It isn’t just Players who do the Button-Pushing in these Action Computer Games

There's a scene in the movie Singin’ in the Rain where when a movie mogul gives a demonstration of the first talking movie to a crowd of high society party attendees, one uppercrust woman sniffs and says, “I think it's vulgar”. That's practically been the kind of reception every entertainment innovation has ever had from the establishment - every new kind of music, sport, television show, comic book; and as far as video games are concerned, the cold reception hasn't ended. And while most video games get made for wholesome family entertainment, there are a few titles that come out every year that do walk a thin line. Crossing some line from time to time is only to the expected in an industry that tries very hard to push the envelope. But still, videogame haters jump all over them, focusing on these particular games, to try to demonstrate how video games herald the end of civilization. Let's take a look at the action computer games that get the most negative press.

Let's start with a title that practically defines the action computer games genre - Grand Theft Auto. One of the biggest videogame franchises in the world, the game seems to encourage young people to glamorize and follow a life of thuggery. The game is all about stealing cars, beating and killing people and grabbing what could only be hookers, for fun. On the San Andreas version of this game, the designers actually plugged in some actual graphic sexual content for some real street cred. The FTC didn't like it at all and not only did they fine the publishers, they made them pull the product from shelves.

With some action computer games, it's like the designers are actually trying to earn the genre a terrible reputation. Consider the Manhunt franchise that first came out about eight years ago. You know how they say that guns make it easy for people to commit violence? The designers of this game certainly took that opinion to heart. The violence in this game, you certainly get your hands dirty for. You don't resort to guns or bombs or cars to inflict violence in this videogame. You pick up a baseball bat and smash a person with blood and gore all over the place. Sometimes, you strangle them; sometimes you suffocate them with plastic. This game actually comes from the creative makers of Grand Theft Auto. As unwholesome as the game might be, it certainly has pushed the envelope in action computer games. Now into its second version, the game has sold 2 million copies.

There is a lot that you hear about school bullying in the media today - with unfortunate cases like the Phoebe Prince suicide sending up public disgust for the practice all the time. One game publisher found that it would be a great way to earn a little street cred to publish a game that glorified school bullying. And Bully was the result. Of course, critics of action computer games were all over it one more time. There is actually a bit of sexual violence in the bullying shown in the game too. The courts though deemed it not egregious enough and allowed the title to be sold. When it comes to action computer games, publishers certainly know how to push people’s buttons.