Are games more violent than they used to be?

Violence in games is a topic that’s regularly discussed by people ranging from politicians to scientists. A variety of studies have been conducted with wildly conflicting results. Some indicate there’s no evidence that games are more violent, while others imply otherwise and that people are becoming more aggressive and accepting of violent behavior as a result.

For many people, it’s not such an easy question. Even the earliest games featured violence through the decimation of opponents. However, the violence depicted was more “cartoonish” in nature due to limited graphics and players felt further removed from the actual act.

The violence in modern games is more up close and personal. The graphics are far more sophisticated and able to depict blood spatters and other consequences when an enemy is vanquished

Modern video games have introduced elements that have proven particularly disturbing to parents of teen gamers. One of those is the ability to ransack the bodies of the slain for their possessions. Another is the introduction of foes that encompass demons, gods, zombies, and mythological creatures. For many, those things are perceived as a violation of societal mores.

However, there are games that seem to throw away the conventions of “polite society” and cater to violence. One of those is “Grand Theft Auto.” It features gangsters, murders and gratuitous sex. The action within the game series isn’t new and imitates what’s happening in many cities around the world.

The question of violence can also be subjective. What one person perceives as violent isn’t viewed the same way by another. After more than 40 years of studies and research, a violent video game is defined as one in which a player kills, maims, dismembers, or sexually assaults the image of a human being.

With that definition, a great many video games would be defined as more violent than in the past. It also means that zombies, vampires, mythical gods, cyborgs, aliens, and any other creature resembling a human should be allowed to wreak havoc within the game, thereby limiting a player’s ability to emerge as a hero.