Violent Video Games That Caused Controversy

Gruesome scenes of bloodshed alarmed critics.

Sending the Wrong Message? - On Wednesday, President Obama unveiled a $500 million plan aimed at curbing gun violence, calling on lawmakers to take aggressive steps to ensure guns stay out of the wrong hands. Video games have long taken heat for encouraging violent behavior by glorifying grisly scenes of murder, torture and dismemberment. Keep reading for a look at 10 violent video games that have come under fire. — Britt Middleton  (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Sending the Wrong Message? - On Wednesday, President Obama unveiled a $500 million plan aimed at curbing gun violence, calling on lawmakers to take aggressive steps to ensure guns stay out of the wrong hands. Video games have long taken heat for encouraging violent behavior by glorifying grisly scenes of murder, torture and dismemberment. Keep reading for a look at 10 violent video games that have come under fire. — Britt Middleton (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NRA: Practice Range - The Nation Rifle Association’s recently released shooting game app features targets in the shape of coffins. Days after the Sandy Hook shootings, the gun lobbyist group blamed mass shootings on violent video games and movies rather than lenient gun laws. (Photo: NRA: Practice Range/ MEDL Mobile, Inc.)

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NRA: Practice Range - The Nation Rifle Association’s recently released shooting game app features targets in the shape of coffins. Days after the Sandy Hook shootings, the gun lobbyist group blamed mass shootings on violent video games and movies rather than lenient gun laws. (Photo: NRA: Practice Range/ MEDL Mobile, Inc.)

Doom - Bloodbaths are plentiful in this 1993 game, where the player becomes a space marine armed with various assault rifles to fend off the demons of hell. The game is credited for popularizing the first-person shooter genre and it was also criticized for its use of satanic imagery. (Photo: Courtesy of Doom/ id Software)

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Doom - Bloodbaths are plentiful in this 1993 game, where the player becomes a space marine armed with various assault rifles to fend off the demons of hell. The game is credited for popularizing the first-person shooter genre and it was also criticized for its use of satanic imagery. (Photo: Courtesy of Doom/ id Software)

Grand Theft Auto Series - Sex, drugs and guns are perennial themes in the Grand Theft Auto universe, where players aim to rise in the ranks of the criminal underworld. Realistic gun violence, including the killing of military and police personnel, drew much negative attention to the successful series. (Photo: Rockstar Games)

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Grand Theft Auto Series - Sex, drugs and guns are perennial themes in the Grand Theft Auto universe, where players aim to rise in the ranks of the criminal underworld. Realistic gun violence, including the killing of military and police personnel, drew much negative attention to the successful series. (Photo: Rockstar Games)

Mortal Kombat Series - When the original Mortal Kombat was released in 1992, censors couldn’t wrap their heads around the fighting game’s gratuitous blood and scenes of characters ripping the limbs from their enemies. The latest incarnations of the game are still generating buzz. (Photo: Warner Bros. Interactive)

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Mortal Kombat Series - When the original Mortal Kombat was released in 1992, censors couldn’t wrap their heads around the fighting game’s gratuitous blood and scenes of characters ripping the limbs from their enemies. The latest incarnations of the game are still generating buzz. (Photo: Warner Bros. Interactive)

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Manhunt -  This psychological horror game finds “hunters” stalking their victims and carrying out brutal executions with plastic bags, baseball bats and bladed weapons. The game was so stomach-turning that it was banned in Australia and New Zealand and was also criticized for causing the murder of a 14-year-old teenager in England. (Photo: Rockstar Games)

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Manhunt - This psychological horror game finds “hunters” stalking their victims and carrying out brutal executions with plastic bags, baseball bats and bladed weapons. The game was so stomach-turning that it was banned in Australia and New Zealand and was also criticized for causing the murder of a 14-year-old teenager in England. (Photo: Rockstar Games)

Call of Duty Series - As the president pushes for a ban on military assault weapons, Call of Duty is a gritty, although simulated, reminder of the sheer power behind such weaponry. The first-person shooter game simulates graphic scenes of combat with the emphasis on slaughtering terrorists in later versions. (Photo: Activision)

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Call of Duty Series - As the president pushes for a ban on military assault weapons, Call of Duty is a gritty, although simulated, reminder of the sheer power behind such weaponry. The first-person shooter game simulates graphic scenes of combat with the emphasis on slaughtering terrorists in later versions. (Photo: Activision)

Soldier of Fortune - Players in this game must derail a terrorist from unleashing nuclear weapons onto the world. Taking out the bad guys means shooting to kill — or until their limbs are blown clear off. In Germany, the game was placed on the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons index. (Photo: Activision)

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Soldier of Fortune - Players in this game must derail a terrorist from unleashing nuclear weapons onto the world. Taking out the bad guys means shooting to kill — or until their limbs are blown clear off. In Germany, the game was placed on the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons index. (Photo: Activision)

God of War Series - Loosely based on Greek mythology, the murderous rage carried out by main character Kratos includes bloody decapitations and disembowelments of enemies complete with frighteningly realistic blood splashes. (Photo: Sony)

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God of War Series - Loosely based on Greek mythology, the murderous rage carried out by main character Kratos includes bloody decapitations and disembowelments of enemies complete with frighteningly realistic blood splashes. (Photo: Sony)

Postal - The old saying “going postal” is carried out in this 1997 computer game, where a postal worker with a grudge takes out his fury on innocent bystanders. Players are rewarded for killing a certain percentage of people at each level. (Photo: Ripcord)

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Postal - The old saying “going postal” is carried out in this 1997 computer game, where a postal worker with a grudge takes out his fury on innocent bystanders. Players are rewarded for killing a certain percentage of people at each level. (Photo: Ripcord)

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MadWorld - The fact that the main character, Jack Cayman, has a chainsaw built onto one arm is a clue to the blood-soaked scenes present in 2009’s MadWorld. It was initially released for the family-friendly Wii platform, shocking many fans. The game would also be banned in Germany. (Photo: Sega)

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MadWorld - The fact that the main character, Jack Cayman, has a chainsaw built onto one arm is a clue to the blood-soaked scenes present in 2009’s MadWorld. It was initially released for the family-friendly Wii platform, shocking many fans. The game would also be banned in Germany. (Photo: Sega)

Super Columbine Massacre - This role-playing computer game simulates the 1999 mass shooting at Columbine High School near Littleton, Colorado. Reaction to its release was extremely negative, as it appeared to exploit the tragedy where 12 students and one teacher were shot and killed by two teen gunmen. (Photo: Danny Ledonne/ Super Columbine Massacre RPG)

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Super Columbine Massacre - This role-playing computer game simulates the 1999 mass shooting at Columbine High School near Littleton, Colorado. Reaction to its release was extremely negative, as it appeared to exploit the tragedy where 12 students and one teacher were shot and killed by two teen gunmen. (Photo: Danny Ledonne/ Super Columbine Massacre RPG)