Please Rate my Essay!

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Please Rate my Essay!

by vp101 » Sun Jul 26, 2015 1:06 pm
ESSAY QUESTION:
The following appeared in the editorial section of a national news magazine:

"The rating system for electronic games is similar to the movie rating system in that it provides consumers with a quick reference so that they can determine if the subject matter and contents are appropriate. This electronic game rating system is not working because it is self regulated and the fines for violating the rating system are nominal. As a result an independent body should oversee the game industry and companies that knowingly violate the rating system should be prohibited from releasing a game for two years."

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. Point out flaws in the argument's logic and analyze the argument's underlying assumptions. In addition, evaluate how supporting evidence is used and what evidence might counter the argument's conclusion. You may also discuss what additional evidence could be used to strengthen the argument or what changes would make the argument more logically sound.

YOUR RESPONSE:
The crux of the argument states that the creation of an independent body that oversees the game industry and companies involved in this industry would solve the problem of rating systems being violated by the aforementioned companies. There are several factors to consider before we can conclude whether this move would be beneficial.

The author of this extract compares moves and games. The comparison is not fair because the in a movie, all the information being shared is from the media and not the user. Hence, the core contents of a movie can be assumed to be perceived in a similar way by most people. However, in the case of games, a lot depends on the way in which a user interacts with the various facets of a game. In other words, we cannot be sure and assume for the most part that the experience of playing a game is the same for every consumer the way it is while watching a movie.

The bigger problem lies in the solution presented in the passage - having an independent body oversee and assign appropriate ratings for the games. This idea has two major pitfalls - what would be the overall role of this body and who would they report to and, what would be the legal standing of this body. In creating such a body, there would have to be some kind of Federal Framework in place that would allow regulation of games. Additionally, when considering the legal aspects of things, what would be the categorization of the gaming industry as a whole? If we can consolidate a legal framework under which an independent body can work in an impartial way, it might be something that the industry as a whole should be open to.

In spite of all the challenges before us, establishing an independent commission to look into games might actually be a good idea. It's been proven through various studies that children of various ages spend a lot of time playing video games and these games do impact their cognitive development. If we can ensure that games with an incredible amount of violence, racism, sexism and those that indoctrinate prejudiced behavior towards certain ethic communities are assigned the appropriate ratings, then we can at least take the first steps in ensuring that such polarized games (Which do attract controversy from various sources) are kept clear of individuals below a certain age group.

In addition to this, it would be great if the independent body could also look at some other aspects of the gaming industry that can be improved. For example, the placement of games based on their ratings. We could look at enforcing rules that make it mandatory that games containing violence, highly sexualized and graphic imagery be kept in certain restricted areas of a store. Also, like movies some games can have ratings that can only be purchased by people above a certain age group.

A final point I want to touch upon is gun violence. We have seen a huge rise in deaths and injuries caused by guns. Psychologists have been studying whether games under the category 'First-person shooter' have been responsible for an increase among teenagers wanting to purchase firearms. By having an independent body that not only regulates the rating but also looks at the gaming industry as a whole in a role similar to the 'Baseball or NBA Commissioner' could go a long way in ensuring that more fuel is not added to the already controversial topic of guns.

The idea for an independent body that rates games like movies is a good idea in theory. However, there are some flaws in this concept. If this idea can be tailored to suit the existing gaming industry, it can be of some benefit.