Jesse Garcia

English 2010
Prof. Collin Hull

To the intended audience who are reading: Gamers, Parents, Politicians, Senators or
anyone; who believe that playing games or video games are the direct link to violence among us
as one mind and body.
Who throughout time have witnessed: wars, Famine, Catastrophe, Murders, Death, even
Massacres, in our society the rise and fall of the human spirit, that have become numb to events
happening now from attacks in the past which have now become a natural norm.
I have chosen humanity as my target intended audience for which they are witnesses in
our entire human history which have been written by the Winners the people/armies that fought
in the wars, who view the world of virtual reality and video games as something dangerous.
The purpose is to persuade/demonstrate that video games are not the cause of everyday
problems as those who claim it to be. What is to be hoped for is what the reader takes from this,
it is up to the reader themselves in which perceive it into their own intelligence and thoughts, to
shine a light on the darkness which surrounds video games.
The genres that have been chosen are as written Evaluation and Memoir, the reasons that
they have been chosen is to analyze experiences in which video games are the main cause of
violence and terrorism, and view the argument with it or against it as the root of many situations

One is compelled to speak out on the issue for the reason-emotion, what happens is that
people only use their emotion as a reason on its own without logical reasoning on how they are
not a link with terrorism. Meanwhile, there are tutorials to create bombs.

Video games, suicide, depression, Violence What Next?

In the recent discussion of Videogames and the link to suicide and depression, a
controversial issue has been whether or not video games and lets play YouTube gamers are
effective. On one hand, some such as Susan Tortolero, Ph.D., Director of the prevention
Research Center at UThealth School of Public Health, argues that children who play violent
video games for more than two hours a day showed significantly more depressive symptoms than
those who did not. From this perspective, some say video games are the cause of depression in
pre-teens through adulthood.
Most of the general population ranging from childhood to adulthood have used video
games as a coping mechanism, instead of pushing things under a rug and pretend like things
never happen. Some choose video games to cope with a loss, rather than an escape from it.
Susan Tortolero argues that people adults and children who play video games show more
signs of depression for playing video games after 2-or more hours, In contrast Isabella Granic,
Adam Lobel, and Rutger argue that video games are not bad, that video games provide young
people with compelling social, cognitive, and emotional experiences, which they also can
potentially boost mental health and well-being.

From Ls perspective he states that video games are an escape from reality, meaning that
playing video games have helped him overcome the cause of his depression which lead to a
suicide attempt.
Still others contend, such as L a close friend of mine whose Identity will remain
anonymous for legal reasons discusses that playing video games has helped him with his
depression. L has played video games since he was small, he is still alive today thanks to Lets
Play You Tubers such as Markiplier, and Jacksepticeye, who play video games for a living and
who spread awareness about depression and suicide, in which they speak about it and encourage
others to keep on living, that there are people who care about them so much.
L states that video games give a positive aspect such as an escape from reality and a
journey of self-discovery. He also states that video games give perks for reality.
Ls position compares with the Ideology of Isabella Granic, Adam Lobel, and Rutger
meanwhile contrasting with Susan Tortolero. by the Ideas that video games are an alternate
reality which can give people having a hard time an escape, an oasis which provides you with
more enhanced skills. These various perspectives show us that this issue is complex and that
there is no perfect answer if video games cause depression or save them from suicide
Beads of sweat form on your brow as you grip the gun. Your heart is beating out of your chest
as you creep through this virtual world. You are in control. Lawwhat law? Go ahead, steal a
car, shoot innocent bystanders -Grand Theft Auto

Most who conduct research on video games and state that video games are the link to
violent behavior. Such as the most of the APA Board members who are aged around between 4060 years of age who give biased information against video games and media.
But are video games bad, are they the link to violent behavior?
Andrew K. Przybylski, Ph.D., explains that electronic play has salutary functions similar
to traditional forms of play; they present opportunities for identity development as well as
cognitive and social challenges
In other words, video games help people to become pro-social, by developing motor
skills, linguistics, and to expands one's imagination beyond a virtual reality
On the other hand, however, some believe that video games have benefits such as,
Isabella Granic, Adam Lobel, and Rutger C, M, E, Engels Radboud University Nijmegen, they
explain that media stories relating to the video game phenomenon largely ignore how video
games have changed in recent years to become more complex, realistic, and social in nature.
Research in the last five years has documented the benefits experienced by children and
adolescents playing these new, interactive games.
The Dutch researchers suggest that not only do the newer video games provide young
people with compelling social, cognitive, and emotional experiences, they also can potentially
boost mental health and well-being.

Gamings brought the creative side of me out, it was an escape from the reality, which helped
me cope with my depression a lot. I found myself playing games more often, as stress got worse
during exams in school but a good balance helped me cope much better.
-TheHemikoWay
I think the biggest help for me has been that it provides an empowering environment. Its the
world that I can understand, I can achieve things I want to achieve.
-Minus_Opus
On the summer of 2013, I was depressed at. Suicidal, actually. Until my brother
introduced to me, Skyrim. After 2 months of playing it and gagging due to the bugs and Giants
hitting me, I was finally smiling. Thing is, Life gets better, especially gaming. Gaming gets
better.- Zephaniah
Gaming was a massive part of my recovery process. I was suicidal and didn't see a point in life
and what I was worth. I still don't on the last part, but I'll get there. Gaming allowed me to have
a platform to be creative and expressive in a way that I hadn't before. It had allowed me to be
somebody else. It was like an escape from reality and the suffering that came with it.
-Persevere
Gamers and those who play, also have their fair share of the debate, who claims that
games arent bad, that there are people who pin violence, massacres, suicide on video games.
Yes, it's bad to binge but people need a limit on how much they play, we grew up with video
games and learned how to cope with real world situations rather than to run from them.

Throughout your lifetime from birth to your own personal development, start as different
stages with different bosses. Life is like a video game, for example choosing your own clothing,
the next action you think of and movement. youre the game creator, choosing how to play, how
to live life is all about choices, throughout each new day you earn experience points
(Knowledge) from things you do while having one life.
You will face different bosses throughout life's great mysterious journey, but don't expect
your boss from work to be The Ancient Dragon from Dark Souls 2, or a school teacher to turn
into Donkey Kong throwing barrels at you. Imagine beating the final level or last stage, then to
be told by Toad from Super Mario Bros. that the princess is in another castle.
______________________________________________________________________________
Violent video games an easy target after violent crime
By Tayler Jensen
The Sandy Hook shooting is a tragedy and it should not be treated as anything less. It is
clear that something needs to be done in order to prevent such tragedies from occurring again in
the future. But what? There are two targets that typically come up after shootings and those are
guns and video games.
Video games have been criticized for promoting violence through their game play, but are
they truly responsible for someone's actions? A video game's primary purpose is to entertain,
which it does very well. I believe I can speak for all gamers when I say we do not want to defend
our right to play video games, we just want to play them.

To say a game is crafted just for the sake of violence is to completely ignore all other
facets of the game: the story, the art, the philosophy and many others. To experience the
emotions the characters in a game should be a feeling that allows a level of empathy that used to
be reserved for only the most well-written books and movies.
The heart of a gamer is not that of malice, hatred, and anger. It is that of someone who
has the passion for their hobby much like the bookworm or movie-lover. We all have our hobbies
and our passions, so why the passion for gaming must be wrapped in ignorance and hate?
Instead of finding a solution, we pick an easy target like video games to explain to
someone why their child will not be there tomorrow when they wake up. The banning or heavy
regulation of video games will not stop tomorrow's shooter. It will only affect a rich community
of people who just want to do what they love: play video games.
_____________________________________________________________________________
To the writer:
As you have claimed as I quote I believe I can speak for all gamers when I say we do
not want to defend our right to play video games, we just want to play them.; within your
argument, you have stated that video games are not bad that in another quote you state that We
all have our hobbies and our passions, so why must the passion for gaming be wrapped in
ignorance and hate? So Mr. Writer should we or should we not defend the right to play video
games.

You have stated that you speak on behalf of all the gamers in the world. As a gamer, I speak for
myself that throughout my life, I have learned from video games. I have learned to be unique,
how to express myself to be who I am without running.
Video games can be used an escape from reality during tough times, but we learn to face
them head on. Every gamer has their own story, most may agree, but others will disagree. we are
gamers and we have our own voice and opinions.
In a recent game release on the 25th of October 2011, there is a mission which is dated
November 13, which takes place in Paris in order to finish you have to find a Nuclear warhead
that is hidden in Paris, France in which millions of lives are at risk and have to shoot police
officers.
In which many people believe that the game itself had predicted the future. Based on the
events that occurred recently on November 13, 2015, in which Paris, France was attacked by
people utilizing Ak-47s and suicide bombers. It may seem like a bizarre coincidence, but in
reality, it was not, the game was released 4 years ago, and I even found it quite strange.

"I don't think you understand the gravity of the

situation. For God's sake,
there is a nuke in Paris!
Millions of lives are at stake!!
"- EA Spokesman

If you look at situations within the past such as; Columbine, in which 12 students were
killed by two shooters, Michael Carneal a 14-year-old boy who killed three and wounded five at
Heath High in Paducah, Kentucky in 1997. What did they all have in common video games?
Meanwhile, there are bomb tutorials online and, within the deep web where you can
purchase illegal weapons. But everything is blamed on anything. Since every massacre including
the San Bernardino incident, to the 9/11 attacks, everyone has become numb.
I agree that video games are not bad, but you cannot state that you speak for any gamers
or those who play video games, sure we play video games for entertainment, but we form a bond
within the virtual reality.
We feel emotions, we dont care about the high resolution of the game, what matters is
that we play them and to feel the euphoria of being in the game, experiencing the emotions,
feeling the empathy, the thirst for action, adventure and brilliance within these beautiful worlds.

Memoir
The experience I have had with video games and playing them is nothing special, I grew
up with video games, I played rated-M games at the age of 7, my first games to play were Doom
and Mortal Kombat in which back then the ESRB game ratings were being introduced. Have I
ever become violent? Nope, not even close. With all the controversy about video games being
bad and that they make people violent, I just kept playing.

Video games werent for my entertainment; I played video games for the love of it and
who I could become within different worlds.
Im a gamer, not because I dont have a life Im a gamer because I choose to have many
- Anonymous
Most who play video games, dont really understand the value that the game presents, yes
there have been terrible games, yes (EA) we know, but based on my interpretations and reviews
on video games, some games have great storylines which bring you into the game atmosphere,
meanwhile others are confusing and not understandable.
The evolution of video games have changed throughout the years, there have been great
years for video games back then until the great crash of 1983 in which became the downfall of
video games.
The cause of the crash of 1983, start off with the overproduction of too many video game
consoles were being made which most games were low quality and not high tech like video
games today, there is a rumor that there are several millions of video game copies of E.T from
the movie for in which the game was so bad no one bought it, so they buried them out in the New
Mexico dessert that was when it was a bad time for gaming.
I was the first of my family to play on a console, my first game console was a Nintendo
64, which the games were entertaining and colorful, and there was no storyline, just 8-bit
graphics, or moving pictures such as mortal Kombat which was released 1992 in which it was
pictures of the staff as characters, there was blood and tearing off limbs when you placed the
right combination to perform a fatality.

Video Games havent affected me in a way as people say, that they make you violent and
could commit massive deaths in reality. Trust me Ive heard them all many of my family and
from 1996 to 2015 have owned or use to own video games still play them, are they violent,
theyre normal as can be.
I came out normal, many people are normal that own or play video games, but there are
some people that take it way too far, such as bringing the games actions to live, as mimicking
the character performing violent acts from games. Or locking themselves in a room with the
gamer Diet which involves Mountain Dew, Doritos, and pizza, which they put themselves to
have health risks.

Being a gamer doesnt mean to be different, it means to be who you are and to explore
your own world. The digital world can be fun and certain moments, it depends on which path
you choose to take.

But are Video Games Bad?

There are some games that usually bother people for strange reasons, yes we know we
live in a society with people whom have too much sensitivity for unknown reasons. Such games
exist which take you down a dark road which are not available to purchase.
Not all video games are bad, evil, or demonic: the product of the devil as such call them,
most games are kid friendly, while others are for much mature audiences, but we all play every
game rating.
The ESRB game rating system which was established in 1994 in response to criticism
of violent content found in video games such as Night Trap, Mortal Kombat, and
other controversial video games portraying excessively violent or intense sexual situations. Was
to regulate what video games are appropriate within each specific age group.

The game rating of Early Childhood (EC) means content that is intended for young
children
Rated E (Everyone) is for gaming content that is generally suitable for all ages, which
may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, or infrequent use of mild
language.
Everyone 10+ is content that is suitable for those of ages 10 and up, which contain
more cartoon, fantasy, mild violence, language or suggestive themes.
Teen (T) is content that is suitable for ages 13 and up. This may contain violence,
suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, or infrequent
use of strong language.
Mature (M), this is content that is only suitable for the ages of 17 and older. Which
contain intense violence, blood, gore, sexual content, and strong language.
Adults Only (AO) this one is a rare one that is not available in public, this rating is
content that is only not indented for children, it is only content that is suitable for
adults ages 18 and up. This included prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic
sexual content, gambling with real currency (really? Dont we already do that)

And finally of the game ratings Rating Pending (RP) not yet assigned a final ESRB
rating. Which only appears in advertising, marketing and promotional materials
related to a Boxed video game that is expected to carry an ESRB rating which will
be replaced once a games rating is assigned.

Work Cited
"Certain Cognitive Skills May Be Enhanced By Video Game 'Exercise' On Tasks That
Use Similar Mental Processes." Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, 15
Mar. 2013. Web. 03 Nov. 2015.
Granic, Isabella, Adam Lobel, and Rutger. The Benefits of playing Video Games 66-78
69.01 (2014): n. pag. Jan. 2014. Web. 9 Sept. 2015
Vincent, James. "No Links between Violent Video Games and Youth Violence." The
Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 10 Nov. 2014. Web. 03 Nov.
2015.