The Ethics of videogames

a)According to the film, what are some pros and cons of playing video games for individuals and societies?

b) According the film, is there any evidence that digital games can encourage aggressive values and anti-social actions in the real world? Do you agree?

c) Should governments have the right to ban certain games? Why or why not?

Playing video games, it can benefit both players themselves as well as the society. From the video, a boy called Robert, who suffered from the cancer, played Re-Mission. This game is designed to cure all the patients and win the game. This can help children who suffer serious illness have a positive view towards their illness and recieve the medical treatment. There also game to teach adults how to prevent pregnancy by using condoms. The videogames can also raise youngsters concern among the military awareness by offering military games in the teenaging group in the US.Playing videogames can also make the players become famous. In the video, it shows the players' name are shouted loudly in the video game competition.



However, not all video games are benefit for individuals and societies. The shooting games bring horror to the societies. In the game of "American Army", the situation brings a sense of realism that youngsterd may be disturbed by the videogames in his/ her real life. This videogames also brings out the problem of racism. In the game, the Arabs are the killing targets. There may have conflicts between countries and devlop hateness to Americans. The game also makes people become aggressive. Postal uses violent waysto end someone's life, like burning the cats or human, use guns to shoot people to death. There are also more than 20 shooting crimes occured by young shooters who have played shooting games before. They work out the dark side of the game in reality. A boy was caught because of shooting in school. He was believed that the 100% accuracy of shooting is due to the shooting games which he spent most of the time play, getting a practice of shooting position.



I really agree that video games sometimes bring game users aggressive and anti-social actions. There are a huge variety of choices for the violent video games. They give people the concept of "killing is acceptable and legal". When the gamers receive these negative messages, they would do the similar things which the film mentioned.



However, i don't agree that the government should ban the certain games, because this will affect the creativity of the video games companies. However, i will suggest the government set up regulations for the companies. For example, the companiesshould set the age limit to the games, for example, only 18 or above can play the violent games. Beforehand, the games should be played and checked by the committee, then decide which people can play these games, like what the films do.



Reference:

"Gamer Revolution", Youtube. (Accessed in July, 2007)

•http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=t8qYhH2H_TM
•http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=o0MYeIG4E7c
•http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=OekCLo6HyKU
•http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=YV4mlZSDlQE
•http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=5s6Y_jJVBn4