If one is to quickly reflect on the history of video games, an obvious trend can be summed up with two words: "no limits."
Years ago, older generations enjoyed their time with board games, card games, and of course the classic pinball machine. In the late 70s and early 80s, youth indulged in games like "Pong," "Donkey Kong," and Space invaders" when they were early adolescents (and perhaps many haven't stopped). But it was the First Globals who were introduced to the more graphically sophisticated games. Since the introduction of the original Nintendo, the games have become increasingly violent, almost to the point where even some of the most ardent video gamers express concern -- from "Mortal Combat's" blood battles in dungeons, in which the gamer is to execute his or her opponent in a gruesome fashion, to the ever increasingly psychopathic "Grand Theft Auto" series, in which the player has to fulfill mob missions including selling drugs, stealing cars, and making hits.
How far will game producers take it? Does this have any psychological and/or social impacts on individuals, especially those who are frequent gamers, or will the pendulum shift and adolescents (and adults too) will revisit either more simple or less violent games? Or will a new unknown style surface, and what might it look like?
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Even though it may not have seemed like it at the time...Space Invaders, Donkey Kong or Super Mario Bros. had violence hidden within them. The dragon was a nasty customer at the end of each level, and every time you watched the dragon fall into the pit...you knew you were one step closer to beating the game. Even Pac-Man had violence. You ran around eating power pellets to eat the ghosts before they could eat you.
When I think about it...every time I played those games as a kid, I never really felt a sense of relief from stress. No real satisfaction. I always feel better after being stressed out and playing a few rounds of Mortal Kombat or Marvel Nemesis. There is a nice relief for me in games like that.
However, with the Nintendo Wii catching on...I think you will see more video game companies try and cash in on the same idea as Nintendo. Working out while playing. I have played Wii Sports, and it is fun and gratifying. What a concept. Playing the old Nintendo games on a whole new system, and playing new games a whole new way. There truly is no limit to video games.
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