The Turbulent History of Video Games: The Pre-Doom Era
In the early 1990s, the video game industry was facing a crisis. Controversy surrounded violent games, and lawmakers were beginning to take notice. On December 9th, 1993, the US Senate held a hearing to discuss the impact of these games on society. One of the most notable examples of this controversy was the release of Mortal Kombat in 1992.
Mortal Kombat was a fighting game that featured graphic violence and gore. It sparked outrage among parents and politicians, who claimed that the game was corrupting children's minds and contributing to an increase in violence in society. The game's popularity led to a wave of copycat games, many of which were just as violent.
The controversy surrounding Mortal Kombat led Nintendo, one of the largest video game companies at the time, to re-evaluate its policies on violence in games. Nintendo had always been known for its family-friendly image, and it was unwilling to compromise this by allowing graphic violence in its games.
In response to the controversy, Nintendo released a censored version of Mortal Kombat for its Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) console. This version of the game removed many of the gruesome fatalities that had made the original so controversial. In contrast, the version released for SEGA Genesis, another popular video game console at the time, retained much of the violence and gore.
The differing versions of Mortal Kombat highlighted the lack of a unified ratings system for games. This meant that parents had no way of knowing what kind of content their children were exposed to in a particular game. The controversy surrounding Mortal Kombat and other violent games led many parents to demand change.
In 1993, a number of extremely controversial games were released, including Lethal Enforcers, Night Trap, and Mortal Kombat. These games pushed the boundaries of what was considered acceptable in video games, and they sparked widespread outrage.
The controversy surrounding these games marked an important turning point in the history of video games in the United States. It led to increased scrutiny of the industry by lawmakers, and it prompted many game developers and publishers to rethink their approach to violence in games.
In conclusion, the pre-Doom era was a tumultuous time for the video game industry. Controversy surrounding violent games like Mortal Kombat led to a re-evaluation of policies on violence, and it paved the way for a more mature and responsible approach to game development.
