The electronic gaming industry generates enormous revenue world wide each year. In 2007, a profit of 18.8 billion dollars was recorded (Seeking Alpha, 2008). The first successful gaming console, the Atari 2600, was released in 1977. The console used plug-in cartridge games such as Space Invaders. The first computer games were also starting to emerge at this time.
Massive Multiplayer Online Role-playing Game's (MMORPG) are becoming increasingly popular. World of Warcraft (WoW), arguably the most popular MMORPG, boasts a player base of over 12 million. While WoW is not a very violent game, there is evidence of real life danger involved in its being played. Gaming addiction has become a real problem with MMORPG's, as evidenced by the death of several players. The most publicised case was the 2005 death of the user 'Snowly'. The player reportedly played WoW for several days straight, neglecting his health. The increased number of deaths being linked to video gaming addiction sparked the act of adding an 'anti-obsession' system on several games (Softpedia, 2005).
Violence in gaming has also had ties to tragedy. The Columbine High School Massacre involved the killing of 12 students and 1 teacher in 1999. Evidence has arisen that the adverse effects of superfluous violence in the video game Doom somewhat encouraged the killers to conduct the massacre.
Reference List:
1. Ivanov 2005, Softpedia, accessed 26 Aug 2011, <http://news.softpedia.com/news/Two-Fanatic-World-of-Warctaft-Gamers-Have-Died-Becouse-Of-WoW-11821.shtml>.
2. Investment U 2008, Seeking Alpha, accessed 26 Aug 2001, <http://seekingalpha.com/article/89124-the-video-game-industry-an-18-billion-entertainment-juggernaut>.
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