JEDDAH, 30 May 2008 — Concerns about violent video games are usually based on the view that they nurture children into becoming violent and aggressive. This problem is particularly acute in Saudi Arabia, as illegal counterfeit games — due to an absence of official restrictions — are easily available here.

However, salesmen at video games’ stores in the Kingdom say they do their best in informally censoring games that are inappropriate for young children. “Children are now more aware and mature than they used to be. Nine-year-olds, nowadays, know a lot about games,” said a salesman at a video game store, who asked his name not be published.

He added that a lot of games encourage rebellious behavior and show children how to fight, kidnap and kill. “All games promote violence. However, I believe the physical environment, rather than video games, that a child grows up in makes him or her violent,” he told Arab News.

“Cartoons are also just as violent as video games. It’s become really hard for parents to monitor each and every detail in their child’s life,” he said, adding that the Ministry of Commerce visits video games’ stores on a monthly basis and confiscates games deemed inappropriate or violent.

Concerns about violence in video games are supported by studies carried out in the US, Europe and Asia. Many countries have age restrictions and classifications for games. According to the video games salesman, the Ministry of Commerce is hoping to introduce similar restrictions in the Kingdom.

Bandar Ali, a salesman at a Tokyo Games’ branch in Jeddah, said video games are classified in the same way films and videos are classified. “All video games carry the classification symbol on the cover, along with a consumer advice line. We, as salesmen working for Tokyo Games, follow regulations,” he said.

“European countries use an age-based classification system, for example 18, 15, 12. The American classification system is done in letters. E for everyone, T is for teen and M is for mature,” said Bandar.

“We had a number of games that were banned from the market for their improper or violent content,” Bandar said, adding that some young children ask for rated games. “Some children send their drivers with the name of a game on a piece of paper,” he added.

“We have mystery shoppers periodically monitoring our performance. Also, the Ministry of Information or the Ministry of Commerce checks up on counterfeit copies. We don’t sell copies,” he said, adding that some parents allow their children to buy violent video games.

“Some parents fall for their children’s pleas and tears, and ask the salesman to sell them games, regardless of whether they’re suitable or not,” he said.

However, Dr. Samir Arar, a counseling psychologist at Maharat center and a professor of psychology at King Abdulaziz University, says that video games could be one of the many factors that make children aggressive and violent.

“Violence in video games are among what we call in psychology the risk factors that lead to violent behavior,” Arar said. “Some children might develop aggressive and violent behavior from video games because they love to control. Also, other children, due to social and family surroundings, believe that imposing power over another makes them stronger,” he added.

Arar said that some children love the element of excitement. Therefore, video games, cartoons or comic books, which rely on violence, contribute in generating excitement.

He added that video games leave a negative impact on the level of peoples’ social relations. “Children may think that violence is the way forward. This could, in the future, lead to them harming others,” Arar told Arab News.

According to a recent study by several Saudi organizations, video games represent a virtual world, which a child’s brain applies to reality. Arar believes that while a child develops, part of his mind lives in the real world, while another part lives in the fictitious world.

“Children depend on wishful thinking, that’s why they tend to watch cartoons and read fiction stories,” he said.

“As for video games, it is all imaginary and virtual. Therefore, children tend to imagine a lot and develop aggressive behavior when in the real world,” he added.