Violence and Sex in Video Games

**Watsyurdeal?** · 05-19-11, 12:07 AM

So, this is something that has bugged me since I was younger, and even today it still puzzles me.

You all know about Doom, Mortal Kombat, and other games like that, games designed with blood and gore and obviously tailored to a more mature audience. But why is that when parents find out kids are playing these games, they try to blame the developer and the publisher for being "irresponsible"?

High court accepts case over violent video games - CNN

Justices challenge ban on violent video games - USATODAY.com

Violent video games linked to child aggression - CNN.com

I know it's probably something we all know and talked about to death, but why is it the Developer's Job to look out for your kids? I was under the assumption that as a parent, it's your job to keep an eye on your kids and what they're getting into. There is a mature audience of gamers, not everything produced in this industry has to be tailored to kids.

Discuss?

**DuDDy** · 05-19-11, 01:02 AM

I actually read about this law in an issue of Game Informer a few months back. From what I understood of it all the law is trying to do is establish a more rational and enforceable rating system and not to censor video games at all. Think of it more like a Parental Advisory sticker on cd's. Also its aim is to make a rating system that is helpful to parents when purchasing or buying video games for their kids. Ultimately most parents today, although we are getting closer to this point, did not grow up with video games or things of this nature.

Now as fare as there being a link between aggressive behavior and violent video games, I call bull shit. So long as the child is made aware and taught that the things they see and do in video games is not real and should not be done in real life there should be no problems on that front. It should be the parent's responsibility to decide if the game is too violent for their children and to convey the message of what happens in the game stays in the game.

**Mr_Blonde_OPS** · 05-19-11, 02:58 AM

To entirely ban violent or sexual videos games is crazy. I actually think a Parental advisory sticker would be a great solution. But also like Duddy said, there is no link between violence in children/teens and video games. If the child plays a lot of violent video games and thinks he can re-enact these behaviors in real life than he has issues mentally and needs help. This behavior has nothing to do with the video games, it has to do with children not being brought up correctly and disciplined.

**SpiritOfF1re** · 05-19-11, 03:02 AM

I could care less about banning sexual content...that's not exactly what I'm playing the game for. but violence? that covers 80% of the games out there, unless they just mean blood and gore.

**Red_Lizard2** · 05-19-11, 03:18 AM

I'd worry about banning sexual content mostly because...who decides what classifies something as such? if it is under current ratings, well there will be a lot banned because according to the ESRB:

Blood everywhere, dismemberment, graphic as fuck violence=suitable for 13+
the word sexual partners, and a implied "sex toy" scene=AO rating

Not that movies are any better, The Kings Speech got an R rating because of "bad language," yet in the U.K. it is considered a family movie. Basically just because one scene with a ton of shits and fucks made it not suitable for U.S. children. Good thing they didn't have any sex scenes or the movie probably would be banned from the U.S., because we have our priorities straight

**Kraker Jak** · 05-19-11, 04:00 AM

Its because the notion of accountability has eluded the american public ever since the day of the internet. Its much easier to blame a video game than yourself for being a shitty parent. Its like people who blame firefighters for their house burning down or cops for getting a speeding ticket.

I grew up playing mortal combat, street fighter, leisure suite larry, duke nukem, and teenage mutant ninja turtles. I'm not a murder, nor a rapist.......pretty normal person...

Sent from my phone, because obviously I am not at home...using TapaTalk

**Kraker Jak** · 05-19-11, 04:04 AM

Yet if you want to talk movie ratings, that whole thing is a crock of bullshit tied in with he MPAA. I urge everyone to rent the movie "This film is not yet rated". Its on netflix, wonderful look inside the MPAA

Sent from my phone, because obviously I am not at home...using TapaTalk

**SmokenScion** · 05-19-11, 01:33 PM

Self ~~Parental~~ accountability. or lack of, Laziness essentially.

really quite funny

**deputyfestus** · 05-19-11, 07:42 PM

Violence and Sex in Video Games-kids-play-jpg

To me it's the same as this wtf is your kid doing in the street and why is it my job to watch out for them.

**WaterDumple** · 05-19-11, 08:00 PM

Something I find almost more interesting is the bizarre discrimination (most noticeably seen in the United States) between violence and sex in video games. Absolutely preposterous amounts of blood, gore, and all manner of other visceral and/or disgusting depictions are allowed with an M rating. Show any minor nudity and we get Lol News bitching about Mass Effect and how it's corrupting society and DO IT FOR THE CHILDREN and the likes.

This divide is rather counter-intuitive, since (taking all the gore away and just reducing it to killing) the two are really quite opposite in real life. Killing is ordinarily a crime, a generally unusual event as far as how it impacts your life on an average day of the year, and the average person will not kill another human being in their lifetime. Sex is a completely ordinary process inherently tied to the species (and all other species that reproduce sexually), it is largely common if normally a private matter, and the average person will have sex in their lifetime. Yet the latter is completely intolerable when represented in a game, as opposed to the former which is really given quite free reign to be shown as it wishes, aside from the odd guy here and there who tries to get laws passed against it in California of all places.

I haven't put a great deal of thought to it, but at the moment, I can't come up with a good reason for why this disparity exists.