When video games first came out, it started as a simple game such as Pong, where players can bounce one ball back and forth. It seemed simple and not much a problem earlier. However, as time goes on, technology has become more advanced. Video games are now changing from low quality pixels to now high digital designs with sceneries and character design. Video game characters are now becoming alive with voice actors and personalities. Video games are becoming much more believable and affecting player's mind. According to Theesa, 59% of Americans play video games (1). So what is the problem? One of many is the ways characters are portrayed. Video game characters, whether made from the 1980s or now, have had influences on players on the ideology of each character they see or play. It’s almost similar to movies only except players are doing the action than watching the action. The portrayal of race and gender in most video games has highly stereotypical characteristics. James Paul Gee, a researcher in psycholinguistics, quoted, "Our experience in the world build patterns in our mind, and then the minds shapes our experience of the world (including the actions we do), which in turn, reshapes our mind (3)."  Stereotypes and prejudice is the harmful side that affects people's perspective on a group of people. With 59% of Americans playing video games, they need to be aware of this issue. One of the problems is that players are so distracted in playing the game; they tend to not evaluate much of the stereotypes on these characters. It can lead to them becoming more accepting of these stereotypes. People can gain knowledge from video games and influence their mind (3). Diverse perspective needs to be encouraged.

1. Influences
2. Ideology