Friday, September 19, 2008
Are Violent Video Games Actually A Good Thing?
3 summers ago, Brooks Brown was a 25 year old man who was video game crazed. He spent most of his paycheck on video games, putting them as a higher priority than food. Brown was a student at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado on that horrible, tragic day. He was friends with not only several of the victims, but the shooters as well.
Some of Brown's favorite all-time video games include the Hitman series, Grand Theft Auto, and Postal 2. All of these provide you the ability to commmit violent and brutal acts; something Brown feels is actually a good thing for players.
One reason is what he calls immersion. The deep involvement and commitment to the game is a positive thing. Another reason for this positive outlook on violent video games is that games are becoming less restricted and people are free to do as they desire. Brown doesn not believe that commiting a violent act in a video game (killing someone, robbing a store, etc.) does not lead one to commmit that same act in person. In fact, commiting the act in the video game is satisfying and enjoyable enough for most gamers.
Some of Brown's favorite all-time video games include the Hitman series, Grand Theft Auto, and Postal 2. All of these provide you the ability to commmit violent and brutal acts; something Brown feels is actually a good thing for players.
One reason is what he calls immersion. The deep involvement and commitment to the game is a positive thing. Another reason for this positive outlook on violent video games is that games are becoming less restricted and people are free to do as they desire. Brown doesn not believe that commiting a violent act in a video game (killing someone, robbing a store, etc.) does not lead one to commmit that same act in person. In fact, commiting the act in the video game is satisfying and enjoyable enough for most gamers.
"Play the game enough, it no longer feels like you're controlling someone else, you feel like you're in the game. Why? Because you are free to do what you wish.The most amazing part of all of this? It's the gamers choice how violent these games get"
Comments:
<< Home
this blog was very intersting because many parents agree with 'video games are bad news' and stuff like that, but i believe its not true. there have been studies done on higher violent-ness when playing video games, but regardless, this does not prove that people are more violent all around and would do acts of violence. This proves that video games are very powerful instruments.
This may be an unsolvable problem. Are games and violent entertainment cathartic, emotional releases that actually reduce the possiblity of real violence? Or does this content brutalize our youth and make them callous and violent? The sad truth is that both may be true in different contexts. For some kids it may provide a healthy release, for others it may be a stimulus for violence.
Post a Comment
<< Home
