Do Video Games make you more violent? (Hint: The Answer is No)

Video Games are something that always have and always will be a big part of my life. They have always been there when I needed them, I play video games as a stress relief after a bad day, and they are even the cause of many of my friendships today.  And the majority of the video games that I play are pretty violent ones including; Halo, Gears of War, Dead Rising 3 and so many more. I find the notion that "Video Games make you more violent" to be just plain wrong. It's not the video games alone that would cause violent behavior but it is also a responsibility of a parent to make sure their kids understand what they are playing. Just because I play Dead Rising 3 doesn't mean that I want to take a Motorcycle Steam Roller, or a "Rollerhawg", through a pile of people and run them over. Its all a simulation.

Not Planning on building one of these anytime soon

Some of my earliest memories as a child are memories of sitting in front of a TV screen with some friends, laughing and yelling at each other because someone just won or lost at Halo. If you haven't heard of what Halo is, its a first person shooter game where you play the role of a super soldier, called a Spartan, and you have to fight the alien menace called "The Covenant."

Being a shooter, the game was rated M, for Mature, because it had blood violence, slight language and it was basically a war simulator. I remember my mother being worried when she first my brother and I playing the game. Here is an example of the gameplay that my mother was worried about.

The main thing my mom was worried about was that playing these games would make me and my brother more violent kids and that we would have problems in school. Fast forward 10 years and we are both in college, well adjusted and most importantly we haven't committed any violent acts towards others. When I am playing a video game I don't think "Wow all of this violence is pretty cool I want to try to punch someone in the face with an assault rifle." My parents made sure to teach my brother and I that there is a difference between video games and the real world. We knew even as children that video games are something that is a work of fiction and were something that not be replicated.

Don't Try This at Home Kids

When it comes to the question of "Do Video Games make you more violent?" I was always say that it is up to the parents to make sure they are teaching their children the difference between something that is in a fantasy world and real life. Thats why the new army recruitment centers with video game consoles playing video games are so worrisome, because it is trying to use video games as a way to try and replicate real life. Games like Call of Duty and Battlefield are in the business of creating the most realistic war experience they can and the army is taking advantage of that. 

Battlefield 4 is trying to look more and more realistic

There were 12 to 14 year old kids in the recruitment center that were saying "I'm the best sniper here" and "It's showing a realistic combat situation." These are children need their parents to talk to them and let them know that these video games are simulations. There is a HUGE difference between hitting a button and shooting someone in Battlefield then actually pulling a trigger and taking life right in front of you. 

But even though there are kids who's parents won't teach them what the difference is between simulation and real life, that doesn't mean that video game developers should tone down the violence. There are plenty of steps put in place to make sure that young children don't get ahold of violent video games. Like the ESRB rating system that rates every one of these violent games "M for Mature." If you can't supply an ID to prove you are over 17 then stores will not sell you the violent game. When I wanted to get ahold of a violent video game as a kid I would have to ask my parents to buy it for me. I would then have to show them a trailer of the game and the ESRB report so they can see how bad it is.

In a world where video games are becoming an increasingly larger entertainment source for young people. It is up to parents to educate themselves, at least a little bit, about video games and what violence are in the games so they can explain to their kids that the violence is simulated and not to be replicated.

Or be cool like these parents and play with your child.