Violent Video Games: Video Game Designers and Social Responsibility - Essay Example

Video games, whether they are delivered through the ubiquitous personal computers, through television sets connected to input devices, or through other devices such as gaming stations in-game parlors, have taken the world by storm since the very initial days of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) revolution. The first commercial video game, Pong, released in 1972, did not have any violent content or aspect.

Death Race, released in 1976, was the first violent commercial video game that became well known because of the public protest it generated (Gentile & Anderson, 2006, p. 226). It is therefore clear that even in those early days people were sensitive to the fact that violent video games could have very negative adverse on the psyche of players, especially children.

It is obvious that the answer lies in the factual evidence of harm or damage that violent video games could cause. Measuring the ImpactVideo games, as they are, provides a highly intensive learning environment. The player is entirely focused, repeats many of the thought sequences to reach the desired objective and each experienced is reinforced in a variety of simulated depictions. The desire to win, and do so in a given time frame, makes motivation inherent in video games. Attention, repetition, and reinforcement are crucial factors in any learning process.

These elements are so powerful in video games that when they combine with intrinsic motivation, video games attain the ability to impact the player’s attitude and action in the real world (Dodig-Crnkovic & Larsson, 2005, p. 21). Video games are therefore used as very effective learning tools in habilitation and rehabilitation programs, in technology transfer and orientation, and even in developing cognitive and logical abilities. However, like every good thing, there is a dark side to video games too, and it becomes all the more disastrous because of its high potential as a learning tool.

When used negatively, video games can impart negative traits that could affect the individual and society adversely.