The problem, though, is that there isn't any evidence that video games cause aggressive behavior. There have been objective studies done, and yes, there can be some correlation between violent crimes and violent video games, like you bring up with Columbine.
The issue with violent video games and school shootings like Columbine is that even though there may be a correlation, video games certainly are not the cause. Correlation does not equal causation. How many of us played Doom back in the day and absolutely loved it? Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold loved Doom too, as videos of them before the shooting have shown us.
Following the logic that violent video games cause aggressive behavior, as some claim happened to the Columbine shooters, there should be a lot more Doom fans going on shooting sprees because of this dehumanizing problem you speak of. There aren't though, and that's because violent video games aren't the problem here, it's that there are children who may be mentally ill or socially awkward and aren't getting the attention they need.
Video games do not turn people into killers. Just because someone finds a violent video game in the home of a shooter does not mean that violence in the video game drove that person to commit the crime. Sadly, for the side arguing for video game regulation like this, that's all they have to go off of. Someone commits a violent crime, police search that person's house, and they find violent video games. Someone mentions that maybe there's a link and all of the sudden people who think violence and sex are destroying our nations moral fiber jumps on it.
That person may have had violent video games in the house, but video games are common items these days. Tissues, toilet paper, cheese, and soap are all common items too. I'm sorry, but to say that violent video games were the cause of the crime simply because they were found on the person's property is as logically bankrupts as saying that a bar of soap was the reason the person went off the deep end. That's why there's always an outrage coming from gamers over stuff like this.
I finished Mass Effect 3 last night, and even though there are some really stupid parts that leave you wondering what BioWare was thinking, there are just as many parts of the game that really are brilliant. In some respects it's the best game in the series, but in others it's the weakest.
I won't bitch about the ending because that's all I've been hearing people doing, but I will say it was jarring to have BioWare throw you such a curve ball in the last 10 minutes or so.
Oh please. Did I say he doesn't deserve it? No. I said I don't think anyone *needs* one billion dollars. I don't think I need one billion dollars, because I know I only need a very tiny fraction of that amount to keep on going day-to-day. The only option after I bought everything I could ever want, which one billion dollars could definitely take care of, would be to make sure my family and friends are set for life and then donate the rest. It would certainly be nice $1 billion, but no one needs that much money in order to live.
Wasn't trying to demonize anyone (besides Kotick and Riccitiello). I realize there are millionaires and billionaires out there who are altruistic and truly respectable people. Perhaps next time you should stop and try to comprehend what people are saying before you turn it into something about politics?
Hey man, you're the one who can't be bothered to learn the difference between "your," and "you're." I ask you, who's the real douche bag in this instance?
Yeah, I also told my girlfriend that the Jack Russell I brought home would scare off burglars.
Just because you say something doesn't mean it's actually going to happen, Sony. No self-respecting burglar would let my Jack Russell scare them off, just like no pirate is going to let proprietary memory cards stop them from getting what they want for free.
Report: Details and images of canned Justice League game pop up
Apr 3rd 2012 8:23PM (Joystiq)Ah, well that would explain it. I stopped buying Superman comics before the turn of the century, so I'm not up to date on recent redesigns.
Still, as a longtime Superman fan (and I can't believe I'm saying this), no red underwear on the outside makes him look stupid.
Report: Details and images of canned Justice League game pop up
Apr 3rd 2012 4:15PM (Joystiq)Politicians propose cigarette warning labels for games
Mar 21st 2012 8:40PM (Joystiq)The problem, though, is that there isn't any evidence that video games cause aggressive behavior. There have been objective studies done, and yes, there can be some correlation between violent crimes and violent video games, like you bring up with Columbine.
The issue with violent video games and school shootings like Columbine is that even though there may be a correlation, video games certainly are not the cause. Correlation does not equal causation. How many of us played Doom back in the day and absolutely loved it? Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold loved Doom too, as videos of them before the shooting have shown us.
Following the logic that violent video games cause aggressive behavior, as some claim happened to the Columbine shooters, there should be a lot more Doom fans going on shooting sprees because of this dehumanizing problem you speak of. There aren't though, and that's because violent video games aren't the problem here, it's that there are children who may be mentally ill or socially awkward and aren't getting the attention they need.
Video games do not turn people into killers. Just because someone finds a violent video game in the home of a shooter does not mean that violence in the video game drove that person to commit the crime. Sadly, for the side arguing for video game regulation like this, that's all they have to go off of. Someone commits a violent crime, police search that person's house, and they find violent video games. Someone mentions that maybe there's a link and all of the sudden people who think violence and sex are destroying our nations moral fiber jumps on it.
That person may have had violent video games in the house, but video games are common items these days. Tissues, toilet paper, cheese, and soap are all common items too. I'm sorry, but to say that violent video games were the cause of the crime simply because they were found on the person's property is as logically bankrupts as saying that a bar of soap was the reason the person went off the deep end. That's why there's always an outrage coming from gamers over stuff like this.
WRUP: Hell and insomnia are coming
Mar 17th 2012 12:52PM (Joystiq)I finished Mass Effect 3 last night, and even though there are some really stupid parts that leave you wondering what BioWare was thinking, there are just as many parts of the game that really are brilliant. In some respects it's the best game in the series, but in others it's the weakest.
I won't bitch about the ending because that's all I've been hearing people doing, but I will say it was jarring to have BioWare throw you such a curve ball in the last 10 minutes or so.
Joyswag & Unboxing: Alan Wake PC Collector's Edition
Mar 13th 2012 6:50PM (Joystiq)Yep, Gabe Newell is a billionaire
Mar 8th 2012 3:40PM (Joystiq)Oh please. Did I say he doesn't deserve it? No. I said I don't think anyone *needs* one billion dollars. I don't think I need one billion dollars, because I know I only need a very tiny fraction of that amount to keep on going day-to-day. The only option after I bought everything I could ever want, which one billion dollars could definitely take care of, would be to make sure my family and friends are set for life and then donate the rest. It would certainly be nice $1 billion, but no one needs that much money in order to live.
Wasn't trying to demonize anyone (besides Kotick and Riccitiello). I realize there are millionaires and billionaires out there who are altruistic and truly respectable people. Perhaps next time you should stop and try to comprehend what people are saying before you turn it into something about politics?
Yep, Gabe Newell is a billionaire
Mar 7th 2012 8:11PM (Joystiq)Sony's Rohde: proprietary Vita cards 'completely necessary' to combat piracy
Feb 21st 2012 11:26PM (Joystiq)Hey man, you're the one who can't be bothered to learn the difference between "your," and "you're." I ask you, who's the real douche bag in this instance?
Sony's Rohde: proprietary Vita cards 'completely necessary' to combat piracy
Feb 21st 2012 9:42PM (Joystiq)Sorry, I don't own any douche bags.
Sony's Rohde: proprietary Vita cards 'completely necessary' to combat piracy
Feb 21st 2012 9:26PM (Joystiq)Just because you say something doesn't mean it's actually going to happen, Sony. No self-respecting burglar would let my Jack Russell scare them off, just like no pirate is going to let proprietary memory cards stop them from getting what they want for free.