Game content often depicts bodily dismemberment, blood, body trauma, dead bodies returning to life, and other gore. The images can be cartoon-like animation or photographic detail. Taking the message to the public To increase awareness of the ESRB ratings and what each rating means, Ryan teamed up with IAFP, retailers, the PTA and the Illinois State Medical Society in hosting a series of Town Hall meetings across the state in November . Events in Quincy, Rockford, Carbondale, Springfield, Waukegan and Peoria informed parents about the ratings system and gave them first hand, shocking look at what these games really entail. The events started with a short video presentation of actual video games where men, women, and zombies are literally blown to bits.
Body parts fly, blood spills, and sound effects include gunshots, and cries of pain and agony.
If you ve never seen these games before, you would have been amazed at the extreme violence as realism of these products. IAFP members at the meetings detailed the medical and behavioral links between youth exposure to violent content and translating that fantasy exposure into reality. Medical organizations from the American Medical Association to the American Academy of Pediatrics to the American Psychological Association and others have publicly supported the research indicating violent media as a direct contributor to violent actions among children and teens. IAFP s involvement at the town hall meetings brought to light the need for partnership between the medical community, law enforcement, educators and parents to protect our children from such disturbing images. Christine A. Petty, M.D. of Rockford, IAFP immediate past president joined Ryan at the opening town hall meeting in Rockford on November 13.