Doom dude says violent games lower aggression
Anger management
Legendary id Software developer John Carmack reckons videogames have a positive impact on society and reduce aggression. Needless to say, it's a view that flies in the face of typical reports on games with violent themes.
As the man behind Doom and the forthcoming shooter Rage, Carmack is constantly hounded by people wanting to know his views on the violence-in-gaming debacle. In an interview with Industry Gamers, Carmack said,
"If anything, there is more evidence to show that the violent games reduce aggression and violence".
Carmack's proof seems to point towards comparing crowds at QuakeCon and those at a college campus. "You're probably going to find a more peaceful crowd of people at the gaming convention." he says.
If such videogames do spur a barbaric reaction in kids, there certainly isn't enough evidence to sway the judicial system. In June, the US Supreme Court overturned a law that prevented the sale of violent games to minors.
But Carmack says that as long as parents make sure their kids play games within their recommended age limit, such videogames can be useful for letting off steam.
I have to agree, a trigger happy session on Bulletstorm the other day – after a long spell on the London Underground during this tourist season – was a real shot in the arm. ®
COMMENTS
Terrible urges
Sometimes I get the urge to brutally conquer the world and rule it with an iron fist. But In fact I have never once actually done that, I simply work out my terrible, terrible urges through other means.
Thanks the Civilization Series :)
Video games and violence correlation.
Surely it is far more logical to argue that people with violent tendencies are drawn to violent media.
But that doesn't sell the Daily Mail and isn’t any use to and bile spitting fools with an axe to grind who need a cause to shout about.
Call me a cheater...
...but I can't see that screenshot without instinctively reaching for IDDQD or IDKFA
When I eventually go mad and on a rampage
I'm going to blame the entire thing on the Daily Mail and watch the resulting implosion.
Re: Been done
All that this research can prove is that you are likely to behave more aggressively towards imps, grunts and cacodemons after a session of Doom. It says nothing about your attitude towards people who did not attack you from the inside of the PC monitor...
