Originally published August 15 2005
Video game safety enters politicians' radar
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
There is no doubt that video games have entered the mainstream of society, but politicians wonder how safe they are for our children, especially following the recent news about hidden sex scenes in the highly popular "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" video game.
This summer there has been a huge fuss about the inclusion of hidden sex scenes in "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas", a highly popular, but controversial, game in which the player assumes the role of a street gangster.
Senator Hillary Clinton and a chorus of other American politicians have called for federal prosecutors to investigate the game and examine whether the industry's system of self-regulation, which applies age ratings to games, is working properly.
Ironically, the "Grand Theft Auto" episode has re-ignited the debate over the impact of video games, just as the industry is preparing to launch its biggest-ever marketing blitz to accompany the introduction of its new consoles.
Attitudes towards gaming depend to a great extent on age.
In America, for example, half of the population plays computer or video games.
However most players are under 40---according to Nielsen, a market-research firm, 76% of them---while most critics of gaming are over 40.
"It's people not knowing what they are talking about, because they have never played a game, accusing millions of gamers of being zombies or violent."
Another analogy can be made between games and music---specifically, with the emergence of rock and roll in the 1950s.
Novels, he points out, were once considered too lowbrow to be studied at university.
"Once a generation has its perception, it is pretty much set," says Mr Williams.
Once the young are old, and the old are dead, games will be regarded as just another medium and the debate will have moved on.
Critics of gaming do not just have the facts against them; they have history against them, too.
"Thirty years from now, we'll be arguing about holograms, or something," says Mr Williams.
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