"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)
To simply say, you cannot federally regulate video games. Though there was a comment saying how government and school can be regulated is that you have different mind sets come in to the same place that can cause conflicts due to the fact that government and schools are not "go as you please," while in public such as where you can categorize video games and other forms of media and entertainment, you cannot suppress the rights that are so given to the people by its government. Im glad that there are parents out there that dont let their kids play these kind of games, cause it shows who is in control in the household. But dont take away the rights of others because the simple fact that you dont like it. Remember you arent the only person in this country and it is not the right of the majority to take away the rights of the minority. But you can look simply at the statistics that were stated in the article, 1/3 are under 18 and only 15% of the video game market is mature+ games, meaning 1/9 of the people who play games buy mature+ games. Remember that we are a mix of conflicting cultures that cannot agree with each other. Even when it also says how crime is at a low, and yet society itself is not a moral one, and has not been for times beyond the majority of the people who will read this. And finally it is the responsibilty of a parent to care and teach a child about what is right and wrong, not society and neither is it society's fault for what your child does.
I am so sick of you people trying to take things like video games away! Why don't you look at the real reason America is the way it is.
Video Games are not murder simulators. Just because one plays games based on the SEALS or Green Berets or whatever doesn't mean that the player has enough experience to be one. Sure, I believe that kids ( I mean the 2 to 12 crowd) shouldn't be exposed to that kind of violence, but then again, isn't it the parent's right to decide? If someone's mind is so fried to the point that they cannot distinguish real life from movies, video games or music, it's their problem, not mine, and hopefully, not yours. In essence, pointing and clicking is a whole lot different from actually firing a firearm, or punching someone, etc.
Just because we game doesnt' mean that we are always inside...I have horses, atv's and lot's of property...I am always outside doing things and having fun...but that doesn't mean when I am inside that I can't play a video game.
**** yeah
Rather than look into a world that isn't real step outside your homes. Say hello to a neighbor, go for a walk, ride a bike or sit outside and enjoy sometime away from the electronic entertainment. Don't narrow your view of the world into something the size of TV screen.
and tomorrow there will be a new news message and they will be blaming something else for people's behavior...cant' wait to see what it will be tomorrow....cause it couldn't be the parents fault.
I think it is GREAT that they have articles like this. I understand that most of you are grown adults and it is perfectly acceptable to play a game like this. But it ISN'T acceptable for young minds that are still forming. Children aged 4-12 still cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality! There has been a lot of research that links actual violence and watching it at a very young age. There are some very stupid parents out there that let their kids watch and play ANYTHING!
THE GAME IS NOT FOR KIDS!!! if you're worried about how easy it is for kids to get these games then focus on the retailers. Same way you don't let kids smoke cigs, get porn or watch rated R movies. This is a stupid issue brought out by conservatives who have a twisted hipocritical sense of Values. I repeat..THE GAME IS NOT FOR KIDS. The video game industry has already proven and made it very clear that video games are not just for kids. if an ADULT wants to play this game, he has every right. It's the same as watching a horror film which actually has more realistic depictions of violence than this game or any other game has.
what happened to freedom?