The Naked and the Dead
What's worse -- blowing away virtual cyborgs, ogres, warlocks, or humans? Are improved graphics and more memorable dismemberments in games from Quake to Blood to Carmageddon cause for celebration or consternation?
When we set about putting together the Game Guide '97, we asked more than 1200 parents what they thought of the level of violence in PC games today. Results indicate that 38 percent are less tolerant of violence in computer games now than they were just a couple years ago, while 13 percent are more tolerant. Some parents are saying enough is enough; others say it's just a game.
Enough Is Enough
While parenting is an eye-opening experience in lots of ways, having children -- or having growing children just beginning to show interest in violent movies and television shows -- opened the eyes of many of our testers to the level of violence in some computer games. And parents are growing less tolerant of it.
"Now that our children are getting older and wanting to play some of the more adult games, we are more aware of the violence," said Steve Cogan, 39, of Windsor, California.
Even adults who used to enjoy playing violent games view the games differently now that they are parents. "When I was younger, I loved blood and gore in my games," said George Medina, a 31-year-old family tester from Richmond Hill, New York. "But as my children got older, I realized that there are games made for children and there are games made just for adults. Violence in games like Mortal Kombat should not be watched by children."
Jeff Sanders, 41, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, had a similar experience. "When I was first introduced to computer games, I played Wolfenstein and Duke Nukem myself with no thought of the violence," he said. "Now when I see my kids playing the same games, I have an immediate reaction and curb their playing due to the violence."
Parents who are less tolerant of violence in computer games also pointed out that the high level of violence on television and in movies is one of the reasons they bought their computer in the first place -- they wanted to give their kids a learning environment that included games, but not gore.
"There is too much violence already; no need to add more or to get young minds thinking that is the only way to solve conflicts," said Brad Dowell, 33, of Leesburg, Georgia. Besides, many testers added, there are plenty of great games that aren't violent. "Blood and guts or sexual innuendo aren't necessary to keep kids' attention," said Roger Gainer, 45, of Mill Valley, California, who tested (and recommended) 3-D Ultra Mini-Golf. "This game proves that. The kids couldn't wait to have their turn."
James Lanzikos, 39, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, said he believes the blood-and-guts violence of many games masks poor development in the games themselves. "As I get older, the games seem to get bloodier and bloodier," he said. "I would like to see less blood and more thought put into some of these games."
It's Just a Game
While nearly 40 percent of our testers plan to say no to violent games, other parents have actually grown more tolerant of violence in computer games -- and not always for good reasons. Many cite the increased level of violence in society in general as a reason to be desensitized -- and therefore less concerned -- about the amount of violence in computer games.
"Overexposure to violence has made me a little more tolerant to it," said Lisa Robinson, 37, of Escondido, California.
Michael Paris, 41, of Glassboro, New Jersey, sees himself as similarly desensitized. "You get used to seeing violence, and after a while you ignore it," he said.
Rather than ignore it, other parents chose to see virtue in virtual violence. "Violence, in most cases, is good versus evil, with good winning," said Howard Kennedy, 63, of Lakeland, Florida. "It can be too graphic at times, but for the most part it adds to the game and it usually has a message."
Kennedy and several other parents chose to emphasize the virtual part of the equation: Computer violence was not real violence, but a stylized, stress-relieving depiction of it. What harm could come from blowing away a beak-helmeted cyborg bent on turning Earth into a giant cinder?
"I find the violence is part of what makes these types of games attractive," said Robert Hill, 41, of Maynard, Massachusetts. "I use the violent themes of these games in discussions with my son about the difference between fantasy and reality."
"Real life is much more violent than virtual life," said Hubert Weldon, 26, of North Little Rock, Arkansas. "I have a lot more control over the violence on the computer -- I can shut it off whenever I want -- but try as I might, I haven't been able to find the off switch to real-life violence."
