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What do you guys think of the idea that has surfaced recently, that playing violent video games, turns out violent children?

I think it's a bunch of crap.
I mean, do you guys remember when the Columbine shootings occured, that they blamed that on the kids playing Doom.
We're not talking Doom3, with the good graphics and what not either, we're talking about Doom 1.0.
Anyone here play Doom 1.0?
I have, and if that makes you snap, you're in pretty horrible shape.
Someone is sueing Rockstar, because of a commission of violence, that they say, was brought on by the younster playing Grand theft Auto (GREAT SERIES BY THE WAY!)
I think that's crap, but what do you guys think on this?

- PFC Anthony E. Rotramel, USMC
(Rotramel USMC)

I'm with you on this 110%!! I did a report on Violence in games and I've heard of storys where they blame GTA! Some want an excuse for doing what they did, and some are crazy! But anyway they should know the difference between real and makebelive.

Well, it's true that violence in video games spawns more violence in the real world. But, that usually occurs in people who are, in the legal meaning of the word, insane. They don't understand the consequences of their actions, and the difference between right and wrong.

Graphics make very little difference in affecting if they will commit acts of violence or not. It's the act of what they're doing in the game that makes them think in such a way.

white wolf, some people do know the difference between "real and makebelieve," but they teeter on the edge. Alot of a game like GTA is sometimes enough to push them over.

I dont think games cause any violence, its just not practical. But what I do think is that people do not like all of these violent games, lets GTA for example. Its a rather volger game and I can see how it would upset people, but some people dont like these games so much they want them banned from stores. but alas you cant just walk in and say that you need a reason. so people said that it causes violence in the real world. so thats my idea, it may be wrong but it seems practical

I would answer : yes and no to that question.

I used to play GTA a bit, but I found it boring after a few hours. (I don't like having no real objective)

And I know I will never play it again, because I really find it dangerous now. Games are more and more closer to reality, and the fact that in GTA you can run over people (for example) without any consequence is really an issue that I didn't thought when I played it. I used to do that for fun, and it wasn't a good idea. Because now that I am beginning to drive a car, I have this "reflex" from GTA...And it gives me chills. Of course, I won't run over someone in normal condition, but if I took alcohol for example, the edge between reality and game could be broken, and accidents often occur like that...

I have the same problem with Carmageddon (it's even worse in this one, because the aim of the game is to kill people with your car), and Destruction derby (crash into the other cars to make them spins).
So, no more car games like this for me...

Yes, I think that violent games like GTA that tend to be so much real should be prohibited, especially when you see that so many people playing it are little boys under 10...I think the biggest error would be to defend this game only because it's a good game. BTW, you did not give any real argument to defend it, when it's obvious that there are many arguments against it.
BUT, I have no problem with violent games as long as they don't try to be real. So, a Resident evil or Doom shouldn't be a problem for anyone.



I don't agree with that : to me, the more closer to reality the games will be, the more the edge between virtual and reality will be thin. You never heard of such things when games were still 2D...

Rotramel USMC you brought up one of the most debated discussions in history almost every half year this subject is again and again discussed on profesional gaming magazines.
Here is my conclusion:
Pthe parents are partially to blame because they dont control their child, they lived in the pre-IT era when rock, hippie or communism was the usualy thing for a teen to talk and didnt know that breaking in a pc is the same as breaking into a house.
So we must educate our parents lol.
Next the maniacs who kill people like in America or Germany have a skrew missing, they blame it on games to get rid of the fact that there sons where not in total mental capacity (its easier to say a PC game did this than to ask where did he get the gun)
Lets be real i am a 10 years experienced gamer and i can say at the games i played (Soldier of Fortune: bang here goes a arm! muhahahaha) i shoul have killed half of the population of Romania by now.
So violence isnt controled by ratings (lol i bought Leisure Suit Larry 7 when i was 8 with my father, the plus +18=0) but by the parents which is our job to educate them!

Edit:
I played first Wolfenstein then Doom (WE are all doomed!!! lol) lol almost all PC's with internet suffered those days (then Quake 1 etc...)

Addon:
I Will Be Very Pissed of if Again the Post will be ignored if this happens i promise that i will write only "bravo" , "good work" or "how terrible" topics so you can easly read.
And like a fellow gamer said 4 years ago:
If your going to make fun of this game i will come with my tractor in your house and beat you with the reserve tires. (eh gaming does cause violence)

I think that video games can influence a persons behavior to a certain extent, especially very young children, but for the most part I think people just want something to blame for their actions.

This is a good topic, I see that everyone has a veiw on it.
I too play Soldier of Fortune (both of them) and that game surprised me.
I've been "numbed " to violence by the military.
I've seen pictures, and video's to do that to me, so it doesn't bother me.
I would like to say one thing about these ten year olds who say that GTA affected them adversly...
THAT'S WHY IT'S RATED M!
M means Mature, and is the same thing as an R rating.
Young kids are not meant to play this game.
Just because the stores don't enforce the laws (I bought Soldier of Fortune at Wal-Mart when I was fifteen) doesn't mean that it's the creators fault, and the parents who are sueing because of this that bought the game for their child?
They're reaping what they've sown.
It says eighteen, your son is ten, but you buy it for him anyway?
THEN SUE THE FREAKIN' COMPANY FOR MAKING SUCH A "HORRIBLE" GAME?
.............

Anyone else see the stupidity in this?

- PFC Anthony E. Rotramel, USMC
(Rotramel USMC)

One sure thing, is that if GTA sold that well (more than 6 millions in the US only for the last one! Nearly the top selling game of all time...), a lot of kids under 18 bought it...
Don't be fooled, most kids nowadays play GTA, while grown ups who play video games since 15 years, play Mario...
BTW, I bought "Manhunt" even if I haven't got the console to go with, because it was incredibly cheap for a ps2 game...(less than 3€, unused!!) Unlike GTA, this game didn't sell at all here, that's the reason...I haven't opened it yet, I'm waiting for the day I will get a ps2

HM GTA played the first 2 nothing special to me bang bang people dead END.
The same with the third and the addon Vice City, useless bang bang, i got to quote that not all old gamers play Mario me for example i play MI, Panzer General II or Diablo, it depends on their start date.
I have a friend for example who plays Half Life like crazy and knows everything (yes everything) about that game , and now he is sad that he cant play Half-Life 2 because he doesnt have the money its life (neither do i played Half-Life 2 but because of other reasons like CO, life and a shure abandoning of new games) .

I think it can influence young children, who do not yet know the difference between real life and a video game. once someone reaches a sertain age where they can tell the diffence it will probably not have any effect on them. my favorite game is starwars battlefront and halo, but I am super peaceful in real life.

It really depends, I play GTA: San Andreas and finished it, really, sure I may have cause alot of "accidents", but I don't such crazy things in real life...I may be 13, so I am a little underage...but just don't learn from them.