Videogames and Violence Essay -- Violent Games Ethics Morals Essays

film haltings and Violence In 1979 the United States was vehemently attacked by aliens from outside space, an event that was to forever change life on our planet. The release of quad Invaders for the Atari television system Computing System became an instant hit. Kids stopped listening to music, contend sports or going to movies, choosing instead to defend the nation from alien attack, from the preventative of their television sets. The success of Space Invaders launched the word-painting game revolution as the demand for personal game consoles soared (Atari). Videogames soon became the preferred leisure action mechanism for children, forcing parents and critics to question the possiblibility of ill effects. With the advent of new technology, parents have even much reason to be concerned today. On October 26th of 2001, Sony released its Playstation 2 game console to the public. It features a 300mhz processor with 32 megabytes of RAM and 42 effective channels. Compare this to Ataris 1.19mhz processor with 4k of ROM and mono sound, and it is easy to conclude that todays systems extradite lifelike sound and graphics. Unfortunately these advancements in technology and gaming woodland have been utilized into creating games that more often than not contain super violent plots, action, and graphics, forcing critics to once again question the ethics behind such(prenominal) games. Three students were killed at a Kentucky high school in 1997 by 14-year-old gunman Michael Carneal. Testimony was given in a Congressional hear on violence in videogames that Michaels only experience with handguns came from playing video games (Rattiner). On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold launched an assault on their schoolmates of Columbine High School, murdering 13 and piercing 23 bef... ... and Aggressive Thoughts, Feelings, and Behavior in the Laboratory and in Life. diary of Personality and Social Psychology. Vol. 78, No. 4, 772-790. April 2000.http//www.ap a.org/journals/psp/psp784772.htmlAtari Video Gaming System.http//retrogamer.merseyworld.com/atari2.htmCesarone, Bernard. Video Games and Children. ERIC Digest. ERIC. 1994http//www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed365477.html Cesarone, Bernard. Video Games Research, Ratings, Recommendations. ERIC. November 1998.http//www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed365477.html Choi, Suzanne. Computer Games and Violence A Childs Friend or Foe?University of Calgary http//www.ucalgary.ca/dabrent/380/webproj/sue.htmlRattiner, Marlen. Video Game Violence. About.com 29 March 2000http//videogames.about.com/games/videogames/library/weekly/aa032900a.htm