Games and their negative influences

[Leprechaun9]

Thought I'd get this debate rolling again by posting this...

GTA linked to homicide in Japan
Game industry suffers more troubles as a 15-year-old accused killer is reported to be a fan of Grand Theft Auto III.

TOKYO--Japan was shocked this week by an incident where a 15-year-old boy has allegedly murdered his parents, by battering them and then slashing them to death. He then concealed his crime by blowing up their Tokyo apartment, using home-made explosives.

Today, some media outlets are reporting that the boy's schoolmates have described him as an average student who loved playing video games, and that he was a fan of Grand Theft Auto III.

The boy was arrested yesterday at a hot springs resort in Gunma prefecture. According to police, the boy admitted to his crime when confronted, reportedly saying, "I wanted to kill my father since he made a fool out of me. I decided to kill my mother as well, since she was always saying that she wanted to die because of all the work she had to do. I felt sorry for her."

Grand Theft Auto III's Japanese publisher, Capcom--and the entire Japanese game industry--have been facing an onslaught of criticism recently, primarily in Kanagawa prefecture where the local government has decided to put age restrictions on the sale of the game. ( link (http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/06/22/news_6128036.html))

So, the question is, did this game cause this?

[hookshot12354]

all i can say is dont give a game where you kill people to a kid who might kill people

[JhonenVasquez]

Whoooooa...good thing Splinter Cell doesn't give us that effect...well...killing effect. http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[Soul Thief]

I find that ******ed. GTA3 doesnt teach you anything, all it teaches (if it teaches anything at all) is that you can smash motorcycles into anything going top speed and it wont explode. And that a single man can take on a army of National Guardsmen (i guess thats GTA SA). People who connect Video Games with personal violence just dont like the fact that kids arent clones of those people, and are changing from the 1950's perfect little Johnny Perfectneighbor.


Or something like that i dont know.

[BliNd-]

I think all theses kids are already messed up. He said his Dad "embarassed," him so he killed him. I have played GTA games before, and been embarassed by my Dad, but I haven't killed him.

I don't think any joe shmoe that playes GTA is gonna kill someone, the people that do are already crazy.

[stealthmaster736]

It was the kid who decided to make the decision to kill his parents.So because it was his decision it was also his fault.
I hate when peole blame video games for violence, the kids are the ones who are stupid enough to copy off of something just because they see it on a game.I'm 13 and I play tons of games where you run around constantly killing things, but I don't imitate it in real life.In Chaos Theory I like to go around shooting people in the head, and in Warrior Within I like too cut things head's off.But I don't do it in real life.So it's not the game, it's the kid.

[Rbdb1R]

its so ridiculous to think that playing a video game makes you go out and kill people....these kids probably would've been killers anyway

[Lhorkan]

Yeah, I can only agree with what you guys posted before me. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-indifferent.gif

[JoNAsOS3]

Wow! Just wow... http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/51.gif
These kids obviously have issues, and blaming that on video games is just plain stupid...

[Desert Hawk]

If you kill someone (Discounting soldiers in war), it's because you weren't taught the values of right and wrong. Because if he was taught that, he would know killing someone is wrong. Either that, or you have a mental illness.

If it was true that games turn you into serial killers, there would be thousands of children outside on massacres.

Gaming is just a scape goat, just like music was years back.

[Derwen_Llewelyn]

Originally posted by Desert Hawk:
Gaming is just a scape goat, just like music was years back.

*nods* Jus like Marilyn Manson's music "get your gunn!" videogames and music arent "poisonous" 4 little kids..thats BS.

However..School IS (sometimes!) bad 4 the kids.
Thats the place where the kiddies gets they very first bad memories.

The enviroment, both family and school can turn someone into a madman if those are negative and unbearable.

Vidgames are NOT inolved. Vidgames are "magic tings" what can make you 4 get your bad day, or
make someone from a "loser" into a "winner."

Blameing the vigame indust. is a big big big BS!

Madness is not THAT simple...madness got 1000000000000000 faces.

[S7N]

it's not computer games that make these kids do things like that

it's the fact that they have social or behavorial problems and/or are mentally disturbed or ill in one way or another

as has been said, GTA3 is being used as a scapegoat

same as Manhunt was used as a scape goat for a killing over here in the UK where a boy lured his buddy into a brick shack and beat and stabbed him to death


the thing is, he probably did get the ideas to kill his friend from playing this game

but the bottom line is, if you cant distinguish between a game and reality, you are not mentally sound.

also, games have ratings for a reason

[RMaule]

Originally posted by S7N:
games have ratings for a reason

Thats it. A simple answer.

I remember the kid who killed his mate like in Manhunt. The game has got a huge 18 rating on the front case. So the parents of the child should be blamed for letting him play it. Also there was no proof that he copied manhunt, they just found a copy of the game in his room and the parents (trying to make there child look innocent) blamed the game.

Your always going to get some nerd who lives by there games. Fools.

[jchung]

Unfortunately some people are in a certain mental state where they are easily influenced by others/ideas. The game probably is the impetus for many of these cases, but then again, for people like this, it can be anything.

If we are going to ban media in order to "save" these people, then we would have to ban certain music, movies, and yes, books. Videos games just happen to be the "new media" to take the blame. There are still plenty of violent books on the shelves, but we really don't hear anything about those anymore do we?

[f16cxv]

the rating on the game is IMPORTANT!!! young children are easily influenced in the ways of violence,drugs and *ehemmm* themes, so if they get used to playing a game with this stuff in it, they are more prone to be using this stuff in the future, however, give an "M" or 18+ game to an adoult, and he/she'll have lots of fun. Plain and simply, get them a game that has the right rating, and you most likley wont have to deal some uglier things in the future, just like alchohol, fun when it's in compident hands, but dangerous in little ones' hands.

[Jason-Bourne223]

I have played many M rated games, I'm 13 now, I haven't played any games with "themes" though, and I have not become violent at all. I play the most video games out of my family, and I am the least violent. I may be desensitised (sp?) some, but that is also due to movies, but I have not been desensitised to real life violence. Here's a link relating to the subject MAVAV (http://www.mavav.org).

Their articles have been down for like half a year or more, so I don't think they really have any. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/88.gif

[SoulFire382]

Meh, those japansese and thier "Honor."
GTA ISN'T INVOLVED! VIDEO GAMES ARE NOT INVOLVED!

People can't realise that video games never have anything to do with killings. This whole issue is absoloutely nothing but a scapegoat for bad parents to find somthing to blame instead of themselves, a story for the media, and a way for moneywhoring cash-mongers to get cash of off a law suit.

[S7N]

you're absolutely right, Maule

the parents should be punished for allowing their children to play these games

of course, that means my parents should have been in jail a decade ago for letting me play Doom

[vpc410]

Ya, if anyone should be blamed it should be the parents that were killed. They obviously didn't raise him right, and his mother had some suicidal tendancies. Video games have no impact on killings mainly because most of us have common sense. I play around 3-4 brand new PC games per week, most of which have some form of violence in them, and I've never even punched someone in the face my whole life or physcially harmed anyone.

[Terrax213]

I wanted to kill my father since he made a fool out of me. I decided to kill my mother as well, since she was always saying that she wanted to die because of all the work she had to do. I felt sorry for her.

That leads me to believe the father was abusive and the mother was never home due to so much work ... that's 2 prime ingredients for violent behavior.

Besides .. he blew up the home with home made explosives ... I've never played GTA, but I highly doubt they give detailed instructions on how to make bombs.

[NSAagent]

hey guys i keep owning in tennis

i also play too much Topspin

[vpc410]

Well then we'd better take those tennis rackets away from you since you could wack people's heads off with them. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-surprised.gif

[scworld]

vpc, post more.

[SoulFire382]

*GASP!*
OMIGOD! I JUST SQUASHED AN ANT AFTER WATCHING SOMEONE PLAY ANIMAL CROSSING! I'M A MURDURAH!

[DrCactus]

gees, whats next? Someone taking a giant beach ball as their Katamari and trying to pick up ppl? Man, Kids these days need to snap out of it and go play tag at the park or something.

[rikakiah]

It's definitely the parents' responsibility. Sure, some games DO affect kids and their ideas and perception (again, ratings are there for a reason). HOWEVER, take the Columbine example for one: the parents didn't have a problem with the kids having gun barrels and other paraphenalia openly displayed in their rooms, yet blamed video games when their kids went off the deep end??? Parents today are typically more focused with their own lives and would much prefer to send their kids to daycare, afterschool activities, and leave them home to fend for themselves for long periods at a time, and yet wonder why their kids have no respect for them or anyone else and do stupid things. Parents need to grow up and accept responsibility for their kids--after all, they're KIDS for Pete's sake, they were never meant to take life on on their own...

[S7N]

Originally posted by vpc410:
Well then we'd better take those tennis rackets away from you since you could wack people's heads off with them. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-surprised.gif

i dont think he meant it like that

i think he means for us to stop him going to Wimbledon and winning......

....heaven forbid

[sam_fisher091]

it is definetley the kid(s). i mean, i play chaos theory, stab people, shoot people, blow the crud outta people, and i don't do it in real life. however, when i went to buy chaos theory, my dad came. we bought it and the sales clerk didn't bat an eye about the M rating. regardless of who's fault it is, they need to enforce ratings.

BTW, i love playing GTA, but i probably won't after this.

[RMaule]

Some stores in the UK are quite strict about age ratings. I was in a store and about 3 little kids asked for a copy of GTA:SA and he just told them to get out. And once when i was 16 i tried to buy a game with a 15 age rating and the bugger refused to serve me because i had no ID on me. I have no trouble with age ratings anymore though, im getting old.

[S7N]

i used to work in GAME, Maule,

we werent allowed to sell a game to anyone under the said age on the box, even if it was an ESRB rating which is a guidance not law

[RMaule]

No, no im not moaning at the store im just saying that the shops are quite strict in the UK when it comes to age ratings. http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

PS Where in the UK are from. and sorry if i offended you

[sam_fisher091]

ya rmaule, but i live in canada, and the ratings aren't enforced.

[SoulFire382]

I don't have much trouble: I get one game every 4 months IF I'M LUCKY. First, I never have enough cash, and if it has a T rating my parents are STILL reluctant to let me play it, and it took me a lot of... negociation to get CT. Next up will be an Xbox 360 and Call of Duty 2. If I can get the cash for it.

[S7N]

hey man, you didnt offend me in anyway, we all adults here (at least i THINK i am) http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-wink.gif

i'm from South East London but i live in Brighton cos i'm at Uni there

[XyZspineZyX]

This like I have said all along. It is not the game manufactors responsibility to raise everyones children. We as gamers could care less about seeing a game about planting a tree.

[RMaule]

Originally posted by S7N:
hey man, you didnt offend me in anyway, we all adults here (at least i THINK i am) http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-wink.gif

i'm from South East London but i live in Brighton cos i'm at Uni there

Hey no probs mate. I live in east london (Barking) and i work in a boring office near London Bridge.

[Green_Day_Rocks]

People react to video game in different ways. It's hard to say.

[XyZspineZyX]

Originally posted by Terrax213:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I wanted to kill my father since he made a fool out of me. I decided to kill my mother as well, since she was always saying that she wanted to die because of all the work she had to do. I felt sorry for her.

That leads me to believe the father was abusive and the mother was never home due to so much work ... that's 2 prime ingredients for violent behavior.

Besides .. he blew up the home with home made explosives ... I've never played GTA, but I highly doubt they give detailed instructions on how to make bombs. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

yeah, i dont remember the "make-a-homemade-pipe-bomb" mission. thats something he learned on his own. You cant blame the kid for 'anger issues', the kid was peobably abused by his father and videogames was his only escape from his cruel reality...

and whatever happened to 'Death Before disshonor'? isn't that what the japanese usually do? althought i guess it really wouldnt work with this story.... only if he'd gone up with the house... and all the evidence....



Dr cactus
gees, whats next? Someone taking a giant beach ball as their Katamari and trying to pick up ppl? Man, Kids these days need to snap out of it and go play tag at the park or something.

agreed. i'll go outside and play some tag.... *Sigh* http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

[Leprechaun9]

Well I just found this: Hot Coffee (http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/07/11/news_6128837.html). I have to admit, R* did mess up by not taking this out before realese, that is to far http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/51.gif . I'm just glad I already have a copy before it becomes AO because then my parents defenitly wouldn't let me have it.

Though, this is pretty funny (direct quote), "Now the group is issuing a National Parental Warning for the game, giving concerned mothers and fathers a heads-up that their children could be playing with their joysticks in an inappropriate way ." Just could have been worded a little better (or maybe they meant to do that).

[rikakiah]

Lep, that is a statement of the auther of the article, not a direct quote of the action group. I'm sure the phrasing was very much intentional.