Some thoughts on violence in video games

On Thursday night, I, a reasonably mild-mannered guy, went to see the rap group Odd Future with a few other reasonably mild-mannered friends. Before the show started, we sat on the couches at the back of the room and talked about things mild-mannered guys talk about. Then the group came on stage and before we knew it we were in the middle of the mosh screaming "KILL PEOPLE, BURN SHIT, FUCK SCHOOOOL!" at the top of our lungs. My friends and I have never killed anyone, burnt shit or fucked school, and our enthusiastic chanting certainly wasn't indicative of a burning desire to do so. The acts of violence Odd Future describe in their lyrics are so ridiculous and obscene that there's no way we could possibly attempt to commit them ourselves, and we're well aware that they don't want us to. Their music is meant to be listened to not for its offensive content, but rather for the ways in which that offensive content manifests itself into a unique, humorous and enjoyable experience.

I believe the same type of phenomenon occurs in video games. In Resident Evil 4, I didn't sell my handgun and buy a magnum so that I could explode the head of every zombie that crossed my path and laugh maniacally as the blood spurted from their neck; I did it because I knew it would make the upcoming section easier if I could take down every enemy with a single headshot. Just like Odd Future, the violence itself is not the main attraction - it's how that violence operates in its narrative context to produce an atmospheric and engaging experience. Furthermore, the violence portrayed in video games is often so far-removed from reality that it's difficult to forget that it is just a game, and that the violence isn't appropriate when out of context.

Just as rap musicians often assume an alter-ego when they step on stage to rap about fictional things, video game players assume the role of a protagonist who commits fictional acts in a fictional world. Both are meant to be enjoyed, not imitated.

Elliot A.S.