Video games may not actually cause violence OR stupidity - yeah, I said it.

Video games are the epicenter of almost every individuals childhood, from Final Fantasy to Crash Bandicoot to Spyro, it all started somewhere. As we think back to those times while wiping away a stray tear in remembrance of our childhood, lets look to the now, and how the very foundation of our creativity and imagination is being slammed for causing violence and stupidity. These accusations may not be as true as most parents and other "adults" like to think, according to studies, and I would like to prove this.

           When most people think of video games they can instantly revert back to some very heartfelt memories that took place during their childhood, like those nights that were spent playing Final Fantasy instead of doing homework, or putting puzzles together and overcoming what seems like impossible odds in Crash Bandicoot, and even today with matches set up with friends to PWN everyone else in a map of Call of Duty. Whatever game you think of, you are usually hit with waves of nostalgia that shaped your childhood in a way nothing else has, and are still shaping your memories formed to this day. Your parents may not have approved with their – what seemed like at the time – constant repetition of, “Maybe you should turn it off for a bit and go outside,” which would elicit a response such as, “WHY DON’T YOU CARE ABOUT MY HAPPINESS?” Well, maybe that was just me, but you get the picture I’m painting. What is interesting is that it’s not just parents that are saying video game hours need to be cut back, in fact a lot of people have this same theory. What seems to be an underlying theme with this ideology is that video games, with emphasis on violent games, are causing real world violence in today’s society, and there are accusations that video games cause deficits in intellectual improvement. Though there is some research that goes along with these ideas, there is more research on how video games improve intellect and help us more than anything, and how minimizing people’s ability to play violent video games is related to free speech.

Evolution of the video game

            In the 70’s home video games were introduced to the world, as opposed to the traditional arcade games that came before the sit down console. Systematic games started out fairly simple, with pixelated graphics and minimalist design set up and virtually no sound effects. As time went on more effort was put into video game software and it has progressed substantially, there has been a reduction in pixel size to make a perfectly smooth setting for the game, and sound was added, finally. Today, we see games that look almost real and have realistic feeling storylines, and they are increasingly interactive for the player to experience. Due to the fact that the games are compatible with multiple options for consoles it allows you to choose based on your personal preference of system. Gaming is increasing in its popularity based on the technological advances that it has undergone over the past few decades. There is a rise in who is playing and the amount of time spent playing due to the complexity of the games that are being produced. There is no wonder as to why people are spending more and more time in front of a television due to all of the advancements.

What do video games actually do for us?

            With video games there is the constant challenge of the unknown. It keeps you guessing and wondering what will happen next, “What puzzle will I have to solve in order to complete this level of the game?” is a question often asked by someone gaming. That is the beauty of games, they are unpredictable and mentally challenging, sometimes even physically challenging. With consoles like the Wii, you can enjoy almost life-like actions with a move of the controller, taking the concept of an arcade game and advancing it a bit to meet new age standards. So how exactly does doing the motion of hitting a tennis ball help us in the real world? As Marc Prensky said, people who practice something over and over typically get better at it. Meaning that if you were to play the tennis game on the Wii repeatedly for some time, you could go into a tennis court with no prior experience and have a basic idea of how to hit a tennis ball with a racket, possibly even a better understand than someone who has not had any practice at all. It is merely a real world application that actually works.

            Academically speaking, there are many video games that aren’t just about violence and death, though these are factors in some games, there is usually also an underlying theme of information and critical thinking problems. For instance, if I go in guns blazing, the outcome could potentially be worse than if I went stealthily through this mission. There are other examples that are more thought oriented, like with Plague if you start the virus in a certain country you have to factor in population and surrounding countries in order to effectively spread the virus at the rapid rate you want to win the game. Like Lee Wilson said, players are challenged to tackle deeply nested problems, and there are multiple paths to success. It is a matter of the game, and your interests that fuel what you learn and how applicable it is to real world situations. 

 

 Do video games actually cause violence?

            There are studies that do suggest certain violent video games can increase a person’s violent acts in the real world. In a research study on teen aggression in relation to violent video games, only immediately after viewing or playing a violent video game there was increased aggression. Whether or not the aggression continued to persist after is not stated. In another study done on kids who play violent video games they also claimed the same results occurred. That, “kids who played more violent video games "changed over the school year to become more verbally aggressive, more physically aggressive, and less helpful to others.” Based on another opposing research study done, a group of men were studied after playing a video game for a certain amount of time and the results showed that the aggression that was there goes away after a week of no game play. What this study is telling us is that yes, aggression appears in the brain, but it does not remain there forever and it doesn’t cause them to act violently. Their brains were activated by being involved in the violent video game, as anyone is with violent movies, or witnessing aggressive acts. Other factors are also required to say that video games directly cause violence, such as the personal background of the individual, emotional status, and mental state. Violence cannot be directly pinpointed on video games, there isn’t enough evidence to do so.

            With recent school shootings and other violent acts occurring, the public wants to pin these actions on something and because some video games promote violence in their games, it seems the most logical, but with evidence from research we can see that the violence is not always prevalent, and even witnessing violent acts can reduce a person’s need to be violent because they are given the opportunity to relieve that pressure in a violent video game.

So, what does this mean?

            Video games are a format of media, they allow you to interact and makes decisions that are emotional and taxing on your morality at times. What I mean by a form of media is that video games are in the same construct as books, or television. When the idea arises to want to restrict video games you are simply trying to take away the First Amendment of American citizens. Much like what Daniel Greenberg, a game designer said, “It seems clear to me that violent video games deserve at least as much constitutional protection as other forms of media that would not be restricted under this law, such as violent books and violent movies.” Video games are a form of art, there is too large of a fan base to simply try and restrict video games completely. From the studies above, it shows that video games aren’t causing too much damage, in fact just the opposite.

                 Video games are a fun hobby, they don’t have to always be about killing or being killed. They are educational, they matter, and they teach us things to apply in the real world. Basically, you should play any type of video game you want, don’t let the haters bring you down. After all, it is your right to play.