Video Game Crosses Line Tuesday, May 03, 2011 By Senior Pauline Santos [ArticleImageHyperLink] Advertising The violent content of many video games have been quite the controversy for some time now, especially when it comes to games that require you to shoot and kill people. Yet many still choose to play because it allows them to get a little taste of what it would be like to be in the military, survive a zombie invasion, or battle in a futuristic war zone. Though it may seem harmless, the gaming industry has managed to take it even further. Checkerboarded Studios is attempting to release a modification of the game Half-Life 2 called School Shooter: North American Tour 2012 that would allow players to relive the Columbine, Virginia Tech, and Northern Illinois University shootings. Players are even able to use the same weapons of the actual shooters at these schools. Towards the end of each level, they are then given the choice to commit suicide before law enforcements catch them. The goal of all this is to “become the best school shooter ever.” Unsurprisingly, the game has received tons of backlash from the public and many are calling for it to be banned from being produced. And it’s not just adults who are appalled, teenagers are also raising an eyebrow at this bold video game concept. “I think the game is ridiculous,” said Senior Allison Zeikle. “[The shootings were] a tragedy in many people's eyes and they shouldn't have a game about it. That's just going way too far.” Junior Levi Cole couldn’t agree more about the game that encourages players to shoot as many innocent students and teachers as possible. “It's pretty dumb because it's not right. It's a slap in the face to the kids who were shot,” he said. “It's just disrespectful and it's not right morals.” Out of everyone outraged by this game, no one has more reason to be than the ones who were directly affected by the massacres. They were the ones who had to suffer and the survivors wouldn’t want to be reminded of such a tragic event. Science Teacher Mr. David Bishop said, “I think they are so traumatized already that anything that brings these things back up are going to affect them.” “They would think this was crazy, coming out with this game,” said Allison. “Who would do this? These were school shootings. I think that the game should be banned. I don't think that they should even consider coming out with this game. It's ridiculous.” “I don't think stores should sell it if it’s made,” Levi said. “It will probably bring up a lot of sore memories and hurt feelings.” Violence in video games is not unexpected, but no one saw something like this coming. Is this a glimpse into the future of video gaming? If this controversial school shooter game is allowed to be released, what would keep other video game companies from pushing the envelope even further? “I know some [games] are rated ‘M’ for mature, but a lot of people let their kids play it,” Allison said. “There are a lot of games where the point is to kill people, it's ridiculous. I don't think we should have games like that for younger kids.” Mr. Bishop thought so as well. “Our kids are so impressionable that they don't need anything to add to the violence in our already violent lives,” he said. “I think society as a whole is becoming violent.” Just when you think you’ve seen it all in the video game world, an idea like this comes along and blows everyone’s mind. Though several games have featured killing people for years, glorifying school shootings in an unclassy video game seems to just cross the line.

Back to the articles list