Video Games and Violent Behavior

Video Games and Violent Behavior

There has never been a proven causal link between video games and violent behavior.  The gaming industry, however, has been the target of fierce scrutiny, especially after such tragic and senseless acts of violence like the Columbine and more recent Sandy Hook school shootings.  In the 90’s, the ESRB was formed through the efforts of Joe Lieberman, and it has since been used to assist parents in selecting appropriate software for their children.  Now, the National Rife Association (NRA) has again drawn the country’s attention to violent media.

The Supreme Court has offered video games First Amendment protection under our constitution, an appropriate decision for a medium that I firmly believe is as creatively expressive as movies, theater, and other forms of art.  Because of this, it is unlikely we’ll see any legislation regulating the content that can appear in any particular video game.  However, this won’t stop the country from pointing fingers when another tragedy rears its ugly head.  Having someone to blame is comforting, but that in and of itself can never solve the problems at the root.

The Obama administration has smartly chosen to focus on firearms regulations and mental health care, areas that the government is truly responsible for monitoring, and I respect them for looking in the right direction.  However, the exposure of children to media – whether it be books, comics, movies, TV shows, or video games – is still something that can and must be monitored on a case-by-case basis by the nation’s parents.  Parents know their children best and can determine what’s appropriate and what’s not.

This is not to say that the gaming industry can stand idle.  Because video games have been given this power and freedom, the industry must also strive to be responsible.  There are many negative perceptions of gamers and how we interact with each other, and unfortunately some of it is true.  And whether we like it or not, most video games contain violent content in some form.  While many are obvious, even our most beloved, seemingly innocuous franchises like Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, Angry Birds, Pokemon, and Final Fantasy are imbedded with violence, albeit dumbed down and comic.  Other games like Mortal Kombat, Halo, Elder Scrolls, Dragon Age, Call of Duty, and Resident Evil are inherently so.  The industry has been moving to develop more innovative, less violence-based titles like Journey, Professor Layton, and Little Big Planet, but most still rely on the tried and true formula of a hero rising up to defeat enemies.  And defeating a foe – at least in most of the video game worlds – calls for an act of violence.

When you really think about it, stomping on a Goomba's head to smash it is pretty mean.

This is not to say that I fault this ubiquitous violence.  I stand firmly on the belief that video games are a form of artistic expression and should not be heavily regulated.  But we as the gaming community must do more to educate the public about the industry, and tout the many positive benefits of gaming, both as a form of entertainment and a constructive and stimulating social experience.  I’m a hardcore gamer myself and know many others like me.  I’m also a passionate writer, a foodie, a gardener with a heck of a green thumb, a social media junky, a well-respected employee at my company, and an affectionate, friendly, caring, fully functional member of society with a strong stance against any kind of physical violence.  As our beloved gaming industry moves resolutely into popular culture, we too – as gamers and developers alike – must work hard to affect positive change on the world’s perception of us.