Senate Subcommittees on Video Games?

Must be an election year...

Why is it that, like so many other things, violence in video games only seems to be a problem when there are elections? It's not like there is anything the government can do about it, really. Actually, let me rephrase that. It should read:

It's not like there is anything the government can should do about it.

I know what you are thinking: Dan, are you saying you approve of violence in video games? Well, in short: yes. Why?

BECAUSE OF A LITTLE THING CALLED THE FIRST AMENDMENT

Yes, the first amendment. The very amendment that is the cornerstone of our way of life. The amendment that lets me type this. The amendment that allows for multiple pointless 24 hour news channels. The amendment that allows the "news magazines" on these channels to point out the menace of violence in video games. And, last but not least, it allows game developers to put whatever they want in these games.

Of course, video games are already prone to a passive form of censorship. That would be the ratings system. For one, the ratings guides can influence a game developer to remove certain content to achieve a lower rating and become more marketable. The second thing that it is designed to do is alert PARENTS to the CONTENT in the GAME BEFORE they BUY it for their spoiled unruly BROOD.

Not only do these games carry ratings, (which unlike the cryptic ratings system used for movies ACTUALLY SPELLS OUT THE AGES the game is appropriate for) but they also explain WHAT EXACTLY THE CONTENT IS that earned the rating.

If you are a parent. Not only a parent. Let's say you are a concerned, over-protective, helicopter parent who is afraid that your child will at some point be exposed to something horrific that will scar them for life unless you do something about it. Let's say your that kind of parent. Here's the scenario: Your little brat is whining for a new game. Since you give them everything they want you decided to:

Option 1.) Go to the store and buy the game with them. The game they want is rated "M for Mature 17+." Now then, your precocious little Steven is "quite mature for an eight year old." At least, that's what everyone says (because they couldn't care less). Still, you investigate further and find that the game his is interested in has "Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Sexual Themes." Hmmm, maybe Steven isn't that mature. So you get Stevey the game that is rated "E for Everyone" because it only contains "Comic Mischief."¹

Option 2.) Give Steven the money and send him on his way because you had a tough day at work and the last thing you want to do is go with him to the store and buy him a stupid game. He's mature enough to handle himself and you've taught him how to make the right decisions (when you talk to him at dinner and occasionally on weekends).


You see, Option 1 is what a good, responsible parent would do. Option 2 is reserved for bad parents. And of course, as with everything, these people CAN NOT see themselves as bad parents, so there must be something else to blame. After all, they are dual income, affluent middle class, church-going Republicans. They can't possibly be bad parents. So as they sit and watch little Steven shoot up innocents they can't help but think "where did the system fail?"

So they complain to their congressman, Congress sees it as a great election year topic. They gripe about it, and before you know it, I'm getting carded at Target the next time I buy a game.

The other thing that sucks is you have a generation was too old to enjoy video games from the start, trying to protect a younger generation with no appreciation for the history of video games by complaining to a generation that is to old to even know that having played "Pong" doesn't make you cool. The generation that grew up with modern video games is COMPLETELY UNREPRESENTED. And it is this generation that the current games under fire are being marketed to. These games that have grown with the gamers. And it is this generation that will once again suffer at the hands of those who came before us.

Thanks again, old people.

¹Ironically enough, the game I was playing this weekend was rated E because of comic mischief. I think this might be another example where, much like the movie industry, lower ratings do better and have a greater audience. Still, it all boils down to widespread bad parenting.