James Hicks
Project
Mr Hall
Do Violent Video games Affect the Way
under 18s Behave In Real Life?
Introduction
I have decided to research into the behaviour of under 18s and the affect that
it has on them. I will mainly get my information from the internet and books.
But I will also get
additional
information
from
questionnaires,
polls, and reviewing
a person over a
week and see how
they behave after
playing 'Call of Duty,
Modern Warfare 2',
said to be the most
violent video game around. With horrendous scenes, only suitable for 18+.
After this I shall ask the people a few questions and see if they think their mind
has changed due to the violence of the game. I will then ask the people who
know these people and see if they believe they are behaving differently. After
this I aim to have enough evidence and research to be able to make an equal
analysis and a good conclusion.
In 1999 on April 20, two high school teenagers, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold,
went on the rampage and shot dead 12, injuring 21 others. The boys had
intended for more people to be killed but eventually turnt the gun on
themselves. We do not fully understand why this was done, but many answers
have been about the violent video game 'Doom'. The game has a lot of violent
imagery in it which may have caused the boys to kill.
James Hicks
Project
Mr Hall
There have been many reports on whether violent games contribute to teen’s
violent behaviour. So I am going to find out whether it is or isn't.
What Are The Affects?
Despite everyone only talking about the negative points about violent video
games, there are a few positives about it. Players with anger issues and want
to express their feelings can play these games and let out their anger on the
game, instead of in real life.
However, there are many more negative points than positive ones.

Most games only offer a selection of stabbings, shootings, kicking and
killing

Women are often portrayed as
weaker characters that are helpless
or sexually provocative.

Game environments are often based
on plots of violence, aggression and
gender bias.

Games can confuse reality and fantasy.
This is expressed in the Columbine massacre when violence in games got into
their minds and made them mix up reality and fantasy and go and kill so many
people. The biggest concern which is raised during the subject is the
treatment and the image of women. They are reflected as prostitutes who are
just used for sex and are controlled and beaten up by men. Men believe that
women should be treated the same way as a game as they get mixed up
James Hicks
Project
Mr Hall
between reality and fantasy. This is why anti-violent people want the game
banned.
Has Violence In Games Increased Or
Decreased?
Violence in games has increased recently due to people wanting better
sequels. Violent games such as COD MW2 and Gears of War 2 are full of
violence with arsense of guns and violent scenes to kill people, some for no
reason, which is why they have received complaints.
Different violent games like Grand Theft Auto do not contain as much real life
violent scenes but it is a very violent game in other aspects like shooting
people who are just walking on they road, killing policemen, treating women
wrong and stealing whatever car you want. This can brainwash someone into
thinking whatever the game can do, I can do to, which triggers people to
commit such vicious crimes.
From the group of people I had research on, many of them had said 'I never
would have believed the game would have included this much violence and
bad language. In one level you have to kill somebody just because they
walked on their turf, I believe the game had gone too far and this should not
be tolerated. Many people die nowadays because they are not in their 'ends'
well I believe that this is wrong and I will not be playing this again.
James Hicks
Project
Mr Hall
Others said ' This game is the best ever! The violent scenes make it what it is
and I say this is the best game ever'.
I believe that as you can see people have different views on the same game
about its violence.
Interviews
I had carried out an interview with a teacher who was an expert at playing
violent games. A few questions I asked him were:
How often do you play video games?
Whenever I have free time. About 4 times a week
How often do you play violent 18+ video games?
Mostly every time I play on my console.
How many hours do you play violent games per week?
About 7 hours a week. Maybe more.
Do you believe the game has affected the way you behave?
Not really, I am a grown man to know that this is all fake.
I then asked these questions to a student who is 15 and these where the
results.
How often do you play video games?
Everyday whenever I am at home.
How often do you play violent 18+ video games?
Whenever I am on my console
How many hours do you play violent games per week?
I would say at least 20 hours.
Do you believe the game has affected the way you behave?
Yes because I like to act like I’m playing the game. With all the shooting and
fighting and stuff.
James Hicks
Project
Mr Hall
As you can see, from my research collected, I have made a comparison
between the over 18s and under 18s who play violent games. Under 18s play
more than over 18s as they get brainwashed into the game. While over 18s
understand the game more and know that it is just a game so are less likely to
be brainwashed. Also, under 18s say that the violence has affected them as
they act out the game, including the shootings. However over 18s say that they
are old enough to be able to know that the game is not real and are not going
to be brainwashed by it.
I also asked the people to write a short paragraph on what they think about
violent games.
Over 18s
Games have been rated 18 for the simple reason that they are unsuitable for
younger children. Under 18s may think what they see and do are fun and
acceptable, some children have reacted to what they have seen. They have
gone out and hurt people or themselves plus damaged property or even
killed copying what the games have done. All the latest games that children
want seem to have violence in them, with a few games recalled due to the
violent contents. These games are full of guns, bloodshed and fighting, with
extremely inappropriate language, two groups of gangs trying to get the
better of each other. Young children play these sorts of games and then bring
it to the streets. Children must be told the dangers of playing games that are
made for adults; many adults are also influenced by these. School shooting,
car jacking, stabbings, attacks on girls plus many more things are a direct
result of playing these games. When the demo game is played in order to be
given approval by the interactive entertainment industry they must think
about the effect on children and adults alike then stamp the games unsuitable
for production. In order to stop our children and young adults from
committing these dangerous crimes is to stop making these violent games,
yes, they have an age rating, yes, shops refuse to sell them to the under aged,
but they borrow them from friends and play them without parents knowledge.
Under 18s
I think the games should be checked again and be altered in order to enable
younger children to play these games. Even though the games are violent
young children like them, so I don’t think they influencing the under 18s, most
children will not go out and try to do what they see on the games. The ones
who commit these crimes will commit them anyway regardless when playing
over 18 rated games where building are blown up, you shoot the enemy steal
cars and fight young children find them action packed and exciting. Dangers
and real life are not associated with the games because it is only a game to
most of us. Children know what is right and wrong so find playing them
James Hicks
Project
Mr Hall
thrilling and stimulating. Although there is violence in it children are more
interested in the police chasing the stolen cars and getting away rather than
the violence. There are lots of opportunities to kill people, but instead chose
to drive the cars. Playing this game has clouded people’s judgement when out
on the street. It would not make u18s become violent. When adults see us
playing these games they ban us from playing them due to the level of
violence.
Less Sociable
People who are under 18 should not be playing so many video games, let
alone violent games which are 18 rated. This is because people often become
isolated inside their own homes, playing games for most of their time, not
enduring in a social life with friends. This can almost get a person to go mad
and end up killing people because the game has gotten to their head and they
get to a certain point where they cannot help but act out if a moment in the
game occurs in real life.
Addiction
Addiction is a major factor in video games. It often happens when someone is
playing a game for a long time and they become too interested in the game
and believe it is realistic. This is what happens in violent games when the
player feels like he is in a situation like the game and believes that the only
way out is to react like the game would. This then resolves to shootings,
stabbings, fighting and theft. This is why there are so many killings happening
as they become brainwashed in believe what they are doing is real. It is
mixing reality with fantasy. A lot of people often go mad or suffer depression
as a result to playing video games. Some people even become stressed if they
cannot win a game if they play online and end up going on to commit crimes,
maybe even murder.
Too Extreme?
If you play a violent game on the console Nintendo Wii, you actually have the
gun as a pad, so it seems like you are actually holding a real gun, which can
almost be practice for a real gun. So it is like young children are getting
trained how to use a gun. This is why there are complaints on the use of a gun
on the console as it is realistic. Also the graphics in the games are very life
like, it is like you are in a real war, especially with the different types of view
points you can have during the game. For example, if you play in man mode,
it is like you are actually in the game. When someone gets killed, you can see
the blood coming out of them, and there head gets chopped off, it looks so
real. This is very extreme as it can see real life and make a person get used to
how killing is like.
James Hicks
Project
Mr Hall
Promotion
The way the red 18 sign stands out on the game makes u18s seem to want it
more as it seems very violent and very good. I believe that the sign attracts
more u18s to buy the game as it draws people in to buy it. By law, the warning
has to be put on the cases, but it is no deterrent.
Jack Thompson
John Bruce "Jack" Thompson is an American activist and disbarred attorney,
based in Coral Gables, Florida. Thompson is known for his role as an antivideo-game activist, particularly against violence and sex in video games1
,
1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Thompson_(activist)