After the tragic elementary school shooting in Newton, we knew we'd see backlash against violent video games ripple across the country. Most recently, the state of Massachusetts has decided to pull all violent video games from state-controlled rest stops.
According to the Boston Globe, the decision came down after one resident complained. All violent arcade games were removed from rest stops at that point, which included games like Time Crisis and Beach Head 2000. Games such as Galaga, Ms. Pac-Man, and Cruis'n Exotica remain.
In addition, the Massachusetts town of Melrose will hold a "New Year, New Direction" collection drive for violent video games. Families who turn in their violent video games, movies, and toys will be given coupons from local businesses. It's very similar to the collection drive that Southington, CT attempted to hold but canceled earlier this year. Melrose's drive is scheduled to start on February 1st.
Such reactions are hardly surprising, especially when the vice-president of the country has taken time to meet with game publishers regarding violent video games and gun control. We should expect similar reactions to slowly trickle across the country eventually, whether we agree with them or not.
