"There is a warning about a new video game that will soon hit store shelves," starts the local TV news report about Rockstar Games' upcoming Manhunt 2, delivered in a typically sermonizing TV anchor tenor, as a montage of disturbing images from the game plays in the background. "Players simulate various ways of murder from strangulation to stabbings with their controllers."
Video game watchdogs have called Rockstar Games' bloody Manhunt 2 (pictured above) a "murder training device." Click to see more images from the controversial game.
Every generation of popular culture needs a boogeyman, and like dime-store novels, comic books and horror films, video games are public enemy number-one for many parents, politicians and pundits. According to them, games desensitize children and turn them into unfeeling killing machines. Controversial anti-game attorney Jack Thompson has called violent games "murder simulators," and has attributed (often without evidence) many cases of school violence to gamers acting out what they see on screen.
Reader Comments (290)
if you don't like these types of games, show it with your wallet and DON'T BUY THEM!!!! Parents must learn that the only way your kid will play this game is if you buy it for them!!! And don't allow your kids to visit other friends houses that are allowed to play this horrid game! Its not the game studios fault for releacing the game, there is an obvious demand for it!
Something I just realized, Television, games, and other things affect what you do, indirectly. When I began watching the Simpsons my family said I became more aggressive, they said it happened with my brother, and when he stopped he went back to the way he was. Now the way I control my anger is talking with people and yes, playing video games.
spotcat2....wow...I didn't say just cause i have a degree...however I am a professional just like many others who play video games...you'd be suprises who plays these games and we are fine...it's just a game. Apparently you can't distinguish between reality and fantasy or else you would know that us "gamers" don't go out and kill people just because we play a video game. Grow up! Oh and do some real research....on Psych and the mind...not internet bull**** research that you can't trust...actually pick up a legit book.
These types of video games were invented and used by the army to desensitize their soldiers to shooting first and asking questions later. And it works. I am an English high school teachers, and anybody who says that these games have no effect on young minds needs to come and spend a day with me. Every year I see kids becoming more and more callous about violence. They laugh when they see someone being hurt in a movie. Their grey matter is turning to mush, ostly due to what they watch and listen to. Sorry, guys. I'm in the trenches.
I believe that parenting has become too dependent on society and media to do what jobs they are supposed to do. Remember how when most of us were young when there were tv shows that taught us right from wrong? Well that isnt the picture today. I personally am not a parent but have friends that are, and in so i have seen some of the modern cartoons that are intended specifically for young children like the new Carebears, the nicktoon shows, they dont depcit or have villains like the old cartoons of youth that showed you what was wrong and those that were good defeating those that were bad. And most parents today let these shows imprint onto there child's brain as if it is reality, but we as adults know that reality is far worse than what anybody else sees, so parents need to start finding a way to make their children know that what shows and games they play are not real and are never like that in real life. And society needs to let the parents be parents instead of sending the child away to a foster home at the first sign of discipline and give parents the benefit of the doubt on occasion. And remember, its only a game, not real life.
Nothing can make the USA any worse as it is now, number one murder country in the world.
Here is the bottom line...if you don't like it don't buy it but don't ruin it for the rest of us. If you think that video games are ruining people than you need to take a look around because I know a lot of professionals... that play and we are just fine...it's just a damn hobby. So get over it and don't ruin it for us.
Now I SEEE WHY SO MANY PEOPLE WANT TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN IN DIFFERENT PART OF THE WORLD EXCEPT FOR THE UNITED STATES, SUCH A CORRUPT COUNTRY THATS A SHAME!!!!!
kittylady...I have a degree also and have studied Psycology. I believe what II said and until someone can tell me why killing people on video screens is entertaining and fun, I will not change my point of view. You my friends are just kidding yourselves to think it is normal and a nice thing to do. Again, I do feel sorry for you all. Having a degree doen't mean you are not sick or twisted, kind, or caring. It just means you went to school and learned some stuff.
I think that the games are fine as long as the kid knows its not right to do it in real life then i dont see any harm in playing. Im 16 and i play grand theft auto san andreas all the time and i know what im playing is wrong and would NEVER do anything bad like that. But like i said as long as the child knows what he/she is doing is wrong then let them play it godish!!