Games on Trial: New Witch Hunt Looming

It’s been a relatively quiet past few years for developers who focus on action games. Sales have been solid, while media hysteria about the genre has been, for the most part, muted. The heyday of finger-pointing and uninformed accusations could be about to resurface, though. While Jack Thompson is less a force of nature than he used to be (both legally and with mainstream outlets, who seem less inclined to put him on air), the elements of a perfect storm are brewing to put first-/third-person shooters back in an uncomfortable media spotlight.

There is, of course, the pending Supreme Court case – Schwarzenegger v. EMA. In its October session, Justices will hear arguments on whether states can restrict the sale of violent games to minors. It’s a pop culture story that has both business and entertainment elements – exactly the sort of thing news producers love. The reports that surround the case will bring out the pundits, who will be eager to showcase things like the “No Russian” scene in Modern Warfare 2, RapeLay and whatever controversial elements they can pull from any more recent releases.

Meanwhile, it’s an election year. And if history has taught us anything, it’s that politicians love to bring up video game violence when they’re on the campaign trail. It’s an easy way to polarize crowds – and it’s video friendly (which once again appeals to the media outlets who cover those politicians).

All of this comes right as television stations enter a sweeps period, when ratings are critical. You might notice that every November, February and May, local newscasts have lots of stories about strip clubs, easy ways to save money and “shocking” scandals. They’re meant to drive viewership, which means higher advertising rates. And national media is no different. Games are simply a more national phenomenon.

What does it mean for the industry? Financially, it’s often a boost, as games get free marketing. But reputation-wise, it’s a step backwards. The video game industry has worked hard to achieve parity with film and television in people’s minds – as that represents a legitimacy of sorts.

Data points disproving the link between game violence and real world violence don’t help, unfortunately. This is TV – the theater of the spectacular (even in newscasts). Bottom line? If the gaming world can’t come up with a passionate defender whose personality is large enough to rival the hyperbole-filled opponents before violent video games get placed under the media microscope again, it’s going to be locked in this cycle for a long time to come.

Extended Play is a bi-weekly column examining trends and upcoming events in the video game world. For more articles by Chris Morris, be sure to visit his blog.

About Chris Morris
Chris Morris has covered video games for 15+ years for outlets including CNN, Variety, CNBC, Yahoo! and Official Xbox Magazine. He is a frequent on-air authority for national news outlets and has been referred to as “one of the most game-savvy reporters in the mainstream media.”

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