As with any other product out there in the market, critics play a major role in this industry. Maybe the role played by critics in this industry may be larger than other industries since a main target market for the video game industry are kids and teenagers. Hence, game developers are often warned and advised by critics on games which contain violence and other controversial themes.

Through years, we have seen that critics make their voice be heard in a loud way in the video game industry. For criticizing the bad and praising the good. Whatever anybody thinks, critics are a part and parcel of any industry and the video game industry is no exception.

The following paragraphs will highlight the way critics have come out guns blazing against and for, some games in the market which supposedly promoted harmful themes or better ones.

"Critics say Christian game glorifies violence..." - www.msnbc.msn.com

This incident happened in 2006 with the video game, "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" where critics alleged that "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" glorifies religious violence against non-Christians. Some liberal groups urged a boycott, and also they urged Wal-Mart to withdraw the game from its shelves.

In reply however, Troy Lyndon, CEO of Left Behind Games Inc., defended the game as "inspirational entertainment" and said its critics were exaggerating.

"Tiger game above par, critics say." - www.videogames.yahoo.com

This was regarding the recent game by EA Sports, "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09". The story has its roots as a result of a bug in an older version of the PGA Tour games where it let the player walk across water hazards to play a shot from the surface. Capitalizing on the mistake, publisher EA has recreated the feat with the real Tiger in their newest installment.

"It's not a glitch -- he's just that good" says the ad, as Tiger strolls casually across the water to take his shot, but what do the critics think of his new game? It hit the links this week, and it's already a hit with the critics -- Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 is currently averaging a decidedly healthy 88% score on review aggregation site metacritic.com. Further, 1up.com's Joe Rybicki was also particularly impressed, calling it "one of the best Tiger games yet," and awarding it a top-flight "A" grade. PGA Tour 09's club tuning system, its seamless community integration, and its new skills system all has come in for particular praise.

"Popular video games play on racial stereotypes, critics say." - www.signonsandiego.com This critique has come on several "gangsta" games in the market especially the "Grand Theft Auto" series.

The sense of place, peril and pigmentation evident in previews of the game, "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas", underscores what some critics consider a disturbing trend: popular video games that play on racial stereotypes, including images of black youths committing and reveling in violent street crime.

"They are nothing more than pixelated minstrel shows," said Joe Morgan, a telecommunications executive in Manhattan who is black and is helping to raise his girlfriend's 7-year-old son, who plays video games.

Morgan argues that games such as the Grand Theft Auto sequel, which was described glowingly and at length in a game magazine the boy recently brought home, are dangerously reinforcing stereotypes.

Sources and References: www.msnbc.msn.com, www.videogames.yahoo.com, www.signonsandiego.com