Do violent video games need health warning labels? California congressman Joe Baca thinks so, and he’s introduced legislation that would make them mandatory.

Citing research studies that show a link between violent video games and child aggression, Baca believes that the Consumer Product Safety Commission needs to institute a rule that all games rated T or higher be labelled with the following: “WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent video games and other violent media has been linked to aggressive behavior.”

“We must hold the video game industry accountable and do everything in our power to ensure parents are aware of the detrimental effects that violent games can have before making decisions on which games are appropriate for their children to play,” concluded Rep. Baca. “I am proud to introduce the Video Game Health Labelling Act of 2009, and am hopeful my legislation can work to stop the growing influence of violent media on America’s children and youth.”

Hey, I’m all for it, if Baca can come up with solid, irrefutable scientific proof that this is indeed the case. We’ve seen countless research reports arguing both sides of the subject; let’s nail down something definitive before we start uglying up our game store shelves. I’ve a feeling this won’t go anywhere and Joe Baca will go back to Kashyyyk.

Rep. Baca Introduces Legislation to Make Violent Video Games Sold With Health Warning Label [Press Release via The Escapist]

Some researchers are convinced that repetitive play of violent games instructs kids in violence, making violent acts more likely. But others argue that video violence is a cathartic replacement for real violent crime, which has gone down since the advent of video games.

While the article does spend a great deal of time dealing with the issues of violent video games, calling out the usual suspects – Grand Theft Auto, Manhunt, etc., it also addresses the fact that there are constructive games out there like SimCity, social games that let you play sports like golf and baseball, and even games that are “just plain fun” like Guitar Hero. These are all titles you hardly ever see mention in writings dealing with the negative aspects of gaming, since so many choose to stick with the negative and forgo the positive completely.

Of course the article isn’t without some more sensationalist speak, such as this tidbit from Pastor Kody Kirchhoff of the LiveWire Youth Ministries at Calvary Lutheran Church:

“Aside from the violence, obscenity and negative themes, the larger and greater problem lies in the fact that video games control many people’s hearts and minds, creating a monotonous, zoned-out new reality,”

But even an accusation like this is quickly brought into focus by the follow up.

“God, family and friends do not exist in many games,” he says. “Activities like camping, playing catch with Dad, swimming, or just being a kid have vanished.”

The man has a point. I seem to remember a lot more children outside playing when I was a kid. After school you couldn’t throw a rock without hitting a child, a fact that used to make my after school times truly special. While I don’t think video games are to blame for the lack of kids screaming at each other outside my window every afternoon, I do think they make a very convenient babysitter for parents who don’t have time to play with their children and are too terrified by the concept of child predators to let their babies go outside unattended. If anything, the mainstream media – who often target video games themselves – are to blame, scaring parents out of their minds with special reports about the dangers their children face crossing the street every day.

I digress. This isn’t about my opinion. This is about the opinion being distributed to Christian newspapers this month, and the final message from Centre for Fathering CEO Carey Casey is one I can really get behind.

“Parents should place limits on children’s media use, including when, where, and how much they can participate. And we should be ready to address common myths that are often portrayed in the media: such as the myths that to be worthwhile you have to be beautiful, that money buys happiness, that sex is merely recreation and has no consequences, and that violence solves problems.”

Getting serious about gaming [ChristianExaminer Online]

“It was determined that they were emulating the character in that Grand Theft Auto game, going on a crime spree” using weapons and tactics inspired by the controversial video game, said Det. Sgt. Anthony Repalone, a Nassau police spokesman.

“We got certain admissions” from the boys, Repalone said.

Good luck on using the old GTA defence boys. It might just work, unless of course the prosecutors play the “You are all obviously f***ing morons” card.

Cops: Video game inspired crime spree [Newsday.com]

I was pleased that the article provoked thoughtful, in-depth discussion about the treatment of race, gender and other social issues in games, but in debunking a single individual’s attack on Grand Theft Auto, my intention was not to provide a blanket pass to games that permit (and arguably, in this case, promote) antisocial behaviour. So I was more pleased at the commenters who criticised the virulence of my GTA IV defence than I was at those who agreed with me (though, hey, who doesn’t like to be agreed with?).

“We try to stick to violence against small animals,” said Kotick, (hopefully) joking, when Swisher asked him about the in-game violence issue:

Most of our users are over 18, they go to R-rated movies and we need to to cater to that preference. We are a broad-based medium today and we must appeal to as many demographics as we can. Part of that demographic audience enjoys in-game violence, and that includes gratuitous violence.

Bobby Kotick, Chairman and CEO of Guitar Hero-Maker Activision – D6 Highlights [All Things Digital]

A popular video game for the Xbox 360 is getting a sequel this year – and it seems to be raising eyebrows with its level of gore and detail… The game certainly attracted attention for its realistic visuals and battle scenes, but caused some pause when game designers showed off a new attack players can use in the game.

The game presents the player with a number of projectile weapons, but also features a chainsaw for melee attacks. In the demo, the player can use the chainsaw to cut a person in half, starting at the groin and moving upwards. Also, players can pick up the corpses of fallen enemies and use them as a “meat shield” to protect themself from enemy fire as they engage in battle from behind the corpse.

Meh. This is nothing compared to the mainstream media shit storm Resident Evil 5 will cause.
Players Can Use Corpses As “Meat Shields” [AZ Family via Game Politics]

The book Grand Theft Childhood got a good bit of attention upon its release, and the authors are back discussing reactions to the book, as well as issues that have cropped up (again) in the wake of GT IV. On the media frenzy, they have this to say:

This is strikingly similar to the concerns over and editorials against comic books, radio, gangster films and–back in the late 19th century–the evil influence of paperback novels on teenage girls. None of those bore out. Each time, the pundits and politicians said that earlier concerns may have been silly, but that this time it’s different. So far it hasn’t been.

It’s repeated frequently, but probably worth repeating once more — everything from Hollywood films to Chinese classics like Peony Pavilion have been labelled as ‘dangerous’ at some point or another (with ferocity equal to or surpassing video game critics’ utterances). Anyway, it’s an interesting interview touching on a number of issues.

Grand Theft Childhood Author Weighs in on GTA IV [Open Education via GameSetWatch]

Thanks Ryan for the tip!

]]> http://www.kotaku.com.au/2008/04/kids_who_dont_play_video_games_are_at_risk-2/feed/ 1 http://www.kotaku.com.au/2008/04/uae_state_enforces_god_of_war_ban-2/ http://www.kotaku.com.au/2008/04/uae_state_enforces_god_of_war_ban-2/#comments Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:30:00 +0000 Mike Fahey http://www.kotaku.com.au/games/2008/04/uae_state_enforces_god_of_war_ban-2.html The Sharjah Municipality of the United Arab Emirates is having trouble keeping copies of God of War off the streets. The Sony game was banned for containing language and scenes that go against Islamic beliefs, notably the killing of gods, which I can understand, given the circumstance. Despite the bans, the game is still apparently easy to get hold of.

A UAE national said he was one of the people who was shocked to discover that the game was distributed in commercial areas, including the Central Souq, Al Rolla and sports shops in Nuammiya. “I knew that it was banned, but many of my friends were able to buy pirated copies from Dh5 to Dh10. I was shocked to see how much it contradicted Islamic values,” said Khalid Bin Deemas, adding that it was dangerous as the video game was popular among children.

All concerned government departments are instructed to prohibit the sale of God of War and games like it, confiscating copies when they are found.

It’s interesting to see how games are received in other countries. In the United States, the killing of ancient Greek gods is hardly a reason to try and get a game, though I am surprised the topless women and sex scenes didn’t have people picketing in droves.

It’s also refreshing to see that the mainstream media is the same no matter what beat they cover, as evidenced by the way the article was closed.

Have you noticed increased bad behaviour in a child that could be attributed to violent video games? Tell us about it. Are there enough regulations to check the sale of video games to minors?

Mmmm, so very familiar.

Crackdown against banned videogame [Gulfnews]

Bad deeds 2.0 include:

• Driving while talking on a cell phone
• Simple assault
• Hotboxing a car

Funny take that doubles as a feature on some of the new stuff you’ll be able to do, in and out of mission, in GTA IV.

8 new crimes that’ll be blamed on GTA IV [GamesRadar]