What If America Banned Violent Video Games

This is a question I think about from time to time. Thought about it a lot in 2007 after the talk of it in the media because of the Virginia Tech Shooting, and again after other shootings until now. Ever since I realized the power of the United States government, I’ve really tried to envision what would happen in our country and this is what I’ve come up with. These are just my thoughts, and opinions…nothing of this is fact. I ask you now before I continue that you give your own version of what you think would happen because…well we may not be far from this happening.

[LackTrue4K]

If they ever take my hobby away, I would probably turn to heavy drinking...
(But that's just me tho)

[Merrill]

Come to Canada :) We don't censor nearly as much and we generally accept people for who they are, i.e. gamer, gay, black, etc..

p.s.
And we will teach you how to drink.

[DasTier]

"we generally accept people for who they are, i.e. gamer, gay, black, etc.. "

you said that like its a good thing...

[Daver]

we will teach you how to drink if you come in quebec not in canada

[Lord_Sloth]

You say that as if the US is still prejudice against black people.

[tachy0n]

"What If AMERICA Banned Violent Video Games"

moving to Canada would be useless since violent video games would be banned all over the american Continent.

[joab777]

Crazy...never thought i would see the day that Canada had more freedom. This iant crazy either. This country is so absurd today that it barely resembles what it once was.

[KrisButtar]

@tachy0n

""What If AMERICA Banned Violent Video Games"
moving to Canada would be useless since violent video games would be banned all over the american Continent."

Umm no why would Canada follow the ban in the USA when our monarch is the queen not the president

we also have different laws!

[SilentNegotiator]

The US would never ban violent games. There's Supreme Court precedence and everything. STOP WITH THE BS STEREOTYPES that we don't accept black people, gay people (just because they aren't allowed to get married in some states - It's an old institution that doesn't have to include homosexuality), or gamers. I'm so sick of all the self-loathing (US)Americans and hateful non-(US)Americans that think they understand the US.

To those of you that missed tachy0n's joke; The United States of America =/= America the continent. The more you know.

[darthv72]

I guess there would have to be a ruling on what is deemed violent. The obvious would be the run and gun types but lets think back to before those games were so prevalent.

i mean mario jumping on a koopa's head to squish him all the while trying to defeat bowser and save the princess. Wasn't that, in a way, violent?

Pretty much every game has some sort of action that is performed to defeat the opposing force. sports games are violent in the sense of the roughness they depict and with the recent statement of the Prez about football...i mean seriously.

It isnt the same as taking a gun and shooting the other player but in the eyes of the serious game haters it may as well be. Space shooters like space invaders, where you are blasting enemy pixels as they progress down the screen.

Fighting games like street fighter or mortal kombat. which was in the news for its over the top unrealistic graphical nature and yet was deemed inappropriate for the time.

I swear, it isnt the games that make people do what they do. Its with them...themselves and their ability (or lack of) to take what they see or hear and attempt to mimic that in normal society.

Normal society.....yeah, I had to laugh at that when i typed it.

[tachy0n]

@KrisButtar

nuclear facepalm*

do you know what america is? america is a CONTINENT NOT A COUNTRY.

[DasTier]

@tachy0n

Yeah thats not true.

North America is a continent, South America is a continent. Together the continents are often called the Americas.

The United States of America is a country, but America itself? That means nothing unless you elaborate further.

Next time, before you lecture people try to make sure your correct, ok?

[Blaze929]

The subject matter is too vague, which is why this gun debate will probably be a difficult one. What would you classify as violent for a videogame? Shooting terrorists in Call of Duty or throwing tomatoes at Plankton in Spongebob?

Even The Sims has violence.

[Thatguy-310]

If they ban video games they will have to banned violent movies, shows etc. As well. Doubt it will happen though because wouldn't that basically go against our first amendment? Government can only make more restrictions but to absolutely take it away I doubt it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011...

[princejb134]

If they ban violent games
Most likely a lot of developers will close down and the gaming industry will fade away slowly
Except for Nintendo since the majority of their games are for casuals

[-Superman-]

Then there would be PS3 and Wii

[fermcr]

"What If America Banned Violent Video Games"

Then they would have to cut out violent films, series, and cut the news since it has a lot of violence (bye bye CNN)... among many other violent things.

[phantomexe]

I've been thinking about it myself here lately. The NRA is so powerful and they won't stop pointing the finger at video games. They are going use that money they have to make sure the limelight is off guns. I'm a guy who loves hunting during deer season here in ohio and i supported the NRA for years and i still support the second amendment but people don't need assault rifles,gernades or tanks. I have no problem with people doing research on the effects of some games on kids as long as it's fair. Kids shouldn't be playing M rated games but this falls to the parents to decide. There are people out there like Alex aka jim jones making things worse then they are for people. The government isn't out to get you...you don't need to hide your family and guns. Don't be a tool for this guy to make money.

Sorry for the rant all. This is my opinion.

[ravinash]

It's just a shame that the NRA does not have more members like you.
For all I know, most members are like you but there are just a few at the top which are making all the noise and pointing the finger at everyone else.

[Steadyhndz]

Really sucks that this post didn't get approved...posted it an hour or so too early.

[_LarZen_]

Never going to happen.

[DarthJay]

Agreed. It's impossible. The Constitution prevents it.

[LOGICWINS]

Just like the Constitution prevented NDAA?

[Blaze929]

Just like the Constitution backed up equal protection clause?

[Steadyhndz]

Constitution no longer has any kind of ruling...NDAA being a perfect example. They're censoring the press with money, censoring the media with lobbyists...and when we do speak out controversial matters we're threatened and later on we're thrown in jail.

[AridSpider]

Just like the Constitution protects...you see where we're going with this? Nothing, the constitution protects nothing at the end of the day.

[DarthJay]

Then why haven't they done it? Why did the Supreme Court already shoot any form of censorship in gaming down? You can claim the Constitution is meaningless, but clearly it is not.

They can't ban violent video games without banning violent anything. It can not and will not happen.

The Supreme Court has already proven time and time again that they are going to uphold the First Amendment. If you choose to be paranoid, so be it. I'm not worried.

[SilentNegotiator]

"Just like the Constitution prevented NDAA?"

A judge already blocked the unconstitutional part of that law. Funny thing about the constituion....it has a few more parts than just congress for JUST such occasions of balancing power. FANCY THAT.

[ElitaStorm]

crime will increase by 99% lol

[ravinash]

If I can't roam the streets smashing things and killing people in video games.... maybe I'll have to go out side and do that!

[scotchmouth]

Have fun. You only have one guy, no continues or cheats

[Qrphe]

It won't happen; it's a big business. I'm sure the music or film industry would be interested in pushing for this however.

[RuleofOne343]

Won't it affect them as well, like say the domino effect were to occur. Their best interest would be to fight alongside the gaming industry on this matter if it were to take place.

[cleverusername]

ALL violent crimes would IMMEDIATELY stop and the country would be FULL of love!!!

[Hanso]

LMAO

[Relientk77]

Haha, good one. Don't give the Goverment any ideas

[sandman224]

If they banned violent video games we would be playing paint ball of duty instead of call of duty.

[DragonKnight]

You bring up a good point you probably didn't intend to. Video games are a harmless way of releasing tension, stress, and all the aggression of day to day life. Remove that method, and people will turn to more physical means that will definitely have real world implications. But that will mean they're more likely to buy guns, which is good for the NRA and all those in favour of wars and the war economy.

[NastyLeftHook0]

yeah...ok

[Tonester925]

If they ban violent video games they would have to ban violent movies, TV Shows like Spartacus, and if you ever fight someone they give you life in prison.

P.S. I can't wait for GTA V to release now so I could wake up to see Rockstar and all it's glory on the news. Maybe this was the reason for the delay? All of this nonsense going on right now they wanted to wait it out before releasing the game.

[Majin-vegeta]

The COD fangirls would flipout C:.

[PATRIOT7ME]

Start with gun control - maybe that will actually accomplish some good.

[punisher99]

"What If America Banned Violent Video Games"

If this was to ever happen. It would be a very dark day in this country. There is already too much government control.

[OhReginald]

hahahahahaa US banning violent video games!! thats hilarious!!

But honestly if games were banned I would take up hunting/ gun collecting.

[lovegames718]

Season premier of Spartacus was bloody awesome!!!!! That show is more violent and graphic than any video game.

But on to the topic at hand. It will never happen but if it did i would just get games via black market

[CanadianTurtle]

Easy, just move to Canada. Problem solved.

Next.

[punisher99]

"Easy, just move to Canada. Problem solved. "

Not gonna lie though. Canada does have the hottest women. :)

[BanBrother]

@punisher99
"Not gonna lie though. Canada does have the hottest women. :)

You must be confused, Justin Bieber is a guy... easy mistake...

[profgerbik]

I would move. ^ Canada is looking to be the safest country with far less corruption.

I planned on moving there anyway because America is fucking crazy when it comes to corrupt power, so much so it's corrupt nature has spread all across the globe and is heavily affecting other countries. I ain't sticking around here to see what happens later on because of that.

On top of most countries hate this place for good reason, I don't blame them.

Canada and Alaska are about as untouched as you can get in that category. Plus Canada makes way more sense in general compared to most of the world and it actually seems as if they care about their people which is rare to see.

What a country that doesn't treat it's population like expendable dollar signs? No way!

[Relientk77]

Yeah if something ever happens, I'm like fleeing to Canada as a safe haven lol

[Relientk77]

Then it would be like buying and selling drugs. We would have dealers selling consoles and games.

[Steadyhndz]

What if they cut the connection to play these games online?

[BanBrother]

I'll have 2 ounces of The Last Of Us and and bag of Beyond 2 Souls.

[Sp1d3ynut]

I would move to Canada.

[DivineAssault]

its not happening but if it did, id be forced to play nintendo games if i play anything anymore

[Tzuno]

Well... it's not America anymore without violence. :) "Yes we can"

[The_KELRaTH]

Solution plan B: You have all those assault weapons so you all get together and save the government from it's misery by putting them all in pine boxes :)

[Jek_Porkins]

They cant, games are protected and can be fought as a freedom of speech. The most they can do is enforce the laws and require people to show ID proving they are over 17 in order to buy M rated games. I mean we have strip clubs, porn and a ton of other things worse than violent games and those happen to be protected as well.

[STARRHUNTER29]

buy guns cause the crime will sky rocket............