*This was an persuasive essay I did for my English Composition II Class, Enjoy!* 
            Video Games are a growing phenomenon of entertainment. They range from games for kids to even mature content. Players may see games such as Epic Mickey which is a Disney game that places Mickey on a incredible quest to a game such as God Of War which features Kratos a god which is very violent and is trying to lay claim on Zeus’s throne and we’ll destroy and kill everyone in a bloodier slaughter to Olympus to do so. Video games can also be good. Through all the innovativeness and all the success of video games till this day media still are asking the question, “Are violent games bad”.
That Kratos will rip your one and only eye out!

            Just like with any form of media that may contain adult content. It is up to the consumer to make a decision if the game is suitable for them or their kids. All games today have a label just like movies, and music albums that tell consumers the age group that the media may be more suitable for. The video game industry has a system called the ESRB. The ESRB stands for Entertainment Software Rating Board. Content in this system showcases symbols that range from Early Childhood:C to Adults Only:AO to Rating Pending:RP. The ESRB has even gone a step further to explain these labels with content descriptors.  You may see information for a game in detail as well such as “Blood and Gore – Depictions of blood or the mutilation of body parts” in the description as well on the casing.

Fatalities are kind of violent..

            The ESRB is well enforced in today’s video game industry. Every publisher of a game rated by the ESRB is legally bound, by contract to disclose during the rating process all content required to rate a game. They can’t leave out anything that may change a rating whether it is audio or visual form. This enforcement is not only placed on physical media of video games but also on DLC, downloadable content that will be on storefronts such as Steam, X-Box Live, Nintendo Shop, or Sony Playstation Store. In the event of a publisher not disclosing all information, the game will have a revised rating and maybe even postpone or delay the release of that game.

Blood Forge on XBL! The name says it all!

            When it comes to advertising the ESRB has this covered as well. Publishers carrying the ESRB are bound to display the rating on game packages and advertising along with the restrictions. The labels and its descriptions should appear on commercials and ads. For example let’s say it’s a commercial ad about the latest PC game Diablo III. That commercial has to showcase the ESRB rating as well as any descriptions and restrictions that may have bearing on the information of the product’s content. The same goes with newspaper, magazine, or online promotional. These advertisements must contain ESRB information as well.

I’m sure this one will be filled with Blood, Drugs, Sex, & Violence.

            Speaking of the ESRB informative its customers on the media they are buying with video games, consumers and their knowledge then comes into play. The consumer has to be aware just like they are when buying a Rated R movie. They must be able to realize when they are picking up the latest release of Mortal Kombat, which is already known for its Blood & Gore that is a mature game with content that they may not won’t to expose their kids or themselves too.  The video game industry is not responsible for violent video games having any bearing on people’s choices in their lives. It is the consumer and the gamer themselves baring responsible about the content and realizing what it is and that it is nothing more than entertainment. Taking things beyond that is simply irresponsible. If you choose to let your kid play Grand Theft Auto and not take the time to explain the repercussions of car theft in real life; which in a way is dictated in the game but must be done by yourself as well, then you are looking for trouble. It’s not the maker of the gun; it’s the person holding it that is responsible. Hence the term of things being “dangerous in the wrong hands”. Violent Video Games are not bad and they should be accepted in the same light as their peers.