Summary: Computer games have been considered a dangerous pass time because of their consequences either in encouraging players to harm others, or in terms of harm to the moral character of the player. In response, defenders of gaming argue that its fictional nature, and the capacity of gamers to distinguish between fiction and reality, mean that gaming should be considered a harmless pass-time, and that the activities that occur within the fictional world of the game, such as ‘cop killing’, cannot be morally condemned. Online gaming concerning fantasy worlds has been treated as an extension of such games, on account of its fictional nature. This paper explores the nature of fiction and ethics, and argues that the defense of games as ‘fiction’ is not as obvious as it seems.
