The case of Daniel Petric, the "Halo Killer' again brings up the question: are your kids at risk for video game-induced rage? Photo Credit: AP
Daniel Petric, the now 17-year-old in question, recently got 23 years to life for killing his mother (his father survived his wounds) and claimed insanity at his trial. An obsession with the sci-fi shooter game Halo 3 supposedly kept Daniel in his room playing the game for up to 18 hours a day -- and he began to confuse the land of Halo with that of reality.
Originally, Daniel said his father, Mark Petric, shot his mother and then turned the gun on himself. But his father survived and told police the truth. A local pastor in Wellington, Ohio, Mark has since forgiven his son and even testified on his behalf at his trial.
Another instance of a teenager flying into a rage after being deprived of a video game took place in 2006, in Arkansas. After grounding her grandson, Allen Gann, from playing games the night before for not doing his chores, he sat down and played a full day's worth, including Resident Evil, Smackdown vs. Raw and Midnight Club 2.
When she reminded him of the punishment, the 17-year-old flew into a rage, choking her and later, throwing a hammer at a state trooper. The teenager was then shot by the trooper in the leg and charged as an adult with aggravated assault. Not a pretty picture.
Add to this that the Washington DC sniper, Lee Boyd Malvo, played Halo regularly and the Columbine shooters were huge Doom fans, and you're left with an idea that violent games may lead to violent behavior in certain children.
Video Game Rage in the News
In this infamous case, 18-year-old Devin Moore says he went on a killing spree inspired by Grand Theft Auto.
Source: CBS News/60 Minutes
A thirteen-year-old boy stabs his 16-year-old brother in the chest after an alleged argument over who would play next.
Source: Kotaku
A Navy man kills a fellow sailor while playing a video game.
Source: Fox News
An in-game rivalry continues in a real-life brawl. One of the players was so badly beaten that he died from his injuries. The story also says that another Moscow man was beaten to death in a similar situation and a 20-year-old gamer killed his grandmother when she said it was time to eat dinner.
Source: GameSpot
A matter of weeks ago, a PC gamer in Shanghai was murdered after an argument about a virtual weapon in the game. The victim was sleeping when the murderer broke in and stabbed him to death.
Source: China Daily
So how do you make sure your kids keep their rage in check while playing their favorite video games? In a world obsessed with electronics—it may be tougher than you think. Cell phones, computers and video games occupy a huge place in our children's worlds and though we all had experience with some sort of technology growing up, none of us are equipped to understand exactly how it is affecting the next generation. In other words, it's lost in translation.
So, in addition to trying to understand how your child is living through this new, connected world, you may want to try to take things in moderation. If you want to cut down on game time, limit time gradually and check out a few handy tools, taken from Microsoft's GetGameSmart.org site, such a polls like Do You Know Your Gamers, the ability to download a pact that spells out the rules for all digital entertainment, and print out checklists that let parents track their kid's digital footprints.
Web site mothernature.com says addiction to video games is more common than we'd like to think, and could be a sign that something else might be wrong with your child. It could very well be an escape from problems at home or at school. A family counselor or therapist may not be a bad idea if video game habits change suddenly.
If your child has a problem listening to you when you suggest cutting down on gaming time, Steven Silvern, Ph.D., suggests a few tips. These include developing an incentive system, scheduling "reality" break times to discuss what's going on in the house with a family member or friend, make gaming a social occasion rather than letting your child play for hours alone and even playing games with your kids so you can share their experiences.
As you can see in these viral videos, some children behave like toddlers when their gaming privileges are taken away or managed. Nobody wants to see this from someone they love, so be aware, be vigilant and be sure to impose rules that the whole family can abide by.
Reader Comments (519)
"Video game rage" is a myth. If anything being able to shoot the things we don't like in video games is a stress reliever. Everything from shooting a cop to combat authority figures we don't like or driving a car that we could never afford, video games lessen rage and allow people to escape their lives for a period of time. So this kid played Halo 3 all day, so what. Did his out of touch parents ever stop to think that maybe he played videogames all day was so he didn't have to listen to them? It takes more than just anger over restricted videogame time to kill someone, they were probly hardass parents who didn't care what he thought or felt. The parents didn't deserve to die, but who says they should be martyrs?
My parents have told me that when I spend less time in front of the screen I tend to have a much nicer disposition towards them. They began to limit my time in the games, and now I've been limiting it even when they aren't home. I've always been social in school, but now I'm more social outside of school. I'd ride my bike 45+ miles just to go to an afternoon program at the library when I can't get a lift. I play several instruments, and summer band camp can get really taxing with the heat an the amount of physical activity that we actually do. Staying inside playing video games isn't healthy both mentally, socially, and physically. Staying inside when the only form of contact is somebody's avatar isn't healthy. Now I don't mean to say that video games caused this. I turn out the same whether it's PacMan or Oblivion. I can tell the difference between the island of Vvardenfell and my living room. I can turn off the computer and call up a friend to go get lunch. But sometimes I do get addicted. I actually look at my high score, and I wanna keep going. I get involved in the RPG's story line. But it's like with anything, if you have a problem, you need help. The parents were correct in spotting the problem and acting on it, however it was too late for him. I'm not blaming anyone/thing for this except the kid who had a problem.
This is complete B.S. if this were true every kid imaginable would be shooting people up. They probably just say that stuff because its an easy cop out. Yes kids may get addicted to playing games but it is more a stress reliever than anything. Kids, Teenagers, Adults what have you know right from wrong and to think otherwise is dumb. Just like when they say its ok to kill somebody in war but if you do it here oh my god its horrible they are both the same thing. This is what is wrong with the world blaming something else for a kid etc. Video game rage is the stupidest thing i have ever heard of and really a good cop out for people not to realize maybe they are just contemplating doing just because. No one kills for no reason, It has nothing to do with the parents, if your treating your kids right everything is going to be fine its the stricter parents the ones that beat their kids those are the kids you should watch out for. outside influence is alot worse than a videogame and you don't have to believe me but it's true. The problem lies with that person no one else and to blame someone else is just stupid.
bendthyspoon you were talking about how your kids get agressive when they are asked to turn off their games. but i know that when my dad gets home from a tough day of work and wants to relax, i turn off the grand theft auto 4 and give up the TV. easy. other kids are just selfish and dont know when to stop
point out queenforce not me cuz i was #2 and when i read that i was freakin out cuz i didnt say any of that P.S. your post is awesome
HEY #2 you said when games first came out they had no graphics and hardly any of them were half as violent or graphic as the ones today. That may be true to a point but look at it this way... the graphics today are no different then they were back in the day becuase back in the day they were great graphics, no one knew they would evolve they way they did and the violence was always there and anyone can poke blame for someones bad behavior based on anything that they are doing, whether it's playing a game, listening to music or watching a movie. Everything can influence us but it's the parents job to do the sensoring. DON'T BLAME THE GAMES!!! That is just an exuse. It's the parents fault for letting the six year old play the bad games, and if the child is already disturbed (becuase of the up bringing) then the game has nothing to do with the violent behavior. Bad games, bad movies, and bad Music do not creat crazy people, they only make them more creative. The fact that you think they influence thoughts and behavior is ignorant. A normal child would not want to play a game like that, My child sees blood in a movie or a game (only reason he watched or played was because we thought it didn't have any) he turns his head and if he didn't turn his head he wouldn't grab an axe and hack up the neighbors. If you truly believe that than you need to do more research. I'm not saying little kids (minors) should be playing violent games, I agree but that is why they put warnings on the games "M" for Mature, "T" for teen "E" for everyone and so on, just like movies are rated PG & R and so on. It's the parents to choice to bring the child to the movies and if you think the kid is disturbed or can't handle it then don't let them see the movie or play the game. Kids do not have access to this stuff without the parents getting it for them. People can say whatever they want about video games and it will continue, the same bad things could have been said about the old school games back in the day. Take for example RAMPAGE, old school game, concept.. become a monster, destroy buildings occupied by people and eat people to regain your health, one might say that game is training a terrorist, it puts thoughts into peoples heads about blowing up buildings. Let's look at the ever popular PAC-MAN. A hyper active chomper that eats pellets being chased by ghosts and eats an energizer to gain power to eat the ghosts that were more powerful than PAC MAN. One could say this is about DRUG ADDICTION, he's high on speed popping pills like crazy being chased down by the Fuzz (ghosts) or one could say it's a sport competition where everyone tries to kill the man eating the pills and PAC MAN takes steroids to juice up and kill the ghosts. also if you stand behind your statement on that games influence thoughts and behavior in kids than why not preach that convicted murderers or any convict for that matter, sit in a cell and watch disney movies all day, would that influence their thoughts or behavior of that killer and make them good? Hmmm? No it wouldn't that is just as ignorant as blaming the games. Those convicts are crazy and nothing will make them better except GOD. Why would you even let your kid play with a kid that choked and left marks on their neck? I don't care if you are supervising them. Did you ever stop to think or even ask your kid if they want to play with little Micheal Myers? Maybe they are too scared to say anything to you. Maybe you should look at the way you influence your own kids before you make judgements about other people.
to the parents who think video games are basically brain washing materials that make kids lose sight of reality. STFU!!! kids that lose sight of reality in games play them all the time because they are the kids that get bullied at school and dont really have a social life to fall back on so they play games to forget the outside that has treated them so poorly.
I play pacman for 23 and a half hours a day. one time my grandma tried to take away my pacman for 3 minutes.i drop kicked her down the stairs and ate a few ghosts. jk.i play gears of war competitively cause its fun. Im still extremely social playing basketball, and football. i never get angry at my parents and i dont play every day. in my oppinion the games dont make the kids insane the kids are already insane to begin with. they just use the video game as a tool to further their insanity. common sense u dont give a coo coo bird a video game about killing thing.lol thats a no brainer.
YOu gamers need to shut off the system and check into reality. You are so caught up in your game worlds, you have no clue what's even happeining to you or your children. The games may not be the direct cause, but to say they have no influence on behavior and thoughts is just plain ignorant. Everything we do influences us. Games when they first came out had no graphics what so ever and hardly any of them were half as violent or graphic as the ones today. I limit my childrens games, and I absolutely refuse to by them any games like that of grand theft auto, halo, doom. People these days who by themselves are normally non violent, will find themselves outside of themselves while driving and become enraged and aggressive. We all know I'm referring to road rage. So with the breakdown of family coconnections, morals, ethics, conscience, remorse we are seeing the effects of violent video games among kids, this may just be the beginning of video rage. Games are forever wanting to get more graphic or detailed in violence, sex, language. My neighbor's husband thought it was ok to let his son play grand theft auto at the age of 6 yrs. This boy was very aggressive and violent. On one occasion when he wouldn't let my son have a turn on his game,not grand theft auto,my son(who was wrong for saying it) said he would break his playstation(said just in anger), the boy in response got up and started choking my son. So severely he left hand prints all over his neck that took awhile to go away. Needless to say my son rarely played with him without supervision. These violent games are definitely affecting our children, to ignore this is irrespsonsible as parents and citizens. She too put him in karate classes and this only enabled his anger. He loved the idea of trying what he learned in class on the boys on the block. That was 6 yrs ago. I don't know what has become of him, but I know that my son does not play any of those games. Even as a teen, I doubt that I will allow those type of games into my home. I do not condone violence, even to VENT as some suggest. I will say this, even though my son mainly plays pokemon,yugio, harry potter, and mario, I notice that while playing he gets inpatient and snappy, but not violent. I don't allow him to continue, at that point it's enough and he gets off. Gaming can get addicting and if you get snappy on mild games just imaging playing the said games in article. You can't ignore the fact that these games have been stimulating their anger, aggression, and violent tendencies while playing all those hours and then comes along mom and they react to the already pumped up adrenalin. Teens' emotional and mental maturity has not developed thus making them easy targets for this kind of stimuli and unable to disipate the said emotions or behavior. I don't think it is the best way to vent anger or violence from a hard stressful day. I think ways of calming your mind and spirit would be more of a benefit. Violent games only contribute or intensify your already angered aggression. It's subliminal I think in nature. It's scultping your behavior and behvioral thoughts without you even knowing, this especially true for kids and teens all the way to 19,not just the young teens.
"hey bendthyspoon i play GTA IV and im 16 when my dad gets home and wants to watch tv do you know what i do? i get off the xbox with no complaint not one. my parents raised me well (and still do) and ive never had the moronic thought to go and shoot anybody its the most stupidest thought anybody can have at all. but also, all these gamers need to know when to stop playing this addiction stuff is plain wrong its like drinking alcohol, you gotta know when to stop drinking but no one does know when to stop... " Not real sure why you are directing your post at me.