RALEIGH, N.C. -- Despite public perception, most video games are nonviolent, according to one writer who has covered the game industry for years.

Only about 16 percent of video games produced last year were rated "Mature" because of excessive violence or sex, John Gaudiosi said. More than half of the game titles were rated "Everyone," while another 30 percent were rated "Teen" because they contain some elements not suitable for young children, he said.

"The majority of games are not violent, but what happened last year was that the two top-selling games were violent," Gaudiosi said, referring to "Grand Theft Auto" and "Halo 2."

A growing number of video games are garnering the "Mature" label, he said, because more adults are playing the games. With an entire generation raised on video games from Pong to Donkey Kong, the average age of game players is now 30, he said.