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)
mixermatt has a really good point if the parents really cared they could take several steps in stopping their kids
dont blame video games blame the parents that let there kids play the violent games. theres always a rating for each game so screw all the critics that say video games r to blame!
"And I say some of these games DO cause violent behavior! I've seen it. I was stunned when my sons shouted back at me after being asked to get off the game and get their chores done, or even come to dinner... something they had never done before.My 27 year old staying here for training in the Army said Call To Duty was very realistic, hooks you into extended play, and has even become enraged with the game himself. I can't stand the constant shooting noise in the game and had to really come down hard on the use of Call to duty, World of Warcraft, whatever.There's enough shooting going on in this world for real-I don't want to hear it in my home. Oh, the kid's response to me? "It's just a game! Geez!" " OK I play world of warcraft. I have 2 of the highest lvl characters you can reach. I also have 5 children, one of which plays world of warcraft. Neither one of have ever went on a killing spree, we have never went and shot anyone for that matter. Maybe all you so called "parents" that blame things on video games should take a look at yourselves. Your no diffrent then the parents that blame everything on music and movies. Your kids are screwed up to start with if they go and shoot people over music a video game or a movie. YOUR kid is screwed up, has nothing to do with games, music or movies. Learn to be a parent, do things with your kids, play the game with the kids, its a game/entertainment. If your kid cant tell the difference between a game and reality you need to get the kid some help. Last time I checked, people arent walking around with mechanical suits on shooting big grenade launchers and laser plasma guns at eachother, so how in the hell can you say they got shooting thier parents or teachers or anyone from a game. The kids start making plasma rays and grenade launchers and bio-mechanical suits and terrorizing the planets then maybe you can blame the games.
It not the videos games that causes these insane outburst of violence its the dillisionally disturbed mind of a child who already had mental issues who happens to be playing the game. Just like someone addicted to violent movies or comic books they cant be held accountable to the mentallity of some loser watching or reading there stuff. millions of kids every day play games hours and hours and vertually almost none comit violence do to it. The kid was a psycho who wants something to play to try to make a deal to give reasoning to try and shorten his sentence time at trial what a dumb loser
Just a reminder all games have a rating on them, 2nd is to know your child like the back of your hand...If a child is starting being takin over by a game the first step is to get ride of the hole works, then seek a doc. help for what ever he maybe going through..and the other key is think before you buy.. they do add. these games in a prime slot.. like the WWE, Or in movies.. and it's up to the Disc. stores to ask for ID..I use to be a gamer. I remember playing the game doom.. I was not having a great day.. as I was playing the game I hit every thing in site.. After I got through the first round.. I thought for a monment and through the game in the trash..again is think before you buy..
Wbischo says it well! Leave the violent games for the people who can see the clear line between Fantasy and Reality. There is a VERY, VERY GOOD REASON as to why games have RATINGS! If it's M for 17+, then you obviously do NOT want to buy a game like, say, God of War, for your ten year old! It's a proven fact that younger children have difficulty telling the difference between what is, and is not real. Obviously, you don't buy them games that involve splattering NPC's all over the screen! I mean, children around 6, 7, and 8, have trouble figuring out that the People in the TV, can't actually hear them! What does that tell you!?
can we please worry about the thousands of other people who kill eachother on a regular basis before we worry about kids who are just video game wackos?
all right lets start from the top 1. the game has A M RATING. if the parents really gave a **** theyd put the parental control. 2.odds are these people are disturbed B4 they play the games.they most likely choose the games because there already screwed in the head 3 if you REALLY read what it says these are just symptoms of a spoiled child. a kid has no self control so EVERYTHING needs to be limited so they can learn that all the things the have are luxuries not necessities. 4.kids are majoricly stupid. tell them don't try this at home is there motivation to try it.although gaming is not a legitimate addiction.due to its popularity kids are unlikely to take a break from it. 5 the fact that these kids have the sources to even get a gun is su****ious all its own.this parents need to give there kids ass whoopings more often. teach that kid what pain is and see if he tries to swing at you again
To blame video games is no different then the infamous "Twinkie Defence". Instead of trying to say "Oh, the video game made him stay in for 18 hours a day", why not examine WHY the kid was able to become so obsessed about ANYTHING to spend 18 hours a day doing something? Video games don't make a killer, or someone with a very unhealthy obsession. If it wasn't for video games, some other catalyst would have been the trigger. When do we start blaming the parents for letting their children get this obsessed? Or for ignoring warning signs? When do we expect parents to be parents? I would ask the author of this piece what video game caused the actions of one Willam Bonney? I may have the name spelled wrong, but regardless, go google "Billy The Kid" on Wikipedia or in a web browser search, I'm sure you've heard of him. What video games did someone like him have in the 19th century? I could provide other famous examples of "pre video game" teenagers and children whom weren't exactly model citizens, but hopefully my point is made. Or in short..let's not blame some inanimate object. Let's place the blame where it should be, with the parents for not caring enough to look for any warning signs in their child REGARLDESS of if they had some form of video games in their home.
I've been playing video games (violent and non/violent) since i was in elementary school, and i would say i've been through times where i was playing all day non-stop. I am perfectly sane, i think it's 100% idiotic that they blame video games. There are alot of underlying issues that we are not hearing and do not know about these kids, hell video games were probably an escapement for them, regardless though, video games don't deserve the blame, things are not that simple, and things are not as what they seem.