Controversy in Video Games

After the release of "Resident Evil 5" last March 13th, a friend of mine has written several articles over controversial issues in video games. For instance, the issue of racism in "Resident Evil 5". Gaming forums, newspapers, and "concerned parties" worldwide have made a big hubbub over the idea that racism is running rampant in the game. Set in Africa, the game's hero, Chris Redfield is sent to fight the newest Bio-hazard outbreak which has changed people into zombies, the likes of which have never been seen before. The problem? 

Chris Redfield is white. Caucasian. Not of African descent. He's neutralizing African zombies. In large numbers. Obviously, that is a plot by Capcom to beat down a specific race, not to be realistic to the setting. For a more in depth discussion, my friend has a great article on the Nashville Examiner website. 

Why do people find issues where there are none? "Well, all the kids that did those awful school shootings played these dang videogame things...obviously that's what caused it!" ......Really? Wow. What an original assumption. That HAS to be the answer. It never occurred to people to look at the environment that a person grew up in, because parents would never be so irresponsible as to ignore their children or cause them to have huge issues when they grow up. Nah...it's video games. 

My whole statement is simply this: don't just make an assumption because the news media says something is evil. Don't take a simple opinion as gospel. I believe video games are another form of entertainment, and a good one at that. They are no more evil in their portrayal of violence than movies such as Kill Bill,