There is one thing I've always thought was pretty annoying when I hear news and reports about people criticizing the content in video games. I really think everyone got their mindset about video games all wrong and people are so consumed with either defending, or bashing video game content that the reality of things are dropped by the waist side. Video games are really popular, everyone plays them...From elementary school age kids, to teenagers, young adults, to retirement age adults. But I think the title..."Video Game" makes everyone think of toys ......for children. I remember reading one time where a lady bought Grand theft auto for her 14 year old son...then later saw the violence in the game and wanted to sue Rockstar. I remember thinking, if you were worried about the game's content, why would you buy a game with the big letter "M" for mature on the cover. "Not recommended for someone under 17" is what the majority of those violent games say right on the cover. Halo, GTA, Manhunt, plenty of games has that large letter "M" stamped right on the games container. I cringe, every time I hear someone tell me their 7 year old's favorite game is GTA. Maybe I'm wrong, but I kind of look at that letter "M" on those game boxes like the letter "R" on a DVD movie's container. Not for kids.
That's where the problem lies I think. People see the word "game", and think that it's automatically for kids. They just cannot get it out of their heads that it's not the case in all situations. Gaming has grown up, along with the kids in the early 80s that use to play when video games first started to become really popular. The Gamers has grown, technology has grown, and gaming as a whole has grown, thus matured. It's not geared towards children all the time anymore. People need to start looking at video games the same way they look at other content ie movies, and television. People need to familiarize themselves with videogames, so they at least have a clue what they are buying their kids. Many parents out there will check out a movie if they think the content may be questionable before they let their kids watch, that needs to be done with video games also. I know if your not a gamer, you probably rather remove your fingernails with a pair of pliers before you sit down to play a video game but that is what needs to be done. Get familiar with what you allow your kids to play.
People don't want to admit it, but video gaming is now just another form of electronic entertainment, it's not just for kids anymore, it rival's the box office every year with production cost, profits, and in some cases story and acting. And there are all types of games geared towards all different ages and interest. I understand though, it is hard to say the word "game" and think anything other than toys for children. Maybe the word "game" should be dropped, just call it an "Interactive movie" or something. Something that takes away the "it's for kids" mentality.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not condoning the content in video games, nor am I not saying that something better needs to be done or managed to make sure the cover of a violent game doesn't look like it's a game for children, which in some cases, just looking at the cover of a video game box can be misleading about its content. But one thing that has been pretty consistent in the past 5 or more years is the ESRB labeling of the games content rating on the box of the video game. And on another note, I also do not feel that video game content should be banned or censored, no more than a movie's content is banned or censored. People just need to fix their minds to think of the 2 in the same light. If a game has mature content... that letter "M" stamped on the cover, and you don't want your kids to play, don't buy it for them, the same way you wouldn't let your 8 year old watch Saw 3, or any other rated "R" movie. And yea, people always say "If I don't let my kid play he or she will just go over to his friends house and play" and yes you cant always be there and cant help that but it has to start somewhere. And the more parent and people in general that change the way they look at video game ratings, the more it will catch on and the less of a chance your kids friends will have parents that isn't paying attention and buying every game on the shelf regardless of rating. You can't just give up and put the responsibility completely on the game developers. Mainly because there are people like me, a mature adult who like to play games, that a lot of these games are geared towards.
David L Jones is a blogger / podcaster for the website [http://www.jonzee.com] where you can find this article and more like it
For more information about ESRB ratings visit http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp
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