Video games are now becoming popular among children and teenagers. Playing them has not only become a leisure activity, but an obsession to some. However, many of these video games have negative themes that promote violence towards people and animals, drug and alcohol abuse, criminal behavior, obscenities, and sexual exploitation.
Experts believe that violent video games are one of the reasons why some adolescents possess anti-social belief and become violent. Here are some information about violent video games and a few tips on how to deal with your children’s favorite pastime.
What Is the Harm of Violent Video Games?
Many video games promote learning and problem-solving, and, at the same time, develop the players’ coordination and fine motor skills. However, violent video games encourage aggression by acting as a release of the players’ repressed frustration. Ultra-violent video games clearly have more negative impacts than positive effects on kids.
1. Increased Aggression
Studies suggest that children who are exposed to much violence can become numb or “immune” to the horrors of violence. They may show aggressive behavior and imitate the acts of violence they watch. Some may accept violence as a means to deal with their problems. Studies also show that repeated exposure to realistically-portrayed violence has even greater impact on kids. Furthermore, violent images may lead to behavioral, emotional, and learning problems.
2. Decreased Self-Control
Studies indicate that playing violent video games can adversely affect a child’s decision-making ability, which requires discipline and moral integrity.
3. Problems Caused by Obsession
Violence in video games appeals to kids not because of their violence per se, but because of the awesome display of fireworks, explosions, and blood splattering. Obsession causes children to spend so much time playing games that it can create the following problems.
- less time spent with family, school-work, or other hobbies
- reading less
- lower grades
- poor socialization skills
- less time for exercise and increased risk for becoming overweight
Violent Video Games Your Kid Should Avoid
These are some of the worst video games for kids—be sure your kids are not playing anything on this list.
1. Saints Row: The Third
Saints Row tells a story about rival gangs that revel in violent and depraved actions. The game encourages doing bad things to innocent people. The characters use chainsaws to kill enemies, drive vehicles into people, and use weapons such as shotguns and rockets to destroy enemies, police, and innocent civilians. This game also boasts of drugs, sexual imagery, and profanity.
2. Dead Space 3
Just like its two earlier versions in the series, Dead Space 3 is extremely violent, gory, bloody, and scary. The player kills thousands of alien creatures using various weapons, which can explode the creatures into chunks, rip them in half, and decapitate them. The heroes can also die a gory death by being decapitated and cut in half, which is seen in slow motion.
3. Gears of War 3
Players use weapons such as machine guns, chainsaws, and grenades to destroy alien creatures. The game portrays killing aliens and humans in cold blood, and “rewards” are given to players for creative killings as they perform finishing moves on aliens. Aside from violence, the game is loaded with profanity.
4. Dead Island Riptide
Dead Island Riptide is a very violent game where players destroy hundreds of zombies by dismembering and beheading them using various weapons. They can “enjoy” stomping on the heads of the undead, which produces a dense splashing sound. Aside from violence and gore, this game is laden with sexual references, strong profanity, and suggestions to get drunk.
5. Darkness ?
Darkness ? is an extremely violent game where a player takes on the role of a mafia boss, heartlessly killing many people as well as beasts. Players are able to use traditional weapons and possess a supernatural ability to use “Demon Arms” to kill people and tear them apart. The game also features sexual acts, drug references, and strong profanity.
For more violent games that your kid should avoid, watch the video below:
Tips on Dealing with Violent Video Games
1. Talk About the Games
It is important to talk to your child about playing violent video games. Discuss how he feels about the action and images in these games and share your insights with him. Warn him about the potential dangers of having Internet contacts and online relationships while playing these games. This may be an opportunity to open your line of communication with your child.
2. Check the Ratings
Find out how the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates the video games your child is playing. The rating is based on the level of violence, language, sex, and substance abuse contained. The ESRB gives content description and a recommendation for age, which ranges from EC (Early Childhood) to AO (Adults Only).
3. Set a Time Limit
Set a time limit on how long your kid can play video games. Supervise his use of the Internet, where many games are available. Ask your child to complete his homework and other chores before playing video games.
4. Monitor What Your Child Plays
Observe the type of video games your child enjoys and how much time he uses to play them. You can add variation to the kind of video games he plays by giving him educational video games and computer board games. Avoid setting up a game console in your child’s bedroom, where you cannot monitor him. It is better to have your child play video games in a family space.
Also, many games have graphical content filters with options that allow you to filter out profanity and violent graphics to alter the child’s experience of the game content to a family-friendly level.