Over the past 25 years, games have progressed from the primitive two-paddles-and-a-ball Pong to the sophistication of Final Fantasy, a participatory story with cinema-quality graphics that unfolds over nearly 100 hours of play (Jenkins 2000) . The computer game has been a killer application for the home PC, increasing consumer demand for vivid graphics, rapid processing, greater memory and better sound. The release of various next-generation consoles by Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft, signals a dramatic increase in the resources available to game designers (Jenkins 2000).
So as Henry Jenkins asks, ‘are video games a massive drain on our income, time and energy? A new form of “cultural pollution,” Are games teaching our children to kill, as countless op-ed pieces have warned? ’ these are all questions which have been brought up over and over again by media representatives, political bodies and people who have nothing better to do then point the finger and blame at whoever.
The 1999 columbine high school shooting massacre brought the gaming industry under major scrutiny as it was believed that the teens went on this rampage due to the content of Videogames which was believed to have lead to the boys’ trigger-happy nature. But, where does the blame truly lie? When the two boys entered high school, they found it difficult to fit into any of the cliques a normal yet common problem which most young teens face at school which could lead to a feeling of anger and hate. The boys found themselves frequently picked on by athletes and other students once again a common reason to feel anger and hate and also a sense of vengeance. However, the two boys seemed to spend their time doing normal teenager activities. They worked together in a local pizza parlour, liked to play Doom (a computer game) in the afternoons, and worried about assignment which 
needed to be due. So does the fact that they played ‘Doom’ as a part of their daily activities immediately become the reason behind the massacre, while the fact that they were bullied and harassed is completely left disregarded. A new study has since found that, Video games will only make children more violent if they already have a tendency towards aggression or even if they are simply provoked (Sydney Morning Herald 2007). Such as in the unfortunate case of these boys.
Although, it is gaming that is seen as the art form of today as film was to the 20th century and a novel was to the 19th century it is easy to see that although film and written texts may take the mind on a journey, they are not as interactive as videogames taking both the physical and the internal body and mind on an overwhelming journey to places never sought possible. Take the WII console for example who ever thought that one could play tennis with the TV in the lounge room, or even with playstation having a whole band play to and with others from around the world.
To finish off, I think all the hype and negativity around video games has come from background fear. Deep inside people are always afraid of change, a concept that many people don’t adapt easily too. Hence, from this constant generation of fear came the idea that video games are one of the main causes behind violence and aggression in children, when clearly it’s the misco
nception of society which has lead to this overrated conclusion.
needed to be due. So does the fact that they played ‘Doom’ as a part of their daily activities immediately become the reason behind the massacre, while the fact that they were bullied and harassed is completely left disregarded. A new study has since found that, Video games will only make children more violent if they already have a tendency towards aggression or even if they are simply provoked (Sydney Morning Herald 2007). Such as in the unfortunate case of these boys.Although, it is gaming that is seen as the art form of today as film was to the 20th century and a novel was to the 19th century it is easy to see that although film and written texts may take the mind on a journey, they are not as interactive as videogames taking both the physical and the internal body and mind on an overwhelming journey to places never sought possible. Take the WII console for example who ever thought that one could play tennis with the TV in the lounge room, or even with playstation having a whole band play to and with others from around the world.
To finish off, I think all the hype and negativity around video games has come from background fear. Deep inside people are always afraid of change, a concept that many people don’t adapt easily too. Hence, from this constant generation of fear came the idea that video games are one of the main causes behind violence and aggression in children, when clearly it’s the misco
nception of society which has lead to this overrated conclusion. 
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