Video Game Violence - What Do You Think About It? by Daniel Punch
Ever since video game designers were able to put red pixels on their imaginary characters that had recently deceased, there have been people crusading against their subversive ways. The outrage at video games seems to be cyclic, fading very briefly before exploding into the public eye once more... Without any solid evidence either way it's hard to say whether or not video game violence actually has much of an influence on players. ... Video games are escapism, there's (arguably) no point in playing a video game that simulates something you can just walk outside and do (and yet sports games...

Best Video Games or Best Example: Who's Your Mentor by Cheryl Hall
The violence in video games is an issue on a deeper level. Do you want your child to emulate these “ways” for a kid to make money? Grand Theft Auto has been banned from our home. I suppose in retrospect that a game whose title is also a felony should have been my first clue, but in an attempt to... When you combine this game and all the other video games promoting the same sentiment; and the music, TV shows and movies whose messages are screaming, blaring and drumming these ideas 24 hours a day in the media, it’s a powerful and almost hypnotic combination.

The Microsoft Xbox 360 Console: Powerful Gaming in a Box by Mark Robbins
Gone are the days of drab, underpowered gaming consoles with limited features. The Microsoft Xbox 360 is here! It doesn't matter if you are a serious gamer or a mere hobbyist, the Xbox 360 that Microsoft launched in November 2005 is suitable for all players. ... The rest of the ESRB ratings are: T (teen), which may also contain minimal violence, mild-to-strong language and/or suggestive themes; M (mature 17+) containing mature sexual themes or more intense violence and language; AO (adults only, for players aged 18+), which may include more graphic sexual themes and/or violence; and RP...

Game Rating System Explained by Eriani Doyel
If you are a video or computer game purchaser or user, you may or may not be familiar with the rating system for this type of software. Whether you are buying for yourself or someone else, it is important that you understand how the system works and how the actual game rating is determined. ... The ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) was established as an independent group to rate each game according to age appropriateness. ... But, in addition to the vastly improved technology, graphics and sound on the software, many game products are becoming increasingly more violent, and more...

Guns Don't Kill People - Videogames Do! by Daniel Robson
“Ban these evil games”, “Videogame violence corrupting our nation’s youth”, “video games stole my husband”. It seems everyday that the media are making more and more claims about the evils of videogames. But are these claims based on fact, or is it merely that there is a juicy new scapegoat out... The consensus at the IGDA meeting this year was that the game was merely “a rubbish game with a layer of crunchy ultra-violence slapped on top”. ... How many parents explain to their child that the game is not real; that in real life you can’t do everything you can in the game?

If Your Self Storage Facility Was A PlayStation 3 by Derek Naylor
Imagine showing up to your self-storage facility having thousands of eager tenants waiting through the cold night and fighting just to pay you money. In fact, several of these "tenants to be" are so eager to pay you money for your space that they've physically beaten a few people who were ahead... They were offering a video game console that sells for $500-$600. ... You guessed it, "DEFINITELY!" Not all aspiring PS3 owners were struck with violence. ... Sony has made their offer to THEIR market so irresistible that they are willing to physically injure themselves and take food off their...

Substitute the Internet for Your TV by Daniel Punch
I have fond memories of waking up early on Saturday mornings and softly tiptoeing out to the family room to watch early morning cartoons when I was in elementary school. Then in high school I became more interested in the action-oriented TV shows in the evening. ... For those socially minded folks, a quick search for 'News video streams' reveals a large number of pages, such as http://www.humanitas-international.org/newstran/streaming-tv.htm that contains a large list of streams, providing news updates on demand.

Creating the Nemesis for your Game by Steven Bradley
nem•e•sis ( P ) Pronunciation Key (nm-ss) n. pl. nem•e•ses (-sz) A source of harm or ruin: Uncritical trust is my nemesis. Retributive justice in its execution or outcome: To follow the proposed course of action is to invite nemesis. An opponent that cannot be beaten or overcome. ... Just as good action novels require a hero with a seemingly impossible objective and an enemy that can provoke anger, hatred, and dread, so too do well thought out video games. ... It won’t create your game for you, and lastly it won’t write your story for you.