Video games are often blamed for violent behavior. We've seen it since the release of the first Mortal Kombat, and we're still seeing it today. Feedback wants to know why. This week Blair Herter, Donell Tucker, Stephen Johnson, and Nikole Zivalich discuss why violent games are still being used as a scapegoat for violent crimes.
The AUDIO MP3 of this episode of FEEDBACK is available here: Right-click and Save.
Where do you stand on the issue of violent video games? Do you think games can be used to train people?
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BobitoZ
Isn't there actually LESS violent crimes now, then there was before the invention of video games.
I'm pretty sure violent crimes peaked in the 70s and has declined ever since.
There will always be nut-balls who will blame their actions on anything but themselves.
Rayman9000
idunno what they are talking about, i play violent video games all the time, but i dont get violent at all, more so cuz i take out all my violence in games like Battlefield 3 and Skyrim, or Fallout, Uncharted, Halo, Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat, GTA, Saints Row, FarCry, Crysis, Payday: The Heist, ect. and i dont ever have the feeling of just going out and killing hookers or blowing up a house or robbing a bank, hell, even studies have been made that proves violent video games are better for kids whom have violent tendencies to help keep them normal in real life, i bet if there were no violent video games, it would all happen in real life, crime rates would skyrocket as people will kill others just cuz they can't shake their urges since hey, there's no safe outlet like a video game to take the rage out on
Heartland
Personal Story:
I was playing Uncharted 2 one night, (for the fifteenth time); it was like eleven o'clock. I eventually stopped after an hour went to my computer -- my room faces the front door of the house to the right of us; this family had been going through problems lately, and our entire neighborhood does have a burglary problem.
I heard a shout out front (which was normal for that family) and then some running; someone banged the door and then BAA-BAA-BAA!
DAMN!
I shut the lights off and called the police. They came over and found the shells at the door, about twenty feet from my window. The bullets had pierced through the door.
The thing was, I was a little shaken from the 9mm, even after an hour of shooting enemies in Uncharted 2.
Video Games are a fantasy world. My mind made absolutely no connection to reality with all of the action and weapons I used in MGS4, RE4 to U2. I grew up immersed in games, but there was absolutely no connection to the ACTUAL REAL LIFE SOUND OF VIOLENCE.
(The family was alright by the way. Apparently, it was their relations; go figure).
Heartland
Personal Story:
I was playing Uncharted 2 one night, (for the fifteenth time); it was like eleven o'clock. I eventually stopped after an hour went to my computer -- my room faces the front door of the house to the right of us; this family had been going through problems lately, and our entire neighborhood does have a burglary problem.
I heard a shout out front (which was normal for that family) and then some running; someone banged the door and then BAA-BAA-BAA!
DAMN!
I shut the lights off and called the police. They came over and found the shells at the door, about twenty feet from my window. The bullets had pierced through the door.
The thing was, I was a little shaken from the 9mm, even after an hour of shooting enemies in Uncharted 2.
Video Games are a fantasy world. My mind made absolutely no connection to reality with all of the action and weapons I used in MGS4, RE4 to U2. I grew up immersed in games, but there was absolutely no connection to the ACTUAL REAL LIFE SOUND OF VIOLENCE.
(The family was alright by the way. Apparently, it was their relations; go figure).
Mutak
I agree that the media scapegoats games in irresponsible ways, but we should also recognize that video games do affect people. We cannot trumpet the value of games as educational tools, hail them as the next great art form with the ability to inspire thought and emotion, and still deny that they can have any negative effects at all.
Games don't turn kids into killers but they can have negative effects. Denying that doesn't protect games from scapegoating, it just makes gamers seem like irrational fanatics.
Jordan2261x
I didn't expect to but I lol'd about 5 or 6 times during this episode. Feedback has definitely started to grow on me. Keep it coming guys.
cmdluke
I got a question for feedback. Anyone care to comment about Adam Sessler leaving G4? http://kotaku.com/5905119/adam -sessler-out-at-g4
eelric64
Nikole people over forty know what video games are. I am 47 and enjoy video games. Also the person in question on trial in Norway killed all those people due to his belief of Norway's governments acceptance of Muslims within their population.
setnom
Ignorant people is what makes me violent.
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