For the larger part of my life, I have identified as a gamer. I have grown to learn that this admission usually incites responses orbiting immaturity.
Perhaps the adjective “play” triggers this response — for many, a step away from toys. Whatever the reason, rest assured that it is untrue.
Modern games are veritable works of art with insanely immersive environments, intricately woven plots, and mechanics that take it leaps beyond modern cinema.
This isn’t just aggressive bellowing in passionate defense of what is oft chalked up to a lifestyle choice, this is how the world works today.
The video game industry generated over US$90 billion of business in 2015 alone — more than twice the business generated by Hollywood.
Also read: The business of video games
Now, this discussion might sound like it does not belong in the context of Pakistan, because clearly we have much to lament. However, we do have a large population of gamers from all social classes.
Sometimes, parents will let their children play games unsupervised because they think no deeper of the medium than playing with Lego Bricks — this is a serious problem.
I have a new-born baby at home, and since her arrival, I have become very aware of the little nuances that pad out a game. I used to gawk in awe of everything that made the game experience unique.
Now, I look upon it with a tinge of dread because some of that content has no business in a home with children. Like Skyrim’s House Full of Corpses — fun mystery, terrifying visual for a child.
Parents are growing increasingly informed about video games these days, but this information is not widespread enough. If you happen to eavesdrop on a conversation between two kids (preteens to mid-teens) they will invariably be discussing one of the latest games, which are clearly marked for a mature audience.
This highlights the insufficiency of the filters that keep this content within its intended age range.
Depending on one’s economic situation, a child can have access to a computer that barely runs modern games, or they have the latest hardware (console or PC). Games can be purchased practically anywhere (online or from physical locations).
I have yet to explain the “why” before I continue harping on.
The age of the average gamer is 34 years old, while the average age of a paying customer is 39 (more statistics on gamers here and here) of whom, a large majority is women; labels of childishness or it being a boy’s club are definitely unfounded.
Also read: How video games were invented
Games are designed and marketed to this audience for the most part. Which gives us extremely lore rich and nearly cinematic experiences through series like Witcher, Grand Theft Auto, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Assassins Creed, Metal Gear, Hitman, et al.
To understand my point, try watching a trailer on YouTube, they require age confirmation before you can view it. This is because some of these games give you the option to view, sometimes even create scenes of intense graphic violence as part of the experience like this one from Metal Gear Solid V that merges emotional film-making and immersive gaming so intricately that you can’t help but be mesmerised by it.
The clip below is an awesome 18-minute sequence, but you can skip to the last 4 minutes to catch the gist of it.
Nudity is all too common in games rated M, some titles even feature strong sexual content. This is because adults can differentiate between fantasy and reality, we cannot expect the same from children. This is on par with letting kids watch Game of Thrones just because it is set in a fantasy land.
This trailer from 2015’s game of the year Witcher 3 is both quite beautiful and (warning) incorrigibly graphic, and will help explain my point.
Usually, people blame the game makers for creating such visceral material, but this is misplaced aggression on the public’s behalf.
Game developers operate within the confines of content ratings. Refer to this for a detailed understanding on how ratings work around the world. The entire purpose is to summarise the game/show/movie in four or less letters.
Video Games have their own system created by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB), which reduces the content to the likes of E (Everyone), T (Teen), M (Mature), A (Adults).
Although these ratings are quite accurate, the problem is that no control is exercised over the sale of these games. There is no system in place that prevents children from getting any games with any rating they want.
Also read: Joysticks transform US warfare in Afghanistan
In Pakistan, shop keepers rarely play the video games they are selling, and even fewer will even know about their contents. So, they will sell to anyone who can afford the content — there is no one but the parent to serve as monitor in this regard.
Being educated on this subject then becomes critical for a parent.
You might just be buying your child something popular to play like Metal Gear Solid V or Witcher 3 and end up exposing him/her to an environment of intense gore, violence and some sexual themes that are not exactly covert.
In Witcher 3 (again) you could actually end up in a brothel, or strip clubs in GTA V, or witness a decapitation in Fallout 4.
How does one explain that to a child without dampening them to the concept?
Then, there’s the online interaction. Something even the ESRB doesn’t touch. Simply because they cannot rate how people react online. So, for shooting games like Call of Duty Black Ops III — someone is bound to lose.
When upset, an expletive-laden tantrum is almost always thrown about. How does one shield a child from that? There will be people coming up with some very creative cursing.
Blowing up an M1-Abrams tank by hurling an F-22 Raptor into it (Battlefield 4) is something that appeals more to an adult than it would any child. Kids would be just as happy racing each other with Mario Kart, or playing Guitar Hero.
Same goes for Grand Theft Auto V, where you have a real world simulation with no real-world consequences. Children already live in a boundless world; they don’t need games to simulate freedom for them.
That is a grown-up thing — a sad grown-up’s thing.
The belaboured point here is that children don’t need these games to give them entertainment that would otherwise be unavailable to them. The whole world is designed to be entertaining to children (libraries, playgrounds, sports).
The concept of games need not be limited to a certain type of game either.
Releases like Need for Speed, Guitar Hero, Sports Games, Kinect games, etc. are actually fun family-oriented games that make for a good family night. Playing tennis with your family on a Wii still qualifies as an incredible experience, without the scarring discoveries.
For starters, keep the gaming equipment in a common area and try to always be present when gaming is underway (group, single player, or online). This way, if something questionable does come up, you can at least take immediate action rather than let the child develop their own understanding of sensitive topics.
Another solution is to limit the kind of games that are played in a house, or at the very least make sure you play the game yourself once before letting your children have at it.
Games are fun, there is no denying that. A movie or a TV show cannot simulate the experience that follows a brilliant game, but some things only work best when their age is due.