Questioning The Media

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.