For years now video games have stood at the cutting edge of the modern entertainment industry, standing beside films, television and music as one of the most popular entertainment forms. But for the gaming industry it has become clear that it's dangerous out on the edge. There was a time when rock music or "all that violence at the movies" was blamed for every new murder or violent crime. Unfortunately for video games they have not only taken the entertainment industry by storm, they've also inherited the burden of media scapegoat.
Looking into the past we can see that any new development in entertainment has met with a cynical and often irrational disdain from the more closed minded aspects of society. In particular these new developments tend to be blamed for social issues or moral degradation by the uninformed and by parts of the media. Even as far back as the 1950s, rock and roll performers like Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly were often criticised, their work referred to as "devil music" by some groups.
Later on, TV and film took on the weight of blame for social problems and growing violence. Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange, for example, was blamed for many crimes from acts of violence to rape. The film was eventually withdrawn in the UK for nearly thirty years; ironically, according to Kubrick's wife, this was because he received several death threats due to the film - the cause of violence or the recipient?
Today this trend of blaming entertainment for violence has found a fresh target - video games. Games have received a tremendous amount of flak from the media and anti-gaming activists, being blamed for a multitude of crimes in recent years. The release of Modern Warfare 2 has not escaped attack, receiving a barrage from MP Keith Vaz who has condemned the game for its "scenes of brutality".
This tendency is not a new one and games have been under fire since they emerged as a visually realistic entertainment. From American lawyer Jack Thompson's self righteous crusade against Rockstar Games to the hysteria over Manhunt, games have been through a considerable number of controversies.
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