gamesecosse

Violence takes many forms...

The argument regarding violence in video games has been raging on for years, and I've certainly touched upon this topic in previous posts. Probably so long ago I've forgotten, but I've just finished reading an interesting article on the CGS website by Paul "ReDeYe" Chaloner regarding violent video games. It talked about an incident in Thailand that I confess I had not heard about - The story of a 19 year old GTA obsessive who stabbed a taxi driver to death.
Naturally not good news, but also brutal is the fact that it is just another trophy for the 'violent video game opposers' to hold and show to the world. Of course the article on the CGS is from a video gamers perspective, and reinforces the correct notion that people will commit violent crimes regardless - video games are continuously 'lashed' for being responsible for all of this crazy world's ills.
Something that I had noted about the last supposed GTA reenactment was the fact that the perpetrator was only 17 years old and was not legally entitled to purchase the game. Anybody who regurgitates cliched phrases about 'what violence does to our children' were beaten away (with a big stick) with the stalwart argument that the young man should not even have been playing GTA. But then anybody who hasn't watched an 18 rated film before that age probably lives in a cave... Nevertheless, I believe many still haven't come to terms with the idea that with the constantly evolving industry, the word 'game' now doesn't necessarily need to be associated with children. GTA is really not for young gamers. Will anybody ever realise that?
Violence is generally thought of as a single entity. ie. A game (or film) is either violent or not. This is a very naive way of looking at it, and again, is probably promoted by non gamers, who haven't seen the wide array of action on show in today's next gen titles. The combat which makes up the Soul Calibur series is purely fantastical, colourful, totally unrealistic and generally light hearted. This cannot be compared to the sadistic executions of the Manhunt series. ReDeYe believes that game creators should take a little more responsibility over what they include in their games. Very true.
There is nothing out rightly wrong with violent video games, films or books. However, gratuitous, sadistic gameplay for no real reason is a different story. Again this would apply to any media. GTA 4 is very violent, but there are terrific characters, a superb setting and an A+ game beneath which cannot be disregarded.

If a child re-enacted a murder from a book, parents really should take it upon themselves to never let their children read ever again... hmmm ;-)

posted by qmchaz64 @ 8:01 pm