Thai health officials have listed 10 popular video games as dangerously violent following the reported confession of a teenager who claimed his murder of a taxi driver was inspired by playing "Grand Theft Auto."
"Violent video games have been a problem for a long time," Public Health Ministry spokesman Praj Boonyarowong said Friday. "Some parents don't know what their children are playing and are just happy they are not out of their sight. But these games can have very damaging psychological effect on children, especially games which depict violence so casually."
Furor over the killing compelled a local software distributor, New Era Interactive Media Co. Ltd, to announce it was halting sales and distribution of the game, which is a worldwide best-seller now in its fourth edition despite controversies over its depiction of violent street life. Players progress in the game by successfully carrying out simulated criminal activities. Police Capt. Veerarit Pipattanasak said Friday that Palawat Chinno, 19, was arrested Sunday at the wheel of a taxi whose 54-year-old driver was dead of stab wounds in the back seat. Palawat was charged with murder, robbery and possession of a weapon and could face the death penalty if convicted, Veerarit said.
The police officer said an initial investigation showed that Palawat is an obsessive player of "Grand Theft Auto," but that the motive for the killing was still not certain. The suspect allegedly claimed that playing the game convinced him that robbing a taxi driver was not difficult but he didn't intend to kill anyone. "Grand Theft Auto" has been blamed for contributing to violent crime in the U.S. and elsewhere. But defenders of such games point to the relatively few incidents reported, compared with the millions who play. This past week, authorities in the U.S. state of Georgia said three teenagers were inspired by "Grand Theft Auto" when they destroyed three cars with Molotov cocktails in a tranquil north Atlanta suburb. One suspect admitted learning how to make the homemade firebombs from the game.
The ten games Thailand's Public Health Ministry suggested parents keep their children from playing are: Grand Theft Auto; Manhunt; Scarface; 50 Cent Bulletproof; 300 The Videogame; The Godfather; Killer-7; Resident Evil 4; God of War; and Hitman Blood Money.
The ministry did not say how it selected the games, but they match exactly a list of "top ten most violent" video games issued last December by a public prosecutor in Detroit in the U.S. Thailand's official National Cultural Commission has said it would set up a committee to study violent video games. He said the ministry will also work with the police to check that online gaming sites are licensed and will block Web sites that offer violent games. [End of report]
So the question now is, does violent video games make youths violent? Well, it depends on who you want to believe. Ive done some research related to the topic, and I found different results on whether violent video games does make the youths violent. There was a study in 2005 by The American Psychological Association and according to the report, it was found out that there's a link between video games and violent behavior. It indicates that violent games have short-term effects on those who play them. The research cites many examples of violent behavior caused by video games. Findings over the past 20 years include a tendency of 8th and 9th graders to be more hostile, more argumentative with authority, and more likely to be involved in physical altercations with other students. One study also found evidence of a link between violent games and poor academic performance. And not surprisingly, the research verified that boys spend a lot more time playing violent games than girls. According to the report further, female characters often are portrayed in subordinate roles, which may provide less incentive for girls to play. However, they also found that those girls who do play violent video games are more likely to play aggressively afterward.
In another report by the International Journal of Liability and Scientific Enquiry in May this year, it was found that there is scant scientific evidence that video games are anything but harmless and that they do not lead to real world aggression. Moreover, the research shows that previous work is biased towards the opposite conclusion. The report points out that these violent games are growing more realistic with each passing year and most relish their plots of violence, aggression and gender bias. However, it doesnt necessarily mean that the youths are also getting more aggressive by playing those games and that there are no scientific evidence to support the claims that violent games contribute to aggressive and violent behaviour. The report points out that the research is inconclusive, and that it is possible that certain types of video game could affect emotions, views, behaviour, and attitudes, however, so can books, which can lead to violent behaviour on those already predisposed to violence.
It was very interesting to read both of the reports, but if you ask my opinion on the topic, I would say yes, some video games could affect the behavior and attitudes of the people who are playing them. I do think though that sometimes, it is not about the child being more aggressive after playing the game but because of their feeling of curiosity that they would be interested to try and create what is in the game and bring it into the real world. This can also be very dangerous because with so many violent games out there right now, you never know what will the child do. When it comes to killing somebody in real life, then something needs to be done especially when the killer confessed that he had gotten the idea from a video game. I have never play the game 'Grand Theft Auto' before but I know it is about killing people. This is not the first time that the game has been put into the spotlight. It might be one of the most popular games right now but something definitely needs to be done. Out of those 10 games listed to be kept away from the children, I have 2 of them, which is 'Resident Evil 4' and 'The Hitman'. I would be lying if I say I was not encouraged to act out the character of the games in the real world but I still have my common sense with me to know what is right and what is wrong.
Besides the video games, I think there are other factors that could cause someone to be aggressive such as problems in his own life or watching violent related movies, so I dont think it is fair to say that video games are solely to be blame for the change in the behavior of a child but of course if he did something inspired by the video games, then something is wrong with it. I mean, if you buy a game that is about a war, I dont think it will mean that the child will be a better soldier if he decides to join the army in the future right? I believe the parents has a role to play in ensuring that their kids wont be doing what they see in a video game into the real world. I know a lot of parents, including mine always purchase their kid's favourite game but without knowing the content of the game and whether it is appropriate for the child. That is why you have the 'Age Group' label on the cover of the games to tell their parents whether the game is suitable for their child of a particular age. Even if the game is suitable for their child, they should keep a close watch and see whether there is any change in behavior in them. At the same time, video games developers should try and minimize the level of real life situations that should be included into the games so that whoever is going to play it wont get the impression that what they does in the game can also be done in the real world.
Right now though, there is not much that anyone can do about the problem. I have to agree that more in-depth research needs to be done to prove that violent video games have an affect on youths because until that happen, the blaming game will continue and it will not only affect the game developers but the consumers as well like me. And if I dont get my favourite game because of some kid who have decided to bring the game into the real life and kill somebody, then I wont be happy either. So please remember, whatever you do in the game should only continue to be done in the game itself and not at anywhere else. The only reward you will get for killing or injuring someone in real life is the death sentence or a visit to the prison and by then, it would be Game Over.
*The report was taken from Associated Press.
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