It’s quite a strong title, isn’t it? The subject of whether a computer game can drive someone to murder is a contentious issue, one that can cause powerful statements to be released like the one above. Those on both sides of the argument will put forward their case with great commitment, especially those that have lost people as a result of shootings or stabbings that are said to mirror those in a computer game or a film. But I, for one, don’t believe a word of it.
More video game violence! As if politicians needed more reasons to scapegoat video games, a 16-year-old Italian boy stabbed his father over a FIFA 09 argument. The father, referred to only as Fabrizio R., bought his son the game for a birthday present. Seeing the need to thank his dad, the teen stabbed him with a kitchen knife in the neck. After all, they did get him FIFA 09 instead of 10.
In context, Fabrizio was offering his son advice for the game, which led to an argument and eventually the dad turned the TV off. This led to the unfortunate incident. It gets more psychotic. After stabbing his father, Mario, the 16-year-old stabber, returned to the kitchen and washed the knife off in front of his mother.
Ron Jeremy, famed adult film star, feels that video games have more of a negative effect on kids than porn does. Jeremy attended this year's CES (which in itself is a bigger mystery), and had this to say on the subject:
"We don't want kids to watch porn, though if they do, there are far worse influences out there - like video games. Studies have found that violent video games are much bigger a negative influence on kids."
Right.
It's true, many news outlets have put pressure on the video game industry when it comes to violent games, and many companies feel the heat because of it. Capcom, while it has avoided mainstream media negativity so far, is concerned about the possibility of becoming the next target of the media's video game vendetta.
"Some of our popular software titles have provocative graphics and text, such as violent and grotesque scenes," the company said in an investor bulletin. "Accordingly, in the event of violent incidents and other criminal cases involving juveniles, we may be subject to a smear campaign by some sections of the mass media which often point out the correlation between crime and games. Therefore, there is a risk that it may result in having an adverse effect on our business performance, corporate value and narrowed distribution channel under instructions by the relevant authorities."
Alejandro Morales, 25, is in New York police custody for the murder of 9-year-old Anthony Maldonado. Anthony was visiting his uncle's apartment in Harlem. It was said Anthony was very excited about receiving a PlayStation and Tony Hawk Ride.
Anthony spent the night playing Ride with his relatives, and around 3 AM, two relatives made a snack run. Police believed an argument occurred over the game. The argument turned violent, and Anthony was stabbed multiple times by Morales. Anthony struggled to his uncle's bedroom, where there he collapsed. Anthony was rushed to St. Lukes Roosevelt Hospital, but the injuries were too great. Anthony died within the hour. Morales was quickly taken into custody.
Our thoughts go out to the Maldonado family here at Brave New Gamer.
[via NYDaily]
TMZ reports that Blackstreet singer Teddy Riley has been given a restraining order from his daughter after she accused him of abusing her and her sister with a Rock Band guitar. It's reported that the girls suffered "bashes to temple, contusion on face" and "pain in the knee" from the assault. The incident occurred at the Riley home in Los Angeles on Dec. 23.
In documents filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Taja, the daughter, claims at one point Teddy, "lifted a Rock Band guitar and threatened to kill person(s) w/ it." Taja claims she suffered several injuries in the alleged altercation, including "bashes to temple, contusion on face" and "pain in knee."
The R&B singer has to stay at least 100 yards away from his daughters and will have a hearing in January.
[via GamePolitics]
Landry Walker, writer of the "Batman: the Brave and the Bold" comic and contributor for "The Incredibles," thinks games should have more realistic violence. The writer watched a friend play Batman: Arkham Asylum and was a bit upset that his friend was not alarmed when Batman got shot in the game. Walker's logic is that if you get shot in video games, it's no big deal, but when you get shot in real life, you panic.
We all heard about the ordeal surrounding the approval process of Left 4 Dead 2 in Australia, which has extremely strict regulations on what games are and aren't sold in the country. Valve had to severely cut back on the violence in the game in order to get it approved. No dismemberment, no gore, disappearing bodies, and no flames on zombies.
WARNING: The contents of this article may be subject to causing boredom. I know, I said I was here to both inform and entertain you. Sue me. Humor will be inserted in order to make a point (or to just excite a laugh as usual) where I deem necessary, so grab your hardhat and put your serious face on, it’s time to show those naysayers what’s up!
Have you ever played Mass Effect? Have you ever watched a porno? Did you know that the two seemingly-unrelated things are pretty much one and the same? Or at least they were in the mind of developmental psychologist Cooper Lawrence. Of course, sexuality in video games isn’t the only hot-button issue; violence is the most fiercely-contested one. Why is it that video games are looked down upon while movies, music and television seem to get by unscathed?
BNG Crew
