Violence in videogames, is it a good thing?

Well, its one of those topics that people outside the industry like to have a look at. Who remembers the USA shootings, the schools and the sniper guy. What were CNN, MSNBC and ABC chucking about all over the place:

Some American newscaster

There are some people saying that this recent outbreak in shootings can be drawn back to videogaming. In these games people are able to shoot people are be the person shooting and it is apparent they they take this experience into the real world

Utter tosh I am sure you'll agree. But what is your view on videogaming and violence?

regards
tempo88

same as you mate.

If those people cant tell the differnce between reality and computer games,, as well as right and wrong then they will do it anyway.

It couldnt be the games- these people have something wrong. No-one would start a violent killing spree just because of a game- there has to be something phsychologically wrong with them. Its time people faced up to this truth instead of looking for someone to blame.

There are far too many narrow-minded people around. It's quite annoying really...and tiresome, because the situation just never seems to improve at all.

I think the term is scape-goating

The greatest knee-jerk reaction to the video game/violence relationship had to be when Wal-Mart decided to ban a few sniper-based games around the time of the Washington Sniper. However, they happily continued to sell the corporeal rifles a few aisles over.

I think theres a lot of people out there who can't accept that evil people exist and so look for something else to blame. I bet theres someone who'd tell you that Bin Laden is playing Doom right now.

i totally agree, games wouldnt make you go shoot somebody, just the goverment blaming films and games alike when the truth is the World has too many mental people.

James2k3 wrote:
when the truth is the World has too many mental people.

Thats an interesting way to look at it

Reminds me of an idea I had once. There would be tests to take in order to start a family. A person wouldn't be fertile unless she/he passes the test. That way morons etc would die out in a generation or two. It wouldn't be murder. Um, I think maybe I should lie down.

But on a serious note, I agree. Videogames don't encourage violence.

Without violence in games to relieve stress we would take it out on something else. There are just too many sad peopel out there.

That's a good point - I tend to focus my annoyance or anger into games most of the time. They are great stress relievers!

The greatest knee-jerk reaction to the video game/violence relationship had to be when Wal-Mart decided to ban a few sniper-based games around the time of the Washington Sniper. However, they happily continued to sell the corporeal rifles a few aisles over.

what you must realise is that this may well have been out of sensitivity for victims' families. if you had lost a loved one to that bastard and you were trying to just get on with your life, seeing a game with a slogan like: death is his way of life... now it becomes yours. (hitman had sniper sections and you can't take that away from me) would be very upsetting.

[ Edited by nawtylitlbeever on 2003/5/27 17:55 ]

Good point Raz, I use them more as a stree reliever. They are just a nice way to wind down, I rarely feel the need to dress like a plumber and jump on peoples heads after playing mario...god bless the mass media

tempo88 wrote:
Good point Raz, I use them more as a stree reliever. They are just a nice way to wind down, I rarely feel the need to dress like a plumber and jump on peoples heads after playing mario...god bless the mass media

i think ull find it was me who made the point bout stress. Did anyonme see he Mario Hitman on an old issueof NGC. The mature look would work for him?

I did a speech on something similar to this for a Englisg GCSE. It was about 'Music being blamed for violence'. Got an A for it too.

Anyway, computer games don't MAKE someone pick up a gun and pull a trigger. They don't MAKE someone steal a car and go on a killing spree. No computer game can ever MAKE you do something, you have complete control. So it can only be something else to blame, and I personally think its either bad parenting or they are just a lil bit mental.

Blaming games for causes of vioilence is what old people say to get attention. There may be the 1 in in a billion people who picks up a gun and goes on a massacre but if he does that anyway, regardless of games, he is INSANE! Games are for fun, if you take them to far....your...insane.

the problem right here on this forum is that we are all gamers though. And a gamer can never give an unbias view. Even if we are right (which we are ) It will always be tainted.

i think it is blatant scape-goating for the flaws in our civilisation. Also, this is a dispute that has raged for a long time (along with the TV and film one) and nothing has really come of them.