I have been playing video games since 1978 or so, when Space Invaders hit the scene and caused such a runaway global phenomenon that it actually caused a shortage of 100 yen coins in Japan. (No, really. It did. The Japanese parliament required arcade managers to return their coin haul at least weekly to keep a proper number of coins in circulation, since so many of them were sitting in Space Invaders games.)
It wasn’t long after Space Invaders that video games started landing themselves within the crosshairs of media, concerned parents, social pundits and lawmakers all wondering if this new form of entertainment was causing more harm than good. It is something I have seen come and go many times as I grew up myself, and as I have continued to play video games of one sort or another. The medium has come a long way since those early days, with plenty of games using their unique format to explore deep and compelling artistic and intellectual angles. Others simply seek to divert or to shock. And even though I hate to admit it, there are those that cross the line.
