Gaming used to be a primarily singular activity. Even as recently as the last generation of consoles, the vast majority of games were meant to be played either alone or with friends sitting in the same room as one another. Now, however, that has all changed.
Every console now has the ability to play online. Indeed, the X-Box 360 has single- handedly revolutionized console gaming with its X-Box Live subscription gameplay. Computers are faster and cheaper than ever, allowing PC gaming to grow and expand its prospective audience. All of these factors have contributed to a rapidly growing online gaming community.
Companies have struggled to cope with this rapid growth. Some restrict communication between players severely, as in the case of the Wii. Communication is limited, and long, complex friend codes are needed to play with your friends. The system is overly complicated and lacking in good old fun. While there is certainly less griefing (when players are intentionally rude to others), the community is much smaller than, say, X-Box Live.
X-box Live is the polar opposite of the Wii experience. Friends can be added with ease, and online play between strangers is almost encouraged. Communication abounds, as does cursing, butchering of the English language, and homophobic chest pounding. While not necessarily a warm, glowing environment, it was never meant to be. Most online games are rated M (Mature, ages 17+) or T (Teen, ages 13+). But somehow, inexplicably, underage children find their way into these cursing, lewd, and sexual lands of violence.
Blame could be placed on the parents. It is, after all, a parent who has to supply the “World of Warcraft” subscription, or who has to buy the game in the first place. But, kids have a great way of getting what they want and acting mature and responsible around their parents, only to turn into something completely different when exposed to the world of anonymity.
Anonymity throws a wrench into any online experience. Browse YouTube.com comments sometime and you’ll see what I mean. Being able to hide behind a false persona somehow makes the vast majority of people prone to say and do things they would normally not do. All of this comes out in online gaming.
There is not much that can be done about this trend. Companies ban underage kids from buying mature games, but they get them anyway. Perhaps the only thing to do is realize that your teammate in “Counter Strike: Source” might really be an 11-year-old kid who’s killing time, and to adjust accordingly.