04-24-2006, 10:57 PM
04-25-2006, 07:28 PM
The theory that violent videogames cause violence is full of intrinsic holes. Never have I heard whether it is a violent act of the game, or violent images that creates the supposed real life violence. Take for example, my three games as examples
Tekken 5
Secret Weapons over Normandy
Hearts of Iron II.
Tekken 5 - Depictions of direct violence, yet its implications are limited. Fights are limited to KOs, in a setting based on a sporting event.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tekken_5
Secret Weapons Over Normandy - Depictions of violence, but there is a disconect that is rarely discussed in this context of "violence". We can all agree that strafing Half-tracks is a violent act, but does it enable this subconcious effect claimed by those who decry video game violence.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Weap...r_Normandy
Hearts of Iron II - Absolutely no onscreen violence what so ever. However the amount of implicit violence is staggering. If I play a game as germany, may ministers will be full of war criminals. Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, Herman Goerring all are represented in my staff, and while there is no direct representation of the holocaust, its implicit in such a head of state and staff. Certain attrocities are included in the game, such as the great purge and the rape of Nanjing, though only in a historical discription. Then there is the undeniable violence of waging a world war. All of this is shown only through a map and peices, much like a game of Risk. Now here comes this important question, does HoI II count as a violent game? Not according to the ESRB, the game gets an E rating, Reinhard Heidrich as your security minister and all.
These three examples show how poorly those claiming a connection have established their arguments. They have not even set forth an idea of what is the nature of violent games nor what exactly triggers that supposed IRL violence.
Tekken 5
Secret Weapons over Normandy
Hearts of Iron II.
Tekken 5 - Depictions of direct violence, yet its implications are limited. Fights are limited to KOs, in a setting based on a sporting event.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tekken_5
Secret Weapons Over Normandy - Depictions of violence, but there is a disconect that is rarely discussed in this context of "violence". We can all agree that strafing Half-tracks is a violent act, but does it enable this subconcious effect claimed by those who decry video game violence.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Weap...r_Normandy
Hearts of Iron II - Absolutely no onscreen violence what so ever. However the amount of implicit violence is staggering. If I play a game as germany, may ministers will be full of war criminals. Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, Herman Goerring all are represented in my staff, and while there is no direct representation of the holocaust, its implicit in such a head of state and staff. Certain attrocities are included in the game, such as the great purge and the rape of Nanjing, though only in a historical discription. Then there is the undeniable violence of waging a world war. All of this is shown only through a map and peices, much like a game of Risk. Now here comes this important question, does HoI II count as a violent game? Not according to the ESRB, the game gets an E rating, Reinhard Heidrich as your security minister and all.
These three examples show how poorly those claiming a connection have established their arguments. They have not even set forth an idea of what is the nature of violent games nor what exactly triggers that supposed IRL violence.