violence
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Disturbed teen links video games to 'sport killing'
Highlighting a horrific trend of teenagers "sport killing" the homeless, CNN profiles three individuals, ages 15 to 17, who brutally murdered a 49-year old gentleman in 2004. In the police report, 17-year old Andrew Ihrcke said that killing the homeless man "reminded him of playing a violent video game," according to the CNN article.The piece provides ample, graphic details of the crime that showcase as Ihrcke as a very disturbed individual far beyond the scope of gaming's influence. Still, we fear how certain individuals might try to tie this report to a moral decline spurred by video games while overlooking certain facts that reveal Ihrcke to have a few dozen screws loose in his noggin.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Correcting the record on New York's proposed game laws
When the Inquirer erroneously claimed that New York was planning a "video game ban for under 30s," we just added another mark on our "wacky Inquirer story" tally sheet. When the error started spreading to sites like 1up, PlanetXbox360 and Yahoo! Tech, we figured some sort of clarification was in order.So let's be perfectly clear. Neither of the two bills currently being proposed by the New York state legislature will stop adults 18 and over from buying any video games. The confusion seems to stem from a section appearing in both New York Bill A00547 and New York Bill A02024 which says that access to a mandated "adult" video game section of stores will require customers to show ID unless the customer "reasonably appears to be at least thirty years of age."In other words, if you look like you're under 30, they'll ask to see some ID. If the ID says you're over 18, you'll still be allowed to enter the section and buy the games. As both bills say in their texts, stores that sell or rent games "shall store and display such [violent] video games ... in a location designated for persons over the age of eighteen, in a manner which restricts access to such games."If this system sounds familiar, it's probably because it's similar to the ID check system set up in most states to regulate tobacco and alcohol sales. Whether or not video games should be similarly classified is definitely worthy of debate (personally, we think not), but let's make sure we're arguing about the right thing here.
Game violence stimulates 'textspeak,' concludes study of 12
Dr. Chow Yuan-hua, a psychiatrist at the Veterans General Hospital in Taipei, has amazingly, using just twelve subjects, discovered why young adults (and even more mature adults) have such low language proficiency -- why we often shorten our words and confuse numbers for letters. The culprit: vide0 gamZ. V1ol3nt vide0 gamZ.According to Dr. Chow, 'textspeak' is a symptom of gaming. As we spend more and more hours playing violent games, the blood circulation in our brains' frontal lobes significantly reduces, diminishing our ability to carry out higher mental activities, like proper speech. "[Parents] have to try to keep [their kids] away from [violent] games, if they don't want to receive any more 'textspeak' messages," warns Dr. Chow.[Via VH1 Game Break]
PS3 violence spreads to Hawaii
A bat-wielding SUV driver allegedly attacked two brothers in Big Island, Hawaii for their PlayStation 3 on Saturday. According to KPUA News, the attacker stepped out of the car and hit one of the brothers with the bat before being disarmed by the other brother and fleeing the scene. Frankly, we're getting a little tired of having to report on the continuing violence and theft surrounding the PS3. We understand there was a lot of hype surrounding the launch and the system's high price makes it attractive to thieves, but you would-be criminals should know that the system's after-market value isn't what it once was. Oh yeah, and crime doesn't pay. [Via PS3Center]
Thompson threatens Microsoft over GTA4, ignores Sony
Everybody's favorite lawyer is at it again, this time sending a heads up letter to Microsoft chairman Bill Gates promising to "undertake various means to prohibit and stop the sale of [Grand Theft Auto 4] to minors." The letter, a copy of which was sent to Joystiq, warns Microsoft against "participating in any fashion, directly or indirectly, in such sales to minors." We can only guess than indirect participation would be simply allowing the game to be released on the Xbox 360, and we doubt that Microsoft will be willing to give up its day-and-date bombshell just because of a vague threat from Thompson. In the letter, Thompson cites an Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility report which shows game retailers like Target and Best Buy are actually "doing a better job of controlling sales of violent video games to children." Wouldn't a study that shows retailers doing a worse job have been a better choice? Also, wouldn't such a letter have been more effective going to a retailer than a console maker that has little to no control on point-of-purchase sales ratings enforcement? And why is Thompson targeting Microsoft while ignoring Sony, which is also planning to host GTA4 on its system later this year? Last year Sony was public enemy No. 1 for allowing GTA in Japan. Has the PS3's launch-time troubles made them a less attractive target?
PS3 thefts spread across the Pacific
It seems that the robberies and violence surrounding the PS3 launch are not just limited to the United States. The Associated Press reported yesterday on a shipment of 180 PS3s that disappeared from the front of a Tokyo warehouse in advance of shipment to retailers. Police said a Meitetsu Golden Air Cargo employee noticed the systems were missing about four hours after they were stacked in front of the warehouse.The crime was a bit more personal in Endeavour Hills, Australia, where the Berwick News reports a 38-year-old man was pushed to the ground and robbed of his "Playstation" while walking a suburban street at 1:30 a.m. The article doesn't specifically state that the system was a PS3, but we can't think of any reason why a man would be walking the streets with any other Playstation product in the wee hours of the Australian PS3 launch day.In domestic PS3 crime news, a third suspect has been arrested in the shooting and attempted robbery of a Putnam, Conn. man waiting to buy four PS3s on launch day last month. Armando Guzman, 28, is being held on a $1 million bond after being charged with attempted murder, robbery, assault and other crimes. It's not yet clear what role police believe Guzman had in the crime or how he is connected to the two other men accused of the same crimes. The victim's description of the incident included only two gunmen.Read - Playstation 3 consoles stolen from Japanese warehouseRead - Man Robbed of PlaystationRead - Third suspect charged in Playstation shooting
More "proof" that violent video games breed rage
While we've already learned that television shows pull double duty as entertainment and a sedative, and that launching a console with a widely understood shortage hitting stores can cause all sorts of madness and criminal activity to break loose, the last thing we needed was one more "study" claiming that video games breed rage. But nevertheless, researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine have discovered that "teenagers' brains become fired up" (read: angered) after playing violent video games. A survey using 44 same-sexed humans with "similar IQs and age" showed that a half hour of violent gaming "increased activity within the amygdala (involved in emotional arousal)" while simultaneously decreasing activity in "parts of the brain involved in self-control" -- unsurprisingly, the opposite effects were seen when gamers were forced to play non-violent titles. However, when all the fMRIs were completed and reports were being compiled, the doctors still noted that "further studies were needed to determine whether these physiological changes actually make individuals behave more violently," so until that's proven absolutely, we're sticking to our (pixelated) guns.[Thanks, Nate W.]
"Wii Have A Problem," an accident archive
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Wii_Have_a_Problem_A_Wii_Accident_Archive'; A group of self-proclaimed fanboys have begun cataloging cases of Wii mishaps, casualties, and injuries. No loss of life yet reported, but as these incidents continue to pile up, lawsuits are sure to be filed.True, Nintendo has done well to provide appropriate warnings, but that won't stop disgruntled gamers or those who might take advantage of their unfortunate circumstances. Who will rise to Nintendo's defense? Speak.
Study: Violent videogames affect kids' brains
Reuters describes a recent study of violent videogames' affect on teens; the study reports that a violent game made kids more emotionally aroused, with less control and concentration, than kids playing a non-violent game.The Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis study compared Need for Speed: Underground and Medal of Honor: Frontline. Kids played the games, then, using a fancy MRI machine, blood-flow was measured to parts of their brains while they performed simple tasks. The study tested only 44 subjects, so it may point to significant results, but it also needs to be repeated with bigger groups.While we might have picked a different non-violent game -- we always crash our NFS cars, and that seems pretty violent -- we hope that this sort of research is also applied to other media before drawing conclusions. If violent games cause kids to go into fight-or-flight mode as the study suggests, can this be linked to real-world reactions or long-term changes? How do kids' responses to movies compare to games?[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]
PS3 shooting victim is unemployed eBay profiteer
A few weeks ago, gamers across the country were shocked at the devotion of a Connecticut man who was shot and hospitalized during his wait for the PS3. Such a man must be extremely devoted to video games to risk his life for the latest next-gen system, right?Wrong. A follow-up article by the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reveals that 21-year-old Michael Penkala was waiting "not because he's a fan of the popular game system but because he saw a business opportunity." The unemployed Penkala, whose "only means of income at the moment is selling T-shirts, Beanie Babies and New England Patriots plush toys on his front lawn," was carrying $2,600 in cash to purchase four PS3s to resell on eBay (with the help of three friends waiting in line).What's more, after being shot by the fleeing would-be robbers, Penkala's first instinct was to make sure his friends got the money to purchase the systems. "For some reason I wasn't thinking about my wound, I was all about those PlayStations," Penkala is quoted as saying.The eBay proceeds from the four PS3s Penkala eventually picked up likely won't cover the hundreds of thousands of dollars in health care costs for the uninsured Penkala. Despite this, Penkala rejected the idea of pimping out his auctions as "the system he got shot for." Classy.[Thanks Avias]
PS3 violence mirrors novel storyline
File this one in the "life imitating art" department ... or maybe in the "art predicting guerrilla marketing?" department. Max Barry's book Jennifer Government revolves partially around a Nike marketing plan to shoot the first ten buyers of a new shoe in an effort to build hype and street cred for the launch. Today, Barry posted on his blog about the similarities between his book's plot and the recent violence surrounding the launch of the PS3.Could the muggings and robberies surrounding Sony's new system be a carefully orchestrated marketing ploy to increase exposure for the PS3? Barry stops short of making such a serious accusation. "That would be unspeakably immoral," he said. "To rip off the opening of Jennifer Government so blatantly, I mean."We have to agree -- while Sony 's PS3 marketing has occasionally been disturbing, you have to admit that it's also been pretty original.[Via AeroPause, Thank Reddrive]
PS3 hopefuls shot with BB's at Kentucky Best Buy
If you thought shacking up outside of a Best Buy in near-freezing temperatures (say, Ann Arbor, Michigan) for nearly two weeks is hardcore, imagine how folks waiting in Lexington, Kentucky felt when a drive-by shooter let the pellets fly into a group of PS3 hopefuls. Apparently bitter and distraught from not getting their name on a (shaky) pre-order list, enraged suspects drove by a Best Buy on Nicholasville Road and "injured four people with BB pellets," including a news reporter who was conducting an interview with one of the campers. Although none of the folks were seriously injured, we can't help but wonder who pulls off a drive-by shooting with cameras rolling, and moreover, did the "mildly wounded" individuals waiting in line forfeit their position to visit a hospital? The soldier in us says negative.[Via digg]
Coming to a college campus near you: Jack Thompson
Nothing gets kids fired up like a good old fashioned debate about violence in video games between ... Jack Thompson and Bob Guccione Jr. We're all for intelligent discussion, but Bob Guccione Jr. is representing our side? The guy publishes Spin and Discover magazines, hardly qualifiers for video game advocacy. Plus the guy used to date Ann Coulter, so it doesn't seem like he's going to be someone you want in your corner during a head-to-head against Thompson.Like Uwe Boll, Thompson is a bad rash on the gaming industry that won't be going away overnight, and unfortunately it doesn't seem like Guccione Jr. is going to be much of a match against him. Did they purposely book someone who is going to lob softballs to Thompson so he can come off the hero? It would be better if we could have an opponent actually from the game industry sounding off against him. At this point we'd settle for Reggie Fils-Aime or even CliffyB.The first debate will be at the California University of Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, on January 30th, so you should rush and get tickets before this baby sells out.[Via GamePolitics]See also:Jack Thompson becomes boringFlorida court OKs Bully
More kids break PSPs. With firecrackers. And guns.
Kids these days enjoy blowing up stuff. YouTube is filled with kids pretending to be cool by destroying things that they bought with their parents' hard-earned money. Here are two videos that act as proof that Americans really aren't the brightest people in the world. The first video features a kid blowing up Gangs of London (with firecrackers). This is somewhat forgiveable, maybe even acceptable, considering how awful that game is.The second video truly frightens me. We've seen our share of PSPs being destroyed, but there's something truly hideous about the genuine glea these kids seem to be exhibiting. The video's after the cut, and features some harsh language.
Are games making us wimps?
While Jack Thompson and his ilk continue to argue that games are making us too violent, at least one blogger is arguing the opposite. As part of his "Carnival of Modern Man" series of columns, blogger raybacon argues that our regular escapes from reality are "launching a generation of wimps into the world."The author, an admitted non-gamer, argues that video games are inherently meaningless and simply serve as an escape from the harsh reality of the real world. Further, he says that people who eschew "real" experiences to sit in front of a monitor for hours on end turn into "a bunch of guys who's only recourse when 'times get tough' is to dive into a world ruled by megabytes."Obviously, games are no replacement for actually living life, but everyone needs an occasional escape from the day-to-day grind. Just because playing a game of Madden is more sedentary than playing a real game of football doesn't mean it's inherently worse, as long as the correct balance is kept. Everything in moderation, as they say.[Via PSFK]
Cash Money Chaos' insanely bloody debut
You play an Elvis-imposter in SOE's newly announced game Cash Money Chaos. And like the original Elvis, you are captured by aliens, and are forced to participate in a "twisted 70s game show." No, you're not going to be playing The Price is Right. You'll have to fight through dozens of enemies, killing everything in your sight. This "uber fast" shooter appears to play a bit like Robotron, if it suddenly turned into Robocop instead: making people's bodies explode in buckets of blood. The game will come with more than 50 levels, and include online infrastructure play for up to 8 players.If you're interested in some really brutal cartoon violence, and want to kill ninjas, hillbillies, clowns, pirates, and aliens, then you'll have to wait a while: Cash Money Chaos is coming "early 2007." Check out the official website to score some art and screenshots.[Thanks, steve!]
A glance at gaming's goriest
Gnome's Lair has posted a list -- with screenshots -- of "the most disturbing gaming scenes I've yet encountered." Maybe the list is incomplete, or maybe we've been too conditioned, but when browsing the selections, we didn't so much as twitch a muscle. C'mon is that it? You call that sick and twisted!Who out there is gonna dig up the real goods? Make us puke!We dare you.[Please, no non-gaming related links.]
How to pass a violent games bill the industry won't fight [update 1]
It's simple: don't address violence. That's what happened in Maryland, where a bill recently passed prohibiting the sale (or display) of obscene games to minors. However, the definition of obscenity is restricted only to sexual content. This follows the trend of films, where you can be as violent as you want and still be on Wal-Mart shelves, while skinemax films are relegated to seedy porn shops. So it goes. As the video game industry more or less abstains from making sexually explicit content, they will not fight the law. Legislators from other states should take the hint and avoid writing sensationalist bills.[update 1: fixed a broken link]
Carnival of Gamers celebrates first anniversary
It's that time of month again -- the Carnival of Gamers has made its fourteenth stop, coincidentally marking its first anniversary (there were two last June). This regular collection of game writing from around the blogosphere is a delightful way to get some alternate opinions aired and always seems to be worth the reading time.This month's edition covers casual vs hardcore gaming; the Wii; violence and politics; modern MMO issues; and a few other juicy topics from co-op gaming to the ESRB. There's plenty of thought-provoking material in true Carnival style.See also:Carnival of Gamers gets n3rfedCarnival of Gamers rolls on to Virgin WorldsCarnival of Gamers gathers under Slashdot's tent
Cell games quell prison violence
Prison administrators in Oregon say that inmates are less violent thanks to a program that rewards good behavior with $35 game consoles loaded with 50 games, according to OregonLive.com. Sounds like these fellas are finally getting some good parenting! No word on whether playing games also decreases the tendency to engage in certain other notorious prison activities. If video gaming's effects on hetero relationships are any indication, however, we expect some Oregon inmates are resting easier tonight. [Via Playfuls]