Reviews
Non-Violent Games Comming Back
April 29, 2004
Many of todays largest selling computer and console games allow players to tote a gun and blast
away at zombies, terrorists or rival mobsters.
Games like "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" have made headlines and very large sales,
they've also created a backlash that's set the stage for a revival of non-violent games.
Despite the popularity of games with guns, there's still a large market for non-violent games
in like "Harvest Moon" "Donkey Kong," "Super Mario Bros." and "Pokemon."
"Console games have become split the same way the movie industry has with R-rated action
movies and G-rated family movies.
There is a large audience of teen and adult players who buy the violent games,
but there is also a growing market for "family" games, non-violent games that involve
RPG type gaming without the requirement that you kill or be killed.
Sometimes it seems as if the gaming industry went off on a Darwinian rant, trying to prove the
"survival of the fittest" theory through games. It has not worked well. The games mostly
imitate and teach illegal behavior and encourage bad problem solving skills.
The GameCube remains the one console based gaming platform which is oriented towards kids
and family.
The same holds true for sales of Nintendo's Game Boy Advance, which will exceed 20 million units
this year and drive sales of franchises like Harry Potter, another good non-violent game.
Violent games are also under fire from consumer watchdog groups and lawmakers.
The Lion and Lamb Project last month included the video games "Enter the Matrix"
and "Terminator 3" on its annual "Dirty Dozen" list of violent toys,
and Washington state recently passed a law that fines retailers $500 for selling or
renting a violent games to anyone under 17.
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