Computer-based Games: Developer Ethics

By: Pedro Exposito

Overview:

• Why is it necessary to consider ethical standards in videogames?

• Why are good developer ethics important?

• How can developers ensure that their games do not encourage immoral behavior?

• Examples of unethical and ethical game design.

• Classic arguments.

• Conclusions.

• References.

Why is there a need to consider ethical standards in videogames?

• Advances in technology

• Shift in gaming demographics

• Lifelike simulation

Why are good developer ethics important?

General Statistics:

• Approximately 95 % of teenage boys play videogames.

• ~ 146 million gamers in the U.S. only

• ~ 45 % of all gamers are under the age of 18

• ~ 65.7 million gamers in the U.S. are below 18

• 20 million gamers in the U.S. are 12 and under

• 70 % of children aged 2 to 18 have access to videogames at home

• M-rated games = fastest growing segment of the gaming industry

• 1/3 of games purchased are M-rated

Alarming Statistics:

• Federal Trade Commission’s Survey:

78 % of teens aged 13 to 16 were able to buy M-rated games from stores

• Boys who play T or M-rated games for at least 40 minutes a day may witness over 180 incidents of aggression per day.

• 78 percent of the violent action is shown up close.

• In 98 % of the violent games surveyed, aggression was not punished properly.

• Almost half of all violent video game segments featured humor.

• In M-rated games, the player is more likely to be the aggressor.

Why are good developer ethics important?

• Their work reaches millions of people.

- Thousands of them are minors.

• More interactive than other mediums of entertainment.

• Violent games can lead kids to [3] - Develop aggressive scripts for social problem solving.

- Lose sensitivity towards violence.

• Gaming figures and children.

- Unethical role models.

How can developers enforce good morals in virtual worlds?

• Adopt a flexible ethical standard to follow in game development.

- The Virtue Ethics Approach: good & bad consequences.

• Online Gaming: Identify fraudulent users and punish them

• Discourage cheating offline

- Limited cheating & well-balanced difficulty modes

• Stop hacking attempts

• Fix glitches

• Remove indirect advertising

Examples of Unethical Game Development

- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (Ps2/Xbox/PC game)

- Unreal Tournament G.O.T.Y. Edition (PC game)

- Just Cause 2 (Ps3/X360/PC game)

Examples of Ethical Game Development:

- Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (PC game)

- Fable (Xbox game)

Anakin: “I won’t help a murderer like you.”

Classic Arguments for Unethical Game Development

• Ethics is up to the players.

- The players did not make the game.

• “It is just a game!”

- Not for everyone though.

• The chances of it affecting anyone are close to zero.

- What if 10,000,000 people play it?

Conclusions:

• The increase of violence and lack of ethics in current popular videogames is a problem that can affect modern society.

• Modern game developers must incorporate ethics into game development in order to accomplish their industry’s true purpose.

• Game developer’s job: To provide fun, unique, and safe entertainment for everyone.

References:[1] The Lion & Lamb Project. Children and Teens are Major Consumers of Adult-Rated

Video Games. Retrieved June 6, 2010, from http://www.lionlamb.org/factsheet1.htm[2] The Lion & Lamb Project. Violence in Video Games: A Few Facts to Consider.

Retrieved June 6, 2010, from http://www.lionlamb.org/violence_vid_games_facts.htm[3] Smith, S. L., Lachlan, K., & Tamborini, R. (2003). Popular Video Games:

Quantifying the Presentation of Violence and Its Context. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 70-73.

[4] Kimppa, K. K., & Bissett, A. K. (2005). The Ethical Significance of Cheating in Online Computer Games. The Ethics of E-Games Vol. 4, 34-36.

[5] Takahashi, D. (2004). Ethics of Game Design (game developers talk about the effect of the games). Game Developer 11.11 (2004): 14+. Retrieved May 30, 2010, from Academic OneFile database (A126157351).

[6] Achievement Hunter (Director). (2010). Just Cause 2: Beached Whale Easter Egg [Motion Picture]. Rooster Teeth Productions, LLC. Retrieved June 11, 2010, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPRtn9knixk

Questions