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Underground > Film, TV & Theatre >

limiting videogame access

Molly Shortcake

20:28 / 26.01.02

quote:
Lawmakers debate bill to limit video-game access

Friday, January 25, 2002

By GRAHAM BLACK
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

OLYMPIA -- The street rioter knocked the police officer down and clubbed him with an ax handle over and over. In another scene from the video-game demonstration, blood gushed from an officer's shoulder after the player shot him in the back.

Lawmakers yesterday watched the four-minute presentation in disgust while discussing a bill that would make it a crime to sell or rent such "cop-killer" games to youths. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, D-Seattle, said the restriction is justified by recent research linking violent video games to increased aggressiveness in youths.

"There is a real-life connection between these fantasy games and real-life aggression," she said after watching the demonstration of the gory game, Grand Theft Auto 3.

Full story

I'm getting confused here. Do videogames make you an overweight passive consumer, a Satan worshiping occulltist, or a mafioso psycho thug?

If I'm busy eating donunts and pushing buttons, when am I going to have the time to sacrifice chickens? Much less get my fat ass off the couch.

Truth be told, all this time I thought they made me look sexy.

[ 26-01-2002: Message edited by: Ice Honkey ]

20:51 / 26.01.02

GTA 3 - one of the best games ever made - I've had enough of the whole videogames creates violence though its been said so many times and in my opinion its shite - apart from of course Sonic, after playing it in my younger years all I want to do is steal peoples golden rings and jump on the heads of big bugs....

09:23 / 27.01.02

There's a connection between fantasy violence and real-life aggression? Who would say something like that? Probably someone who's never played a video game in their life. If there really was a connection, I'd be outside whacking innocent forest creatures with a sword and stealing their gold to finance my quest to overthrow the evil empire. Limiting access to video games is not the solution. If this bill passes, nothing will change, young people will simply have to get the games they want by obtaining them the same way they obtain alcohol and the like.

The Return Of Rothkoid

11:40 / 28.01.02

Isn't this one of those in dispute areas; much like the "do violent films cause violent acts" debates? Both sides can lay their hands on statistics that suggest that their argument's correct - but who really is?

Haven't poked around for info on studies yet, but will if I get a chance...

[ 28-01-2002: Message edited by: The Return Of Rothkoid ]

Molly Shortcake

23:21 / 28.01.02

Videogames can most certainly contribute to agression in some individuals. On the other hand they're carthartic and calming for others. The same thing applies to sports, books, violent movies and sex!

Wow!!!!

****Ahem,

GTA3s foot suquences are rather cartoony and unrealistic. Silent Hill 2 is far more photo realistic, gory, violent and disturbing. The cops are treated as just another gang. The problem is GTA undermines their authority.

[ 29-01-2002: Message edited by: Ice Honkey ]

Molly Shortcake

23:24 / 28.01.02

(FYI, the above post isn't directed at Rothkoid.)

23:50 / 28.01.02

quote:Video games don't affect kids. If Pac-Man affected us as kids we'd all be
walking around in dark rooms eating magic pills while listening to
repetitive electronic music,
Karen Price, Nintendo Representative.

Molly Shortcake

00:05 / 29.01.02

One of my favorite quotes of all time. (I'm glad to finally know the author) Of course video games affect people, why else would we keep playing them?

05:37 / 29.01.02

quote:GTA3s foot suquences are rather cartoony and unrealistic. Silent Hill 2 is far more photo realistic, gory, violent and disturbing.

I think they probably had to go the whole cartoon direction to get the game released at all, although its not as cartoonie as their new game (State of Emergency)

Silent Hill 2 - pffff the best thing about that game was the extra disc with the making of, much more entertaining than the game...

[ 29-01-2002: Message edited by: Bear ]

Molly Shortcake

13:51 / 03.02.02

Infidel!!!

The Sinister Haiku Bureau

20:29 / 03.02.02

Actually if you look at the stats, theres been a decrease in violent crime in the US over the same period that video games became popular... Or so I read on slashdot, anyway...can't find a link though. Of course, there's a zillion and one factors at work behind said decrease in violent crime, but it does cast considerable doubt on the whole gaming leads to violence theory. I reckon the legislators in question are just jealous because all they ever played when they were young was PONG.

13:14 / 04.02.02

Like those of you who've played GTA3 haven't had this experience.

Though, does this arguement mean that playing Dope Wars will lead to a life of selling drugs? Personally, I just like sitting in a crowded resteraunt with my PDA, and talking to a co-worker about how I just over paid for PCP and now can't get a decent price for it.

15:38 / 04.02.02

Just so this thread doesn't turn into a game of shouting down the pundits, I'll mention that studies supporting the video games (TV, movies) affect behavior thesis could actually bury those even suggesting it's untrue, and probably seal them in a tomb forever. For some strange reason, though, they don't get very good press.

This doesn't necessarily mean that GFA3 will make you pay for sex with a hooker and then kill hir, but it might mean, say, that you find it easier to see those words in print and not be horrified (for example).

But, to support young Robert (from the article), an overwhelming majority of 14-yr olds readily differentiate bettween animated and realistic depictions of violence.

[ 05-02-2002: Message edited by: YNH3 ]