Video Game Censorship

Video Game Censorship

Since video games have been available people have complained. Some of the parents believe that video games are bad or harmful for children. Whenever choosing what is bad for children should it be left up to governments or to the parents and guardians of children? Who is responsible on what children are allowed to play has been highly and hotly debated over the years. The Sims is a popular game; made by Electronic Arts, that some believe should be censored. Arguments for censoring as well as not censoring The Sims can be easily made.

Electronic Arts (EA) has a very popular and successful game series with The Sims. The Sims allow for a user to simulate human actions in the electronic environment. Sims has the same "needs" as people in reality. They need food, social interaction, restroom usage, and so much more. In the game a user can create a town or play in a premade town. Sims are able to have relationships of a romantic nature, marry, "woohoo" which is a cartoony version of sexual intercourse, and have children. In the most recent Sims game (The Sims 3) the Sims are able to age.

Arguments for censoring the game consist from sexual activity to arguments about games where the user can be a god. People argue that the game has a higher maturity level because selecting "woohoo" while laying in bed with another sim show the sims under covers with suggestive movement. People also argue The Sims can allow the user to play god. One way a user can play god in The Sims is by killing other sims. Two main ways to kill a sim is by removing ladders from pools and by building a room around a sim and adding in a fireplace with cheap rugs. Arguments against censoring the game are what a child plays should be determined by his or her parents. Another argument against censoring the game is that most actions that are more offensive are censored. For example if a sim is bathing the sim has the blacked out box around anatomy that is normally covered such as the breasts and genital areas for male and female sims.

The artistic consideration behind censoring the game is that the detail to human life is very great. Not censoring the game; after artistic consideration, could lean towards freedom of speech. Commercial consideration for censoring the game is The Sims is a popular series that adults play as well as children. Commercial consideration for not censoring the game is the sellable quality of the game. Most people would love to control his or her world, and The Sims allows the user to control everything in his or her world. Ethical considerations for censoring the game usually are based on people's religious and personal beliefs. Such as premarital sexual intercourse is wrong as well as affairs and murder; all of which are available in the game. Ethical considerations for not censoring the game are the game already contains