Gaming research

Who is most likely to be effected by video games?



Tucker Carlson says, “According to a new study, non-aggressive children who were exposed to high levels of media violence had similar patterns of activity in the area of the brain linked to self-control — the same as aggressive children diagnosed with disrupted behavior disorder.”


Research shows that the target audiences most likely to be affected by violent games are males aged 16-25.


www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9087687



Are games to blame for violent behavior?

Psychologists, ‘who have worked with violent television and films for 50 years’, argue that there are a number of different factors that need to be taken into consideration when observing the link between violent video games and behavior. The link below highlights several reasons why certain games could be to blame for violent behavior. (1) The games are highly engaging and interactive, (2) the games reward violent behavior, and because (3) children repeat these behaviors over and over as they play (Gentile & Anderson, 2003). Psychologists know that each of these help learning – “Active involvement improves learning, rewards increase learning, and repeating something over and over increases learning.”

www.psychologymatters.org/videogames.html




What are the violent games that are causing the most concern?

Parents are unaware of the popularity of violent games and because of the attitude and behavior of society, parents will now look further into the ethos of certain games for their children. For example, during the first minutes of Resident Evil 4, it displays a lot of violence. “It's possible to find the corpse of a woman pinned up on a wall--by a pitchfork through her face."


Other examples included Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Here the gamer is a young man working with gangs to gain respect. His mission includes murder, theft, and destruction on every imaginable level. Player recovers his health by visiting prostitutes then recovers funds by beating them to death and taking their money. Player can wreak as much havoc as he likes without progressing through the game's storyline."


Furthermore in God of War, the player, who is independent, becomes a ruthless warrior, seeking revenge against the gods who tricked him into murdering his own family. “Prisoners are burned alive and the player can use 'finishing moves' to kill opponents, like tearing a victim in half."


In NARC not only focuses on the violent aspect but also on the drugs. “The player can choose between two narcotics agents attempting to take a dangerous drug off the streets and shut down the KRAK cartel while being subject to temptations including drugs and money. To enhance abilities, player takes drugs including pot, Quaaludes, ecstasy, LSD, and Liquid Soul which provides the ability to kick enemies heads off."


To add to the list, The Warriors which is based on a 70s action flick, “Set new standards for artistic violence, street gang battles its way across NYC in an attempt to reach its home turf. Player issues several commands to his gang, including 'mayhem, which causes the gang to smash everything in sight."


The game, Crime Life Gang Wars, looks into a ruthless street gang. “Spending time fighting, recruiting new gangsters, looting, and of course, more fighting. Player can roam the streets and fight or kill anyone in sight for no apparent reason."


www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?type=article&article_id=218392248



Why are these games so dangerous?


This whole argument to whether violent games can result in violent behavior is subjective as it can’t be measured. This is reinforced by the government who state that, "It is important to note that there is no conclusive evidence of any link between playing computer games and violent behavior in real life.”

"A researcher at England's University of Essex says that there is little evidence to suggest that video games are harmful. Patrick Kierkegaard, writing in the current International Journal of Liability and Scientific Enquiry, adds that, in his view, games do not lead to aggression. He also suggests that previous studies linking games and aggression are biased.”


Kierkegaard explains... “There is no obvious link between real world violence statistics and the advent of video games. If anything, the effect seems to be the exact opposite and one might argue that video game usage has reduced real violence.”


The research we have found, suggesting that there is a link between the two, shows that games are dangerous because of the following. (1) They influence an impressionable generation, (2) they encourage and reward unacceptable behavior and (3) they glamorize a negative lifestyle.


How are these violent games regulated?


Video games are supervised by a company called BBFC. The BBFC is a highly expert and experienced regulator of the moving image (especially film, video/DVD and video games), and also a service provider for new and developing media. They have the authority to give games a certificate that is suitable for certain age groups. Games such as the dragon age origins has been officially marked 18 due to strong bloody violence and one strong sexual image.



www.bbfc.co.uk/recent/index.php?media=film




Are there any cases in which video games has been linked to crime


There are subjective views on this topic that has made people believe that Devin Moore has murdered people due to a very negative video game called Grand theft auto, which mainly concentrates on violence, sex, drugs and abuse. Not only that but many people believe that this influences people to come out of their comfort zone just to be like the person in the game. Last winter, a multi-million dollar lawsuit was filed in Alabama against the makers and marketers of Grand Theft Auto, claiming that months of playing the game led a teenager to go on a rampage and kill three men, two of them police officers. Attorney Jack Thompson, a long-time crusader against video-game violence, is bringing the suit. "What we're saying is that Devin Moore was, in effect, trained to do what he did. He was given a murder simulator," says Thompson. Moore’s victims were Ace Mealer, a 911 dispatcher; James Crump, a police officer; and Arnold Strickland, another officer who was on patrol in the early morning hours of June 7, 2003, when he brought in Moore on suspicion of stealing a car.

www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/17/60minutes/main702599.shtml


What can be done to stop this


If we were to use games that are educational and games that would benifit us for a positive reason then maybe the crime of violence will be reduced.


Violent Game

Educational game

How I can use this research in my documentary?

The information gathered for my gaming research has made me understand that certain games can effect people such as children by changing their mood and behaviour. My focus group have introudced that games such as Brian Training and Wii Sports can actually benifit children to do excercise physically and mentally. This plays a big impact on my game documentary as it would make me focus on how games can affect children from two different angles, one from a violent angle and another in a benificial angle. I genuinely think that this documentary has potential as my research answers a lot of the questions that I have wanted to find.





However I do not think that this documentary is very viable as I havent found research to prove that good games can benifit children. If I was to find facts that suggest that games can teach us something, then I could mix this docuementary between the two topics making the documentary more viable.