In fairness, you are correct, Jon’s larger point was that extreme violence is tolerated far more than extreme sexuality.

Nonetheless, he called Mortal Kombat a snuff film, I think there was a pretty hostile environment in there towards video games.

Yeah, I mean I know the Daily Show is SUPPOSED to be a joke, but I think it’s morphed into basically an editorial news program. Studies have shown a lot of Daily Show viewers use the program as a primary source for news. We could claim Stewart is ignorant of that, or doesn’t play to it, but I have a hard time buying it.

I honestly don’t think he was supporting that stupid California bill or saying that video games should be censored.

I also think your taking the Daily show too seriously. I love it but the only difference between it and other news shows is that the Daily Show admits to being a joke.

I disagree. Video games are not necessarily or exclusively a narrative art form. Just because MK is lacking in coherent character or meaningful plot doesn’t preclude it from “art” status, in the same way that a song with no lyrics does not cease to be art simply because it has no “story.”

Gaming is art on the basis of sustained, tactile world creation. It uses art, sculpture, architecture, sound design, music and computer code to erect worlds. These worlds are literally made of art, and so by necessity are art themselves. And more to the point, each is a unique statement on the natural world.

For example, the world through the eyes of “Scott Pilgrim” video games is very distinct from the world as seen in “Gears of War.” Each is a representation of reality through a certain lens, and it is in this quality that gaming is principally art.

Now some games have rich stories, and so narrative art is added on top of the pile. But gaming exists as an art form with or without story, and even if the story sucks.

Also, very disappointing is Jon’s handling of this subject. Every art form is attacked like this, and every art form has disturbing media like this. It is not fair to cherry pick Mortal Kombat and not compare it to similar media in other art forms.

All the points have been made above regarding this, ready Andrew and Maul’s information, it has everything put eloquently. The only thing I would like to add is that there will always be moron/neglecting parents that don’t properly care for their kids. This goes OUTSIDE of the ever scary violent movies and games that talking heads parade around TV news. Case in point: Jared Lee Loughner was literally going crazy (http://www.thirdage.com/news/jared-lee-loughner-prison-can-force-medicate-tucson-suspect_06-30-2011) and his parents made no effort to help their son. All the warning signs were there; friends recognized it, the many places that fired him recognized it, his school recognized it… but his parents that he LIVED WITH? One has to be completely without a brain, or more likely, in denial. Their son CAN’T be going crazy; he’s just going through a phase.

As someone that has a degree in psychology, I can tell you that Jared’s signs had become obvious. From the evidence we see, his YouTube videos for example, his speech had already begun the telltale signs of absolute incomprehensible “sentences” that only he could understand. There’s a thousand other things too… his anger problem… his weird obsessions…alienation. Again, though, our child can’t be crazy.

This logic leads further to the idea that kids can be made bad if they play enough violent video games, movies, music, and comic books. My kid doesn’t have problems, its those games he plays that does! Sorry, that’s been proven wrong again and again and again. Look at any tragedy and the only things that are analyzed are the absolute easiest scapegoats. Not the real issue which is that the individual had problems and needed help, but sadly enough no one had their eyes on them long enough to realize it.

Jon’s comments don’t make me angry because he attacked video games, they make me angry because he signed on to a bandwagon that so badly misses the point that it actually diverts attention from the real issue. And that, Jon, is much worse than ripping an imaginary girl (who is treated 100% equally I might add) in half.

The MPAA is shady at best, and their PG-13 system gets regularly juked by heavy lobbying. The ESRB almost always hits the nail right on the head, and makes the correct call.

We’ve been discussing this on the Game Show for years. As our listeners know, I love the ESRB, I love the fact that there’s an easily recognized and usable, parent friendly rating system out there, similar to the MPAA’s (despite what politics might be behind it, having a rating system IS a good idea). And I firmly support the Supreme Court’s decision that its up to parents to enforce those ratings, not the retailers in the stores.

The debate will continue, but ultimately, it comes down to a large portion of our society refusing to accept accountability for what their children are up to. And its up to us, as individuals, to change that…

By booting shitty parents in the head.