My memories of playing early video games are not very strong. I did not play many video games growing up, but I do remember some. My brother was a lover of video games and I remember the Playstation being big. Back then we had games such as, Spyro, Crash Bandicoot, and Star Fox. I also remember having a Game Boy. I liked to play games such as Animal Crossing, or Mall Tycoon where you built a farm and sort of a community as an animal or a mall. I believe that they influenced my childhood in that they were a fun thing to do when having late night sleepovers or when you could not play outside. They were not constantly played in the home that I remember.
I have not necessarily been appalled at the level of violence, misogony or racism in any video games I played. I never enjoyed video games that would have those characteristics in them anyway. I do remember babysitting before and there was a 4 year old playing Grand Theft Auto, which was fine to the parents. I had no power to object to that, since I am not the parent. That was appalling. Even more, the reactions that I heard come out of this little boys mouth was worse. There was cursing, and anger, all for this game. It was really insane. I just wonder when he is older how he will react to real life things if video games such as these make him react like that at such a young age.
Most games produced most likely have a white, male, heterosexual point of view because of the demographic that purchases those games. Not that only white heterosexual males play games, but in the past I believe that was the main buyer of games. It would be interesting to see more strategy games, or community building games, or "crafty games". I am not even certain of the descriptors but something that attracts a different demographic. I used to love mall and roller coaster tycoon. I actually miss those games. Something like that would be interesting.
I'm kind of like you Danielle, I don't have a strong attachment to video games either, and my memories of playing Pong and Atari are similar to yours, I miss it kind of but not that much. But let's get real, a 4 y.o. playing GTA and cursing? I'm in shock, as a mom to a 5 y.o. I can't even imagine, that's just horrible parenting I'm sorry to say. That young man may or may not have carried that loss of innocence and those angry traits to adulthood, since as we'll learn next week the research about gaming effects is spotty, but his parents sure didn't help him out at all! Thanks for posting.
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