Violence in video games and the correlation to young people and violent crimes is nothing new. Whenever there happens to be a horrifyingly violent crime committed by person of the younger generation, violent video games are always a top cause. Whether it be the media, government, or people at the water cooler violent video games is a subject that most want to point as the cause. The media seems to condemn these games as almost gateways for the next generation of criminals. For years government has repeatedly tried to censor violent video games. They created a rating system, similar to movies, to cut down on younger people who buy these games. Parents have begun to monitor their children's gaming, but they can not always control what happens outside of their houses. The main issue with most of these games is that, they desensitize people to violent acts in the real world. This may be true in isolated cases, but the vast majority of youth are not affected by the games themselves. At this point in time there is just not a need for any more censorship than is already in place.
It is no secret that violence has increased as the graphics have evolved with the games. The images, blood, people, and scenarios have all become more life like than ever before. Many believe that since the violence is so real their children can not distinguish this from violence in the real world. They believe that it adversely affects their approach to violent acts, almost as if committing them is nothing more than pressing the x button on a controller. This however, is simply not true. According to a study by Kutner & Olson, Harvard Medical School, says “It's clear that the "big fears" bandied about in the press—that violent video games make children significantly more violent in the real world; that they will engage in the illegal, immoral, sexist and violent acts they see in some of these games—are not supported by the current research, at least in such a simplistic form.(Grand Theft Childhood)” Violence has been apart of human nature since the beginning of the human race. Saying video games introduce and desensitize is quite an absurd notion. Any child can turn on the news and see the violence that has taken place in their city in the last twenty four hours. There is just not enough concrete evidence that violent video games affect a persons ability to recognize the difference of real violence and artificial violence.
The public out cry for censorship is something that has been brewing for a while now. The need for these games to be censored has been spoken throughout media outlets and all the way to the Supreme court. Many argue that these games train the players how to kill, by using the weapons in the games. Author Dave Grossman calls these games “murder simulators(On Killing).” But the fact of the matter is they are not. Most studies show that children already have shown an aggressive trait for the video game to trigger a reaction. It really has more to do with what environment the child is exposed to. According to Karen when looking at the problem of homicidal and violent children, society needs to look at the broader social contexts and note the roles that guns, poverty, families and the organization of schools may play in youth violence in general.(Do Video Games Kill)” Therefore, it is really the parents duty to mine what their child is exposed to. This is most likely the cause of there not being any more censorship handed down by the Federal Government, in the wake of all the cases that have been brought to their attention lately. Censorship should start in the household first.
The need for more censorship is a topic that perturbs most gamers. They believe that the ESRB rating system that is already in place does a sufficient job. The ESRB, “The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), is a non-profit, self-regulEntertainment Software Association (ESA) (esrb.org).” The rating system was brought about to control games like Doom and Mortal Kombat from reaching a child's hand. For the most part this rating has really made an impact. To purchase the game from a store with a mature and over rating, have to be over eighteen years of age, you must show a valid ID. Most stores that carry these violent games have more than upheld the rules that have been set. Yet many people still call for the need for more censorship. They want to go as far as removing blood, weapons, and almost all realistic violence out of the games. Luckily that can not happen as of now. According to the First Amendment, the freedom of speech policy gives the game makers the right to publish as they see fitting.
As of right know not a single video game has ever been banned in the United States. Thankfully the First Amendment has upheld the right to play games that players see enjoyable, and at the same time not harmful to their psyche. There have been many attempts to ban these games, and many of them have ended up with the game makers in court. Time and time again the game makers come out on top. In a 2006 case “">a federal judge hit the state of Illinois with a ruling requiring it to pay the video game industry a whopping $510,528.64 in attorney's fees spent fighting Illinois' unconstitutional video game law the previous year(Calvert,51).” This just goes to show that the rating system that is in place is efficient; it is not that big of a concern for the Federal Government to over turn the First Amendment for more censorship laws.
The people who should be accountable the most for the censorship are the parents. A parent needs to know what the games their child plays are like. They should take a little time from their day and play the games with the child. A parent has to be present when their child purchases a game so they know what they are buying. Children might like this, but it probably for the best that their parent take an active role in what the content of the games they play is all about. It does seem for the most part parents do their part to make sure their children are monitored.
With the exception of a few isolated cases most violent crimes committed by young people come from ulterior motives not having to do with video games. There has not been much done in the way of censorship in the United States since the ESRB came about. There really has not been that much of an obvious need. So for the people for the outcry for more censorship, it looks as if their voice will continue to be in vein.