(Thumbnail image from gamesareevil.com)
“We are here for the launch of 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.' Now we are outside a cinema. This isn’t the premiere of a new movie, it’s the launch of a new video game, which developers hope will be making a little piece of history.” (BBC)
And it did just that. "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" is grabbing headlines with its record sales. But some news outlets are examining the long-running debate on video game violence and its real-life effects.
We are looking at perspectives from MSNBC, FOX News, The Times of London and The Daily Telegraph.
The newly released game is packed with realistic violence, including airport shootings and an execution scene.
But on MSNBC, a writer for the video blog Kotaku.com says video games receive harsher criticism than other forms of entertainment.
“To me and to a lot of people that play games its like asking if a movie should depict a certain scene, whether a book should. I think a lot of people look at video games as children’s books. So should a children’s book have a massacre in it? No, of course not. But a video game, it’s a more open question.”
On FOX News, Common Sense Media founder Jim Steyer says video game violence has a clear effect on the user.
“There’s no question that there’s a correlation between video game violence and screen violence and aggression in real life. The American Academy of Pediatrics just came out with a statement about that. So it’s really a call on the basis of the user and in the case of someone who’s a parent of a teenager. Is it okay or not? The violence is the issue.”
In an opposing view, The Times of London doesn’t blame the video game industry.
“Is the issue, then, that we still consider video games to be for children, regardless of that huge, red 18-rating sticker? ... Responsibility must lie with parents.”
The Daily Telegraph talks with a member of the International Gaming Research Unit.
He says users who meet the game’s age recommendation will typically not be affected by its violent content.
“Younger gamers, typically under the age of eight, tend to be more influenced by games and what they see on screen… However, adults, which this game is certified for, have already formed their cognitive sensibilities and will not usually start acting differently because of a video game.”
"Call of Duty’s" premier pushed sales beyond that of any major Blockbuster movie.
On its opening day, "Call of Duty" grossed $310 million. As you can see, that’s well beyond the opening day sales for "Batman: The Dark Knight," "Transformers 2," "Spider-Man 3" and the most recent "Harry Potter" installment.
So, what do you think about "Call of Duty’s" popularity? Do you think the game’s age recommendation is enough to protect young users from its violent content?
Writer: Joe Henke
Producer: Jess Blumensheid
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