FICTIONAL VIOLENCE IS NOT THE CAUSE OF VIOLENCE IN AMERICA

In the wake of the tragic, Valentine's Day mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. politicians are trying to pin scapegoat video games. This is the 18th school shooting in the U.S. so far this year and it's only February. Media pundits, politicians, and some psychologists often link violence in video games to increased violent tendencies, bullying, school shootings and violence toward women. Critics like to suggest that video games like Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty are leading to the increase in violence in the United States and increased aggression in children.

Video games have become more and more immersive with role-playing and first-person shooters. You feel as if you are there in that environment, interacting with objects, non-player characters, and, in some instances, other players. Similarly, movies have become incredibly immersive with 3D, IMAX, and 4D experiences. With the increasing technical advancement, virtual reality will break the already crumbling barrier between movies and video games.