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Video Game Censorship Here To Stay? Unlikely. |
By:
Barry Wireless |
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Video game censorship is a hot topic amongst gamers, those who
purchase games, and those who wish to curtail the rise in
violent video games. A recent wave of legislation has placed
this topic front and center in the video gaming industry. Many
states are banning offensive games; some countries are even
preventing the sale of x-rated video games. Although legislators
have good intentions when it comes to controlling the substance
kids see on the game screen, it's still hotly contested whether
censorship is necessary and/or will work to prevent violent
games from a) falling into the hands of the young impressionable
minds, and b) preventing the distribution and creation of
violent video games.
On one hand you have video game censorship, defined as: the use
of state or group power to control the playing, distribution,
purchase, or sale of video games (this includes any system and
console.) One would be hard pressed to argue against some of
their intentions of preventing kids from playing and purchasing
games that include objectionable content like the recent GTA 4:
San Andreas that included a hidden sex game for your enjoyment.
However, does censorship actually prevent kids from playing
games? Certainly censorship in itself doesn't prevent
individuals from playing games, but it does make it harder for
someone to purchase. This could influence some video game
designers to halt the production of questionable games, i.e.
rampant murder of law enforcement officials, sexual innuendo
and/or sexually explicit material, etc., but ultimately the idea
of full blown video game censorship will never work. To curtail
the huge industry of video gaming that has reigned with
free-reign since inception is next to impossible. In reality,
developers will respond to one thing and one thing only: the
market.
Kick and scream all you want for what are probably valiant
causes, however, it is the buying market, the consumers, you,
who will ultimately dictate which games are produced. If Grand
Theft Auto and the similar violent games continue to sell well,
then don't expect that type of content to leave any time soon.
People are playing and enjoying these games, and if underage
gamers end up playing would this not raise questions about adult
supervision-parenting-more than censorship? Certainly so,
therefore maybe a lesser form of censorship, one that is already
prevalent in the movie industry, could be introduced with
greater success. To combat underage players from gaming on games
rated 'M' for mature or higher, institute a 'no sale' policy.
Kids can't go in and see 'R' rated movies, why should they be
able to purchase 'R' rated games? The questions continue to fly
back and forth from both parties, as for and against censorship
advocates pit their arguments against one another. Ultimately
this writer will argue that the only thing that will shift
gaming content in this capitalist society where game developers
have enjoyed free reign is you, the gamer, the parent who buys,
the consumer.
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Article Source: http://www.PopularArticles.com/article6457.html |
Article: Video Game Censorship Here to Stay? Unlikely.
Author: Barry Wireless
Total Views: 44
Word Count: 442
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