Should video games be censored?

[StarF68]

Alright, so I'm doing an English paper on the topic of censorship and video games, and I need general responses from the public.

So, the question is:

Should video games be censored?

Answer the question in general, and any input you have is useful.

Also, as subtopics, just talk about:

1) Violence in video games.
2) Sex in video games.
3) Are ESRB ratings effective enough as is?

I would type up my opinions, but I'm not supposed to at this point. So yeah, any input would be gratly appriciated, thanks. :D

[CUBErt]

No, videogames should not be censored.

Do movies get censored? No. You just need to be the right age to attend theaters.
They should card people that want to buy 17+ games.

[Zen444]

We're all going to say no.

So no.

[BananaBreadMuffin]

They should ban parents from buying video games.

[DumbassDude]

No, thats what age tags are for.

[Light80]

I personally do not think they should be censored because of the fact that they already have an ESRB rating and that should stop the parents from buying GTA for there kids and if they do they are just allowing there children to take in the blood and gore and language of these games and use them in real life problems maybe.

[thisisasignin]

Superman 64 and Superman Returns should have been censored.

[Katsu-neko]

Absolutely not its how they market video games that should be changed. They should be sold the same way movies are. Sell the mature video game in question to adults only. Lets face it if we cant have video games that are made for adult audiences then wy that heck do we not censor all porn movies while were at it. adult games are for adults its that simple. anyone who gets a game thats not appropriate for his or her child only has themself to blame.

[Zen444]

At 12/4/06 01:36 PM, thisisasignin wrote: Superman 64

"I recently vaporized the defenses at Fort Knox and removed the gold with an orbital magnet ray. Did you mastermind that scheme to get those giant hoops flown through yet? Ha ha ha ha ha!"-Dr.Doom

[StarF68]

Alright, good useful responses so far, but could you go more in depth (Some of you) and try to address the subtopics seperately? It would make it a lot easier for me to get this paper done. Thanks. :D

At 12/4/06 01:30 PM, Zen444 wrote: We're all going to say no.

So no.

Most likely (Yeah... I can pretty much just agree there) but I still have to do it for English, I figure why not ask the BBS? :P

Maybe someone will decide to be the odd person and say yes. :O

[Zen444]

Parents should know if their kid(s) can handle Mortal Kombat or Revenge of the Nerds.

My mom knew I was.

[test-object]

They shouldn't be banned. Parents don't think about what they're buying for their kids and then they get all fussed about all the violence in it. The people in the shps should also be more strict. A HUGE golden placate with the words No Violent Games Under 14

These are rules of use! Do not even TRY banning them, it will never have attention. People will make them illegal => more prisoners => more taxes=> more working!!

NOBODY really loves to work.

[thisisasignin]

At 12/4/06 01:48 PM, Zen444 wrote: Revenge of the Nerds.

Boobs!
For me it was Porky's and I turned out fine...
=0/

[StarF68]

At 12/4/06 01:54 PM, test-object wrote: They shouldn't be banned.

Well, we're talking about censorship, not banning, though you make valid points anyways.

[Akula]

No. Why not? Because it's a product I choose to view by buying them. I choose to play the game myself. It's like buying a movie and censoring the word fuck. If it's on tv, ok, whatever, but if I pay money for it I want to see the whole thing.

[36Holla]

At 12/4/06 01:27 PM, StarF68 wrote: Alright, so I'm doing an English paper on the topic of censorship and video games, and I need general responses from the public.

So, the question is:

Should video games be censored?

Answer the question in general, and any input you have is useful.

Also, as subtopics, just talk about:

1) Violence in video games.
2) Sex in video games.
3) Are ESRB ratings effective enough as is?

I would type up my opinions, but I'm not supposed to at this point. So yeah, any input would be gratly appriciated, thanks. :D

So instead of getting interviews from people you know, you ask newgrounds...thats lazy and clever at the same time

[HappyCheeseGuy]

Well, violent crime has actually dropped since the release of GTA3, the games are rated as movies are, and they do form quite a large part of the industry, as without them, appeal from adults probably wouldn't be as high as it is today.

[StarF68]

At 12/4/06 01:59 PM, 36Holla wrote: So instead of getting interviews from people you know, you ask newgrounds...thats lazy and clever at the same time

Haha, it doesn't have to be people we know, so I figure NewGrounds is perfect for getting the job done. The thing is we had time to ask people in class, but none of them would explain, they all just answered "yes" or "no" and refused to say anything else, so it wasn't exactly helpful. With the NewGrounds BBS I can get more input than a simple yes or no answer. :D

[Acerbic]

Fuck that, without the all mighty "Hot Coffee" of san andreas I might still be a vigin ;)

[McPaper]

How about we ban smoking first?

[Zen444]

At 12/4/06 02:02 PM, McPaper wrote: How about we ban smoking first?

I don't smoke, yet I'm pro smoking.

I don't know what's more annoying, second hand smoke or you anti smokers?

I'm going with you anti smokers. I should probably take up smoking to spite anti smokers.

[Black-Flame]

The current rating system is fine as it is. Video games are also blamed way too much, its not like they brainwash people, they wont make me go out onto the street and blow the shite out of the next person I see.
So, no, I think its fine as it is.

[HappyCheeseGuy]

At 12/4/06 02:00 PM, StarF68 wrote:

At 12/4/06 01:59 PM, 36Holla wrote: So instead of getting interviews from people you know, you ask newgrounds...thats lazy and clever at the same time

Haha, it doesn't have to be people we know, so I figure NewGrounds is perfect for getting the job done. The thing is we had time to ask people in class, but none of them would explain, they all just answered "yes" or "no" and refused to say anything else, so it wasn't exactly helpful. With the NewGrounds BBS I can get more input than a simple yes or no answer. :D

but I can't be bothered to type :'(

Here's an article on recent Violent crime in the USA

The thing I Googled

Something you could do some research on ^

Article on the "Manhunt killings"

just look for stuff like this, argue from both sides, and come to a conclution.

[lolomfgisuck]

No.

Crime has been around since the birth of civilization and it's foolish to think that it's a new trend started with video games. Although exposing children to violence might increase their 'urge' to commit crimes, it's not the video game or the game developers fault that people use games and television as a new age babysitter. It should be up to the parents to censor their own children and teach them the diffrence between right and wrong.

You have to think about it in diffrent terms to really understand. How many people play violent video games all the time and never comit any crimes? I'm sure that number far outweighs those of kids that do. And who's to say the video games are actually to blame? It seems like a conviencent excuse that people use to lower their sentance when finally busted. I mean, what did people say when they got caught steeling cars before GTA? I find it's little more then a sempathy plea... feel bad for me I'm stupid if you will. A Plea that strangly works because modern american society revovles around unfounded strong christian beliefs that drive the masses to think everything new and not 100% family oriented is evil and the cause of all things wrong with the world. Blaming violent video games is no diffrent then people saying Ozzy Osborne was the devil 20 years ago... it's just stupidity at it's best.

Besides that it goes against our freedoms. I, as an adult consumer, should have the ability to choose, buy, and play whatever I want. The same goes for the game developers... they too should have the ability to design games as they see fit. Nothing illegal here. Allowing the government to censor our games is a terrible idea... it's a way to allow the government to tell telll us what we can and can't make, what we can and can't say, what we can and can't buy, what we can and can't play, etc... isn't that communism? Isn't that gainst everything america stands for?

[Archkronos]

No, dont censor them. If a child wants to get hold of them, they will so so by asking an ignorent person to get it for them. It isnt effective, and people arent aware that it is against the law (Age ratings where I live). If it isnt effective, dont bother.

[Jose]

Yes, the rating system is just fine. It is the parents responsibility to understand the ratings. If you are buying bully for a fourteen year old, then you probably aren't a good parent. Lets give the responsibility back to the parents, and away from the media. That should be who teaches them morals and good behavior.

[BetaVolt]

I think they should allow everyone to play games such as GTA SA and shit like that as long as the little kid's don't go acting like their -G's- But still I think ESRB is doing this for a reason. And that's a reasonable reason in my opinion.

[Sparkpro]

At 12/4/06 01:27 PM, StarF68 wrote: 1) Violence in video games.

I do believe that violence in video games does affect people to a point, but the there are many more influential factors in life that can drive a person to violence,

2) Sex in video games.

I find a little strange that as a society it more acceptable to kill, steal, and break the law in a game than having simulated sex in a game. I'm not saying that there should be more sex in games but how is it that in a game were you can cut a person's head off it's 17+ but showing sex is totally uncalled for? It really shows how violent we are a people.

3) Are ESRB ratings effective enough as is?

I think that the ratings are good as that are now, It's the uninformed parents that get their children these game and they need to keep a better eye on what their children are doing.

[HellsPride]

Well I have done a similar paper on this. Just recently actually. So here is my input. Video games dont need to be cencored. Now if we have to get into violence. Then lets analyze.

When kids have there parents purchase violent video games, and they play the games and they are like, "Hey this looks like fun I have to try it." And they go out and steal a car run a guy over and bury him. This isnt the games fault or the developers fault. It it the fault of the little miscreet who said, "Hey this looks like fun." ESRB puts out these ratings for a reason. If they have pst impulse reactions to violence. They should not be subjected to it.

Now for sex in video games. It is story line mostly (except for the "Hot coffee" mod made by that bastard Jack Thompson) and to show a depth in the game. Now if this provokes kids to start having sex. This cant be blamed on the games. The kids are the ones who said, "Hey that looks fun" And to me 2 people having sex is something that they decide on their own. I have never seen anyone go up to a girl and say. "Hey I saw these video game characters having sex so now I want to try it." If you can find any ONE human being alive who would say that than we can blame video games. But what girl in their right mind would say yes to somethign like that? Sex is it's own act not to be blamed on video games. And also for games with sex in them, THEY ARE RATED AO PEOPLE! Meaning that if their parents bought it for them, then there is a serious problem.

Now for ESRB. They are payed to put reasonable ratings on video games. So when they see sex or violence they would put M or AO. Meaning that kids cant play them. But for older people they are usually provoked by something more powerful like anger or lust or something like that. When kids start to get violent. It isnt caus of the video games. It is them making a mental choice in their heads that they want to be violent. Thus games should stay the way they are because they had nothing to do with it. Things have changed since years ago. It isnt the games that are changing kids. It's the times.

There I practically wrote your essay lol. Thank me later. But this is all the major things with video game ssex and violence. (Btw you know not to use the word "I" in essays right?) GOOD LUVK!

[36Holla]

At 12/4/06 02:08 PM, The-Happy-Cheese-Guy wrote:

At 12/4/06 02:00 PM, StarF68 wrote:

Haha, it doesn't have to be people we know, so I figure NewGrounds is perfect for getting the job done. The thing is we had time to ask people in class, but none of them would explain, they all just answered "yes" or "no" and refused to say anything else, so it wasn't exactly helpful. With the NewGrounds BBS I can get more input than a simple yes or no answer. :D

but I can't be bothered to type :'(

Here's an article on recent Violent crime in the USA

The thing I Googled

Something you could do some research on ^

Article on the "Manhunt killings"

just look for stuff like this, argue from both sides, and come to a conclution.

Look, you're even getting people to do research for you. You're really lucky to find some guy whos bored enough to do that for ya. Maybe ill make a topic, "Newgrounds help me write my ten page research paper on ancient greek medicine"