Virtual Reality Brainwashes Youth

UPDATE: We appreciate your comments voicing your opinion. However unintentional, we admit that this article was unfair by subjecting only one side of the story. The author understands the counter-criticism of gamers and acknowledges that those influenced by violent games as portrayed in the article below form only a small percentage of the gaming population.

EMY is also aware of studies conducted by the US secret service and the US department of education concerning the influence of violent games, movies and books on children, a copy of which can be obtained here.

Once again, EMY apologises for overreaction on the authors’ part and thanks you for helping us improve future content.

Computer War-games have increased tenfolds since the global war on terrorism invaded our minds and ears in 2001, with most of the games targeted towards a young audience. But are the youth really influenced by these disturbing games? Unique Muslimah writes more on this worrying modern-day phenomena. 

War games have a long history. Since man’s natural inclination of self-preservation, experts believe that some form of war-game occurred before the first organised war. Chess is an example of a war game that has been around for centuries. And since the computer was invented, war-games have been able to develop and exist on a completely different playing field.

Back in the 1960s, a computer war game was unheard of; children were encouraged to play outside in the fresh air or toy around manual war games, like Battleships and Chess. Arguably these were the golden ages, in contrast to the modern-day child who expects, by default, to have one of the many computer consoles available on the market, along with a collection of games to spend endless of hours on.

It is true that computer games have evolved since they first started to appear in the late 1970s. Improved graphics, animation, themes, choice of game, ease of use, cheats and strategy all attract the modern-day child for a hefty price.

And it’s the improvements to modern-day technology which makes more war games appear on the shelves every year- it’s a must-have for youth. And “while annual sales of manual wargames amounts to a few hundred thousand units (and dropping each year), computer wargames sell over half a million units a year (and are rapidly increasing).” says a computer wargame specialist. 

If you include the simulator type games (aircraft, vehicle and others), several millioncomputer wargames are sold each year. And it is increasing. What is dangerous and worrying for the modern parent is what their child is absorbing in the hours they are glued in front of the TV screen. 

Each game promises their audience an experience they will always remember. These visual games are a perfect opportunity to psychologically prepare and even mentally train children to fight in battle. Now with the latest console, the Nintendo Wii, which enables the user to move while playing, youth can even be physically trained to fight in a war and at their own expense. Some war-games are even connected to other users using a microphone through a network, to create a realistic experience as possible. 

Of course war-games do not offer full training. But it undeniably prepares youth, both mentally and emotionally, to acknowledge what to expect. Some games are quite graphic, showing blood, corpses, strong language and disturbing fighting scenes. A game called Metal Gear actually has a character who received virtual reality training. Raiden carries out simulations of another character’s previous missions before undergoing his own, official “battle”.

If a youth was to spend fourteen hours a week playing such a game until they completed their mission, they may have more of a chance of wanting to experience a battle in real life, perhaps by joining the army. But this virtual reality strategy may backfire, as youth could turn the negative energy they gain through vandalism or other violent crimes.

There is no doubt that this well-thought tactic, issued by high-ranking govermental officials, and it is not very surprising. The global war on terrorism is running out of soldiers, as US officials have said. The Morning Herland’s reporter Fran Molloy stated back in 2007:

“More than 3800 US soldiers have been killed in action since the war in Iraq began more than five years ago.  And since the war drags on with no end in sight, the US military is running desperately short of the 80,000 new recruits it needs each year.

“As the horrific reality of the bloody conflict deters potential recruits back home, it seems that the US Army is pinning its hopes on a video game to solve one of George Bush’s biggest headaches.”  Brainwashing the youth to fight in almost real-life situations which a solider would face if fighting in Iraq for instance, is most definitely a way to recruit more soldiers for the future.

The new video game is dubbed ”America’s Army”. Reviewers have raved that the game is “realistic with an immersive tactical first-person shooter, a free download with online multiplayer capabilities and extensive input from some of the world’s top game developers.” Not surprisingly, the game requires a relatively significant commitment of time. Enough time to complete a form of brainwashing.

Critics believe the game is ”essentially a propaganda tool funded to the tune of more than $US10 million ($A11.1 million) of US taxpayers’ money designed to attract young people to military life.”

According to sources, the US Army spends “an estimated $US1.5 million annually to support the game”. And it’s paying off, because 28 per cent of players actually click through to the US Army’s recruitment site, and about 40 per cent of new US Army recruits in 2005 have played the game before signing up.

Evidently modern-day youth are influenced by computer wargames, with governments taking technology to their advantage by reaching out and molding the brains of their very own future soldiers.

Ironically parents crying over their son’s station in Iraq could be the same parents who actually bought the computer console with war game included.

Unique Muslimah Reporting in Blogland for EMY