Defending video gaming
published: Friday | February 18, 2005

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THIS LETTER is in response to 'violent video games' dated February 10.

I don't wish to defend the column glorifying the video game or the pictures complementing that article. I write to defend video gaming.

Like any other media for entertainment, from movies to music to Internet websites, video games have come to possess gory violence and adult situations. As a parent, you are not supposed to criticise the media for it's existence, even if it is being abused. You are supposed to do what is right for your child. Censor him or her from the violence in video games as you would from similarly questionable content in other media. All video games feature prominently displayed ratings and descriptions of the nature of content that might be offensive.

Video games have become a veritable art form just like cartoons, comic books and graffiti. There is more to appreciate than what the parent or the columnist can divine. For further reading, I highly recommend gama sutra.comand ludology.org as sources for video game theory and design.

I am, etc.,

KHURRAM AHMED

khurram.khadim@gmail.com