The debate is hotter than ever, with video game fans on one side and politicians and parents on the other. This is a history of the debate, including when it started, what has been done, and what games have lit the fire.
Video game violence has become a hot topic in recent years. Video games have matured, switching from the days of colorful Pac-Man clones to the gritty, seedy underworlds of Grand Theft Auto. Through this transformation, they have found critics and supporters. Though this may all seem recent, it's a debate that has been boiling for years.
The Beginning
The origins can be traced back to 1976 when a small company named Exidy released Death Race into arcades. The title featured players running over gremlins with a car, racking up points in the process. Though the game made all attempts to make people aware that these were not humans being killed, the primitive graphics of the day allowed for nothing more than stick figures. Parents were also disturbed by the crosses, which appeared when a kill was made. Very few cabinets actually made it into production, and with the controversy, even less still exist to day.
Various other games would come and go and there was only the occasional debate. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre on the Atari 2600 would feature crude depictions of decapitations. It was gratuitous enough to raise eyebrows. It's become a collector's item in recent years, with a short and small life in stores due to the outcry.