Why Video Games Aren't The Cause Of Gun Violence

"If parents are allowing children to begin playing mature-rated games at young ages, then blame the parents, not the games."

       Warning: The Following Article Contains Opinions and Fluently Utilizes First Amendment Rights

   
        'Video games' and 'gun violence': two terms that have been prominently associated with one another over the past week. Since last week's traumatic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, it seems that many people are just trying to find something to blame for an event that I feel Adam Lanza, the perpetrator, is the only one who should be blamed for.
         Yesterday, the NRA (National Rifle Association) held a press conference, defending their existence as a gun-rights lobby in order to direct the blame to someone who arguably deserves it less, and yes, that someone was the "violent media", emphasizing "vicious, violent video games", but also including other entertainment media such as movies and music videos. They specifically targeted "vicious, violent video games with names like 'Bulletstorm', 'Grand Theft Auto', 'Mortal Kombat', and 'Splatterhouse'". While I must admit, I've never had any personal experience with Bulletstorm and Splatterhouse, I must admit that Grand Theft Auto and Mortal Kombat are harmless, in my opinion. While Grand Theft Auto games have been subject to much controversy over the years, the game itself portrays the virtual life on the wild side with much negativity.

Do your children feel influenced by Bulletstorm to shoot and kill giant, ugly monsters?

        Many will argue that Rockstar games created the Grand Theft Auto franchise as a decision of pure evil, but I disagree. While stealing cars and killing police officers in-game may be fun, the game itself provides players with a feel of risk and uncertainty, along with a question of moral certainty and self-worth. But what people must remember, is that these example game titles provided by the NRA are just games-- nothing more than games, and they feel like games. Even Grand Theft Auto, which gives users an authentic experience of a crime-filled life, doesn't influence anyone sane to commit video game-esque crimes. Instead, it influences users to play more video games, if anything.

Playing Grand Theft Auto will keep you out of real trouble,
but can still be a negative influence on younger kids.

        Then there's Mortal Kombat. The only problem Mortal Kombat has created is enhancing the common misconception of the spelling of the word combat. Mortal Kombat plays like fiction, feels like fiction, and is fiction, and for no reason should the NRA have been subjected to blaming NeatherRealm Studios' Japanese-styled fighting game.

Teach your kids the moral konsequences of mispelling kombat.

     
        Blaming video games for real-life violence isn't anything new. Actually, in my experience, video games are brought up nearly every time a violent crime such as this takes place. Prior to this, I've just accepted this fact as a man, but am nearly exhausted by video games being perceived as such a negative thing. Video games are an art medium, like books, poetry, paintings, films, and music, only video games haven't existed long enough for people to understand and respect them as a medium. No one has blamed controversial books or artwork for the tragic events that took place on December 14th, 2012; why does everyone feel the need to bash my favorite artistic medium?

        Sure, if children are exposed to enough violent video games, they will probably be influenced negatively at some point. But there is reason ESRB posts their stamp of approval on nearly every console game, and it isn't just due to the controversy of the Sega CD's Night Trap. No, video games are just another excuse for people to be insane and commit idiotic crimes. The gaming world means no harm, but please, don't allow your 7-year-old to play Grand Theft Auto. The video game industry relies on parents to have common sense. If parents are allowing children to begin playing mature-rated games at young ages, then blame the parents, not the games. Personally, I think the NRA is just upset because their game received a 1.5 out of 10, while Mortal Kombat and Grand Theft Auto IV received an 8 and 10 out of 10, respectively.

Obviously, older kids will still get their hands on mature-rated  games,
but this doesn't stop you as a parent from preventing your younger
kids from being exposed to more vulgar media.

Top 5 Smartphones For The Holidays

        As promised, what you are about to read is the official smartphone guide for holiday buying. This could mean a variety of things, such as buying for friends, family, or even bringing your most selfish attributes forward and buying for your own conceited self. In this bull-free guide, I will personally guide you through the beautiful process of picking out your very first (or very 367th) smartphone by highlighting the pros and cons of my top five holidays picks. Shall we begin?

 

5) Apple iPhone 5

        No smartphone tech guide would be complete without the mentioning of an Apple product. Apple brought us the iPhone in 2008, making the smartphone "hip", bringing us simple applications, and even providing us with the concept of potentially replacing our desktop PCs with handheld, pocket-protected calling devices, and we haven't looked back since. While Apple may have been the inventor, and possibly the original innovator, they have failed to develop many new ideas since the invention of Siri, and customers are forced to wait an entire year before being given the opportunity to see any new product of Apple's in the form of a smartphone. The iPhone 5 may have brought us new iPhone-related hardware, but the handset's release has only been Apple's next step in the ultimate game of catch-up. 

Price: $199 (Apple.com) 

Pros:

-iOS 6 uses a simple, familiar interface

-The iPhone 5 has a longer, sleeker display

-Specs have improved in the fifth iteration iPhone

Cons:

-Native maps application has become worse

-Processors still haven't caught up with Galaxy S III

-Still not 720p resolution

-iOS 6 doesn't allow for the same complex usage as Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

4) Droid Razr Maxx HD

        I've always felt indifferent about Motorola's Droid lineup of smartphones, mostly due to their original launch in 2009 being promoted as an iPhone-alternative. No, not the superior to the iPhone, but an alternative to the iPhone since at the time, Verizon didn't carry Apple's revolutionary handset. During this time period, many people I knew began to purchase the original Droid and eventually, the Droid 2.
        Upon using these devices for myself, I realized that Motorola's iPhone competitor felt cheap, still held on to a clunky physical keyboard, and left iPhone users feeling even better than before. People who had the Droid loved it, mostly because they didn't have AT&T, and therefore, couldn't buy an iPhone. Over the years, Motorola has improved on the Star Wars derived Droid to the point where I've placed it ahead of Apple's latest iPhone installment. That, my friends, is what you call progress.

Price: $149.99 (AmazonWireless)

Pros:

-Full HD screen

-3,300 mAh Li-Ion battery

-As powerful as Samsung Galaxy S III

-I'm-a-geek-but-I-can-still-be-hip-styled look

-NFC capabilities

-Will be upgradeable to 4.1 Jelly Bean at some point

-Expandable storage support

Cons:

-Still running ye olde Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
-More costly than the more up-to-date Samsung Galaxy S III

3) Samsung Galaxy S III

        The Korean tech-maker is the latest trend in the smartphone industry and it's not hard to see why: Samsung has a vast lineup of 4G smartphones created with the crazy idea that "different people want different things" in mind. The Samsung Galaxy S III, while the trendiest of Samsung's lineup offers logical reason for its trendiness.

Price: $124.99 (AmazonWireless)

Pros:

-Stunning 4.8" 720p display with unique look/feel

-Beautiful 8 MP camera with 1080p video capability

-Able to update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean right out of the box

-Stocked with processors better than that of the newer iPhone 5

-Samsung Galaxy S III 2 GB RAM = (iPhone 5 1 GB RAM) x 2

Cons:

-Still stocked with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

-May be too bulky for some users

2) Samsung Galaxy Note II

 

        This choice may have been a controversial decision due to the common confusion among consumers on what the Galaxy Note II actually is, and what the Galaxy Note was for that matter. To clear this confusion, let me begin by saying the Galaxy Note II is a smartphone-tablet hybrid device that serves the primary purpose of creating a universal go-to device for any smartphone, tablet, or possibly even PC-required occasion. The Galaxy Note II may be pricey, but carries specs better than most other smartphones and even a handful of tablet PCs and comes stocked with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, far surpassing that of the Galaxy S III.

Price: $279.99 (Wirefly.com)

Pros:

-Lavishing 5.55-inch screen with a 720p display

-1.6 GHz quad-core processor with 2 GB RAM

-S-Pen hover is innovative

-Stocked with Android 4.1.1

Cons:

-Some users may find it to be inconvenient

-More expensive than most of its competitors, including the larger Nexus 7

-No Android 4.2 Jelly Bean yet

1) Google/LG Nexus 4

       

        Yet another controversial choice, the Nexus 4 is only available from T-Mobile at the moment or unlocked if bought directly from Google's Play Store. While this may be a problem for most consumers, ecstatic T-Mobile users will find this to be a great catch for the smaller cell phone carrier. The Nexus 4 is the fourth Nexus-branded smartphone available directly from Google and was built in cooperation with LG. At the perfect size and carrying Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, the Nexus 4 is, in my opinion, the best smartphone on the market and will hopefully make its way over to other carriers at some point in time. (Hopefully around the same time that I become eligible for a two-year upgrade!)

Price: $299 (Google Play)

Pros:

-Comes stocked with the new Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

-1.5 GHz quad-core processor on a 4.7-inch display

-High-res 768p (320 ppi) Gorilla Glass 2 display

-Stylish and unique

Cons:

-Only available from T-Mobile

-LTE support is only available through modifying device settings

Assassin's Creed III: Liberation Review

     BULLOGNA SCORE: 8.0!

        While I won't be able to review the full console experience of the game until I get the opportunity to toy with it on PC, I waited in line today during hurricane Sandy in front of GameStop, and got my hands dirty with one of Ubisoft's two new Assassin's Creed titles. The PlayStation Vita-exclusive open-world action-adventure game is has now become a controversial subject among reviewers. So I decided to throw my input out there while it's still the "cool thing to do".

        The decision-making factor in whether or not to buy this game consists of a simple algorithm. If you have a Vita, buy this game. If not, don't buy this game. Don't get me wrong, Liberation is a pure Assassin's Creed game, but is far from being worth $300. It's worth the price tag it was given-- $40. That may seem expensive to most of you who are sitting around playing Fruit Ninja or Angry Birds on your $500 iPad, but to those who are actually concerned with the quality of a game, $40 is dirt cheap, especially compared to the $60 it would cost to buy the full console version of the game. If you don't have the option to get both and you're deciding between Liberation or ACIII, choose the console title. This game was not created as a standalone title. You need Assassin's Creed III for this portable title to have any significance whatsoever. 

        The Conclusion

        If you've been dying for a good addition to your Vita's library and you already own Uncharted: Golden Abyss, this is the game for you, unless of course you've never played an Assassin's Creed title, or aren't planning on buying ACIII first. The fun, open-world gameplay outweighs the bugs and lagging framerate, but often doesn't make up for the fact that if you've never played an AC title, you won't have a clue what's going on in this game. Aside from those minor issues which only take place on occasion, this beautiful title will keep you at the end of your bus seat, and ignore what you've heard about forced touch controls. As long as you know how to touch a screen, they're no big deal, and they actually give the game a feeling of consistency, which otherwise this portable title would most likely be lacking.

Android 4.2 vs. Windows Phone 8

  by Gabriel Carey

        While the latest version of Android isn't quite as big a deal as Windows Phone 8, 4.2 could definitely bring something new to Google's mobile platform, but unfortunately will not bring a tasty new name. That's right: no Key Lime Pie this time around. Google has announced that they're keeping the Jelly Bean name, most likely to cut down on confusion. On the bright side, a few new Android-powered devices are suspected to be announced at the October 29th event, speaking of which Microsoft will be holding an event the same day, showing off their latest adaption of their mobile operating system, Windows Phone 8.

        Microsoft promises major changes in WP8, hopefully revising many of the flaws in WP7. While I wish to see more apps developed for the mobile platform, I can't see this occuring nearly as quickly as it did for Google's Android platform. At one time, I was a huge Microsoft fanboy, but my fanboyism (it's a word) has rapidly been fading away as does time. Many of Windows Phone 8's announced features seem to repair most of what was broken in WP7, with the exception of screen resolution, which worries me. The new mobile OS only shows support resolutions up to 1280x768p, which worries me if the standard for mobile screen resolutions increases. Nevertheless, I can't see this being a huge factor in the release of WP8, but screen resolution limitations are just a pet peeve of the filmmaker/critic within me.

        As a firm supporter of both Google and Microsoft, I wish both companies luck on Friday. After seeing Apple's iPad mini conference, there's no way either event could flop as much as the big Apple did.(Although I can see Microsoft proving me wrong on that.) Android is continuing to grow as Microsoft will shortly begin to regain their growth, but Apple is a company I'm beginning to feel sympathetic towards. I can't believe I'm saying this, but Apple is actually falling, and unless they stop competing with their own products with each new release and start considering the technologically progressive environment surrounding them, they're going to fail, and when they hit the ground, they'll hit it hard, and they can take my sympathy along with them.

Why The Upcoming Month Is An Important Time For Tech

        From this week until the end of November is an extremely important time period for tech lovers, and even casual consumers everywhere. It's been three years since Microsoft has released a new version of Windows, and these three years have harmed the Redmond-based software company much more than it's helped. The explosion of smartphone handset devices and tablet PC devices has led to the possible accusation that the PC is no longer needed. While I disagree completely, others may not need a home computer as much as they once did, making smartphones and tablets the superior computing devices due to their simple nature and organized interfaces. While Windows 8 brings forth a new, improved metro modern-UI style to the clunky, but efficient OS, Microsoft's long-term supporters have began to oppose the company they've been loyal to for years. Maybe a tablet-like interface wasn't the change users were looking for, but personally I favor Windows 8, as I've been using the beta since earlier this year.

        On October 23rd, Apple will be holding yet another event. This time it will be none other than the release of.... You guessed it: a smaller iPad, or a larger iPod Touch, just what you've always wanted if you're an iSheep, of course! Personally, I would have liked the idea of a smaller iPad if Apple hadn't just released a new iPod Touch. And the iPad Mini is rumored to have a price-point of lower than $250, making its 7.85" screen cheaper than the iPod Touch's 4" screen. Awkward.

     
        Next Tuesday marks the release date of something revolutionary to the digital video games industry. On October 30th, 2012, Ubisoft will be releasing Assassin's Creed III on PS3/Xbox 360, and its PlayStation Vita-exclusive counterpart, Assassin's Creed III: Liberation. This brand-new addition to the AC series adds many new aspects to the standard that the first four games set in the series, and offers new characters, new weapons, a new story, and more importantly for us tech geeks, a new game engine created from scratch. Many have questioned Ubisoft's choice to release the game on our current-gen consoles that many are already considering obsolete, but the company promises that their new engine, AnvilNext will bring next-gen quality, not previously possible with current-gen consoles. But if you're interested in purchasing Assassin's Creed III on PC as I am, you'll have to wait until its November 20th release date. In the meantime, you can spend some exclusive time with Liberation, which releases on the same day as the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game.

     
        On November 18th, Nintendo will be releasing its first console in six years! (Yes, it's been that long since the Wii released. I can't believe it either.) The Wii U gaming console will release alongside 23 games, and will come packaged with the exclusive Nintendo Land title if you're willing to pay $50 more for a tech-showcasing game and 4 times more storage. If I was 10-years-old, this would truly be an excited time for me, although I know far too much about GPU, CPU, and RAM to concern myself with Nintendo much anymore, unless of course it's a traditional Pokemon game on 3DS, but that's a matter I still wait patiently to experience. And by the way, the Wii U gets Assassin's Creed III before PC. That's sad.

Why The Wii U Will Struggle

        With less than a month to go until the Wii U's November 18th release date, there is much controversy regarding the success of Nintendo's latest console. The tablet-controlled home console brings HD gaming to a company whose gimmicky invention has held them back from producing a powerful console. The Wii U changes things drastically for Nintendo. Like many consumers, I bought the Wii U in 2007, a year after its release, played it for the gimmicks, and haven't touched it since. If Nintendo had released the Wii U in the first place, that would have been a revolutionary tactic, but splitting what should have been one console into two consoles, separated by six years of technological innovation couldn't possibly lead to success, could it? For Nintendo, success is unpredictable and relies on the faces of well-known franchises and the desires of children with good taste in mustached plumbers.

        Before and during the Wii's release, Nintendo constantly targeted families to be their number-one customers, persuading parents to buy the console in order to spend more time together as a family. With the Wii U, this doesn't seem to be the case. Nintendo is attempting the impossible: targeting both hardcore gamers and families with a completely different, unneeded experience that most people don't really want. Honestly, I'm still confused on why I would need the Wii U. Nintendo still hasn't responded to my confusion, nor my families' confusion on whether or not it's a completely new system or just a modified Wii. Regular people don't understand that you need a new system with new games in order to transition from a standard to high definition platform, and that's another fault that could cause problems for Nintendo.

        So, if people don't understand the need to transition to another console for high-definition gaming, then most consumers will feel that the only update from the Wii to Wii U is the addition of a tablet controller, whereas most families already own at least one tablet per household, and will find this innovation to be irrelevant. Nintendo made a huge mistake by only adding one letter to the Wii's title when naming their latest console, a mistake that will lead to at least one year of rough sales before they are forced into marketing the contrast between the Wii and Wii U. Sometimes, I feel as if Nintendo doesn't pay enough mind to commentators on sites such as IGN and GameSpot. These "trolls" who are constantly harassing Nintendo for the Wii U are actually bringing forth some valid points as to what the purpose of the Wii U actually is, and Nintendo has failed to respond.

        While I've yet to see any TV spots advertising the Wii U, I can only pray that for Nintendo's sake, they include major juxtaposition when explaining the differences between Wii and Wii U. They are actually far different consoles, but I can't see normal consumers understanding this like I do (because I'm a tech-writer and they aren't). I have to say I won't be buying the Wii U this year, but if by next year Nintendo gives me enough reason to make the purchase, I just may have to. The Wii U is available for pre-order at most retailers. ($349.99 for 32 GB deluxe set, or $299.99 for 8 GB basic set)

The Scientific Philosophy of Pokémon Nostalgia

        As many of my readers should know, Pokémon Black Version 2 and White Version 2 have recently been release globally. In response to its release, I've decided to write this article in order to dig deeper into what really triggers the nostalgia fans of the series tend to feel every time a new video game is released. Now, I'm not actually going to use scientific terminology to explain my stance on this subject, for I'd rather not bore my casual readers to death. Instead, I'm going to trigger even more nostalgia by describing my own personal Pokémon experiences and leave the scientific reasoning behind this nostalgia to the readers' own interpretations.
        I was six-years-old. I'm not certain of the exact year, but I'm sixteen now, so it was probably 2002. I was a little late to Pokémon, but it didn't stop me from becoming interested in the franchise. I'd watched the show for as long as I can remember, but this time it was different. From this point on, my entire life would be based on this small, but important event. My mom took me into Toys R Us to browse. I browsed the GameBoy Advanced games because that's the system I had. At the time, I also had a PlayStation 2, but was completely uninterested in everything non-Nintendo. (This changes drastically in my teenage years, but not until then.) I couldn't find any GBA games to be appealing at the time. I knew what I wanted. I wanted Pokémon Silver. The box art displayed a glimmering Lugia, my favorite Pokémon (thanks to the film, Pokémon 2000). But what's this? Pokémon Silver Version is only for GameBoy Color!? Is GameBoy Advance backwards compatible with GBC games? Do I even know what any of that means because I'm six!? No, I have no idea what that means.
        My mom and I leave the store. I'm disappointed. My mom asks me what's the matter, and I respond with the truth. My mom, the strong woman she is, marches back into the store and asks the question everyone wants the answer to. "Can this game play on a GameBoy Advance?" she asks, referring to Pokémon Silver Version. The man answers, "Yes." The suspense is killing me as I'm waiting in the car. My mom exits the store, a small bag at her side. She takes something out of the bag. Is it the game? What could it be? It's Pokémon Silver Version. My first Pokémon game. I insert the plastic cartridge into my GameBoy Advance, its end sticking out awkwardly.
        "Now, what did you say your name was?" Professor Oak asks. I choose to enter a "New Name". I enter: POOP. Fast forward ten years. The other day I went searching for this game, and it was no where to be seen. It took me roughly twenty minutes, but I found it. I booted up my GBA SP, backlight and all, then chose to continue my game from where I previously left off. My name is Poop. I've owned this game for ten years, and I've never restarted it. Never will.
        The point I'm trying to make in all of this is a good question, really: how on earth do I remember this short segment of my life in such vivid quality, but often have difficulty remembering that I have homework when I was told that I have homework only hours before I forget. Many would respond to this by saying that it's because I actually care about this memory far more than I'm concerned with my homework, but I disagree. This wasn't actually as big a deal as I made it out to be in my life. It's effect on me is minimal, but somehow I'll never forget it, but I forget what I learn in AP US History, a class that explains important things that have happened in the past and how they affect the modern-day United States.
        While I still don't understand this conflict, I try to sit here and play a new Pokémon game with updated graphics, more Pokémon, a new story, and many new memories, but no matter what I do, it's not the same as what I grew up with. As we grow up, we find that reality has taken away from the simple fun we had as kids, and the complexity that comes with new technology spoils this simple fun. While it's great to make new friends, let's not forget to revisit our childhood friends every now and then, just for the memories.