Earth.

One thing that all people should know, if they don’t already, is that video games are given a rating based on the contents by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) just like any movie that hits the big screen gets. From “E for Everyone” to “M for Mature,” game cases are stamped with the rating smack dab on the front cover. So it is safe to say that an “M” rated game is not safe for “Everyone” and only mature audiences should experience what lies beyond the game disc. The only problem with the system is that unlike an “R” rated film, an “M” rated game is not illegal for a minor to purchase. Thus setting the stage for our world’s drug use, violence, murders and, believe it or not, rape.

A recent article published by Fox News accused Epic Game Studios, a power house in the gaming industry, of producing the worst game in the world. Not because the game was bad, but because the names of most of the creative combinations utilized to execute your enemies in game are all sexual innuendos. What’s the big deal here? I’m not too sure, but apparently the only places sexual innuendos exist now are inside of video games. As I read further into the article, a “study” reported that exposure to elements like violence and sexual acts in video games actually teaches the players that the correct way to resolve a conflict is through one of the previously mentioned. The one thing that shocked me the most though, was the statement, “The increase in rapes can be attributed in large part to the playing out of [sexual] scenes in video games.” The reason this frustrates me is simply because video games portray violence, but so do television shows, movies, and even music.

To let all of the blame fall onto one source of entertainment is irresponsible and outright frustrating. Violence in large blockbuster films may not be controlled by an onlooker, but it is more realistic than what one might experience in a video game. Many rap albums today contain more vulgar language than many popular games on the market. I would not be opposed to a law being enforced that would restrict titles with a certain rating to minors if it would halt the accusations towards video games. If parents are worried about their children being exposed to these games then there is a simple solution, regulate what they play, how often they play, and as always, know your ratings.