Jump, Jump,… Kill?
Was Super Mario a true hero? Or was he the villan?
In the latest years of the evolution of gaming, there as been a rising percentage of people complaining about how video games are triggers for young people to be more violent, to resolve problems through hurting others. But what is the true definition of this type of violence?
“Violent video games are those that represent violence as the best or only way to resolve conflict.”
Although this definition is correct, there is not just one definition through the people, this does not embrace all types of games. When people refer to a violent video game the first one to come up to mind is the famous Grand Theft Auto V, a game that was released in 2013 and sold 20 million units in 2020.
It is true, this is one of the most sold games ever and is also one of the most violent games. This video game is based on killing people, using drugs, stealing cars and other types of violence. This game is like a pilar whenever people talk about video games violence, just because of the multiple “illegal” actions you can do while playing the game.
However, there is a catch. People who claim this game is violent, as seen a family member, playing it, maybe even this person bought the game to offer, there is a little stamp on every cover of a video game, in which there is a number or letter. This stamp was made by Pan European Game Information, or PEGI, their work is to analyze the game pre-release and classify it and advise an age minimum.
All the video games rated 18, or R, means that the game is violent and depends on it, but people never seem to care to the number on this stamp and still buy it. And this is how they rate any upcoming game:
When rating a videogame, it can be simple, if you grab one of the Call of Duty games, a famous war-based game, just because it is a war game automatically becomes an 18+ game, because of the violence, guns and killing people. People understand that, it is a war game and unfortunately, war was extremely violent and the company that makes the game as to work around that. It is understandable why this family of war-based games are rated 18+ games, however, if we focus on the killing part of any game, why don´t you remember the world-famous plumber and his game Super Mario?
Firstly, released in 1981 not as Mario, but a simple figure in the game Donkey Kong. Let´s analyze Kong for a moment, a giant monkey which kidnaped a princess and is trying to “hurt you?” by throwing barrels at you so you cannot save her. This game is rated for people starting by the age 3. A kid’s game, made for a younger audience, is already teaching you how to not die by a giant monkey to win a prize, a kiss from the princes.
Back to Mario, also rated 3, with basic concepts. A giant “turtle” named Bowser as kidnapped princess Peach, same princess was kidnaped by Kong, and Mario´s job is to jump over several obstacles so he can get to Bowser, throwing him into lava, and rescue the princess. In this adventure, not only is he sending the “villain” into his death, during his way he jumps on top thousands of living creatures, killing them.
A simple game, made to represent a hero saving a princess, it also represents you, the renamed hero, killing everything and everyone that appears in front of you. It may seem harmless, but it is transmitting this idea to a very young audience.
This is also violence in a video game, but no one seems to see it. The worst part, Mario is a worldwide famous character, everyone knows him ergo everyone knows that to win you must kill everything that appears in your way. This type of violence passes unnoticed, but it should not be, because younger generations start gaming even earlier, if they start having this type of idea for every game, big companies will start making more and more violence-based games to keep the satisfaction and respond to the demands of the customers.
If I would sum it up and put a bow around it, I would say that violence, unfortunately, as always existed and must probably remain. Big companies make games studying the behavior of the players, they try to look for what they want so that they can make money. Violence is a big part of the gaming community, it is our duty to look before purchasing any time of game, especially if it is a gift for a younger person.
Be better. Be aware. Be gaming.
