Course: BUS4474 – Business and Society Pre-Test - Case: Forming GameRush, Inc. SP21 Computer games are one of the most popular types of entertainment for both children and adults worldwide. Along with the development of technology, the Gaming Industry is growing rapidly, which offers a great opportunity for everyone who wants to start a business in this industry. However, there are some ethical and corporate social responsibility issues that we cannot neglect. In this case, an ethical issue I am concerned about is that Alice has used psychological research from GameDay, which is not found and developed by herself, even though it is not illegal. Moreover, games built on addictive qualities can have harmful effects on the players and society. To summarize this situation quickly, my friend Alice, who specializes in game design, has proposed that she, I, and three other friends set up an LLC to develop and design games named GameRush, Inc. Thanks to her experiences and knowledge in her previous job at GameDay, Inc, Alice has proposed a financial plan that the production would be outsourced to a company in India with lower labor rates and short turn-around time. Alice could also persuade advertising clients who would purchase advertising on the game with GameDay's psychological research. Alice and GameRush can legally use psychological research regarding game theory dimensions and advertising issues because there were no trade secret protections enforced by GameDay. During this time, my husband has just lost his job, and my two kids go to private school with high tuition fees. Using the consequentialist theories, if we carry out the plan, there will be both benefits and harms. Workers, especially those in Bhopal, India, can benefit from the plan as more jobs will be available. The government can also gain benefits from income tax coming from GameRush, Inc. All the employers and employees of GameRush, Inc, as well as our advertising clients, can earn revenue from the games. To my family and me, this promising plan can help us overcome current financial hardship. I will be able to pay for our livings and our children’s tuition fees while my husband is looking for a new job. However, with games built on addictive qualities, many people will become addicted to those games, which is a threat to society. Also, even though the fact that we use psychological research from GameDay, Inc is not illegal, but it might damage the company's reputation if being public. After considering all of the pros and cons to stakeholders above, carrying out the plan might be a better choice because it yields the greatest net benefits for society. Let’s take another look based on deontological theories. Because much of the psychological research could be found at various universities, which means a lot of people can also access and make use of, Alice and GameRush can use them as common knowledge. As a wife and a mother of two, I have the obligation to take care of my family. If I agree to carry out the plan, I can earn money from the games' revenue, which will allow me to support our family's finance in this hard time. However, creating games that make players likely get addicted to and may suffer mental conditions, putting threats on the society is against Alice’s duty as a game designer and our obligations as citizens. Putting a warning label on the games might not able to solve this problem. My final decision is to agree to carry out the plan; however, we will develop addictive games in a healthy way. With the knowledge from the psychological research, we will estimate and put a time limit for each user to play in a day. Certification By submitting my responses to this Assignment, I hereby certify and affirm that I have not received any aid of any type from any of my classmates or students taking this course in other sections.
