violence in games and other media

I've been having a think about violence in video games due, in no small part, to my current playing of RE4. It got me thinking about the nature of violence in games and whether it is inherently different from that in other media. Here's the way my brain's been working on the issue. I'd appreciate any comments.

In films or books violence usually provokes fairly extreme emotional reactions. We are often disgusted or scared by graphic violence in these media. Perhaps the strongest emotional reaction we have to violence is a writer or film maker makes us complicit in a violent act, usually through identifying with an aggressor.

In games, on the other hand, we usually have little true emotional reaction to violence. When the character you play in a game is killed by being impaled on a spike you don't feel upset by the violence or death, you feel frustrated at your failure to beat the game. One of the only exceptions I can think of to this is when you get your head chopped off by some chainsaw wielding maniac in RE4. It provokes a real sense of disgust and a real desire not to let it happen again - not because of failure, but because of the feelings it provokes.

The other main aspect of violence in video games is that dealt out by the player themselves. Here there is a crucial difference between games and other media. In games, player controlled violence does not make us feel bad. It gives us a sense of satisfaction, since it means we are doing well in the game. This is especially true when you get to toy with an opponent by, for example repeatedly shooting them just as are about to lift themselves off the ground. This cockiness means you're beating the game with ease. To my mind there is no game where you feel remorse for infliciting pain or death. If this isn't possible, then that severely limits video games as a viable artform.

I have two questions. Can a video game make you feel remorse for violent behaviour? Is it bad that games make a player an agent of aggression without any emotional consequences?

Interesting concept for a thread

Can a video game make you feel remorse for violent behaviour?

I wouldn't say so really, maybe the odd flash of that emotion but nothing like the true feeling.

I quite like shooting, it's pest control on the farm with shotguns. I remember my first true feeling of remorse by killing an animal, it's not really a nice feeling to tell the truth. I had to not think of the animals life and remind myself of the need for pest control, there's many reasons for it which I wont bore you with.

Anyways gaming has never struck a true feeling of remorse for me, though it can touch the surface of the emotion.

Is it bad that games make a player an agent of aggression without any emotional consequences?

The only bad thing I can think of really is the excuse for criminals and argument for lawyers in court.

Any sane, stable and good person would never be driven to crime etc due to such games.

Sadly when a nutter/sicko commits a crime he can pin gaming as a reason - just like the little punks in America who blame GTA for them stealing cars.

With or without the game they would do it, sadly gaming is an easy "excuse".

With or without the game they would do it, sadly gaming is an easy "excuse"

I only read the topic title.

The law try to use the fact that Video Games are now such a big way of life, that they must be the cause of crimes.
This is what encourages silly sites, aka MAVG (or similar).

Any sane, stable and good person would never be driven to crime etc due to such games.

[ Edited by monkeyman on 2005/7/12 18:11 ]