More Game Research Coming - With Strings Attached

Did you ever wonder how video games effect you? Well, there could be more research coming, this time from a U.S. Government mandate, proposed by senators biased against "sick and indefensible" games like Grand Theft Auto 3.

Senator Joe Leiberman, former VP candidate with Al Gore and long-time anti-game-violence crusader, has partnered with Kansas Republican Senator Sam Brownback to propose this legislation: a new Federal Research Program on Media and Children within the National Institutes of Health. I covered these two when they were working to legislate advertising video games to kids. They have some important points to make, amidst a lot of misinformation and grandstanding over violence and immoral content in video games. Lieberman, in his statement talks of closing the "research gap" that prevents people from agreeing that violent media teaches violence. He does mention an opposition to censorship, but I think he hopes to lay a sort of moral pressure on game makers to help them see that they are polluting young minds. I wonder if Rockstar is listening.

The research they are proposing might develop some useful data along the lines of Mark Prensky's work on "Digital Game-Based Learning" which I have on order from Amazon. Hopefully, the researchers will start their research into games with an open mind, and a sense of context and history of other "violence in media" campaigns. Anyone fancy a Dime Novel?

(Seen on CNET News.com coverage: "Senators target video violence" from Ben at Serious Games)

Comments

[jane]

we definitely need more research in this area. but i'm afriad i'd trust Lieberman's research findings about as much as i'd trust a Phillip Morris study on lung cancer.

it's such a problem - we need research, but where are we going to get the money? maybe when the CDC is done figuring out the SARS epidemic ...

Bowler, you really need to write your violence in videogames piece!

[Robert]

good god man why are they crusading against violence in video games

why not violence in movies or violence on tv or in books

violence is part of nature
its in your genes to commit violence only some people have more control and taking away some violent video games could make people rechannel their aggressiveness into worse areas

[Ryo]

I agree with the comment above. If we take away violence in video games, we take away people's method of venting. Then, violent people will stay angry rather than take it out in the video game, and are more likely to kill people in real life, don't you think? There's an excellent article on this in the introduction of Director's Cut of Johnny the Homicidal Maniac...since most people won't pay 20$ to read an article, I'll copy some of it here:

"Let's talk about violence, shall we? Violence in the media is an easy target. 'If we get rid of all the violent movies, television shows and comic books, the world will be Utopian!' An easily believable answer. Just ask your mom.

"Jhonen Vasquez [creator of JTHM] has touched something important here. There's a little monster inside all of us, a little wolf-faced monkey that needs to be satiated. As people, we musn't ignore that monster. If we do, we cheat ourselves. We deny an emotion, a feeling.

"Think of someone who pissed you off. Some yutz who cut you off in traffic; a prick-ass Kinko's employee who took three hours to copy your resume; the big bully who spit in your face when you were eight. Now, in your head, relive that moment. This time, however, don't just stand there and take it. This time you've got a knife. Pull it out from behind your back and watch the status flip-flop. Suddenly, Mr. Kinko isn't so cocky. The playground bully is crying for his mother. Smell their fear. Then, kill them. Kill them like you see in the movies. Make it as horrible as possible. Release that monster and stab that knife deep into their face.

"As humans, we are taught to forget that we are animals. Animals kill to survive and it's just as natural for us. To deny nature is to deny life. Now that you've committed murder in your dream world, relax. Take a deep breath, give your monster a high five and put him away. You've just used an evil fantasy to keep you civilized and sane.

"Some may call this irresponsible advice. They kid themselves that their monster doesn't exist. And when a person lies to themselves, there is less chance for spiritual growth. More than likely, their monster will step out of the Dreamworld and into the Realworld. That's how a society gets messy. Lots of neglected, hungry monsters."

Now, I know and understand that this theory isn't without flaw, but it's alot more logical than the "Without violent media, the world is happy-happy-joy-joy" theory, don't you think? Violent videogames are just a manifestation of this.

[MORAKDAIS]

I THINK THESE COMMENTS ARE ALL VERY VALID IN THE REAL WORLD. BUT YOU NEED AN EXAMPLE, HOW ABOUT THE WITCH TRIALS, THEY WERE SEXUALLY, VIOLENTLY, AND SOCIALLY CONSTRICTED. JUST LOOK HOW DEVIANT AND EVIL ALL THE THINGS THEY DID WERE.

WE HAVE VIDEO GAMES NOW, BUT THE ONLY TRUE COST IS EDUCATION. EDUCATIONAL GAMES ARE LIMITED, EXCEPT FOR GAMES LIKE "DYNASTY WARRIORS" AND "ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS", IN FACT THE GAME MEANT FOR CHILDREN ARE DISGUSTING. I THINK MOST KIDS VIDEO GAMES HAVE ONLY ONE REDEEMING QUALITY, HAND-EYE CO-ORDINATION. AS FOR ANY KNOWLEDGE, JUMP AND HIT, ARE LACKING, AS IS THE STORYLINES. "SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS" THE VIDEO GAME IS MINDLESS, AT LEAST GIVE KIDS A PUZZLE OR TWO.

BANNING OR LIMITING VIDEO GAME VIOLENCE OR EXPOSURE, IS BY ALL MEANS, IMPOSSIBLE. IF YOU DRAW ATTENTION TO IT, AS BEING ONLY FOR ADULTS, THE DESIRE FOR THEM GROWS IN YOUNG AUDIENCES. I REMEMBER WATCHING VIOLENT MOVIES WITH MY MOM, SHE THOUGHT IT WAS NOTHING, AND THE PEOPLE WORKING AT THE MOVIES COULD CARE LESS. NOW AS FOR PARENTS COMPLAINING, BE MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS! SAME GOES FOR THOSE EMULATING BEHAVIORS, WHETHER VIOLENT, SEXUAL, OR SOCIALLY UNEXCEPTABLE.

SORRY FOR THIS BEING IN ALL CAPS.