Computer Game Ethics José Diaz. Overview ► The Business Software Piracy Ratings / Censorship ► Game Content Violence in Gaming Gender & Sexuality.

Computer Game Computer Game EthicsEthics

José Diaz José Diaz

OverviewOverview

► The BusinessThe Business Software PiracySoftware Piracy Ratings Ratings / Censorship/ Censorship

► GaGame Contentme Content Violence in GamingViolence in Gaming Gender & SexualityGender & Sexuality

► Social AffectSocial Affect Computer Game AddictionComputer Game Addiction PrivacyPrivacy

Definition of Computer Definition of Computer GamesGames

► ““Technological-recreational fantasy Technological-recreational fantasy entertainment”. This implies that the entertainment”. This implies that the experience made playing a computer game experience made playing a computer game happens on an abstract level. Although game happens on an abstract level. Although game players might identify themselves with players might identify themselves with characters they control, it is a virtual identity characters they control, it is a virtual identity they temporarily adopt. This virtual identity they temporarily adopt. This virtual identity exists in an intangible world that is not exists in an intangible world that is not comparable to reality. “game play is its own comparable to reality. “game play is its own reward and is clearly distinguished from reward and is clearly distinguished from ordinary life”. Therefore, real moral values ordinary life”. Therefore, real moral values and principles might not be applicable. and principles might not be applicable.

Software PiracySoftware Piracy

►Definition: The illegal duplication of Definition: The illegal duplication of software for commercial or personal use. software for commercial or personal use.

►Computer Industry loses more than 11$ Computer Industry loses more than 11$ billion to software piracy billion to software piracy every year.every year.

►Considered a crime in many countries.Considered a crime in many countries. Up to 5 years in jail and/or 250000$ in fines in Up to 5 years in jail and/or 250000$ in fines in

the U.S.the U.S.

Software PiracySoftware Piracy

►Is piracy acceptable if the person wouldn’t have ever actually bought the item?

►Is pirating / cracking a game ever ok? What about to replace a lost legal copy?

►Have you ever pirated software, and if so, what is your rationale for breaking the law? Is it any different than shoplifting?

Ratings and CensorshipRatings and Censorship

► Entertaiment Software Ratings Board (ESBR) Entertaiment Software Ratings Board (ESBR) rates computer and video games in the U.S.rates computer and video games in the U.S.

► Pan European Game Information (PEGI) Pan European Game Information (PEGI) rates computer and videogames in Europé.rates computer and videogames in Europé.

►Not supported by law.Not supported by law.

► ESBR rates over 1000 games per year.ESBR rates over 1000 games per year.

ESBR rating and content ESBR rating and content symbolssymbols



►Each of these ratings has a content Each of these ratings has a content description below it, containing more description below it, containing more than 30 choices of descriptions from than 30 choices of descriptions from "Cartoon Violence" to "Strong Sexual "Cartoon Violence" to "Strong Sexual Content" and everything in between. Content" and everything in between. Content is allowed further Content is allowed further permutations with the words "Mild" or permutations with the words "Mild" or "Strong" to describe each term. "Strong" to describe each term.

PEGI rating and content PEGI rating and content symbolssymbols

Main purposeMain purpose

►To help parents make informed To help parents make informed decisions on buying interactive games. decisions on buying interactive games. In other words both PEGI and ESRB are In other words both PEGI and ESRB are working for the protection and well working for the protection and well being of childrenbeing of children

Violence in GamingViolence in Gaming

►Anderson & Bushman: Exposure to violent games…

… increases physiological arousal … increases aggressive thoughts … increases aggressive emotions … increases aggressive actions … decreases positive prosocial actions … trains our youth in combat tactics needed for

the revolution


►Psychologist Jonathan Freedman, who Psychologist Jonathan Freedman, who reviewed over 200 published studies, reviewed over 200 published studies, found that the impact of violence in found that the impact of violence in videogames to aggressive behaviour videogames to aggressive behaviour was very small compared to other was very small compared to other things. things.

Agression ExperimentsAgression Experiments

►College student experiment Group A: played a non-violent game Group B: played a violent game Competitive reaction test afterwards

►Winner of each ‘round’ delivers a loud “noise blast” at opponent, with a choice of volume and duration

►Group B delivered longer blasts than Group A Exposure to violent video games increases

hostile attribution bias►Those who interpret ambiguous social cues as being of

hostile intent are more aggressive►Children who play more violent video games are more

likely to have a hostile attribution bias


►Do game designers have social Do game designers have social responsibilities to the users of their responsibilities to the users of their products?products?

►Should violence in computer and video Should violence in computer and video games even be an issue, since we can games even be an issue, since we can see it so often in other, more popular see it so often in other, more popular mass media?mass media?

Gender & Sexuality in GamesGender & Sexuality in Games

►43% of people who play interactive games are women

►47% of people who purchase computer games are men and 53% are women.

►54% of people who purchase console games are men and 46% are women.



►Much of the debate about the good and ills of Much of the debate about the good and ills of computer and video games center on children computer and video games center on children

►What moral and legal duty do game What moral and legal duty do game developers have to ensure that children developers have to ensure that children cannot access the material that they create. cannot access the material that they create.

►Whats is appropiate? And what is not?Whats is appropiate? And what is not?

► Should games be rated according to their Should games be rated according to their sexual content? sexual content?

Game AddictionGame Addiction

► “He even left Thanksgiving dinner before pie was served to come home and play….”

►A post on EverQuest-Widows


► “My husband was doing an adventure when one of the players asked how much longer the adventure would take since his wife was in labor.“

► “When I came back home I asked my husband to come to bed with me because I needed some comfort and to process what had happened, especially since I just started my 8th month of pregnancy. You know what his answer was? ‘I can't just leave my group, it's rude.’”


► “Symptoms of game addiction include falling behind in school and work and basically deferring everything else in your life so you can play.”

► “Compulsive playing tends to mask underlying problems such as depression, anger and low self-esteem,” said the director of the Computer Addiction Studies Center, who said she was once hooked on computer solitaire.


►Where is the line drawn between Where is the line drawn between passion and passion and addiction?addiction?

►What social responsibilities do game designers have to the users of their products?

►Make a game less addictive by making it boring?

►Should games known to be highly addictive come with warning labels?

PrivacyPrivacy

►MMPORG’s, Web-based games, and even games requiring online registration all have access to your machine and any information you choose to offer.

►Organizations like Microsoft, and more recently the US Army, which have possible negative social connotations associated with them, have gotten involved in computer games.

Privacy QuestionsPrivacy Questions

►What data is ethical to collect without the user’s knowledge? To collect with consent?

►If the user’s gaming experience can be improved by collecting personal information, how much is harmless?

Computer Game Ethics José Diaz. Overview ► The Business Software Piracy Ratings / Censorship ► Game Content Violence in Gaming Gender & Sexuality.

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