The spotlight is on the video game industry once again; as yet another instance of real life violence is blamed on a violent video game, specifically the controversial 1992 game, Mortal Kombat. Wait a minute, it's 2007! With all due respect and (yes, I'm aware) in spite of the numerous violent sequels spawned by this initial entry to the eternal damnation-wielding franchise (including the 2006 release, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon) I can't help but wonder: why are people still obsessed with playing the MK blame game? Even if it is a nice change of pace from the GTA blame game. I've had some time to think about this senseless act of violence since the story broke over a week ago, and I've discovered something interesting.

First and foremost, I feel compelled to point out that I am not making light of this situation. The real tragedy here is not the besmirching of Midway's landmark franchise, but the senseless death of an innocent little girl. However, in the struggle to comprehend how such an act could occur, society needs a scapegoat. Maybe it’s a coping mechanism, I don't know. However, I'll get back on target before I bore precious CGC reader(s) with my ignorant psychological observations. After all, there's no definitive rulebook for dealing with tragedies such as this. I will, however, make the argument that placing the blame on a video game does nothing to aid the healing process. Let's examine.

Heather Trujillo, older sister of Zoe, the 7-year-old victim, claimed that the incident resulted from her alleged accomplice and boyfriend, Lamar Roberts, "acting out the video game Mortal Combat [sic]". Pardon me if I unflinchingly call their bluff, but Mortal Kombat is not a catalyst, it's an excuse.

A game cannot force or coerce an individual or individuals to perform an action. I've been an avid gamer my entire life and I have yet to play a game capable of exerting its omniscient will upon me such that it circumvents my own free will (although I am wary of Electronic Art's upcoming epic, Circumvention of Will: We Make You Do Evil Things You Don't Want To Do***). Mortal Kombat is an easy scapegoat simply because it has been in the past. Trujillo could just have easily claimed they were acting out scenes from the novel (yes it was a book first) Fight Club. The only reason the alleged assailants didn't? I'm guessing reading isn't high on their list of extra-curricular activities. Smarmy comments aside, I sincerely doubt that the headlines would have read "7-Year-Old Murdered in Fight Club-Inspired Beating."

Hell, why didn't they just blame Osama Bin Laden? At least they'd be following an original precedent.

I also feel compelled to point out that, despite Roberts' claim that the reason he didn't stop hitting Zoe when Trujillo asked him to was because he, "was drunk," I didn't see any headlines claiming that an underage alcohol-fueled bender caused this senseless death. Why? Because it's a ludicrous claim. Alcohol removes inhibitions and limits (or completely eliminates) the consideration of consequences. However, like a video game, it is incapable of forcing a person to perform a specific action, good or bad.

Just like in art, literature or film, violence in video games is a reflection of our society. You can't blame video games for polluting the purity of America's youth with violence because violence is already inherent. Maybe I'm just a gamer-lobbyist viewing the world through rose colored glasses, but then again, I don't see anyone blaming military conflict around the world on Call of Duty or Medal of Honor.

Going a step further, and at the risk of unrelated pontification, for all the bad press that the Grand Theft Auto franchise has received in the past for inspiring violent shootings, I can't help but wonder why no one ever blames the game for automobile theft.

I'm certainly not claiming to be one of the greatest philosophical minds of the 21st century (although I could certainly school a few prehistoric neophytes with my expansive knowledge on fire and how to steal it from the next village). This much I know:

People judge what they don't understand; people don't understand what they refuse to learn; people refuse to learn because they're taught to fear.

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*** For the incredibly dense, let me be clear: THIS IS NOT A REAL GAME.