How Mortal Kombat (and moral panic) changed the gaming world

The release of the hyperviolent fighting game Mortal Kombat in 1992, and its subsequent home console launch in 1993, sparked a significant moral panic and led to the creation of a formal video game ratings system in the United States. Senator Joe Lieberman convened a congressional hearing, highlighting the game's explicit gore and finishing moves, aiming to prevent minors from accessing violent content. This led to the establishment of the Entertainment Software Rating Board. The controversy gained urgency after the simultaneous global release of Mortal Kombat on Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo, dubbed "Mortal Monday." News networks and newspapers amplified the alarm, featuring interviews with teens and child psychologists, and even public demonstrations of the game's violence. The BBC also covered the controversy, inviting author Will Self to play the game live. Originally intended as a martial arts game inspired by actors like Jean-Claude Van Damme, the concept shifted to compete with Street Fighter II, drawing inspiration from violent martial arts films. Developers were encouraged by management and mentors to push the boundaries of violence, with fatalities becoming a key feature. The game's developers believed that blood and gore would generate notoriety, and the company's CEO actively supported these extreme elements. The moral panic surrounding Mortal Kombat mirrored earlier controversies over new entertainment technologies and their potential to corrupt children. Despite or perhaps because of the controversy, Mortal Kombat became a massive commercial success, becoming the best-selling game of the Christmas season and selling millions of copies. The game demonstrated adaptability across different platforms, from arcade to handheld and later to 32-bit consoles, with spin-offs expanding into different genres. The controversy a... download the app to read more