There are 14 articles on this title. You are reading the article ranked and rated #1 by Helium's members.
Censorship in games is a rather sensitive issue and one that people tend to get worked up over. It is however no more a big deal than censorship in films. Let me ask a question: why can there be more uproar over the violence in Grand Theft Auto than there is in Hostel? GTA doesn't even come close to replicating the violence in the film. Hostel is up there with the most controversial and violent films like Saw. GTA is also not one of the most violent games in my mind. At least the fourth one isn't.
In all honesty, the "because it's a game" answer doesn't really cut it either. Neither does the answer that more children are more likely to play it. The game is an eighteen certificate as is the film. So, there should be an equal likelihood that children will obtain either. It doesn't matter whether children view them or not for the purpose of the article and it also doesn't matter how they get the items. What does matter is that they somehow managed to get a hold of them.
People can't go around censoring games more than films because at the end of the day, games and films are classified by the same ratings.
Below I will list some reasons and give explanations behind them as to why censorship isn't such a good idea when critics don't seem to be as bothered about films. Granted, if people were bothered by films as much as they are games, then I would say it is perhaps a good idea.
18 and R rated games are for adults:
There's a reason certain games have these certificates. They are for adults. As adults, we should be able to play what we want without the content watered down. Of course, children and teenagers will always find a way to play these adult games, but it is beside the point. The games are certified and that helps lessen the chance of children playing these games and so the responsibility falls on parents and the stores who sell the games to ensure children don't play them.
Nobody and I mean nobody should really have the right to dictate what we can play and watch.
There is only cause to be concerned when there's offensive content included within what is certified or supposed to be for children-young teenagers. The would be censors would then be quite right to create a fuss.
But at the end of the day regarding 18 and R rated games, there shouldn't be anymore uproar regarding controversial games than that which surrounds films. Quite honestly, censors rarely seem bothered by films but when an adult game gets released, everyone is
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Censorship in video games
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