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How far should video games reflect real-life violence?
Video game fans have been queuing to buy the first copies of the controversial Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. What are your thoughts on violence in video games?
Hundreds of stores across the UK and thousands in the US opened overnight specially for the launch of the game, which is said to contain intense violence and allows players to plot terror attacks.
Labour MP Keith Vaz says he is "absolutely shocked" by its violence, while fellow Labour MP Tom Watson has set up a Facebook group to defend games such as Call of Duty from their critics.
Do you agree with Keith Vaz or Tom Watson? Should violence in video games be tempered? Is there a difference between depicting violence in films, and in games? Should advances in interactive games be lauded? Have you played the game?
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Published:
Tuesday, 10 November, 2009, 05:28 GMT
05:28 UK
All comments as they come in
Added:
Wednesday, 11 November, 2009, 11:22 GMT
11:22 UK
If shops opened specially to sell this rubbish there must be many among us who are beyond sad!
Andrew, London
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Added:
Wednesday, 11 November, 2009, 11:22 GMT
11:22 UK
Allow people to buy such games when they have done national service and a tour in Afganistan or other real life conflict. I would imagine the uptake being far less.
[EnigmaticSC], Epsom, United Kingdom
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Added:
Wednesday, 11 November, 2009, 11:18 GMT
11:18 UK
1800s: Raunchy novels.
50s: Rock n roll.
60s: Popular Music.
70s: Television.
80s/90s: “Video nasties.”
00s: Computer games.
All of these have been blamed for causing violence, disorder, and moral decay in their respective decades.
Before that; it was all kittens and bibles, and no violence at all. Those were the days. Anyone got any glass cleaner by the way? My rose tinted specs need a polish.
Dan C, Wakefield, United Kingdom
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Added:
Wednesday, 11 November, 2009, 11:15 GMT
11:15 UK
How come Mr Keith Vaz is never reported as being "Absolutely shocked" when we are shown videos of innocent western christian "Hostages" being beheaded. Where is his voice then?
danny streather, United Kingdom
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Added:
Wednesday, 11 November, 2009, 11:14 GMT
11:14 UK
I suggest a lot of the over-reacting Mary Whitehouse types watch Charlie Brookers Gameswipe for an instant and humourous account of the way games are treated in the media. Perhaps they will think differently? Perhaps not. It is incredible the level of ignorance that surrounds one of the largest industries in the world. The annual attack on video games is mainly boring but unfortuantely, it seems, inevitable. Open your eyes to the bigger picture.
Neil Duncan, Edinburgh
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Added:
Wednesday, 11 November, 2009, 10:41 GMT
10:41 UK
People who complain about this have no concept of computer gaming. You will never find somebody who grew up playing computers/consoles (my generation was the Commodore 64) thinking this is an issue. I have two sons and do not worry about this at all. Before Consoles kids would play war in the streets etc, it really is no different on a psychological level. They are just computer games and we should give children more credit to be able to identify the difference.
Richard Adams, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Added:
Wednesday, 11 November, 2009, 10:40 GMT
10:40 UK
The thing that shocks Keith Vaz is not the violence in the game, but that the violence in the game reminds him of the potential for violence that is in him, just as it is in the rest of us.
For the vast majority (that play these kind of games) the violence in the games provides a safe release of tensions, and stresses of their lives. It is only in the very rare cases where someone with existing latent psychopathic tendencies might be triggered in to acts of real violence by playing these games.
Simon Attwood
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Added:
Wednesday, 11 November, 2009, 10:39 GMT
10:39 UK
As far as they want to. The only concern is to have more efficient management of keeping them out of the hands of children. As an adult, I'd rather not lose out on playing games I enjoy because there is hypothetically a 1-in-a-billion lunatic out there who might be pushed over the edge by it.
The older generation don't understand games and that is the sole reason they come under fire. I'm reading Crime and Punishment. Very graphic violence in it. I doubt many MPs are organising a book burning.
Alex, Oxford
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Added:
Wednesday, 11 November, 2009, 10:37 GMT
10:37 UK
Is there any evidence that violent games cause violence? No? Thought not. More frightened people screaming 'Ban it! Ban it!'
[spotlesslyclean], Scottish Borders, Europe
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Added:
Wednesday, 11 November, 2009, 10:35 GMT
10:35 UK
"It is however suggesting a less direct link and some psychologists have noted a possible link between the increases of violence in the media and de-sensitivity to violence among the general public.
[PaulRichard2]"
However we don't have bans on slasher flicks because kids can watch classification 18 DVDs their parents bought them, do we?
Mark, Exeter, UK
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Added:
Wednesday, 11 November, 2009, 10:33 GMT
10:33 UK
How many of you on here complaining have watched alien? Have a go at the half life games and you will find a game with more story and less guts.
Anyone a fan of police or anti terrorist films? have a go at rainbow 6.
Like watching afghan war films? Full spectrum warrior.
WW films? call of duty.
We all have our favorites, both film and game. Films are linear, games allow you to see more and make choices. Experience events and think. Games are similar to films but have more to show
wayne, lancashire, uk
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Added:
Wednesday, 11 November, 2009, 10:28 GMT
10:28 UK
If anything realistic computer violence and military combat is a far better experience than action movie combat or energy shielded space marines in your standard first person shooters. Especially multiplayer games where the odds are even.
While Arnie/Stallone may gun down armies wearing nothing but a muscle shirt and holding a machine gun on handed and Master Chief saved humanity almost single handed, playing counterstrike or similar shows you just how easy it is to die in a realistic war.
Daniel, High Wycombe
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Added:
Wednesday, 11 November, 2009, 10:22 GMT
10:22 UK
Oddly, when I'm walking home at night it's not the kids sat at home playing video games that I'm worried about...
Adrain Mathras, Lichfield
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Added:
Wednesday, 11 November, 2009, 10:16 GMT
10:16 UK
I am not very keen on computer games that encourage you to drive recklessly, or to commit acts of gratuitious violence without any consequences. They must desensitize children to the real thing to some extent. This might explain the appalling behaviour of some young people.
[Del_Herts], Rickmansworth, United Kingdom
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Added:
Wednesday, 11 November, 2009, 10:12 GMT
10:12 UK
The front page on HYS says "Should Video Games Reflect Real Life Violence?"
Does this mean we should be more bothered about violence in video games than the real life violence you claim it reflects?
Of course video games shouldn't reflect real life violence because real life violence shouldn't exist. Wouldn't it be nice if the only violence in the World was that seen in video games or on TV!
You should worry a bit more about real violence, the stuff that really affects us, not games!
Nigel Kidd, United Kingdom
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DEBATE STATUS
Total comments: 1026
Published comments: 808
Rejected comments: 137
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