But harming non-aggressive wild animals is not one of the things that prompts a moral reaction. In Dragon Age: Inquisition, the game’s characters will approve or disapprove of a wide variety of player actions. This is true even for games in which players are encouraged to reflect morally on their in-game actions. They are often mere tools for players to kill to complete quests, or to gain materials and trophies.
However, animals are presented in even more disposable ways. The moral issue of violence against animals in video games has received much less philosophical attention.īoth animals and humans are often portrayed as objects to kill and harm for fun in gaming. Some think they might, but conclusive evidence for a causal link is lacking. Social scientists have long debated whether violent video games cause antisocial attitudes towards other people. jit/Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA A moral dilemma in plain sight They’re some of the most popular video games today. If video games can promote particular ethical messages, could certain games encourage disrespect for living things?įirst-person shooters, such as Call of Duty, have been around for more than 45 years now. Attitudes towards in-game violence may be shaped by personal views, social mores, gaming culture and also the amount someone plays violent games. It’s not clear exactly why players feel so differently about in-game violence. Video game “ amoralists” say abusing animals (or humans) in video games can’t be wrong, as the “victims” are virtual and no living being is hurt. Other players have no such qualms, however, with one writing: Examples include whale-hunting in Assassin’s Creed, and fishing and catching bugs in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) – itself a somewhat troubled organisation – has criticised games it says “promote hurting and killing” animals. It’s weird how bad I feel about killing animals in the game … I will actively try and shoot guys off horses instead of just shooting the horses. Some express concern or remorse - one gamer wrote on a forum: Players evidently have varying views on harming virtual animals. Australia has controversially banned several games available in other countries because of depictions of violence and other potentially objectionable themes.Īustralia bans video games for things you'd see in movies. In 2005, Australia banned a first-person shooter game called Postal 2, in which players could mutilate and desecrate (virtual) human bodies. We think game violence against animals is more likely to promote disrespect for their living counterparts.
In a recently published paper, we argue there is good reason to think violence against animals in video games is problematic – perhaps even more so than in-game violence against humans. But violence against animals in video games has attracted considerably less attention. Violence against humans in video games has long been contentious – underpinned by the never-ending debate over whether on-screen violence begets the real thing. The rise of this (increasingly realistic) trend in games, along with people’s tendency to go along with it, raises important questions. Players can kill or torture animals in various popular games, including Minecraft and Grand Theft Auto V. Violence against animals in video games is ubiquitous.
0 kommentar(er)
