The most violent video games that I was allowed to play as a child included every version of Mortal Kombat at the forefront of my mind, with Street Fighter coming in at a close second and Duck Hunt as the runner up. There is no doubt that games such as Halo and its successors, Rainbow Six, or other military-related games have upped the ante in video game violence. The choice of weaponry alone is pretty amazing, and yet I have no aching urge to purchase a grenade launcher off of the black market. Nor do I hunt duck--I just eat it.
I have no children of my own, but I do have 5 younger siblings, 3 of whom play Halo and Halo 2. As a matter of fact, the youngest at 8 years, is better at sniping then my older brother, 23, who has played the game enough for the images to be permanently burned into his corneas. At 8 years old, he has not been in any fights in school or out--unlike me, who had been in over 3 at his age--although he loves playing these rather violent video games. As long as my younger brothers and sisters can distinguish the difference between reality and a video game, I do not object to feeding their video habits. In addition, they maintain B if not A averages, and do not live in fear of venturing outdoors into sunlight--they are not socially retarded, they do not shy away from other children their own age.
Then there is the fact that kids are exposed to violent movies and could seek friends for outside sources if it was restricted. Hypothetically, if I did prevent my children from playing video games in my home, the Internet holds a world of outlets. Restrictions are great, yet the knowledge that they can play the games they so desire as long as they are at the proper location could incite them to do as they please.
Slashdot Mirror
The most violent video games that I was allowed to play as a child included every version of Mortal Kombat at the forefront of my mind, with Street Fighter coming in at a close second and Duck Hunt as the runner up. There is no doubt that games such as Halo and its successors, Rainbow Six, or other military-related games have upped the ante in video game violence. The choice of weaponry alone is pretty amazing, and yet I have no aching urge to purchase a grenade launcher off of the black market. Nor do I hunt duck--I just eat it. I have no children of my own, but I do have 5 younger siblings, 3 of whom play Halo and Halo 2. As a matter of fact, the youngest at 8 years, is better at sniping then my older brother, 23, who has played the game enough for the images to be permanently burned into his corneas. At 8 years old, he has not been in any fights in school or out--unlike me, who had been in over 3 at his age--although he loves playing these rather violent video games. As long as my younger brothers and sisters can distinguish the difference between reality and a video game, I do not object to feeding their video habits. In addition, they maintain B if not A averages, and do not live in fear of venturing outdoors into sunlight--they are not socially retarded, they do not shy away from other children their own age. Then there is the fact that kids are exposed to violent movies and could seek friends for outside sources if it was restricted. Hypothetically, if I did prevent my children from playing video games in my home, the Internet holds a world of outlets. Restrictions are great, yet the knowledge that they can play the games they so desire as long as they are at the proper location could incite them to do as they please.