Violence in computer games

[Mick]

This has been an ongoing debate ever since you could make one block figure hit another. Now with the huge advances in graphics since then, you can walk up to a person in a game, shoot them and watch the blood and body parts go everywhere. Also the people that you shoot look quite real because the graphics are so good, you can even clearly see facial features.

It makes me wonder with such good graphics if this is changing the type of violence in the game. In the past it was just a case of shooting a figure which then dropped to the ground or disappeared. Now the act of killing the enemies has such graphic detail it is more realistic and has more of a personal feel to it. It is possible to put the face of someone you know onto and enemy so what happens when this becomes easily available in games of the near future? Will people be putting the face of someone they hate in the game and then going round killing them? Is this getting closer to doing the real thing?

Don't get me wrong, I don't believe these types of games are responsible for murders. There has been talk of people killing others to imitate a game, but I think there has to be other serious problems with that person for a game to influence them in that way.
Personally I like FPS games for the challenge and don't really see it as killing, the thought of running around killing people in real life is horrible and is something I would never do as most people would agree.

I have also noticed young children doing karate moves and fighting to imitate a certain game(This was openly admitted by the kids in most cases). I don't think the young kids understand that the violence is wrong because their parents encourage them by buying the game and letting the kids play it. Even though most of these cases aren't serious, the kids are encouraged by the game to fight so there are some minor injuries.

Anyway what do you think?

[Arkacia]

I think in the case of kids copying moves, its monkey see, monkey do, and its not the fault of the games, rather the stores that sell violent games to children, or the idiot parents that go and buy their kids any old rubbish, without checking, and in some cases, even caring what the game contains. I don't know about the rest of the world, but games are rated in Australia to try to avoid some of this, but the ratings mean nothing if parents don't take them seriously.

Its not just games kids copy either. I remember when the Power Ranges TV show just started. Parents and schools were calling for it to be banned, because kids were copying the fighting moves, and injuring each other, in some cases badly. Pokemon came in for critisisim for similar reasons.

[pollovivo]

Unless a person is unstable enough to believe that things that happen in a games happen in real life (killing the same person over and over again... hard to do in real life), violent games are fine. They should be kept out of toddlers hands though...

[phantomullet]

An interesting thing I have noticed with violent games is that you start to get immune to the violence. What I mean is there are games that I can remember really grossed me out and even kinda disturbed me as a young child (like mortal kombat. those fatality moves are nasty:D) and now I don't really even notice the violence. This doesn't just go for little kids though. I notice that my mom will sometimes flinch when she sees me play games where people just punch and kick eachother.

[Arkacia]

Thats an interesting observation phantomullet, and probably true, but I also wonder if the fact that games seem to appear less violent to older people, is also because we are able to destinguish between fantasy and reality a lot better, as we pass from childhood to adulthood.

I'm not saying your observation is wrong however, I'm sure it plays a part, but wonder if the fact that to children, fantasy is reality, may play its part as well.

[DGizzle]

i actually believe it is important for younger kids to see different sorts of violence, (perhaps in small doses) to educate them and help them to see that the world isn't as nice and harmless as it seems, if you do not expose kids to violence and the threats in the world, for example telling them not to take candy from old men etc then it could put the kids in danger if they are not warned.

[pollovivo]

Regardless of whether they are right or wrong, violent video games sell. Because of that, they will continue to be produced. Don't anticipate an end to them any time soon.

[HinesDaMan]

I have no problem with violence in games (Halo..oh my god...cannot put the controller down), and similarly have no problem playing it with my younger brother (6th grade.) What I DO have a problem with is all of the child-murderers blaming their killings on videogames, or the media claiming that graphic violence in a videogame is a degradation to society. Honest to God, if you kill someone to imitate a videogame there's a problem. Not with the videogame or the maker or the clerk who sold it, but with the kid themself...it's called Sociopathy.

[Arkacia]

Kids mature at different rates HinesDaMan. Just because one 8 year old can play these games, and keep perspective of fantasy and reality, does'nt mean all 8 year olds can.

Some of these games are very realistic, and really draw the player in. I'm 41, and was playing Diablo 2 at 2am one morning. I'd been playing it for about 6 hours straight (just got the game, and was really getting into it), anyway, I had the house dark, and quiet except for the game sounds. Was doing a section in a cave type place, and the atmosphere and sounds started getting to me. I started to feel frightened. That was only a minor example, and yes, I knew it was only a game, but thats just one of the things that can happen to people when they get really drawn into these things.

Games being blamed for murders and things, well, I'm honestly not too sure about that. I don't believe it in an adult, unless they are mentally retarded, and have problems telling the difference between right and wrong because of that. In the case of children under 14 though, it could be a factor in some cases.

[HinesDaMan]

I disagree completely. That is the fault of the parents. Children under 14 aren't idiots, they're just impressionable. If parents taught the kids that what they see in the Videogame is NOT what you should do in real life then those numbers would go down drastically. Videogames being blamed for murder is ridiculous...no matter how realistic the game, there is a huge difference between mashing some buttons on a controller and going out, getting a real gun, and shooting someone. Give me a break.

[Every1sHero]

Yes Hines, I agree with you that it is the fault of the parents if a child committs murder, but you seem to downplay how in fact impressionable, as you say, these young children are. Do you not remember what is was like to be a pre-teen in grammar school? You learned what was cool and what to do from things like videogames and TV. The violence plays a bigger role than you think.

[HinesDaMan]

No, still not at all. Even when I was ten, I knew what to emulate and what not to because I knew who was a good role model and what wasn't. You know how I knew? My parents. It all goes back to parenting.

[Every1sHero]

Parents can't read your mind; they can't tell who a kid apes more. The point is, the kids need to understand right from wrong; that is the only way they will be able to understand the videogame is not what life is like.

[HinesDaMan]

Thanks for proving my point, Hero. Kids DO need to understand right from wrong. The parents typically teach that.

[Scossaden133]

Violence in a vidoe game is no different than violence on tv or in a song. Children know it's not real and it's not right. So when a kid goes columbine he knows damn well what he did and for parents and the government and society to blame video games is BS they know! every kid knows to shoot up a shool or to play with daddys pistol and accidentally shoot their friend is wrong. games tv songs is just an excuse for the parents to put the blame on cause they sucked at watching there child and making sure he wasn't a psycho.

[pollovivo]

It is true that people don't sit down nearly as much in many families to talk about problems, but I don't blame parents anymore than I blame video games... it is a very hard thing to delve into the mind of another... I say blame the government :mad: ! I just don't like politicans... thats all :o ...

[pablo]

i think that violence in games is very entertaining and they shouild keep it in them no matter what any one says

[blurr3d]

Violence is fine as long as it's controlled by age limits the way movies are. No use taking away things adults should be allowed to have.

[Emptydeath]

i think that if you put someons face on a figure and kill them it is eather for fun or a form of anger mangment so you dont kill that person so i think the games of killing and murder acctually lesson the number of murders in society

i also belive that kids know right from wrong and that wat is seen in a videogame or a movie has no effect on there actions and if a game is to violent for a child then they wil get scared and become scared of murder ive been playing violent games since i was a toddler in fact the first game i ever played was mortal kombat 2 i thought of it as a reward when i did a fatality and i dont think it is okay to murder so i dont think that it really has an effect on small children that much

also screw age limits please excuse my language

[JoeN]

Violence in a vidoe game is no different than violence on tv or in a song. Children know it's not real and it's not right. So when a kid goes columbine he knows damn well what he did and for parents and the government and society to blame video games is BS they know! every kid knows to shoot up a shool or to play with daddys pistol and accidentally shoot their friend is wrong. games tv songs is just an excuse for the parents to put the blame on cause they sucked at watching there child and making sure he wasn't a psycho.

I agree with most of that. The other day my friend told me that on cnn (or something like that) they were talking about the controversial Grand Theft Auto(GTA) game. Some of you might know that th PC version you can apparently download a patch to allow sexual activities and nudity. CNN was interviewing a family in which the mother discovered her 14 year old son was playing the game with this patch. I don't know about the rest of the world but in america we have a rating system and GTA was rated M for Mature meaning 17+. The parents were blaming Rockstar (the maker of GTA) for this sex and nudity in the game. So now the real question becomes Why was this child (remember he's 14) playing a game that is rated for 17+? Why didn't these parents check out the game? Don't these parents understand that the child downloaded a patch of the game from somewhere else other then Rockstar Inc.? So yes the parents are at fault not just these parents, but all parent everywhere that don't know what they are getting there kids. BUT i think its alright giving kids violent games only if parent explain to them that this isn't real and that none of what is happening in the game should be repeated in real life. I would give it to my kid. I wouldn't let him download that patch but I'd let him play the game. Now i think someone said it already i think that some kids don't know the difference between fantasy and real life and they need to be told. Oh and Hilary Clinton don't even get me started on her. She is the biggest waste of our oxygen.

It is true that people don't sit down nearly as much in many families to talk about problems, but I don't blame parents anymore than I blame video games... it is a very hard thing to delve into the mind of another... I say blame the government ! I just don't like politicans... thats all ...

I'm assuming your last comment was sarcastic. But i think parents are still to blame and society. Society has people thinking we're always in a hurry and everything is scheduled. I work in a busy mall and I see this kinda crap all the time it drives me crazy.

Oh well i haven't been on here in a long time i miss this place :D

[yarnellcg17]

We have alot of incidences today that sometimes make society as a whole look very stupid and if there is a lack thereof with common sense..it's gonna make that society as a whole look very stupid..that much more visible..

Playing the blame game toward others is and has always been the easy get out of what my child has done to shock who we know or whom they may have offended..

Whether it's a game..chat..dating..or driving a car for the very 1st time..

Common sense has to be applied on both sides.. Can't blame GM, Ford or Chrysler for your child running a stop sign..if that makes any sense as to where this comment was headed to.. when it comes to being responsible in your own right..

[JsWoman]

There are times when it's the car makers fault for certain things happening, but, usually, it's the driver's fault in car accidents.

But, at the same time, car racing games don't promote safe driving, and they don't show what can happen if you mess up, for real, in a car. If they did, they wouldn't sell near as many games. Or, maybe they would sell more, depending on how graphic the damage was.

But, for most games, these days, the more graphic or violent a game is the more they seem to sell. Guess it's just the continuing trend of the past decade or so.

[yarnellcg17]

There are times when it's the car makers fault for certain things happening, but, usually, it's the driver's fault in car accidents.

But, at the same time, car racing games don't promote safe driving, and they don't show what can happen if you mess up, for real, in a car. If they did, they wouldn't sell near as many games. Or, maybe they would sell more, depending on how graphic the damage was.

But, for most games, these days, the more graphic or violent a game is the more they seem to sell. Guess it's just the continuing trend of the past decade or so.
No..nothing promotes safe anything hardly anymore..been that way for about 2 decades..but we need to take better responsibility and own up to things..rather then take it out on makers of products..

[JsWoman]

That's true. But, if people think they can get away with doing things by finding a scapegoat, then they most often will. It's another trend in the country and world.

[ender1626]

Well i've read all the posts concerning this issues and i have decided that there are a few things that we can all agree on. 1) Sex and violence sell in our society today, so we wont be seeing that dissapear any time soon. 2) Parents can be held responsible up to a certain point for the actions of the childeren, kids normally seem to mimic what there parents do, but if the parents ar not there then they have to learn from somewhere. Normally that somewhere will be the television, which doesnt teach any sense of right and wrong. 3) Our societies hearts have been hardened to the violence we see on tv and in video games, so there chilideren are forced to follow the same path. Like someone else said i have been playing games since i was verry little and even then the games were violent and i have yet to hurt anyone. So for people to blame vg's for murder i just crazy.

[JsWoman]

You do have a good point there, Ender. I think most everyone of the age of 20's grew up playing vg's and obviously a majority of us have not commited a violent crime.

[yarnellcg17]

I agree with ender and you Js..

Alot of what is out today were at the time when I was 20 was a thought being on the drawing board..most of the games that were out such as Atari and that were not violent at all..
But as those games faded away over time and the early 90's came in so did the violent games that were on the drawing boards back in the 1980's..

[ender1626]

The other thing about blameing VGS for murder is most of the time the use weapons. Excluding the new titles like GTA and Manhunt you usually use a sword or something to that extent. Now i dont know about all states or countries, but in Indiana you have to be at least 18 to buy a sword. Also you need to be so strong to swing a sword. I dont know too many ltiile kids that can pick up a sword and swing it too well. Recently they have been getting worse, but thats what the Age limits are for and thats when the parents come into play controlling what games they play and so on.

[bob_n_boo]

The world has lots of violence in it because of video games. All young kids believe that its all real. Keep violence away from kids and in a few years the world will be better.

[yarnellcg17]

Yes the world does have alot of violent video games..due in part of a strong commercial market for that and what will appeal and sell to kids as well as adults..
Depending upon age range.. not all kids believe them to be real.. but there is alot of less supervision out there today for kids..and keeping them away from violent games is as hard as trying to win the war on drugs..so basically there is one if not both factions that are not really going to happen anytime soon.

[ender1626]

Well i've read all the posts concerning this issues and i have decided that there are a few things that we can all agree on. 1) Sex and violence sell in our society today, so we wont be seeing that dissapear any time soon. 2) Parents can be held responsible up to a certain point for the actions of the childeren, kids normally seem to mimic what there parents do, but if the parents ar not there then they have to learn from somewhere. Normally that somewhere will be the television, which doesnt teach any sense of right and wrong. 3) Our societies hearts have been hardened to the violence we see on tv and in video games, so there chilideren are forced to follow the same path. Like someone else said i have been playing games since i was verry little and even then the games were violent and i have yet to hurt anyone. So for people to blame vg's for murder i just crazy.

Perhaps you missed this message by me. These things are pretty much proven fact. They will never go away. The only way they will is if the world decides to do what they just did in a movie i watched today. They compleatly wiped out the humans ability to have emotion. Since we all know that isnt gonna happen the world will always have violent vg's. I do agree with you that there is a lot of violence, but once again thats where the parents need to step in and monitor what they play. Also the worlds violence cant be blamed on vg's when theres violence on tv shows everyday. I would blame tv more than vg's any day.

[brownpossom]

i think parents do have a part in what their kids play. and i think age limits for games is a good idea but if you are going to have a limit then the limit should be enforced. i remember when i was younger i used to go buy video games that were rated M and no one ever asked for any time of I.D. So if you want to stop kids from playing them enforced the rating system. Also I have played alot of violent games and i have never once that it was real nor have i felt like stealing a car or killing anyone. but i have got really into some games and i have gotten scared or jumped if something happened. So i do agree that some kids(not all) are very impressionable and they shouldn't play some games. but again all of those games have a M rating. So store clerks need to check IDs and parents should find out what there kids are doing. whether its a vg, a tv show or a movie.

[Miss-Vixen]

Sex and violence sells.

The news has more violence than any game or movie.

However, is it really necessary to out-do by adding even more violence and/or sex to a new-release product? It's absurd.

[haggis231]

It's just a case of monkey see, monkey do! Some people take things way to literally and therfore these things are gonna happen!

[kingy]

Theres not enough violence!
yep if someones mind is so messed up they shouldnt be in a normal house and be in a mental home so they cant play these games

[mobikenobi]

any kid who reenacts a video game is to young anyone who lets someone young

play a violent video game inapropriate for their age should be shot unless of

course the kid can handle it. Otherwise violent video games shouldnt be allowed

unless the kid is mature enough and can play one without going crazy.

[dawnbolling]

Thats why as parents we are responsiblie for monitoring what are children are watching and playing. Also making sure they know its make believe. I think it is a matter of how they are raised in alot of situations. Granted it can not always be to bame there is always 1 or 2 bad seeds so to speak...Just keep an eye on your children and make sure they understand.

[Blood_Lover]

Thats why as parents we are responsiblie for monitoring what are children are watching and playing. Also making sure they know its make believe. I think it is a matter of how they are raised in alot of situations. Granted it can not always be to bame there is always 1 or 2 bad seeds so to speak...Just keep an eye on your children and make sure they understand.

I agree. I think if parents explained to their children that the games are not real, and that there are consequences of doing these things in real life, we would have a lot less violence. I know that video games, if played for hours or days in a row, can delude the mind into thinking things you wouldn't normally think. That is why parents need to watch out to make sure their child isn't playing games 24/7. They cannot allow video games to rule their childrens lives. Kids should play outside as well. They should hang out with their friends and do something healthier, like swimming, or bicycling, or even playing tag.

[tinmanwcf]

Yes video games do have some affect, kids today are very impressionable , now how far they take anything depends on the kid, ut video games do give them idea's im sure to some extent. But also here in the USA i think its another reason we have some many fat kids, the set on there buts an play video games an snack etc. When i was a kid, I NEVER wanted to be in the house ,always playing Basketball , baseball, riding a bike or something, Not that i dislike vifeo games , but when kids do nothing but, thats sad.