Topic: Are Videogames Too Violent?

[darkwzrd4]

Some people such as politicians and over-protective parents believe that videogames are to violent and want game companies to tone down the violence. Some even want to ban violent games all together. Me, I don't think violent games are bad. They can actually be therapeutic. We all get stressed and get pissed off. Both of these usually lead to aggressive behavior and just letting go and throwing a tantrum or lashing out physically is immature and unacceptable. So, how do you deal with all that aggression? What can act as a release? Well, the best way would be to allow yourself to feel that aggression and just let loose. Playing violent games can allow you to be as violent as you want without hurting anyone. They act as a release.
If I'm really stressed after work, I play games like Skyrim or some other violent game and a few hours later I feel less stressed.
The problem is that most kids play violent games before they are mature enough to properly handle it. Thus, they are either traumatized or they start to believe that they can act that way in real life. If parents think that these games are too violent, then they shouldn't buy the games for their kids in the first place.

Feel free to post your opinions after you vote.

[Abnormal Freak]

I wish there were games with MORE violence. :p MadWorld and the Splatterhouse reboot are pretty off the chain, it would be nice to see more comic portrayals of extreme violence.

[Lelygax]

If parents think that these games are too violent, then they shouldn't buy the games for their kids in the first place.

^THAT^
Also we have a age rating system now, like ERSB and many others, so they know what to expect of the game and if their kids should play it or not, dont blame the games, blame themself for buying a game that your kids shouldnt even been playing to begin with. If some parent come say bad things about violence in games, then please

(click to show/hide)

 Hau auu~

Ditto at AF, I prefered when MK are more comic than serious like now, we need violent games since different people tend to free themself from stress and crazy ideas using different themes.

[Shiroi Koumori]

Why do people always blame videogames as violent?

The internet, movies and tv shows are more accessible and they have violence in them too.
What about the news? Isn't that the most violent one of all with actual events shown live?

Blame the parents for not monitoring their kids.
Blame the system for lax gun laws.

[Mooning Freddy]

I remember playing Mortal Kombat 9 for the first time, and seeing how they added an x-ray style simulation of broken bones and organs I was like "Holy shit that is friggin epic and horrible at the same time". 

[C Belmont]

I read a book on designing games once which if I recall correctly had something like this to say about violent video games:

Children are always going to want to play the games they are not allowed to play and not necessarily the ones which are aimed at their age bracket. So by making videogames which are violent you can target both adults and children at the same time.

I can’t help feeling that a lot of modern games embrace this philosophy way too much and that all the irresponsible parents, older brothers, friends, cousins etc.  Out there make it all too easy for developers to keep embracing it.

[son_the_vampire]

MORE VIOLENCE... this way, the person who had the vision making the game doesnt need to feel restricted due to the ESRB. its like listening to your favorite songs, only to have the lyrics altered to cater to the youth. im sure this day and age there are becoming fewer ways to keep the youth from the "violence exposure" Thanks Google!

[X]

Are video games too violent? Or movies for that matter? I don't think so because they are a reflection of our world which is far more violent then any form of media could ever be. To see something on a screen is one thing, to experience it in real life would be a heart-stopper. If parents, governments, etc. complain these things are too violent then they shouldn't buy 'em. And if they still persist in getting rid of them then drag their sorry, ignorant asses out to the middle of a war zone and give them a taste of reality. Games and movies aren't as bad as they make them out to be. It is the reality that is far worse. I'd rather see violence on the screen rather then in real life.

[Lelygax]

I'd rather see violence on the screen rather then in real life.

A brief of what I tried to say, thanks for it. I prefer it that way too.

[Ratty]

Nope
Tragedy and Video Game Violence

Censorship is never the answer. And few things get me madder than people trying to force myself or others not to consume media or do other harmless activities just because they find said media/activities distasteful. Usually they'll use their children's possible exposure to media as an excuse to call for censorship. But it's not my job or anyone else's to raise your kid, controlling what they see and don't see is your choice and your responsibility, not mine and not society's. To have freedom of speech you have to have freedom of all speech, and that includes expressions of beliefs and artistic depictions of actions which go against everything you might hold as true and right.

[Abnormal Freak]

Who voted "more violence = better games"? :p I hope that was a tongue-in-cheek answer.

My favorite game of all time, Yoshi's Island, would be pretty retarded if Yoshi's eggs ripped apart Shy Guys in a bloody, giblety mess.

[Pfil]

I find modern games to be too violent, but I didn't want to be so extreme with my voting, in order to avoid sounding dictatorial.
They should control better what's in each game, but total censoring wouldn't be the answer either. Censoring violence would also mean, perhaps, censoring some pretty interesting stuff, since I believe everything comes together (I mean, it's the same people who censor, and if they become more strict, they would censor not only violence).
What I would censor every time is games that promote crime, like GTA. Fantasy violence is one thing, that doesn't bother me a lot, though sometimes it's borderline with bad taste or even exceeds that line. But real violence is really disturbing, and letting it in the hands of younger gamers is not a good idea. They should grow up playing Mario, not GTA (in my opinion).

[VladCT]

But real violence is really disturbing, and letting it in the hands of younger gamers is not a good idea. They should grow up playing Mario, not GTA (in my opinion).

Then they should never have gotten a hold of it in the first place. Ratings exist for a reason, enforce it.

[Mooning Freddy]

Well, it's not like cinema doesn't give you the share of random violence aplenty. Gangster movies and series make the gangsters appear badass, which is a possibly worse than simply showing violence. Goodfellas and Scarface come to mind. Then there're movies like Trainspotting.

Begbie - who the fuck are you bar fight full scene

[Pfil]

Yes of course it applies to movies, even more than in videogames. That should be something parents concern about too, not only letting to censors do their work. But I still don't have sons, so I'm not entitled to say much on the matter.
On the other hand, I believe videogames being interactive could make a bigger problem to younger players than what movies could do, being something more, I don't know... passive?