Anti-Gaming
and Addiction
People feel as though video games are not a good influence on young people because of many reasons. The main one being the violent themes many of them have, along with more mature themes they base their stories off of. When video games started to become more mainstream, parents were concerned about their children purchasing first-shooter and martial art games that depicted exaggerated forms of body mutilation and blood. A lot of them were also concerned with how this conficted with their religious values.
A joint congressional hearing in December 1993 took up the growing concern that the game industry was irresponsibly marketing violent videogames to minors. Spearheaded by Sens. Joe Lieberman (then D-Connecticut, now an independent) and Herb Kohl (D-Wisconsin), the hearings were largely a response to the popularity of the fighting game Mortal Kombat.
The game’s use of digitally captured actors and bloody, violent “fatality” moves caused a stir when it was released in arcades in 1992; Home versions of the game appeared on the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis 16-bit game machines in September 1993.
Mortal Kombat was the hottest game property of the moment, so both hardware makers wanted it on their consoles. But each responded differently to the game’s exceptional violence. Nintendo censored the game, removing the blood and fatalities.
After all was said and done, the ESRB’s proposed ratings weren’t that different from what Sega was already placing on the covers of its games. The initial ratings were:
-Early Childhood (eC): Suitable for ages 3+.
-Kids to Adults (K-A): Unsuitable for players under 6.
-Teen (T): May be unsuitable for players under 13.
-Mature (M): May be unsuitable for players under 17.
-Adults Only (AO): Unsuitable for minors.
The ESRB plan didn’t just ape movie ratings. After consulting with parents and educators, the board added more-detailed content descriptors. On the back of the game box, parents could see why the game received the rating it did, with brief phrases like “Blood and Gore” or “Tobacco Reference.”
Congress was satisfied with the proposal, and the ESRB began rating games on Sept. 1, 1994. The board hired part-time raters who would watch videotapes of each game’s potentially most controversial moments, and assign ratings accordingly. Gamemakers paid a fee to have each product rated. While it was a nominally voluntary system, ratings were required by the hardware makers and by many retailers.
Later, the ESRB refined the system, changing the K-A rating to “Everyone” (E) and adding an E10+ rating. Only a small handful of games with the “Adults Only” rating have ever been published: Since much of the original intent of the rating was to delineate violent games from pornographic ones, game hardware makers had blanket policies that prevented any game with an AO rating from being released on their platforms.
Addiction Resources
All of these are in regards to video game consumption
- Preoccupation with video games
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Tolerance
- Unsuccessful attempts to control
- Loss of interests in previous hobbies
- Continued excessive use
- Has deceived
- Use of video games to escape or relieve a negative mood
- Has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship
3-4% of gamers are addicted to video games. In a 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis, the global prevalence of gaming disorder was found to be 3.05%. That means there can be as many as 60 million people (or more) suffering from gaming disorder.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.
Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.
If you feel alone and turn to video games for happiness, it’s time to express that to those around you. If you feel like you can’t tell those around you, online communities are a great way to socialize with people going through the same things as you. Search up terms like “gaming addiction groups” or “gaming addiction reddit” could lead you to the places you’re looking for.