Video game controversy 350730 226143556 2008-07-17T00:41:19Z ForesticPig 7180784 Sorry, they do not equate, nor does the complain focus solely on abuse of said substance {{Articleissues|OR=August 2007|cleanup=April 2007|globalize=October 2007}} {{censorship}} Like related forms of media, '''video games''' have been the subject of '''debate''' and '''[[censorship]]''', due to the depiction of [[graphic violence]], [[sex|sexual themes]],<ref>The editors of ''GamePro'' and ''GamerHelp.com'', "Gaming Peepshow: This is what happens when you combine horny teenagers, video games, and way too much free time," ''GamePro'' 235 (April 2008): 65.</ref> [[substance abuse]], [[advergaming]] (a form of [[advertising]] in games), consumption of [[recreational drug use|drugs]], consumption of [[alcoholic beverage|alcohol]] or [[tobacco]], [[propaganda]], [[video game addiction|addiction]], [[crime]], [[nudity]], [[profanity]], or thematic content in some games. Among others, critics of video games sometimes include parents' groups, [[politician]]s, organized [[religious]] groups, and other [[special interest]] groups, even though all of these can be found in all forms of entertainment and media. Various games have been blamed for causing [[video game addiction|addiction]] and even [[violence|violent]] behavior. In recent years, particularly notable controversy was generated with the discovery of a downloadable [[Mod (computer gaming)|modification]] that unlocked a [[Hot Coffee minigame controversy|sexually explicit minigame]] in the game ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]''. ''Video game censorship'' is defined as use of state or group power to control the playing, distribution, purchase, or sale of video games or computer games based on an evaluation of the game's content. Video game censorship is a polarizing subject, with both proponents and opponents of censorship displaying passion for their views. ==Causes of controversy== {{weasel}} ===Criticism of crime and violence in video games=== Video and computer games are periodically criticized in the media by some parents' groups, psychologists, religious organizations, or politicians for the level of [[violence]], and [[crime]] that some games allow players to act out. Examples are easy to find, including ''[[Mortal Kombat (video game)|Mortal Kombat]]'' and its sequels, a series of [[fighting game]]s by [[Midway Games|Midway]]. Since [[1992]] the series has rewarded players for beating up an opponent with [[martial art]]s moves, and then for executing a "Fatality" move. A Fatality is a killing of the defeated player. It is particularly disturbing to some adults that some video games allow players to act out [[crime]]s, and reward them for doing so. A frequently-cited example is the extremely popular and controversial ''[[Grand Theft Auto III]]'' by [[Rockstar Games]], in which a principal game activity is [[carjacking]]. Once a car is stolen, the player can run over pedestrians. The player may also purchase guns to shoot at and kill rival gang members (or pedestrians) as he completes missions for crime bosses. The game also became a center of controversy concerning attitudes toward women, because the player is able to pick up a [[prostitution|prostitute]], have sex to replenish health, then kill her to take back the money spent. It should be noted, however, that any activity of this sort in the game is done completely by choice and players are punished for committing crimes by the police. Considering this game allows one to freely choose, it could also be noted that the game is similar to real life. (A later game in the series, ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'' goes a step further, with levels that require the gamer to murder ''corrupt'' police characters before the game will advance.) Many of the groups that object to the game also seem to think that it is disturbing that children play this. The game's immediate prequel, ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'' came under similar criticism, also for implying allegedly [[racism|racist]] [[hate crime]]s: The game, taking place in "Vice City" (a fictional [[Miami]]) in [[1986]], involves a gang war between [[Haiti]]ans and [[Cuba]]n refugees, and the player often serves both gangs to plot against one another. Haitian and Cuban anti-defamation groups highly criticized the game for these actions, including using phrases such as "kill the Haitian dickheads" (a phrase used in the game, actually referring to the Haitian gang with which the character is having a shoot-out). After the threat of being sued by the Haitian-American Coalition, Rockstar removed the word "Haitians" from this phrase in the game's subtitles. These concerns have led to voluntary rating systems adopted by the industry, such as the [[ESRB]] rating system in the United States and the [[PEGI]] rating system in Europe, that are aimed at informing parents about the types of games their children are playing (or are asking to play). Certain game publishers’ decision to have controversial games rated shows that they are not targeted at young children. They are [[Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]] rated as "Mature" or "Adults Only" in the US, or given [[BBFC]] ratings of 15 or 18 in the UK. The packaging notes that these games should not be sold to children. In the US, [[ESRB]] ratings are not legally binding, but many retailers take it upon themselves to refuse the sale of these games to minors. In the UK, the [[BBFC]] ratings are backed up by law, so it is actually illegal to sell the game to anyone under the indicated age, and many UK retailers go beyond that and also enforce the [[PEGI]] ratings, which are not backed up by law. Lt. Col. [[Dave Grossman (author)|David Grossman]], a former [[United States Military Academy|West Point]] psychology professor, has written several books that pertain to the subject of violence in the media, including ''On Killing'' and ''Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill''. During heights of video game controversy he has been interviewed on the content of his books, and has repeatedly used the term "murder simulator" to describe [[first-person shooter]] games. He argues that video game publishers unethically train children in the use of weapons and, more importantly, harden them emotionally to the act of murder by simulating the killing of hundreds or thousands of opponents in a single typical video game. Video game violence critics generally agree that violent video games are at least as bad an influence on children as are television shows with the same level of violence and cruelty, and most seem to believe that video games are more threatening to a child's well-being, because the video game player uses the controller to make an on screen character act out the violence personally.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} It was widely reported that the killers in the [[Columbine High School massacre]] were, like many teenagers, fans of [[first-person shooter]] games. They had recorded a videotape before the massacre in which they said they looked forward to using their shotguns just as in the game ''[[Doom (video game)|Doom]]''. It can be argued, however, that these teenagers were already mentally disturbed before playing the game, and thus the game did not directly cause their actions.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} Some studies have shown that children who watch violent television shows and play violent video games have a tendency to act more aggressively on the playground, and some people are concerned that this aggression may presage violent behavior when children grow to adulthood.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}<!-- citation needed --> Most studies, however, reach the conclusion that violence in video games is not causally linked with aggressive tendencies. This was the conclusion of a 1999 study by the U.S. government, prompting [[Surgeon General]] [[David Satcher]] to say, "We clearly associate media violence to aggressive behavior. But the impact was very small compared to other things. Some may not be happy with that, but that’s where the science is."<ref>{{cite news | last = Wright | first = Brad | title = Sounding the alarm on video game ratings | language = | publisher = CNN.com | date = [[2004-02-18]] | url = http://archives.cnn.com/2002/TECH/fun.games/12/19/games.ratings/ | accessdate = 2007-12-10 }}</ref> A [[meta-analysis]] by [[psychologist]] [[Jonathan Freedman]], who reviewed over 200 published studies and found that the majority did not find a causal link, also reached this conclusion.<ref>{{cite news | last = Williams | first = Ian | title = US teen violence study exonerates video games | language = | publisher = IT Week | date = [[2007-03-06]] | url = http://www.itweek.co.uk/vnunet/news/2184836/link-video-games-violent-teens | accessdate = 2007-12-10 }}</ref> Controversy of speeding and evading the authority in racing games has surfaced when a copy of ''[[Need for Speed: Most Wanted]]'' found on one of the street racer's car in [[Toronto]] in [[January 19]], [[2006]], when two street, named [[Alexander Ryazanov]] and [[Wang-Piao Dumani Rossracers]], both aged 18 were involved in an accident resulting in a taxi-driver's death, named [[Tahir Khan]]. Nevertheless, the police did not find any connection between the game and the incident.<ref>{{cite news | last = Alcoba | first = Natalie | coauthors = Patrick, Kelly | title = Drag-racing teens killed cabbie | language = | publisher = National Post | date = [[2006-01-26]] | url = http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=74b79e64-81b9-44a5-bce7-bd4243418462&k=77682&p=1 | accessdate = 2007-12-10 }}</ref> ===Criticism of sexuality and nudity in video games=== <!-- Citations to points made in this section need to be provided. --> Western [[video game publisher]]s have not to date explored [[Adult video games|sexuality in video games]] to the degree seen in movies, books, or even TV shows.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} Almost no American video games display full frontal nudity. Sexual themes are more common in some [[eroge|Japanese PC games]], however, console companies such as Nintendo and Sony do not license adult only content games for their systems.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} The following is a list of games containing sexual elements and nudity. * ''[[Duke Nukem 3D]]'' The 1996 PC first-person shooter game, which features many topless women throughout the game, posters of nude women, strippers and prostitutes, and even a pornographic book store/movie house. The main character (Duke, whom players control) even offers prostitutes and strippers money and asks them to "shake it baby." In the case of the strippers, they will open their top and expose their breasts. *''[[Strikers 1945]]'' Originally in the arcade version, if one beat the game by earning all gold medals on every level, the revealed pilots would appear topless.[1] This bonus feature was cut in most releases, which may explain the lack of immediate distribution in North America (as the sequel was released under the name of its predecessor in the US), while the Sega Saturn home version released in Japan avoided the issue completely by clothing all of the pilots and re-arranging their poses. *''[[God of War (video game)|God of War]]'' featured several scenes of big-chested topless women, including a particular scene where the character could have off screen [[sex]] with two half naked women in order to gain red orbs. *''[[Custer's Revenge]]'' was a game for the [[Atari 2600]], released by Mystique under the brand "Swedish Erotica" that featured a naked General Custer advancing across the screen, dodging arrows, until he could reach a topless [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] woman who was apparently tied to a pole, and then [[rape]] her. The game was controversial for its racism as well as its sexuality, and, while television news coverage on the subject featured game animation, parts of the screen were concealed with black rectangles in order to avoid showing nudity.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} *[[Sierra Entertainment|Sierra]]'s ''[[Leisure Suit Larry]]'' computer games were popular tongue-in-cheek adventure games for adults in which the protagonist constantly attempted, usually without success, to convince women to have sex with him. The games did not excite much controversy despite showing partial nudity with increasing graphical quality over the years. *[[Eidos Interactive|Eidos]]'s ''[[Tomb Raider]]'' series were [[action-adventure game]]s which featured a female protagonist named [[Lara Croft]] with extremely large breasts. The series did not explore sexual themes at all, but Lara was featured in [[video game magazine]]s as a [[sex symbol]], and it is generally believed that the success of the series over the years was partly due to the prominence of her appearance in the game's advertising and packaging (the game's appeal also inspired two movies based on it). *[[Acclaim Entertainment|Acclaim]] released a [[BMX]] game called ''[[BMX XXX]]'' in [[2002]] which included a topless woman as the game character riding a bicycle, and rewarded players with video footage of topless strippers. The game was originally intended to be a [[Dave Mirra]] title without nudity, but it is generally believed in the industry that the game was of low quality - its average review in the gaming media was about 55%, while in most gaming publications a 60% score is considered poor — and that Acclaim decided late in the game's development to attempt to create a controversy and hopefully prop up sales by including some nudity.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} The attempt at publicity was rather successful, although the publicity achieved was of the wrong sort for Acclaim; with television reports that [[Wal-Mart]], [[Toys R Us]], and most major [[IEMA]] retailers in the [[United States]] declined to carry the game in their stores due to the nudity.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} Consequently, sales were poor: under 100,000 copies were sold. The game was not greeted with controversy or with much sales interest in [[Europe]], while it was sold with the sexual content removed in [[Australia]]. *In June [[2005]], an entire portion of unused code for an interactive sex [[mini-game]] was found within the main script of ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]''. The game could be accessed in the PC version via a [[Hot Coffee mod|modification]], and through [[Action Replay]] codes in the [[PlayStation 2|PS2]] and [[Xbox]] versions.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} The fact that the scene was left on the disc and could be accessed by altering a few bytes of the game's code via a hex editor prompted the ESRB to change the rating of San Andreas to "Adults Only" on [[July 20]], [[2005]]. The game was pulled from many stores; [[Rockstar Games]] posted a loss of $280.8 million that quarter. ''(see [[hot coffee mod]])'' *The US version of the game ''[[Fahrenheit (video game)|Fahrenheit]]'' (re-named as ''[[Indigo Prophecy]]'' for American audiences), published in [[September 2005]]; had scenes depicting sex and other "adult content" removed in order for it to be classified as a "Mature" title, as opposed to an "Adult Only" rating. This was probably done in light of "hot coffee" scandal (above).{{Fact|date=September 2007}} *The US version of ''[[Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion]]'' was re-rated from "Teen" to "Mature" after it was discovered that a topless skin on female characters could be revealed through a [[Mod (computer gaming)|Mod]]. *[[The Sopranos: Road to Respect]]-Towards the beginning of the game, the player enters the Bada Bang, the [[strip club]] owned by Tony and the gang. During many of the scenes, women are seen topless. There is also an option that if the player walks up to the stripper area, he can watch the show. Also, the player allows a stripper to do a [[lap dance]] for him. ====Counter-arguments==== Response to controversies over sexuality is generally in the form of indignation that video games are singled out where movies, books, and television shows currently are not (despite the fact that Hollywood exercised the [[Production Code|Hays Production Code]] to ban any movie which violated its strict moral regulations in the early half of the 20th century). Retailers have sold "R" and "NC-17"-rated (and in some cases "PG-13" and older "PG") movies showing nudity for several decades without generating an equivalent level of [[moral panic]] in doing so, and the moral problem they claim to have over video games with nudity is seen as [[hypocrisy|hypocritical]] by some.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} Because video games have a rating system roughly equivalent to the movie rating system, the two are analogous. Video games have also been seen to be singled out from other forms of entertainment when it comes, not only to violence, but also to nudity; hence the term ''pop culture pariah.'' ===Criticism related to psychology and children's social development=== Over two hundred studies have been published which examine the effects of violence in entertainment media and which at least partially focus on violence in video games in particular. Some psychological studies<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bbushman/01ba.pdf |title=Media Violence and the American Public: Scientific Facts Versus Media Misinformation |accessdate=2007-07-10 |format=pdf |work= |author= Bushman, Brad |authorlink= |coauthors= Anderson, Craig }}</ref> have shown a [[correlation]] between children playing violent video games and suffering psychological effects, though the vast majority stop short of claiming behavioral [[Causality|causation]]. The [[American Psychological Association]] summarizes the issue as "Psychological research confirms that violent video games can increase children's aggression, but that parents moderate the negative effects."<ref>{{cite web | author=[[American Psychological Association]] | url=http://www.psychologymatters.org/videogames.html | title= Violent Video Games - Psychologists Help Protect Children from Harmful Effects }}</ref> [[Craig A. Anderson]] has testified before the U.S. Senate on the issue, and his [[meta-analysis]] of these studies has shown five consistent effects: "increased aggressive behavior, thoughts, and affect; increased physiological arousal; and decreased prosocial (helping) behavior".<ref name="Anderson">{{cite web|last=Anderson |first=Craig A. |authorlink=Craig A. Anderson |coauthors= | date=October 2003 |url=http://www.apa.org/science/psa/sb-anderson.html |title=Violent Video Games: Myths, Facts, and Unanswered Questions |format= |work= |pages= |publisher=[[American Psychological Association]] | language= |accessdate= |curly= }}</ref> Nevertheless, some studies explicitly deny that such a connection exists, most notably Anderson and Ford (1986), Winkel ''et al.'' (1987), Scott (1995), Ballard and Lineberger (1999), and [[Jonathan Freedman]] (2002).<ref>{{cite book |author=Freedman, Jonathan L. |title=Media violence and its effect on aggression: assessing the scientific evidence |publisher=University of Toronto Press |location=Toronto |year=2002 |pages= |isbn=0802084257 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref> More recently, Block and Crain (2007) claim that in a critical paper by Anderson (and his co-author, Bushman), data was improperly calculated and produced fallacious results.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Block JJ, Crain BR |title=Omissions and errors in "media violence and the American public." |journal=The American psychologist |volume=62 |issue=3 |pages=252–3 |year=2007 |pmid=17469907 |doi=10.1037/0003-066X.62.3.252}}</ref> On [[March 6]], [[2005]], the American television news program ''[[60 Minutes]]'' took on the case of 18-year old [[Devin Darnell Tompson|Devin Moore]], wherein plaintiffs have argued ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'' inspired him to kill three police officers that came to arrest him for stealing a car. In October 9 2005, a judge sentenced the convicted killer to [[capital punishment|death]] by [[lethal injection]]. Some [[psychologist]]s {{Fact|date=December 2006}} and parents' groups have criticized video games because they believe they cause children to sit alone in the television room for many hours in a row, interacting with a machine (although chatting can be considered a more socially open environment) rather than running and playing outside as they exercise and improve their social skills by playing with other children instead of taking it upon themselves, as parents, to limit the time their kids play and making them go outside and play with other children. They claim that video games can be even more [[addiction|addictive]] to children than [[television|TV]] {{Fact|date=December 2006}}, and therefore more likely to isolate them socially in this way. Some studies have purported that there is a correlation between [[clinical depression|depression]] and playing computer games. For more mature gamers, however, such recent games such as ''[[BioShock]]'' provide "an entirely new tool through which to explore [[philosophy]], [[psychology]], and [[morality]]."<ref>Matt Miller, "Rated Mature: The Rising Tide of Games with Something to Say," ''Game Informer'' 178 (February 2008): 46.</ref> ====Counter-arguments==== Many responded that video games can enhance children's social interaction because many video games are [[multiplayer]] games, where two or more players can have fun competing or co-operating on the same television screen, and that if a child is isolated and antisocial, this is not the fault of video games, but perhaps of the child's inborn disposition, or perhaps of the parents' lack of attention to making sure their child has enough opportunities for social interaction with other children.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} Additionally, with the advent of [[online]] video gaming, it is not difficult for children to find others to play with, although these experiences are often anonymous.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} One response came from [[social critic]] and author [[J.C. Herz]], who suggested that some criticisms of video game violence come from distinctly [[Marxist]] and [[socialist]] viewpoints from [[academia]], and do not reflect the realities of modern life: ::''That's what we do in America: glorify autonomous individualists. What else would we possibly glorify? The autonomous collective? One can only imagine the kind of arcade game that would pass muster with the leather-elbow-patch set (leap over the running dogs of [[capitalism]], liberate the oppressed [[proletariat]], and accumulate enough petition power to defeat the evil [[Rupert Murdoch|Murdoch]]).'' (Herz, ''Joystick Nation'', 1997). Specifically, Herz claimed that such things as a "lack of cooperative behavior" and "aggressiveness" are both necessary and useful traits in a capitalistic society, but that academic psychologists tend to ignore this.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} Also, it should be noted that the majority of video gamers are adults. "The average game player is 33 years old and has been playing games for 12 years."[http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php] "The average age of the most frequent game buyer is 38 years old. In 2007, 92 percent of computer game buyers and 80 percent of console game buyers were over the age of 18."[http://www.theesa.com/facts/top_10_facts.php] Some psychologists claim that while causation has been linked between playing violent video games and an increase in hostile behavior, the effect is very low.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} They also claim the effect tends to increase depending on how angry the person was to begin with. Some also claim the effect violent video games have on adults is very similar in magnitude to the effect they have on the behavioral processes of children.[http://www.cheapassgamer.com/archives/cagcast-72-a-doctor-in-the-house.php] While not a therapist, Brian Clevinger (author of [[8-Bit Theater]]) opposes efforts to censor video games. He is critical of parents who fail to involve themselves in their children's lives. He argues that it is the parents' disinterest that hurts the intellectual development of children. Clevinger believes video games are just a convenient scapegoat: ''"It's not my fault my kid doesn't know the difference between right and wrong, or fantasy and reality, it must be those darn video games I kept buying him in lieu of parenting."''[http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=050621] ===Criticism from religious organizations=== {{seealso|Censorship by organized religion}} Video games have received criticism from religious sources. A large percentage of criticism of video games originates from religious sources,{{Fact|date=December 2006}} often in similar response to claims of violence, crime, sexuality, nudity, rebelliousness, [[materialism]], [[occult]]ism, and offensive references to religion in these games.{{Fact|date=December 2006}} Such content found in video games are often criticized by religious groups of specific denominations. Games such as ''[[Breath of Fire II]]'', ''[[La Pucelle Tactics]]'', ''[[Xenogears]]'' / ''[[Xenosaga]]'', ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics]]'', ''[[Final Fantasy X]]'', ''[[Castlevania]]'',<ref>This refers to the modern games in the Castlevania series. The earlier games removed religious references.</ref> ''[[Tales of Symphonia]]'', ''[[Grandia II]]'' and ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' contain religious themes that some might find offensive. <!-- Might want to include an example that isn't a JRPG? --> Often, [[computer role-playing game|RPGs]] in particular make use of a corrupt and powerful [[church]] as the game’s [[antagonist]]. <!-- Examples are not needed in this article. --> In response to potential criticism, religious content has been [[censorship|censored]] in some Western releases of [[Japan]]ese-origin video games. [[Nintendo]] in particular censored many of its U.S. releases back in the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] and [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] era. ''[[Castlevania]]'', ''[[Dragon Quest]]'', ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' and other games containing such references as crosses, the words "holy," "monk," and names of biblical figures were censored for their U.S. release. One trophy in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', Tamagon, was locked out of the U.S. release of the game, possibly due to religious reference and the title of the game in which he originally appeared (''[[Devil World]]''). The trophy can be obtained via hacking, but the name of the game has been changed to "Demon World" in the description. Members of the [[Sikh]] came in action against the 2002 game [[Hitman 2: Silent Assassin]], starting a petition that urged publisher Eidos to recall the game, because of a level in the game where the player was instructed to kill a group of "fanatical believers", which bore quite a resemblance to the Sikh. A couple of months after it's release however, the initial fervor and writer Jasvinder Singh Gulati stated that ''"after playing the version of the game released for PlayStation 2, I believe that us Sikhs totally overreacted."'' In 2002, the [[Xbox]] fighting game ''[[Kakuto Chojin]]'' offended many [[Muslim]]s with the use of religious chanting in background music. The [[Saudi Arabia]]n government made a formal protest, and Microsoft pulled the game internationally in early 2003.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://technology.guardian.co.uk/online/news/0,12597,1286066,00.html | title = Microsoft pays dear for insults through ignorance | author = Brown, Paul |date=August 14, 2004 | publisher = ''[[The Guardian]]'' | accessdate = }}</ref> Many Muslims were also offended by the [[Nintendo 64]] game [[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]. In one of the game's dungeons, Muslim chanting can be heard in the background music. This was changed by Nintendo in later versions of the game, with the older versions being discontinued.<ref>http://www.harkinian.net/4.pdf page 3</ref> A prominent symbol in the game was the star and crescent, which is usually interpreted as a symbol of Islam. This was also replaced in later versions of the game, with a different symbol. As in the film industry, many groups promote restriction on games children should be allowed to play, but do not believe that games themselves should be censored. These websites are directed at parents who want to avoid video games they consider too explicit and graphic for their children. Many of them (especially those that review games based on their view of the game's permissibility) receive criticism for being overly harsh, but some of them have large followings that appreciate their service.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} Some of these websites have stopped reviewing "M" rated games, due to criticism from [[fandom|fans]] of the games upset at its low rating.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} ===Criticisms of the game play in and of itself=== Some criticisms from both game players and non-game players alike are directed at the game play in and of itself. This primarily is focused toward [[computer role-playing game|RPGs]], especially [[MMORPG]]s, and ''[[First-person shooter]]'' (FPS)'s, whose gameplay, critics feel, causes obsession or addiction. This is often joked about and admitted in the MMORPG communities{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. A prominent aspect of RPGs is the immersion factor, or [[virtual reality]], which is seen by critics as escapist{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. Finally, as most RPG leveling mechanics allow for getting stronger by repetitive fighting of weaker enemies for a long time, this is seen as discouraging risk taking or instilling a fear of losing in the gamer. In fact, most [[MMORPG]]s place a level range requirement for getting [[experience points]], in which the lower the enemy's level is relative to the player's, the less experience is gained (until it reaches zero). The ''[[First-person shooter]]'' is the other type of video game, with arguably the highest immersion factor, since the player "sees through the eyes of the character the player is controlling". The 1993 first-person shooter ''[[Doom (video game)|Doom]]'', a game that [[Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris]] played a lot and mentioned in their suicide video, caused some activists and parents' groups to blame it (and other FPS games like it) for the shootings at Columbine High School. Critics of FPS games claim that the immersion factor is just too high, and that the U.S. armed forces uses them for training their soldiers.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} ===Criticism for alleged racism in video games=== There have been a number of incidents in which a certain [[Race (classification of human beings)|racial group]] felt their rights were violated by the [[racism|racist]] depiction in a certain video game. At least one video game, 2002's ''[[Ethnic Cleansing (video game)|Ethnic Cleansing]]'', has been based on an explicitly racist premise. A number of games have been criticized purely for their settings, such as ''[[Total Overdose]]'' and ''[[Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2]]'' in [[Mexico]], or ''[[Resident Evil 5]]'' in the [[Africa]]n continent. Nintendo was criticized for the design of the [[Pokémon]] [[List of Pokémon (121-140)#Jynx|Jynx]], who according to children's book author [[Carole Boston Weatherford]] bore a striking resemblance to blackface actors, a racist image from America's past. Due to this complaint, Nintendo ended up slightly changing the colors in the Pokémon's design. In ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'', one of the instructions that the player is given is to "kill all the Haitians", referring to the Haitian gang in the game. The group "Haitian-Americans for Human Rights" staged a protest outside of New York's City Hall, claiming that the game was teaching children to be racist. ''[[Loco Roco]]'' was criticized by a gaming journalist who said that the similarities between the game's black Moja-characters and the 19th century [[Golliwogg]] dolls, was a "product of unchecked institutional racism". The 2005-game ''[[Gun (video game)|GUN]]'' was the target of controversy when the Association of American Indian Development attempted to have it's release banned, because they felt that the game was being racist against Native Americans. ===Uninteresting/Uncreative games=== Some critics of film and literature look down on video gaming as an inferior form of entertainment.<ref name="ebert on games">{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2005/11/30/ebert-video-games-inherently-inferior-to-film-and-literature/ |title=Ebert: video games inherently inferior to film and literature |accessdate=2007-03-01 |last=Choi |first=Dan |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=[[2005-11-30]] |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=[[Joystiq]] |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref> The majority of criticism of video games from within the video-gaming community also relates to quality. This may stem from early early video games, which tended to have had either simple or entirely linear story structures with little regard to [[Plot (narrative)|plot]] development. However, an equal or possibly higher amount of games within the past few years have more commonly featured complex plots with alternate endings based on the player actions, often aided with intense social commentary or emotional content in the plot (even in some children's game series). A frequent counterargument is that this is like complaining that a game of football does not contain much plot or character development, and that although most video games contain a [[narrative]], it serves only to propel the player's actions in and against a [[virtual reality|virtual]] world, which is not primarily based upon passively seeing and hearing. Another point of view compares video games to the movies, which during the silent era were also considered mere entertainment. Other criticisms include unrealistic aspects of graphics or gameplay, games that are simply not fun to play, a perceived lack of games that appeal to women and girls, and a strong and increasing tendency of [[video game publisher]]s to avoid risks and originality by only funding games which have clear promise to succeed financially. For example, the use of violence in games is sometimes seen as a crutch for creativity by critics; it is alleged that if a developer cannot invent an original, fun activity for the player, he will end up giving the player the time-honored task of shooting a monster. In particular, there has been a perceived increase in: *sequels to, prequels to, and [[enhanced remake]]s of previously successful games. *games which use a [[license]]d [[intellectual property]] (in the sense of a [[copyright]] and [[trademark]] portfolio related to a specific [[brand]]) from some other medium, often movies, comic books, television shows, or books. Such games have a reputation for being rushed out to meet the launch dates of the media they are derived from or to make quick money. The quintessential example of which is [[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Atari 2600)|E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]] for the [[Atari 2600]] which was cited as one of the factors which killed the system. There were poor sales due to poor gameplay. *games whose game play is more or less copied directly from previously published games that were successful. It is generally agreed that in the early days of video games there seemed to be an explosion of creativity with genuinely new types of game play appearing in some new game every month, and now a new type of game play is seen only a couple of times per year. The ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' series is one of the most notorious for having copy-cat games made (see [[GTA Clone]]). It should be noted that such complaints are legitimate across all mediums. It should be noted that problems with low creativity are also seen in the [[Film|movie]] industry; many movies are based on TV shows, novels, or previous entries in series. ===Publicized incidents=== {{Refimprovesect|date=May 2008}} {{inc-vg}} <!--Would make better separate article, maybe?--> Several incidents speculated to be caused by video games in recent decades have helped fuel controversy. *On [[December 1]], [[1997]], 14-year old American [[Michael Carneal]] had killed 3 and injured 5 others in the [[Heath High School shooting]] after playing ''[[Doom (video game)|Doom]]'', ''[[Quake (series)|Quake]]'', ''[[Castle Wolfenstein]]'', ''[[Redneck Rampage]]'', ''[[Nightmare Creatures]]'', ''[[MechWarrior]]'', and ''[[Resident Evil (series)|Resident Evil]]'', and accessing some pornographic sites. Carneal also owned ''[[The Basketball Diaries (film)|The Basketball Diaries]]'', a film which includes a high school student dreaming about shooting his teacher and some classmates, which sparked many debates on [[internet forums]] about whether the film about killing classmates, or the game where a character shoots aliens is more at fault. *On [[April 20]], [[1999]], American high school students [[Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold]] killed 13 people and themselves in the [[Columbine High School massacre]]. The pair had been fans of ''[[Doom (video game)|Doom]]'', claimed their mothers; however, later investigations by the FBI revealed that Harris' plan was originally to blow up the school. He started shooting when his bombs did not go off. *In November 2001, 21-year-old American [[Shawn Woolley]] committed suicide after what his mother claimed was an addiction to ''[[EverQuest]]''. Woolley's mother stated, "I think the way the game is written is that when you first start playing it, it is fun, and you make great accomplishments. And then the further you get into it, the higher level you get, the longer you have to stay on it to move onward, and then it isn't fun anymore. But by then you're addicted, and you can't leave it." It should be noted there is no proof Woolley's mother ever played the game.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/10/17/48hours/main525965.shtml |title= Addicted: Suicide Over Everquest?|author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= 2002-09-18|publisher= CBS News}}</ref> *In February, 2003, 16-year-old American [[Dustin Lynch]] was charged with aggravated murder and made an insanity defense that he was "obsessed" with ''[[Grand Theft Auto III]]''. Long time video game opponent and attorney [[Jack Thompson (attorney)#Thompson vs. Grand Theft Auto|Jack Thompson]] encouraged the father of victim JoLynn Mishne to pass a note to the judge that said "the attorneys had better tell the jury about the violent video game that trained this kid [and] showed him how to kill our daughter, JoLynn. If they don't, I will."<ref name="Hudak2">Hudak, Stephen. 'State gets; OK to try teenager as adult 16-year-old accused of killing Medina girl." ''Cleveland Plain Dealer'', [[2003-05-13]].</ref> Lynch later retracted his insanity plea, and his mother Jerrilyn Thomas commented, "It has nothing to do with video games or [[Paxil]], and my son's no murderer."<ref name="Hudak5">Hudak, Stephen. "Teen can stand trial in girl's murder; Father of slain Medina High pupil upset that video game critic won’t be in court." ''Cleveland Plain Dealer'', [[2003-09-16]].</ref> *On [[June 7]], [[2003]], 18-year-old American [[Devin Moore]] shot and killed two policemen and a dispatcher after grabbing one of the officers' weapons following an arrest for the possession of a stolen vehicle. At trial, the defense claimed that Moore had been inspired by the video game ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/17/60minutes/main702599.shtml|title= Can A Video Game Lead To Murder?|date= 2005-06-19|publisher= CBS News}}</ref> although some have later pointed out that the defender would have said anything to avoid blame. *On [[June 25]], [[2003]], two American step brothers, Joshua and William Buckner, aged 14 and 16, respectively, used a rifle to fire at vehicles on [[Interstate 40]] in [[Tennessee]], killing a 45-year-old man and wounding a 19-year-old woman. The two shooters told investigators they had been inspired by ''[[Grand Theft Auto III]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/grandtheftauto3/news_6077161.html|title= Families sue over GTAIII-inspired shooting|author= Calvert, Justin|date= 2003-09-22|publisher= GameSpot}}</ref> *On [[February 27]], [[2004]] in [[Leicester]], [[UK]], 17-year-old [[Warren Leblanc]] lured 14-year-old [[Stefan Pakeerah]] into a park and murdered him by stabbing him repeatedly with a [[claw hammer]] and [[knife]]. Leblanc was reportedly obsessed with ''[[Manhunt (video game)|Manhunt]]''. The victim's mother Giselle Pakeerah has been campaigning against violent video games in the [[UK]] ever since.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/3934277.stm BBC NEWS | England | Leicestershire | Game blamed for hammer murder<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The police investigating the case have dismissed any link, as discussed in the relevant articles. *In [[July 5]], [[2004]], [[Cody Posey]] killed and buried his parents after supposedly being inspired by ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'', despite at no point in the game does the main character bury someone he has killed, nor does anyone in the game kill their parents. *In October 2004, a 41-year-old Chinese man named Qiu Chengwei stabbed 26-year-old Zhu Caoyuan to death over a dispute regarding the sale of a virtual weapon the two had jointly won in the game ''[[Legend of Mir 3]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-06/08/content_449494.htm|title= Death sentence for online gamer|author= Cao Li|date= 2005-06-08|publisher= China Daily}}</ref> *On May 24, 2005, the four-month-old daughter of a [[South Korea]]n couple died of suffocation after being left unattended for five hours while her parents played ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' at an [[Internet cafe]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200506/200506140037.html|title= Infant Daughter Dies as Parents Play Online Game|author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= 2005-06-14|publisher= Digital Chosunilbo}}</ref> *In August 2005, 28-year-old South Korean [[Lee Seung Seop]] died after playing ''[[Starcraft]]'' for 50 hours straight.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4137782.stm|title= S Korean dies after games session|date= 2005-08-10|publisher= BBC News}}</ref> *In September 2007, a Chinese man in [[Guangzhou]], [[People's Republic of China|China]], died after playing Internet video games for three consecutive days in an Internet cafe.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUST16999720070917 Man in China dies after three-day Internet session | Technology | Internet | Reuters<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jqk8JRfUHaxa41woygy6G0TAXeRg AFP: China web-user dies after three-day online binge<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *In December 2007, a Russian man was beaten to death over an argument in the MMORPG ''[[Lineage II]]''. The man was killed when his guild and a rival guild challenged each other to a brawl in the real world.<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/news/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=26166073 GameSpot News: The definitive source for video game news, announcements, ship dates, rankings, sales figures, and more<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ===Counter-criticism by proponents of video games=== <!--Also would be better separate article?--> The most common argument against video games is that they promote violence. A counter-argument commonly expressed in the video game community is that playing these games does not motivate players to actually commit acts of violence in reality; playing a first person shooter does not cause most people to commit murder. A US Secret Service study found that only 12 percent of those involved in school shootings were attracted to violent video games, while 24 percent read violent books and 27 percent were attracted to violent films.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/preventingattacksreport.pdf|title= Safe School Initiative Final Report||page= 26|author= |last= Vossekuil|first= Bryan |coauthors= et al.|date= May 2002|publisher= U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Department of Education}}</ref> An Australian study found that only children already predisposed to violence were affected by violent games.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/04/study_kids_unaf.html |title= Study: Kids Unaffected by Violent Games|date=April 2 2007|publisher= Wired}}</ref> Many gamers accuse critics of overreacting and imagining effects. As with [[Fredric Wertham]]'s widely publicized crusade against [[comic book]]s in the 1950s, the association of video gaming with youth crime can be at best seen as a correlation; because a very high percentage of adolescents and young adults play video games (analogous to youth readership of comic books in the 1950s), it would not be surprising that these video games show up in the possession of young violent criminals as well. Within the video game industry itself, there is not much self-criticism about excessive sexuality or violence, as it is generally agreed that video games are for a wide range of ages, as with films and books, and are not always toys for children. The industry also argues that [[video game publisher]]s have as much right to explore adult-oriented, mature themes as do [[movie studio]]s or [[publisher|book publisher]]s. Some [[video game developer|developers]] and publishers find some of this type of content distasteful and do not produce it, but in general there is not much agitation to set limits on adult content for the industry as a whole. [[Nolan Bushnell]] once said in a documentary that violent video games, for the [[video game industry]], are similar to what [[Pornography|porn films]] represent for the [[film industry]]. A tongue-in-cheek parody of a GTA clone was featured on a sketch on popular [[Adult Swim]] [[stop-motion]] [[sketch show]] ''[[Robot Chicken]]''. The sketch, which is set out in the form of an ad, points out some exaggerated features that are commonly associated with violent video games but arent actually in any, such as the ability for the protagonist to shoot his parents, urinate on homeless people, run people over with a school bus, and date-rape an intellectually disabled person. But at the end of the ad, a voice says, "Rated E for Everyone". A similar parody was in season 8, episode 16 of [[MADtv]], with a "Grand Theft Auto" [[game show]], exaggerating all of the controversial features: Frequent killings (two of the contestants, portrayed by [[Bobby Lee]] and [[Paul Vogt]] get "killed"); drugs; and prostitutes (though there was only one on the show.) The show ended with an apology for the excessive violence in the sketch, and a reminder to go and buy "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City". Currently, some educators have begun to address "the controversy over the effects of violent gameplay on gamers" and have also discussed ways in which teachers might incorporate video games into their classrooms, as is the subject of the book ''Playing to Learn: Video Games in the Classroom'' written by a Ph.D. at Brock University.<ref>Associate Professor David Hutchison, "Video Games in Schools? Some Practical Advice for Teachers and Students," ''Game Informer'' 173 (September, 2007): 60.</ref> After conducting a two-year study of more than 1,200 middle-school children about their attitudes towards video games, [[Harvard Medical School]] [[researcher]]s Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olson found that playing video games did not have a particularly negative affect on the researched group.<ref>[http://uk.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUKN0725760620080512 Video games don't create killers, new book says]</ref> ==Video game legislation around the world== ===Argentina=== In [[Argentina]], federal legislation (Law No. 26.043) states that Manufacturers and/or importers of video games are required to display the warning "Overexposure is harmful to health" on the packaging in which such products are marketed. The rating "Suitable for all ages", "Suitable for persons aged 13 or over" or "Suitable for persons aged 18 or over", as applicable, must also be displayed. ===Australia=== {{Refimprovesect|date=May 2008}} In [[Australia]] video games are rated by the [[Office of Film and Literature Classification (Australia)|Office of Film and Literature Classification]], which also rates other media. Unlike movies however, no R18+ or X18+ category exists for video games, and as such if they do not fit into the MA15+ category (suitable for 15 year olds and over), they are refused classification and effectively banned, because video games can not be sold in Australia without a rating from the OFLC, unless that video game applies for, and receives, exemption from being rated.<ref>[http://www.classification.gov.au/special.html?n=293&p=84 Exemptions from being rated by the Office of Film and Literature Classification].</ref> This fact means that games deemed unsuitable for 15 year olds are banned entirely from sale and distribution within the country, even for use by adults. This situation has been a point of much debate for many years now, as the video gaming community view this as restrictive and archaic. Recently the [[Victoria, Australia|Victorian]] government has announced plans to try and get an R18+ category introduced.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} A comprehensive list of games that have been banned in Australia can be found at [http://www.refused-classification.com/ Refused-Classification]. The "argument for" states that adults are allowed to see and hear whatever they like. Much of the controversy seems to be caused by the perception that video games are only targeted at children. In 1996, ''[[Duke Nukem 3D]]'' was refused classification because of the presence of minor nudity in a section of the game. It was modified so that it was sold with the parental lock on, removing the nudity, but a mix-up meant that the unlocked content was sold on the game's disc. This led to the majority of the Australian player base gaining access to, and playing, the banned version of the game. The OFLC attempted to have the game recalled, since the version that was being sold was functionally the version that was refused classification. The OFLC was unsuccessful, however, because the distributor had notified them that the uncensored content was on the disc when the modified version was classified. Six months later, the unmodified version of the game was officially reclassified as MA15+, and was allowed for sale throughout Australia. In 2002, [[Australia]] banned ''[[Grand Theft Auto III]]'' for allowing certain actions against virtual prostitutes; the game was later reinstated when this action was removed. Specifically, the player could solicit services from a virtual prostitute, and then kill her. The ability to solicit sex from prostitutes in the game was the action that was removed, but the player could still kill them; note, however, that this is not a necessary part of the gameplay and the character can pretty much kill anyone in the game. The sequel, ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'' was also modified for the same reasons, and in the same way for release in the Australian market. Similarly, ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'' was banned in July 2005 following the revelation that sex scenes were included in the content files on the game's disc. Ordinarily, one could not access these scenes, but third party modification, known as the [[Hot Coffee minigame controversy|Hot Coffee mod]], allowed the player to access these scenes within the game itself. The inclusion of the scenes on the game disc took the game outside the MA15+ category. The MA15+ rating was re-instated after a modified version was released by [[Rockstar Games]], omitting the content files for the sex scenes. In 2005 the game ''[[50 Cent: Bulletproof]]'' was banned for encouraging gang violence (a version without the game's Arcade Mode and excessive gore, and with an automatic Game Over for killing innocents was later submitted and given an MA15+ rating), and [[Marc Ecko]]'s ''[[Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure]]'' was also banned for glorifying illegal graffiti tagging. ''[[Reservoir Dogs (video game)|Reservoir Dogs]]'' was banned because the Australian government disliked the fact that the player was able to shoot the heads off of hostages during a bank heist. Two other games banned in Australia are the highly violent (and controversial) ''[[Postal (computer game)|Postal]]'' and ''[[Postal²]]'' from [[Running With Scissors, Inc.|Running With Scissors]]. The most recent video game of the Grand Theft Auto series, ''[[Grand Theft Auto IV]]'', has also prompted editing in the Australian ([[PAL]]) version. In the American release, sexual encounters with prostitutes occur inside the player's vehicle and the player has the ability to rotate the camera for clearer view of what transpires. This ability is absent in the Australian version in which the camera is fixed behind the vehicle.<ref>http://au.xbox360.ign.com/articles/869/869828p1.html</ref> It was recently announced that an R18+ rating for video games was in the works,<ref>http://www.refused-classification.com/ud_08_03.htm</ref> though South Australian Attorney-General [[Michael Atkinson]] has stated he will fight against this plan. Atkinson is solely responsible for maintaining Austalia's status of being the only developed democracy without an adults only rating for video games, despite overwhelming demand for such a rating. {{Fact|date=May 2008}} === Brazil === Around the 1990s, [[Brazil]] did not have a video game rating system, such as [[Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]], but some games such as ''[[Carmageddon]]'', ''[[Postal (computer game)|Postal]]'' and ''[[Grand Theft Auto (video game)|Grand Theft Auto]]'' were banned in the whole Brazilian territory via juridical decision.<ref name=UOL>{{cite web |title="Counter-Strike" e "EverQuest" estão proibidos no Brasil |url=http://jogos.uol.com.br/pc/ultnot/2008/01/18/ult182u7954.jhtm |publisher=UOL Jogos |date=[[January 18]], [[2008]] |language=Portuguese |accessdate=2008-01-21}}</ref> Due to a gunman's rampage through a movie theatre in Brazil,<ref>http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/Tecnologia/0,,MUL270709-6174,00.html</ref> ''[[Duke Nukem 3D]]'' was also banned in that country along with ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]'', ''[[Doom (video game)|Doom]]'' and several other violent first-person shooters. The Brazil rampage (named [[Mateus da Costa Meira]]) was allegedly inspired by ''Duke Nukem 3D''{{'}}s opening level "Hollywood Holocaust" (Episode 1, Mission 1), where a firefight with aliens takes place inside a cinema. Despite this ban, ''Duke Nukem 3D'' was subsequently being published in a computer magazine (''Revista Senha''), and other titles such as ''Quake'' and ''Doom'' are still sold openly in Brazil. On [[January 18]] [[2008]], the [[Brazil]]ian justice banned the games [[Counter-Strike]], [[Everquest]], [[World of Warcraft]], [[Mu Online]] and [[Tibia (computer game)|Tibia]]. <ref>http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/informatica/ult124u364829.shtml</ref> <ref>http://esbr.terra.com.br/posts.php?id=12644</ref>. ''Counter-Strike'' was banned due to cs_rio — a map which simulates a [[favela]] in [[Rio de Janeiro (city)|Rio de Janeiro]].<ref name=UOL/><ref>{{cite web |title=Procon/Go Recolhe jogos virtuais no mercado |url=http://www.procon.go.gov.br/procon/detalhe.php?textoId=001092 |publisher=[[PROCON]] - Goiás |date=[[January 16]], [[2008]] |language=Portuguese |accessdate=2008-01-21}}</ref> In [[April 10]] [[2008]], the game ''[[Bully (video game)|Bully]]'' <ref>http://www.gamespot.com/pages/news/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=26335493</ref> was also banned by Brazilian justice claiming ''"The aggravating factor is that everything in Bully takes place inside a school."''. ===Canada=== [[Canada]] (including [[French language|French-speaking]] [[Quebec]]) uses the same [[Entertainment Software Ratings Board|ESRB rating system]] as the [[United States]]. However, in [[British Columbia]] and [[Ontario]], their respective provincial governments re-rated the video games [[Soldier of Fortune (video game)|Soldier of Fortune]] and [[Manhunt (video game)|Manhunt]] as [[Canadian motion picture rating system|R (Canadian film rating)]], which unlike the [[MPAA film rating system|United States' R rating]], these games are restricted to those 18 and over for their depictions of [[graphic violence]].<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2004/03/04/manhunt040304.html Ontario slaps 'R' rating on video game<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ===China=== {{main|Video games in the People's Republic of China}} Through new laws the Chinese government has said it plans to restrict gamers to three hours of consecutive play, using a “fatigue technique” in games. Children and teenagers are strongly encouraged to play online games no more than 3 hours per day through this method. After 3 hours their character abilities will be limited. Gamers who spend more than five hours will have the abilities of their in-game character severely limited. Players will be forced to take a five-hour break before they can return to a game with the character back to full capacity. In some cases further playing is locked down through their [[IP Address|IP identification number]] or account with the online game vendor. The operators face little choice as they need government approval to offer online gaming.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4183340.stm</ref> The [[Massively multiplayer online game|MMO]] genre of games is big business in [[China]] since [[subscription]] based games avoid [[Copyright infringement of software|software piracy]], and most gamers use [[Internet cafe]]s as they do not own a [[personal computer]]. The company that runs the popular ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' in China, [[The9]], is listed on the [[NASDAQ]] market exchange so they must release an [[annual report]] which includes much information on how [[MMORPG]]s work in China. Abbreviated versions of the sources have been published.<ref>http://www.gamingsteve.com/archives/2005/11/with_all_the_ta.php</ref><ref>http://www.corp.the9.com/IR/the9-2004-20f.pdf</ref> China has also banned certain video games for their content. Foreign Internet games are subject to content examinations by the Ministry of Culture before being allowed to enter the Chinese market. Games such as ''[[Hearts of Iron]]'', ''[[I.G.I.-2: Covert Strike]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-03/19/content_316379.htm|title= Computer game cracked down on for discrediting China's image|date= 2004-03-19|publisher= Xinhua}}</ref> and ''[[Command & Conquer]]'' have all been banned for offenses such as "distorting history and damaging China's sovereignty and territorial integrity" and "smearing the image of China and the Chinese army".(However, it should be noted that [[Command and Conquer: Generals]] portrays China as a protagonist, aiding the U.S. in destroying a fictional terrorist cell.)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-05/29/content_334845.htm|title= Swedish video game banned for harming China's sovereignty|date= 2004-05-29|publisher= Xinhua}}</ref> ===Germany=== {{Refimprovesect|date=April 2008}} In [[Germany]], video games, as with other media, are subject to [[censorship]], or "decency standards", that are strict by the standards of other European nations. For video games there is the index, which is a list of video games, films and other media considered a bad influence on children and therefore unsuited for anyone under 18. Articles not suited for anyone under 18 cannot be easily sold through mail order in Germany. There are a few specialized companies that sell such games, but require a photocopy of the buyers' ID card as age verification, and the package is only handed over to the buyer personally. Certain institutions can request that a game be examined by the BPjM ([[Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien]]). In some cases it is then placed on the index, usually because it is deemed to glorify violence, at which point it becomes illegal to [[advertising|advertise]] the games or even review them in an age-unrestricted medium, display them on store shelves, or sell them to anyone under 18. This dramatically affects sales, so most video game companies selling games in Germany elect to create a special German version that narrowly avoids the index by changing the graphics. Instead of red blood, green blood is shown, implying that aliens are being killed and not humans; or gears and springs are shown coming out of the wound, implying that the victims are robots. For example, the ''[[Contra (arcade game)|Contra]]'' series, known as ''Probotector'' in Europe, repeatedly replaced the heroes and many enemies throughout the series with robots. In [[Half-Life (video game)|Half-Life]], the marines that are fought by the player are replaced by robots. The scientists also cannot be killed in [[Half-Life (video game)|Half-Life]], they just sit down and shake their heads. However, games cannot be examined by the BPjM prior to their release, even if requested by the manufacturers, as that would be considered censorship by German standards, which is illegal under the German constitution.<ref>[http://bundesrecht.juris.de/gg/art_5.html GG Art 5]</ref> This has led to many publishers thinking with "scissors in their hands" and removing more content than would have been necessary. Recently, the index has become somewhat redundant regarding video games, as the [[USK]]'s (Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle) ratings have been made obligatory and only games that did not receive a rating can be placed on the index. Before [[2003-04-01]] these ratings had been merely suggestions for gamers and the index was the only way to control sales. Now violent games which received an 18+ rating can be sold openly in stores, but the stores are responsible for checking the buyers' age. The self-censorship described above has also decreased because of this. Companies still employ it because a 16+ rating can improve sales, but it is not as excessive as it used to be. Moreover, because of Germany's law banning public displays of [[Nazism]] and the [[swastika]],<ref>[http://bundesrecht.juris.de/stgb/__86a.html StGB §86a]</ref> some games have been banned for using these symbols, even though the rationale behind their use is clearly critical of the Nazi philosophy. Games such as ''[[Wolfenstein 3D]]'' or ''[[Commandos#Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines|Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines]]'', which involve Allied soldiers on missions to kill Nazi soldiers, are banned. Although a censored version of Return to Castle Wolfenstein was released in Germany, the original Wolfenstein 3D remains illegal. It should be noted that confiscations of video games based on this law are not common, and most of the confiscated games are openly racist homebrews like ''[[KZ Manager]]''. The display of Nazi symbols in an accurate historical context is permitted. This applies especially to [[World War II]] films, which are classified as art and thus exempt from this ban. Video games however are not considered art. There are few World War II video games that are deemed to be historically accurate, but the backgrounds of titles such as ''[[Medal of Honor: Allied Assault]]'', ''[[Call of Duty]]'' and ''[[Commandos#Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty|Commandos: Beyond The Call of Duty]]'' do operate on a historical background, even if the storylines of the games are exaggerated or fictional. Nonetheless, the symbols were removed, although all other references to the Nazis were kept. In September 2006, due to its graphic violence, the USK has refused to rate the [[Xbox 360]] game ''[[Dead Rising]]''. Microsoft does not allow unrated games to be published for the Xbox 360, effectively suspending the production of a German version of the game. The game is available as an import to players of legal age. The same fate occurred to ''[[Gears of War]]'' as well as ''[[Crackdown]]''.<ref>http://gamepolitics.com/2007/01/09/german-government-bans-crackdown/</ref> ===Greece=== In July 2002, the Greek Parliament passed [[Greek Law Number 3037]], entirely outlawing electronic gaming. This controversial law has been frowned upon, not only in Greece, but elsewhere in Europe and in the United States, and petitions were made against it. In December 2003 it was restricted to only affect [[Internet cafe]]s in accordance with a letter from the [[European Union]].Now everybody can play free in Internet Cafe's. ===Italy=== In [[Italy]] some sporadic attempts at video game censorship have been made. The game ''[[Carmageddon]]'' was censored when first released, showing [[zombie]]s instead of people and green blood. This censorship was not applied to the sequels, and apparently even the first game was re-released into its original form after some time; When ''[[Resident Evil 2]]'' was released in 1998, it was banned from stores after a protest made by a group of conservative mothers, but it reappeared after few days following the ruling of a judge. In November 2006 Italian politicians inaccurately attacked ''[[Rule of Rose]]'' for alleged violence against children perpetrated by the player.<ref name="Italian pol slammed">{{cite web |url=http://gamepolitics.com/2006/11/25/european-commission-official-slams-italian-pol-for-ill-informed-game-attack/ |title=European Commission Official Slams Italian Pol For Ill-informed Game Attack |accessdate=2006-11-26 |last=McCauley |first=Dennis |authorlink=Dennis McCauley |coauthors= |date=[[2006-11-25]] |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=[[GamePolitics.com]] |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= }}</ref> ===Japan=== {{Unreferencedsection|date=May 2008}} Violent games are tolerated, as demonstrated in the Japanese created game series ''[[Resident Evil (series)|Biohazard]]'' (known as ''Resident Evil'' outside of Japan), ''[[Devil May Cry]]'', ''[[God Hand (video game)|God Hand]]'', ''[[Samurai Spirits]]'' (also known as ''Samurai Shodown'', which was censored in the US), and ''[[Dead Rising]]'' (Though ''Dead Rising'' was made with US audiences in mind). However, games in which depictions of violence and gore are deemed unnecessary, extravagant, and unethical are censored, such as ''[[Mortal Kombat (series)|Mortal Kombat]]''. Consequently, Japanese critics tend to focus instead on [[pornography]] found in some adult Japanese computer games, which have generally not been released outside of Japan. Since 2002, a non-governmental organization, [[Computer Entertainment Rating Organization|CERO]], is reviewing games and issuing an age recommendation for all products that have been submitted. Violently pornographic games came to national attention in Japan in 1986 with the release by dB-soft of ''[[177 (video game)|177]]'', a game where the player takes the role of a rapist. (The game's title originates from the number of the Japanese law criminalizing rape.) ''177'' was not the first game designed around this premise, but it was unusually explicit for that time. The game caused debate in the Japanese parliament and was eventually recalled and re-released with the most controversial scenes removed. The controversy was ignited again in late 1991, when a junior high school student stole ''[[Saori: the House of Beautiful Girls]]''. The game included scenes of [[abduction]], [[incest]] and [[homosexuality]]. In 1992 the pornographic game industry formed the "Ethics Organization for Computer Software", setting industry guidelines for acceptable content and packaging. Those games deemed inappropriate by this organization for minors are released only to people 18 years or older. {{see also|Bishōjo game|Hentai game}} ===New Zealand=== The relevant law for [[New Zealand]] is the [http://rangi.knowledge-basket.co.nz/gpacts/reprint/text/2005/an/042.html Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993]. Apart from age restrictions, a publication can be declared objectionable: <blockquote>For the purposes of this Act, a publication is objectionable if it describes, depicts, expresses, or otherwise deals with matters such as sex, horror, crime, cruelty, or violence in such a manner that the availability of the publication is likely to be injurious to the public good.<ref>[http://rangi.knowledge-basket.co.nz/gpacts/reprint/text/2005/se/042se3.html Sector 3]</ref></blockquote> Objectionable publications can be seized any time by an Inspector from the Department of Internal Affairs, a Customs officer or a member of the police,<ref>[http://rangi.knowledge-basket.co.nz/gpacts/reprint/text/2005/se/042se108.html Sector 108]</ref> and mere possession is an offense, punishable with up to five years imprisonment for an individual.<ref>[http://rangi.knowledge-basket.co.nz/gpacts/reprint/text/2005/se/042se131.html Sector 131]</ref> Supply, distribution, display, or exhibition to any other person, or possession for this purpose, can be punished with up to ten years in jail under certain conditions.<ref>[http://rangi.knowledge-basket.co.nz/gpacts/reprint/text/2005/se/042se124.html Sector 124]</ref> ''[[Manhunt (video game)|Manhunt]]'', ''[[Reservoir Dogs (video game)|Reservoir Dogs]]'', ''[[Postal (computer game)|Postal]]'' and ''[[Postal²]]'' were dubbed "objectionable" under this law. ===Oman=== The games ''[[Call Of Duty 4]]'' and ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'' are banned in [[Oman]].{{Fact|date=February 2008}} ===Poland=== [[Poland]] uses the [[Pan European Game Information]] (PEGI) rating system. In early 2006, it was announced that there will be a rating system unique to Poland.<ref>{{cite journal | last =Banski | first =Zbigniew | authorlink = | coauthors = Jerzy Poprawa | title =Wstepniak - Pobudka! | journal =CD-Action | volume = | issue = issue 112 | pages = p. 4 | publisher = |date=February 2006 | url = | doi = | language = Polish | id = {{ISSN|1426-2916}} | accessdate = }}</ref> Law project probably will be presented with the end of 2007.<ref>{{cite journal | author =Smuggler | title =Polak potrafi? | journal =CD-Action | volume = | issue = issue 135 | pages = p. 48 | publisher = |date=February 2007 | url = | doi = | language = Polish | id = {{ISSN|1426-2916}} | accessdate = }}</ref> Additionally, former Polish Minister of Education [[Roman Giertych]] stated that his “No tolerance for violence in school” ("Zero tolerancji dla przemocy w szkole") project will also apply as a ban on distributing violent video games.<ref>{{cite news | author=[[Polish Press Agency|Polska Agencja Prasowa]] | coauthors = | title =Bez przemocy w grach | format = [[PDF]] | page = 2 | language = Polish | publisher = [[Metro International|Metropol Polska]] | date = [[2006-12-22]] | url =http://metropoint.metro.lu/20061222_Wroclaw.pdf | accessdate = }}</ref> The project has been suspended by his successor, [[Ryszard Legutko]], on [[August 14]], [[2007]]. ===South Korea=== Video game violence is controversial in [[South Korea]], and "no blood" regulations apply. South Korea also regularly bans games that depict [[North Korea]] and South Korea at war, or that demonize North Koreans. ''[[Ghost Recon 2]]'' and ''[[Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction]]'' have been banned for these reasons. ''[[Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory]]'' was also banned in South Korea due to the destruction of the South Korean capital [[Seoul]] in the game; however, the ban was recently lifted in late 2006. The South Korean government banned ''[[Grand Theft Auto III]]'', ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'' and ''[[Manhunt]]'' for cruelty and violence. However, with launch of the [http://www.grb.or.kr Game Rating Board] (Oct. 2007), tolerance for violence in games has been improved significantly. (Prior to GRB, Korea Media Rating Board, an organization responsible for rating various media such as theatrical movies and videos was in charge of rating video games.) With GRB in place, Korea is seeing lots of controversial games released with 18+ ratings. For example, PS2 and PC versions of GTA series were banned (by KMRB), but GTA games for PSP were released with 18+ rating (approved by GRB). ===United Kingdom=== The introduction of controversial games featuring photo-realistic images, such as ''[[Mortal Kombat (video game)|Mortal Kombat]]'' and ''[[Night Trap]]'', led to calls from the tabloid press for games to fall under the [[Video Recordings Act 1984|Video Recordings Act]]. The UK games publisher trade body [[Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association|ELSPA]] responded by introducing a voluntary age rating system in 1994. The ELSPA ratings were succeeded by the [[PEGI]], in 2003. Nevertheless, although games are generally exempt from the Video Recordings Act, those depicting sexual content, or gross violence towards people or animals, must still be submitted to the [[British Board of Film Classification|BBFC]] for consideration. BBFC ratings are legally binding, and British law imposes stiff penalties on retailers who sell to under-aged customers. ''[[Carmageddon]]'', in which the gameplay involved mowing down innocent pedestrians, was the first game to be refused classification in 1997, effectively banning it. The game's publisher, [[SCI]], had a modified version created in which the pedestrians in question were replaced by green-blooded zombies, which completed a successful appeal against the BBFC to overturn their original decision. The uncensored, unmodified version of ''[[Carmageddon]]'' was later released under an 18-certificate. In 2002 the [[Io Interactive]] game ''[[Hitman 2: Silent Assassin]]'' was withdrawn by a number of retailers due to religious sensitivities.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/sci_tech/newsid_2500000/2500199.stm CBBC Newsround | SCI TECH | Shops take Hitman 2 game off the shelves<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The area in question involved a [[Sikh]] sect that were depicted as terrorists involved in arms smuggling and assassination. It also involved a section that many Sikhs believed to closely resemble the [[Operation Blue Star|1984 massacre at the Amritsar temple]]. In 2004, the parents of a murdered 14-year-old boy blamed ''[[Manhunt (video game)|Manhunt]]'' as having been "connected" to the murder. It was later found not to be, as the game was found in the victim's home, rather than the killer's.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/3934277.stm BBC NEWS | England | Leicestershire | Game blamed for hammer murder<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Leicestershire police "did not uncover any connections to the computer game."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/3538066.stm BBC NEWS | England | Leicestershire | Police reject game link to murder<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The accusations prompted some retailers to remove the game from their shelves.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/3936597.stm BBC NEWS | England | Leicestershire | Manhunt game withdrawn by stores<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Nevertheless, following this incident the sales of the game rose due to the free publicity from newspaper headlines. The sequel, ''[[Manhunt 2]]'', released in 2007, was banned in the UK by the [[BBFC]]. On appeal to the [[Video Appeals Committee]] this ruling was overturned<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/6767623.stm BBC NEWS | England | Leicestershire | Censors ban 'brutal' video game<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> however the BBFC launched a successful [[judicial review]] into the VAC's decision, forcing the VAC to reconsider its judgement.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7233408.stm BBC NEWS | Technology | On the trail of Manhunt 2<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> On 14th March 2008, the VAC again recommended that the game be released, a position to which the BBFC have now agreed. The game now, according to [[Play.com]] the game is now reportedly available on 29/08/2008 on all 3 consoles and is available to pre-order. In June 2007 the [[PS3]] game ''[[Resistance: Fall of Man]]'' was criticized for the use of [[Manchester]] cathedral as one of the games' backdrops. Sony, the publisher of the game, responded by saying "Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is aware of the concerns expressed by the Bishop of Manchester and the cathedral authorities... and we naturally take the concerns very seriously. ''Resistance: Fall of Man'' is a fantasy science fiction game and is not based on reality. We believe we have sought and received all permissions necessary for the creation of the game." ===United States=== {{Unreferencedsection|date=April 2008}} After the economic crash of the video game industry in the early 1980s, the home console industry was revived, and both [[Nintendo of America]] and [[Sega of America]] imposed censorship guidelines upon software publishers. However, hardware manufactures never sought to impose such content censorship rules on the creators of computer games. If there was any objectionable content in a computer game, the publisher might put a generic parental advisory label on the game's packaging, while such content was often removed from a video game prior to sale.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} In the early 1990s, [[Sega of America]], who had more liberal censorship polices, introduced the [[Videogame Rating Council]] in effort to develop a formal rating system for games sold on its [[Sega Genesis]], [[Game Gear]], and [[Sega CD]]. It was during this era that a second wave of controversy erupted over the content of certain video games (i.e. ''[[Doom (video game)|Doom]]'', ''[[Mortal Kombat]]'', ''[[Lethal Enforcers]]'', ''[[Night Trap]]'' and ''[[Primal Rage]]''). The criticism came from interest groups and politicians, liberals and conservatives alike, who believed that the content of these games was too mature for children, promoted real life threats to public order and morality and, often, proposed greater government oversight of the industry. Senators [[Joe Lieberman]], [[Herb Kohl]] and [[Byron Dorgan]] held high-profile hearings on the video game industry and instructed the industry to engage in effective self-regulation, or risk federal intervention. The industry's response was to establish the [[Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]], which would be charged with giving each video game sold within the United States a content based rating, similar to the [[MPAA film rating system]]. Initially computer game companies supported an alternative rating system, but the ESRB ratings would eventually be used for both video and computer games. A third wave of national controversy erupted over the video game ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'', especially the "[[Hot Coffee]]" [[mod]]. Once this mod is downloaded it allowed the player to engage in graphic sex with a virtual girlfriend. This was not intended to be available in the game, but the code was not removed. This allowed someone to make a mod that allowed this code to run. The ESRB was not aware that this code existed, and more scrutiny was placed on the industry and its rating system. Several States are considering, or have already enacted, legislation that would prohibit certain games being sold to minors. The Constitutionality of such legislation remains in dispute, as under the [[Miller v. California|Miller test]], before any expressive materiel can be deemed [[obscene]], or restricted for the supposed "public welfare", it must be proven to be utterly devoid of significant [[literature|literary]], [[art]]istic, [[politics|political]], or [[science|scientific]] content of merit. (This is called the SLAPS test.) Seeing as how computer and video games are written (e.g. they are programmed), they automatically have significant scientific merit due to their very nature (as works of code), and furthermore, it is rare to find a game that lacks any expression in the artistic, literary, and political categories. Thus, games are, in essence, [[core political speech]], and subject to the almost absolute freedom of speech protections ("Congress shall make no law...restricting the freedom of speech") retained by all persons under the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] to the [[Constitution of the United States]]. Senator Lieberman stated in 2002 that in his opinion, the video game industry's rating system had become the best rating system of any medium, including the film industry. However, many video game players have criticized him, citing his work as too broad and unaware of the industry as a whole. The ESRB itself has, on numerous occasions, blamed any continued problems with video games on parents. It boasts an extremely high approval rating on its ratings, and claim that the labels are there and are properly used. It says that parents need to be more aware of what their children are buying and what they are buying for their children. In December 2004, [[Hal Hal]], the president of the retail trade association announced that all [[IEMA]] member companies - which included every major retailer of computer and video games, including such notable names as [[Wal-Mart]] - would now have policies to check the identification of young purchasers of games rated "Mature" to ensure that the purchaser is at least 17 years old, as recommended by the "Mature" rating. The association also required its members to post ESRB signage in every store and begin training retail clerks about the ratings system in order to help parents understand the process more thoroughly. From time to time, local officials attempt to restrict the playing or selling of violent video games. Predictably, the ESA (representing video game publishers) and the IEMA (representing game retailers) oppose the legislation and have been, to-date, victorious in overturning each bill passed. For example, the city of [[Indianapolis, Indiana]] in 2000 passed an ordinance barring children from playing [[arcade game]]s with graphic violence unless parental consent was given. It was generally thought that this law was intended to target the game ''[[The House of the Dead (video game)|The House of the Dead]]'', in which players use plastic guns to shoot at the game screen in order to kill zombies that try to kill the player. The ordinance was struck down at the appellate Federal court level, on the grounds that in the United States, video games enjoy some measure of [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] free speech protection because they contain real expression of ideas, and children have constitutional rights before the age of 18, and given this, the city did not demonstrate an overriding public interest in passing the ban. Recently, Illinois governor [[Rod Blagojevich]] passed a law banning the sale of "violent or sexually explicit" video games to minors under the age of 18. The new law would have taken effect on [[January 1]], [[2006]], but was [http://www.livejournal.com/users/gamepolitics/148962.html struck down] by [[United States district court|District Court]] judge Matthew Kennelly. As Kennelly so concisely put it: ''"In this country, the state lacks the authority to ban protected speech on the ground that it affects the listener's or observer's thoughts and attitudes."'' In doing so, the Judge confirmed yet again that video games are protected under the First Amendment and deserve treatment no different than film and literature. Illinois was forced to pay the ESRB legal fees, approximately 1 million dollars. About three months later, similar laws were passed by Michigan governor [[Jennifer Granholm]] and California governor [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]. The California law, as [[California Assembly Bills 1792 & 1793]], was sponsored by [[Leland Yee]], the Speaker pro Tem of the Assembly and a child psychologist. The laws were deemed unconstitutional by Judge Ronald Whyte on [[December 21]], [[2005]]; preventing it from going into effect on [[January 1]], [[2006]]. On [[2005-11-29]], Senators [[Hillary Clinton]], [[Joe Lieberman]] and [[Evan Bayh]] introduced the [[Family Entertainment Protection Act]] to much criticism. The act was intended to protect children from inappropriate content found in video games. The bill expired without going to a vote. Similar bills introduced at state level were found to be unconstitutional. It should be noted that a large reason that such legislation described above has never been enforced in the United States is because such legislation has been unanimously ruled unconstitutional in US courts. Judges across the nation agree that, if nothing else, video games are a fine art, and thus are protected by the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution]]'s guarantee of freedom of press (press instead of speech because video game files are more long-term than pure oral words).In response to this, some proponents of video game liberty are starting to use much cruder ways of expressing their belief. Some even consider Lieberman's and Kohl's threats of legislation if the ESRB was not formed to be completely empty threats, and, ultimately, that the government should "just go shove it." ==See also== * [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution]] * [[Game addiction]] * [[Greek electronic game ban]] * [[List of banned video games]] * [[Media controversy]] (disambiguation page) * [[Media influence]] * [[Media violence research]] * [[Moral panic]] * [[Nanny state]] * [[Video games censored by Nintendo of America]] ==References== {{reflist|2}} {{Video game controversy}} ==External links== {{POV-section|date=June 2008}} *[http://www.growfolio.com/magazine/2006/growfolio-2-06.pdf growFolio February 2006 issue (PDF)] Features prominent article on the video game controversy *[http://www.videogamevoters.org Video Game Voters Network] - Take action to stop government regulation of video game sales. *[http://www.womengamers.com/doctork/gameviolence1.php Does Media Cause Violent Behavior?] - ([http://www.womengamers.com WomenGamers.Com]) *[http://www.womengamers.com/doctork/sexualassault1.php Sexual Assault in Games] - ([http://www.womengamers.com WomenGamers.Com]) *[http://www.womengamers.com/doctork/inetaddict.php Healthy Hobby or Addiction?] - ([http://www.womengamers.com WomenGamers.Com]) *[http://www.gamepolitics.com GamePolitics.com] - "Where Politics and Video Games Collide" *[http://rlk89.com/gameinfluence/2007/08/08/game-influence/ Game Influence] - ([http://www.GameInfluence.com GameInfluence.com]) - "Society Makes Games, Game's Influence Society" *[http://www.futureofchildren.org/information2826/information_show.htm?doc_id=69826 Future of Children] - How use of video games and home computers affect children ===External links used as references for list of video games considered controversial=== *[http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/sexual-games/default.php Sexual Moments in Video Game History] from [[I-Mockery]] *[http://spankingart.wikia.com/wiki/Spanking_in_computer_and_video_games Spanking in computer and video games] *[http://youtube.com/watch?v=F6JgkyKLXtk The Haunting, house 1 - reference for urination in this game] *[http://www.gamespot.com/features/6090892/index.html When Two Tribes Go to War: a History of Video Game Controversy] *[http://anthonylarme.tripod.com/gc/index.html Games Censorship Collection] Australian site covering the early years of games censorship. *[http://www.refused-classification.com Refused-Classification.com] Australian database of banned and controversial games. *[http://www.melonfarmers.co.uk The Melon Farmers] UK anti-censorship site. ===Rating systems=== *[http://www.esrb.org/ Entertainment Software Rating Board official Web site] *[http://www.censorship.govt.nz Office of Film and Literature Classification (New Zealand)] New Zealand games classification. *[http://www.classification.gov.au Office of Film and Literature Classification (Australia)] Australian games classification. ===Legislation=== *[http://www.mi.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168--126002--,00.html Office of the Governor of Michigan] Governor [[Jennifer Granholm]] Signs New Laws to Protect Chldren from Violent and Sexually Explicit Video Games *[http://www.iema.org Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association] - Includes tracking of video game legislation. *[http://www.gamepolitics.com/legislation.htm GamePolitics.com Video Game Legislation Tracker] ===Viewpoints of the video game controversy=== ====Proponents of video game censorship==== *[http://timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article557091.ece Children 'made more aggressive by video games' ''(Times Online)''] - Nonreligious angle *[http://www.commonsensemedia.org/ Common Sense Media] - Nonreligious angle ====Proponents of video game caution, but not censorship==== *[http://www.almenconi.com/reviews.php?opt=games&sc_id=131/ Al Menconi Ministries] - Religious angle *[http://www.christiananswers.net/spotlight/games/ Christian Spotlight's Guide to Games] - Religious angle *[http://www.pluggedinonline.com/ Plugged In Online] - Religious Angle ====Neutral==== *[http://www.gamespot.com/features/6090892/ When Two Tribes Go to War: A History of Video Game Controversy] *[http://education.guardian.co.uk/egweekly/story/0,,1437188,00.html "Virtual reality"] [[The Guardian]] on the question whether video games can lead to violence (March 15, 2005) *[http://www.igda.org/articles/rreynolds_ethics.php Playing a "Good" Game: A Philosophical Approach to Understanding the Morality of Games] *[http://www.geocities.com/BBrown9326/vgcontroversy.rtf] A 26 page report on The Video Game Controversy *[http://www.g4tv.com/screensavers/features/45301/A_Brief_History_of_Videogame_Controversy.html A Brief History of Video Game Controversy] *[http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/index.cfm Media Awareness Canada] ====Opponents of video game censorship==== *[http://www.gamersmark.com/editorials/view/121 Thesis X, Session 1: Hate and Appeal] *[http://www.ncac.org/censorship_news/20040121~cn092~Violent_Video_Game_Players_Mysteriously_Avoid_Killing_Selves_-_Others.cfm National Coalition Against Censorship - Video Game Players Mysteriously Avoid Killing Selves and Others] *[http://www.geocities.com/skaterdudegcn/editorial1.html Nintendo Gamer Coalition - Banning of Video Games] *[http://www.fepproject.org The Free Expression Policy Project] *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3466525.stm BBC News: Blaming the Dark Side of Gaming] *[http://www.buzzcut.com/ Buzzcut.com: Video Game Theory and Criticism] *[http://www.catchdaflava.com/JustGame A Game Is Just a Game: Should Society Oppose Violent Video Games?] *[http://www.yfen.org Youth Free Expression Network] *[http://www.gamersalliance.org Gamers' Alliance Against Censorship] *[http://www.freeexpression.org/censorship/censorship-vidgame.htm Free Expression Network - Censorship - Video Games] *[http://www.abffe.com/mediaviolence.htm ABFFE: Violence in the Media Joint Statement] *[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/08/15/video_games_and_aggression/ Violent Video Games Do Not Cause Aggression] *[http://www.economist.com/printedition/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=4246109 Indepth report from The Economist about the social impact of video games] *[http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3143349 Pop Culture Pariah] *[http://www.capc.8k.com Citizens Against Personal Censorship] *[http://www.ffog.net Fighting For Our Games] *[http://www.pbs.org/kcts/videogamerevolution/impact/myths.html PBS - The Video Game Revolution: "Eight Myths About Video Games Debunked"] *[http://www.discussvideogames.com/forum/General_Forum_C32/Social_Issues_F88/ Video Game Censorship Support?] *[http://www.gamerevolution.com/oldsite/articles/violence/violence.htm The Truth About Violent Youth and Video Games] *[http://www.theonion.com/content/node/43441&rss=1 The Onion violent video game parody] *[http://www.softwarereality.com/rumours/VideogameViolence.jsp Software Reality parody of arguments sometimes made against violent video games] [[Category:Violence in media]] [[Category:Video games]] [[de:Darstellung von Gewalt in Medien]] [[it:Censura nei videogiochi]] [[ja:残酷ゲーム]] [[sv:Debatten kring datorspel]]