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Unit 55

What's In a Game?

Computer games are a $60 billion industry globally and playing games is a big part of many children's daily lives. Parents are often concerned about the violent content of some computer games. Games like Grand Theft Auto and Resident Evil, both rated 18+, feature significant scenes of graphic violence and are not supposed to be sold to children. Yet younger children are still getting access to these games. The parents are to blame for young kids playing 18+ games. Retailers simply advise them and say that game is an 18+. If a kid goes into a store and says, "Mum, can I get that game?" the parent often says yes.

The manufacturers could also do more to help by avoiding the bloody content but keeping the games action-packed for children. For example, Grand Theft Auto is senseless violence. There are people getting crushed and there's blood all over the place. So if there were games that were a bit less bloody but still action-packed, younger children would steer away from buying, or wanting to buy.

Young game players shared their experience of buying and playing computer games. Samir Pasha, 15 from London, was concerned about the violent content of PC games. "I think it's a bit too violent for young people. When people are coming at you to shoot, you stab them and all that and run over people."

Ryan McLaughlin, 15 from Derry, disagreed and felt young people could distinguish between and felt young people could distinguish between violent content in games and real life. "I think there's nothing really there to support an 18+ certification. This game, Evil Dead, of course there is a lot of mad violence, but it is only a game. And where isn't there violence these days?" Ryan also thought manufacturers could design more different types of games for the younger children to prevent them from pestering parents for more violent but exciting games.

The high cost of buying PC games was another major concern. Connor Donnelly 12, from Derry said, "I can hardly afford games. I got a game recently, a week ago, and I've been saving up since Christmas just to get enough money for it." Connor felt manufacturers were making excessive profit from selling PC games. "For the amount of money it costs to make a game, it's way too excessive, and I read something, and it was, like $1 to make one game and we're paying $40, so I think the price is too high."