Call of Duty: Black Ops sold nearly 15 million copies. Grand Theft Auto V, which was released just over a month ago, has already sold more than 16 million copies. Halo 3 sold 8.1 million.
These are just a handful of the top-selling video games for the current consoles on the market. Although they all have a variety of different plots, they all have one thing in common — violence.
The rest of the list of top-selling games is pretty similar. Many feature violence as the main point of the game. Others have it thrown in as an addition to what is already happening.
After playing so many video games over the years, I have become pretty desensitized to the animated violence. Sure, the graphics can be extremely realistic, but to me it has always been a different world, one that isn’t a reality.
The violence that is found in video games will never become a reality to me.
One of my favorite games to continually play is Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 on Xbox Live. Although I am not the best at it, I am obsessed with trying to improve my killstreak, earn new perks and make my weapons stronger.
There are different modes — some are team based, some are free for all. But all of them have a certain goal or objective. Some are gaining the most kills, others are reaching a checkpoint. Winning increases your score for yourself online and gives you numerous perks, including more powerful weapons and skills.
Something about violence in these games creates an adrenaline rush — in a similar way you get a rush presented with real-life danger.
In the same way you get a rush from the violence, you get a similar rush from completing the objective. Everyone likes to win, whether it’s an athletic event, an academic competition or a video game. It gives us validation that we might not receive otherwise. It’s enjoyable to come out on top.
Games also expose us to something we aren’t use to. I live a life with very minimal danger. Odds are, I will never be on the front lines of war like in COD or deal with drug dealers in southern California like in GTA.
These games give me a small taste of that. Although I love it in the games I play, I have no desire to experience them in the real world.
I like to think that a majority of the gamers are a lot like me. Most people aren’t violent. Most people will never experience what is going on in the games they play.
Games aren’t a reality for most of us, that’s why they’re called games. They don’t make us bad people, they don’t make us more violent and they don’t turn us into criminals. Games are games, and are simply an escape.
Sophie Kruse is a sophomore studying journalism and a columnist for The Post. Do you think video games make people violent? Email her at sk139011@ohiou.edu.
