However violence in a broad sense is not just limited to the likes of physical force but can also apply to forms of mental and verbal abuse. The latter are not usually concerns when looking at examples of violence in TV, film and games. Violence in these mediums is a substantially larger issue due to the argument of whether this violence is impacting on our society.
The main issue when analysing the problem with violence in games is that of the realism of certain actions and whether this insights violent tendencies in its consumers. It has been argued that in certain circumstances scenarios in gaming have become so graphic to the point of almost a `simulation level`.
The trend of creating games with hyper realistic graphics has made the experience of performing certain actions (namely violance in this example) more realistic by being more visually accurate. The inclusion of upgraded graphics has seen the rise of blood in acts of violence. You can see this in GTA IV, when you mow down an innocent pedestrian and their body crash's into your from bumper and dents your bonnet, leaving
a blood stained mess across your windshield. This isn't photo realistic but is pretty close. GTA has always been known for its sex, drugs and violence but by todays standards the original Grand Theft Auto (1997) wouldn't really be considered a big issue.This may be down to the level of realism in it but the actions you can commit are fundamentally the same.
Grand Theft Auto
Grand Theft Auto IV
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| GTA: Lost & Dammed (Expansion) |
"Up on thee sidewalk"
MISFITS' "Gameover" episode has taken the idea of life imitating games by implementing a character that believe he lives in a video game. Imitating the GTA series in direction of this characters view complete with map and mission updates. This episode was really enjoyable and definitely tests the boundaries of violence in games.
*SPOILERS
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| Tim thinks hes living in a game. |
 Use of CGI to implement the game aspect. |
| *Tim's POV; he believes Kelly is his ex Roxy that betrayed him on their wedding day so knocks her out and kidnaps her. |
Thoughts
I feel that the distinctive subtraction of actual transferable psychical input within a game creates a natural barrier between the direct simulation of certain violent actions. You're aware that your playing a game. Not to say the visual stimulation from a game isn't the reason why certain extreme violance is more widely available to audiences that may not of been aware of such actions. I personally feel that games can not be blamed as a sole reason for an individuals actions, the interactive nature does not implement anymore influence then if you where to watch a movie with a high level of violence.
Saying this whilst researching about the impact of game interaction on players I stumbled across a blog entry by mandytoomy that got me thinking. In the blog she speaks about going on a retreat as a high school teacher with students and performing an exercise where by they separate the boys and the girls and then asked them to talk about negatives messages they had encountered about the opposite sex. Some of the examples that were given where `Rape Simulation Games`. I wasnt really aware of these really existing, it was really a major shock to hear that they had been made (I mean if theres an idea its bound to of been made) but what shocked me more was that it was commonly played and joked about amongst assumable young boys. Whether these jokes were in jest or not isnt really the point but more the fact it was acceptable and `normal` to simulate violent sex.
I personally dont think violence in games strongly encourages anyone but with the likes of these `Rape Simulations` perhaps games help to normalizes the concept of a recently inconceivable act.
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