RC-Monster Forums - Opinions Needed..Should Violent Video Games Be Banned?

Why Violent Games Shouldn’t Be Banned

I’m sure many of you have played games such as Mortal Combat, Zelda, or Street Fighter, well if violent games are banned, these old nostalgic games will also be banned. Violent video games are mature rated games that are rated by the ESRB, the Entertainment Software Rating Board. When I play violent games, I know the differences and consequences of killing in a game and in reality, which is the very reason why I don’t kill in real life. Now I’m just a regular teenager like many of you others, but after countless hours of research, I believe banning video games is counter-productive, ineffective, and is just an overall poor decision.

Banning mature rated games will only be a repeat of a similar ban, the Prohibition of Alcohol in the 20’s, where alcohol was said to be the cause of many unwanted crimes. By banning alcohol, they thought it would reduce crime but were surprised to find that crime increased, and many people had been making alcohol against all laws and regulations. The people who weren’t making alcohol were most likely purchasing some for themselves. In the end, when the illegal distribution of alcohol simply became too big with organized crime, underground activity, and smuggling, the prohibition was soon lifted. By banning mature games, a new black market would open up for these games, where people will be able to get their hands on a violent game one way or another and illegally sell them.

Mature video games have been deemed good for the eyes, hands, and even mind. According to Rochester University, researchers have discovered that violent video games can help improve a teenager’s vision. A study was done where 22 teenage gamers, half violent (CoD, Gears of War) were discovered to have a 43% better chance distinguishing close color shades meanwhile the non-violent gamers (Madden, NBA) were unable to distinguish the close shade colors. According to Dr. Colzato of Leiden University in Europe, violent video games help the brain and body develop quicker reaction time as well as improved motor skills. In addition, gamers tend to have better hand-eye coordination as well as situation awareness which can help prevent people from going into possible life-threatening situations by detecting them beforehand.

Banning violent video games will also greatly affect our economy. According to the Entertainment Software Association, the ESA, at least 68% of all households are gamers. According to vgchartz.com, the top four most sold games within a single week were mature rated games such as Call of Duty Black Ops and Assassin’s Creed, with Black Ops earning over $360 million dollars, and over 3 million pre-orders alone within a single week. In the year 2008, over $290 million dollars was earned because of said violent video games. The United States unemployment rate is 9.60% according to the Bureau of Labor Services. If violent video games were to be banned, all the violent video game companies will be forced to close, losing both company revenue as well as tax revenue for the state, which will also increase our unemployment rate drastically. With violent video games banned, more money will be needed to pay personnel to enforce these laws, raising the tax rate even more, which will inevitably dig the country into an even deeper ditch then we’re in now. However, because these mature-rated video games are still legal and selling, we are able to help out the local businesses and retailers who are still struggling to get a grip in this current economic crisis. Mature video games may also benefit the player; especially teenagers where they will learn how to set goals and earn them through trial and error.

Although violent video games are good for the mind and body; others may believe otherwise. Some may argue that violent video games can desensitize the players greatly. However, desensitizing somebody may be good in the long run, games full of gore or even flight simulators may prepare them for the Army, if they so choose so. The Army takes video games very seriously, so seriously in fact they have invested over $50 million dollars in the production of a video game. The video game, a virtual controllable Humvee, Apache Gunship, and Black Hawk Helicopter is able to train soldiers for modern combat. The Army is also able to recruit new soldiers through video games, who are willing to fight for our country, games which can also keep them safe, and allow them to survive in the warzone using war tactics they learned through countless hours of playing realistic scenarios. Some may also argue that parents don’t often know what their children are playing, however according to the ESA, parents monitor their children’s game play about 93% of the time. Others may also argue that games can be influential on minors; however Texas A&M University has been able to prove that violent video games can be used similar to a “stress ball” where after a stressful, long day people are able to relieve their stress and anger simply by playing a video game. According to the ESA, as violent content increases, violent crime drastically decreases. Studies done by many US authorities such as the Federal Trade Commission, and the US District Courts have found no definite link between violent content and violent behavior among the players.

Banning violent video games will simply make things even worse economically, and socially. By banning video games we are reducing company revenue, requiring more tax in order to enforce the ban on games, increasing the unemployment rate, potentially increasing crime, and digging our country into a deeper hole. So why must we ban something that can help improve somebody’s wellbeing? In the end, violent video games isn’t as bad as it is being hyped up in the media, as even the superior court ruled that the statue of banning all violent video games is simply unconstitutional. With all the studies and research done, it would be unwise to turn a blind eye to the studies which prove that violent video games are here to aid and improve human beings