Call of Duty. Harmless video game or a picture of violence that influences audiences? This is a very difficult determination. We have learned in previous classes that media can influence audiences in many ways. We even learned from George Gerbner that heavy viewers of television were influenced more than light viewers. So, how does this apply to video games? Could it be the same concept. If Gerbner can make that correlation between television and effects, then couldn't it be the same for video games?
Call of Duty is one of the most played video games in the United States. Statistics show that during call of duty's first week, the average play time per week per person was 20.45 hours. This game has taken the U.S by storm. But why is it so popular? The violence. Violence is the main key to any video game. Without the violence aspect of this game as well as others, this game would not sell.
How does this violence aspect effect its audiences? Dr.Rich, a doctor at the Children's Hospital, said,
" All video games create behavioral scripts, which encourage the player to respond to the virtual environment in certain ways and rehearse those behaviors over and over. If the game is fun, the brain connects those behaviors to positive feelings."
He also said, "Rather, the concern is what the research shows: that playing such games shifts players’ ideas of what’s normal."
Video games such as these ultimately effect its audience. It alters their normal way of thinking. And the problem isn't necessarily apparent. Most video game players have no idea what is happening to their brains after they are done their several hours of gaming. They just think its a game. But is it? What is it really doing to it's growing audiences?
It is shown that players of these games have more violent tenancies. So as this trend continues to grow, its players will continue to grow as well and possibly violence.
I agree that video games play a big role in violence in people these days. I think it has a big influence over them and how they think about certain things. Its sad to think that they cant make video games that wouldn't influence people to be violent, but if they take away violence in games what would be left? Game makers would lose so much money because no one wants to play a fun safe game that they cant kill anyone in. I think its just something that will never go away.
ReplyDeleteI think if you take in ratio the amount of people back 50 years ago versus to the influx in population, that you are bound to have more violence and more crime, with or without video games. I mean if you look back to the 40's during WW2 it was often that you would hear about the war on the radio or you would go to a movie that had a preview that talked about the war. I think if a person is going to be violent, that it is inherent that they were like that prior to watching TV or playing video games. I would say that about 90% of the people who play video games are less likely to be violent. Not because of the video games, but rather because they never really intended to be violent in the first place.
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