Certainly the days of Atari and games like “Pong” are long gone. Now, players are spending their time on games where the cyber version of Craig Krenzel looks like his real-life counterpart, and they can experience life on the streets of a war-torn Baghdad.
Violent games like the “Grand Theft Auto” series are becoming more popular. In “GTA”, players take control of a character and are sent on various missions for mob bosses across a fictional city. A mission usually requires murdering rivals, stealing money and cars, all while trying to evade police. The game also allows a large amount of freedom as players can walk freely through the cities, killing innocent civilians as they go along.
But while the majority of people take the game for what it truly is – innocent entertainment – there has been a growing sector of the American populace which has taken upon itself to condemn video games like “Grand Theft Auto” and “Doom” for the recent rash of school and sniper shootings, including the Interstate 270 incidents on Columbus’ South Side.
As video games have become more violent, critics say gamers see a blur in the line between reality and virtual reality. They point to a June 25 shooting in Tennessee where two step brothers – 16 and 14 years old – fired at passing cars on the highway. A 45-year-old man died from a gunshot wound. When asked in interviews, the two boys admitted to playing “Grand Theft Auto” and being influenced by the game. As a result, the family of the man killed filed a lawsuit against the game’s manufacturers.
But while there is no questions games like “Grand Theft Auto” are ultraviolent, they don’t deserve the blunt of the blame. In the case of shootings involving teenagers, the parents are ultimately responsible for controlling what their kids are playing. Video games are now required to carry a rating label, telling potential buyers what the game involves.
Kids who are left to “virtual baby-sitters” often times need something to fill the void left by absent parents. Unfortunately these video games often take that spot.
While “Grand Theft Auto” has sold millions of copies across the country, we have yet to see millions of gamers take to the street, brandishing shotguns, stealing cars and running drug networks. The mass majority of “Grand Theft Auto” fans take it for what it’s worth – a violent, yet entertaining game which isn’t to be taken too seriously.
