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Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat is a fighting game in which players battle opponents in one-on-one matches. The fighter that drains the opponent's health bar first wins the round, and the first to win two rounds wins the match. It's historical significance was groundbreaking for its time due to its graphics, where characters perform martial arts moves. It distinguished itself from other games with a more mature and realistic style. -
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Night Trap Banned
Night Trap is an interactive video game that uses full motion video to present the story and gameplay. The player is instructed by the in-game police squad to watch live surveillance footage of the Martin household and trigger traps for anyone who is seen endangering the house guests.
Critics stated the game was an interesting concept,due to its repetitiveness and boredom. Furthermore, the game received backlash as they believed it promoted violence against women. -
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USA SENATE HEARING ON VIDEO GAMES
Members of the USA Senate of Committees on Government Affairs and the Judiciary had a hearing with spokespersons from various companies to analyze the impact violent video games have on teens. The ESRB was created to rate video games and set an age limit for violent games. People were glad there was a response to the concern, and the companies agreed to ESRB ratings as they all realized it was the best solution to stop kids from playing games they were not supposed to be playing. -
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DOOM
DOOM is a first-person shooter where the player fights through hordes of undead humans and invading demons. It was notorious for its graphic violence and satanic imagery, plus the gore and violent nature of the game made it inappropriate for minors. After the Columbine Massacre, it was known that the shooters were avid players of the game, and thus the game was linked to the cause of this terrible event. -
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Grand Theft Auto
Grand Theft Auto focuses on an open world where the players can complete missions to progress an overall story as well as engage in various side activities. Most of the gameplay revolves around driving and shooting, with occasional role-playing and stealth elements. Media outrage for its amoral violence, however, the game used this controversy as a free promotion.