Table of Contents
Are
VIDEO GAMES
Too Violent?
By Nick Christopher
Published in 2018 by
KidHaven Publishing, an Imprint of Greenhaven Publishing, LLC
353 3rd Avenue
Suite 255
New York, NY 10010
Copyright 2018 KidHaven Publishing, an Imprint of Greenhaven Publishing, LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in
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Designer: Seth Hughes
Editor: Katie Kawa
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Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Christopher, Nick.
Title: Are video games too violent? / Nick Christopher.
Description: New York : KidHaven Publishing, 2018. | Series: Points of view | Includes glossary
and index.
Identiers: ISBN 9781534524873 (pbk.) | 9781534524255 (library bound) | ISBN 9781534524880
(6 pack) | ISBN 9781534524262 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Violence in video games--Juvenile literature. | Video games--Social aspects--
Juvenile literature. | Video games--Psychological aspects--Juvenile literature. |
Violence--Juvenile literature.
Classication: LCC GV1469.34.V56 C575 2018 | DDC 794.8--dc23
Printed in the United States of America
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The Video Game Debate
Rating Video Games
Making Informed Choices
Easy to Break the Rules
Are Video Games Helpful?
A Dangerous Connection
No Clear Link
Becoming Desensitized
Staying Open-Minded
Glossary
For More Information
Index
CONTENTS CONTENTS
DEBATE DEBATE
The Video Game
Do you like to play video games? If you do, youre not
alone! Around 90 percent of children in the United States
play video games. Many people think of video games as
harmless fun, but some people worry that certain games are
too violent .
This debate has been going on for many years, and people
on both sides have strong opinions. Before you
decide which side you agree
with, its helpful to know all
the facts about video games
and violence. This is called
having an informed, or
educated, opinion.
Know the Facts!
As of 2015, more than
85 percent of all video
games had some amount
of violence in them.
Video games can be fun to play, but
they can also be very violent. Some
people are afraid the violence in
video games can make people act
violently when they stop playing.
VIDEO GAMES VIDEO GAMES
Rating
People have been playing video games at home since 1972,
when the rst home game systemthe Magnavox Odysseywas
sold. Since then, video games have risen in popularity, and now
most American homes have some kind of gaming system. Today,
games can also be played on computers and smartphones.
Early video games didnt have the same amount of violence
as some games have today. To help keep
these violent video games
out of childrens hands,
a ratings system was set
up in 1994. These ratings
show what ages should be
playing certain games.
Know the Facts!
The rating system for video
games also includes content
descriptors, which describe
parts of a game that might
make it inappropriate for
certain age groups. These
include violence, blood, and
use of drugs.
EARLY CHILDHOOD ( EC )
EVERYONE ( E )
EVERYONE 10+ ( E10+ )
TEEN ( T )
MATURE ( M )
ADULTS ONLY ( AO )
rating
RATINGS CATEGORIES
what it means
The game is made for young children.
The game is appropriate for all ages.
The game is appropriate for everyone
10 years old and up.
The game is appropriate for players
13 years old and up.
The game is appropriate for players
17 years old and up.
The game is only for players
18 years old and up.
These are the main ratings
categories, or kinds of ratings,
that can be seen on video
games in North America.
CHOICES CHOICES
Making Informed
Video game ratings and content descriptors are supposed
to help adults make decisions about the video games they buy
for children. Also, stores arent supposed to sell M-rated video
games to anyone under 17 years old, and theyre not supposed
to sell AO-rated video games to anyone under 18 years old.
If these ratings are used properly, people are able to make
informed choices about the games they play and the games
they let children play.
For example, a person
can use the content
descriptors to stay away
from any video games
that contain violence.
Know the Facts!
Video game ratings now also
let players know if the game
shares their location, allows
them to interact with other
people through the Internet,
or asks them to spend
money. These are called
interactive elements.
Some adults play video games with
their children. They believe learning
as much as they can about the video
games their children are playing
can help protect their children from
seeing too much violence.
THE RULES THE RULES
Easy to Break
Some people believe ratings keep video games from being
too violent for the age group playing them. However, there are
ways to get around the rules, and children can end up playing
games many think are too violent.
The video game ratings system was created to make sure
children were only playing games appropriate for their age
group. Thats not always how the system works, though. Kids can
play games rated M and AO if an adult buys them. Also, even
![Mark J. P. Wolf (editor) - Encyclopedia of Video Games: The Culture, Technology, and Art of Gaming [3 volumes]](/uploads/posts/book/279290/thumbs/mark-j-p-wolf-editor-encyclopedia-of-video.jpg)
