Other controversies Video game controversies

1 other controversies

1.1 sexual themes
1.2 portrayal of gender
1.3 lgbt characters
1.4 portrayal of race
1.5 portrayal of countries
1.6 addiction
1.7 health problems
1.8 digital rights management
1.9 online harassment
1.10 criminal activity
1.11 religion , video games

other controversies
sexual themes

tolerance of sexual themes , content in video game content varies between nations. controversy on sexual themes has occurred in us. instance, in june 2005, entire portion of unused code found within main script of grand theft auto: san andreas, allowing player simulate sexual intercourse main character s girlfriends. mode, entitled hot coffee, accessed in pc version via mod, , through action replay codes in ps2 , xbox versions. scene left on disc , accessed altering few bytes of game s code via hex editor. feature prompted entertainment software rating board (esrb) change rating of san andreas on 20 july 2005 adults . furthermore, game withdrawn sale in many stores. rockstar games posted loss of $28.8 million in financial quarter. event dubbed hot coffee mod controversy.

the game, rapelay, japanese eroge storyline centering on player s character stalking , raping mother , 2 daughters caused controversy. campaigns against sale of game resulted in being banned in many countries. rapelay s publisher, intended game available in japan, withdrew distribution.

portrayal of gender

some scholars have expressed concern video games may have effect of reinforcing sexist stereotypes. in 1998, study dietz, conducted @ university of central florida, found of thirty-three games sampled, 41% did not feature female characters, 28% sexually objectified women, 21% depicted violence against women, , 30% did not represent female population @ all. furthermore, characterizations of women tended stereotypical: highly sexualized ( visions of beauty large breasts , hips ), dependent ( victim or proverbial damsel in distress ), opponents ( evil or obstacles goal of game ), , trivial ( females depicted in non-significant roles ). however, study criticized not including wide range of video games study , including old games published twenty years ago not represent current industry standards, example, increased presence of strong female characters.

in 2002, kennedy considered characteristics of character, lara croft in tomb raider video game series. presented beautiful, clever, athletic, , brave english archaeologist-adventurer. lara croft has achieved popularity both males , females action heroine, although depending on perspective applied can either represent positive role model young girls or combination of eye , thumb candy boys . dietz s findings supported survey commissioned in 2003 children now. survey found gender stereotypes pervade video games: male characters (52%) more females (32%) engage in physical aggression; 20% of female characters hyper-sexualized in way, while 35% of male characters extremely muscular.

in 2004, game developer, eidos, remodeled lara croft tomb raider: legend. character modified have more believable figure less revealing clothing. in 2005, terry flew, academic, expressed similar opinion: gender bias , stereotyping exists in many games. male characters portrayed hard bodied, muscled men while female characters portrayed soft bodied, naked women large breasts, portrayed in narrowly stereotypical manner. females constructed visual objects in need of protection wait male rescue, whereas men portrayed more power. according flew, such depiction of females in games reflects underlying social ideas of male dominance , themes of masculinity. although not video games contain such stereotypes, flew suggests there enough make general trait , ...different genders have different gaming.

lgbt characters

lesbian, gay, bisexual, , transgender (lgbt) characters have been depicted in video games since 1980s. lgbt content has been subject changing rules , regulations game companies. these rules examples of heterosexism in heterosexuality normalized while homosexuality subject additional censorship or ridicule. sexual orientation , gender identity significant in console , pc games, trend being toward greater visibility of lgbt identities, particularly in japanese popular culture , games marketed lgbt consumers.

portrayal of race

video games may influence learning of young players race , urban culture. portrayal of race in video games such grand theft auto series, custer s revenge, 50 cent: bulletproof, , def jam: fight ny has been controversial. 2002 game, grand theft auto: vice city criticized promoting racist hate crime. game takes place in 1986, in vice city , fictionalized miami. involves gang war between haitian , cuban refugees involves player s character. however, possible play game without excessive killing. 2009 game resident evil 5 set in africa, , such has player kill numerous african antagonists. in response criticism, promoters of resident evil 5 argued censor portrayal of black antagonists discrimination in itself.

portrayal of countries

war-themed video games such medal of honor: warfighter , call of duty: black ops ii have been criticized how portray arab people , predominantly islamic countries pakistan.

addiction

video game addiction excessive or compulsive use of computer , video games interferes daily life. instances have been reported in users play compulsively, isolating family , friends or other forms of social contact, , focus entirely on in-game achievements rather broader life events. first video game attract political controversy addictive properties 1978 arcade game space invaders. 1 study chung ang university observed other structures affected use of video games include anterior cingulate cortex , orbitofrontal cortex. results experiment suggest increase in stimulation of these areas, resembling pattern similar substance dependence. researchers interpreted results of increase in activity of anterior cingulate , orbitofrontal cortices indication of stage of video game addiction.

in 2000 s, china introduced boot camps combining forced physical exercise , various forms of shock torture try , cure kids have been addicted internet use , videogames. of kids did not come there voluntary , either forced go either parents or police. has come under great criticism industry giants , other countries. in 2009, officials reported plans discontinue use of electroshock therapy, though camps still remain open.

health problems

digital rights management

digital rights management (drm) type of technology intended control use of digital content , devices after purchase. many companies make use of drm prevent copyright infringement , protect entity s intellectual property public access. opponents of drm argue inconveniences legitimate customers , allows big business stifle innovation , competition. in us, digital millennium copyright act (dmca) of 1998 increased strength of drm. objection drm caused microsoft change drm policy xbox one. always-on digital rights management (drm), known persistent online authentication, type of controversial technology relating video games. technology requires consumer maintain connection host server in order use particular product or play game. against always-on drm focus on server connection difficulties, single player offline preferences, , game playability once companies shut down server.

online harassment

a further issue can occur through gaming online harassment or bullying behaviors. specific example of harassing behavior occurring within game can found in xbox live services. online chat , party system, leaves service open unwanted harassment, trolling, or bullying occur between players. address these concerns, microsoft made improvements reputation levels player s xbox live account. system set warn, punish bad behavior in hopes of better regulating xbox live accounts.

the anonymous nature of internet may factor of encouraging anti-social behavior. type of behavior expands other parts of internet separate gaming, such online forums, social media sites, etc. lack of accountability 1 s actions on internet may encourage others engage in harassing behavior. without minimal threat of punishment, may find easier carry out negative behavior on online gaming.

regarding whether attitudes towards women in games , gaming culture extend far misogyny, opinions have been divided. example, venturebeat writer rus mclaughlin sees status quo ingrained in video-game dna , while joe yang (writing same source) regards such claims misleading, , sees misogyny problem occur, disputes inherent or normative, or whole culture should described way.

criminal activity

other common occurrences include online casino scams, phishing, cell phone dialers, malware in illegal downloads, , money laundering.

religion , video games

while religion seen serious topic, video games considered entertainment. such, use of religion , religious motiffs in video games can controversial. example, hitman 2: silent assassin (2002) sparked controversy due level featuring killing of sikhs within depiction of holy site, harmandir sahib.