Violent Games Still Marketed to Kids, Says FTC

[darkproject]

I am the only gamer in my class and i am the one that talks the less.
I play Games to get agression out of me.
Games helped my life. If i wasnt a gamer i wouldnt have friends.

 

[K2N hater]

who really cares about virtual violence when the real 1 is inside most homes?

 

[wild9]

I do find it rather selective as well as hypocritical, to point the finger at 'the gaming industry' in general.

With regards to purchasing and playing these games, I mainly blame the parents. But let's not stop there. I also blame them for not keeping an eye on what their children are being taught at school as well as what they are being exposed to in the general media. A corporate media.

More parents are deciding to home school, if possible. They're also ensuring the box on the corner of the living has restricted access which I think is a good thing.

 

[omnimodis78]

Funny because after playing a "violent" video game, I never had the urge to go out and reenact the plot by hurting someone. It's called a GAME. Video games aren't the problem. To blame video games is as ridiculous as blaming books! What happens when you read a novel (or history for that matter) depicting violence, rape, war, murder, etc? Your brain conjures up the images of terror and brutality...so doesn't that make it even worse than simply seeing the 'violence' on screen? I have read books far more disturbing than any video game I have played. Read about the Japan-Sino War of 1937-1945 which left 20 million people dead... Oh wait, maybe we should not read history because it might get us to go out and murder.

 

[darkproject]

[citation][nom]omnimodis78[/nom]Funny because after playing a "violent" video game, I never had the urge to go out and reenact the plot by hurting someone. It's called a GAME. Video games aren't the problem. To blame video games is as ridiculous as blaming books! What happens when you read a novel (or history for that matter) depicting violence, rape, war, murder, etc? Your brain conjures up the images of terror and brutality...so doesn't that make it even worse than simply seeing the 'violence' on screen? I have read books far more disturbing than any video game I have played. Read about the Japan-Sino War of 1937-1945 which left 20 million people dead... Oh wait, maybe we should not read history because it might get us to go out and murder.[/citation]

You are totally right.
People with IQ are thinking that this is true.

 

[darkproject]

[citation][nom]darkproject[/nom]You are totally right.People with IQ are thinking that this is true.[/citation]

oops i mean LOW IQ

 

[Clintonio]

The whole violent video game discussion is funny to me. It's funny because it's also ironic that the only reason I didn't turn violent/ criminal was video games. Something about being able to hide away from my reality (which was hell) and avoid the insanely bad influences around me, probably lead me away from the life of crime, hardcore drugs and violence I probably would have ended up in!
I can't remember the last time I was violent... well, unless you count L4D last week ;D

 

[mharris80]

Ahh, once again, those in charge find themselves a scapegoat for the ills of society. "Video games make kids violent". I mean, I remember when I was in 7th grade and Mortal Kombat came out. In my school alone, we had at least 5 instances of kids ripping each other's spines out. Hell, one kid even successfully pulled off the Scorpion fire-breating-burn-your-skin-off move. That was bitchin'. Seriously though, this sort of thing is just meant to divert attention away from the real problems. (i.e. parents not taking a more active role in raising their own children, etc...) I expect to hear more from Jack Thompson on the subject soon.

 

[JohnnyLucky]

Oh Man! It's just the same old story.

 

[anamaniac]

Ha...
What about sites like Newgrounds.com?
I was introduced to it while it was only in its infancy. I was quite young. Pico's School, Chainsaw Kid, Club a Seal etc. you get the point. They helped raise me, and I wouldn't change a thing about it.

Though recently I went to a EB games in a different city, and bought some 14+ crap, and the asshole told me I needed ID... when I was 15 I was at the bar (18 now). Those dicks requiring ID for just a damned game need to lay off already, r I'll start showing them al the violence I did learn in video games.

 

[stromm]

The FTC shouldn't be involved in this debate. They have more important issues to deal with.

Besides, they think everything made to look fun targets kids. Why the heck can't 40 year olds have fun?

 

[derstarke]

40 year olds these days are much too influenced by video games! They may grow up to be violent fathers or worse! I support the petition for the R60+ rating. Then we would really weed out all the susceptible, relatively weak minded individuals.

In all seriousness, though, it's the fact that kids can walk into stores and buy these games unchecked that the FTC keeps waving in everyone's faces. And the argument always comes back to parents, except you can't blame a faulty home (in regard to violent TV) the same way you can blame some Joe Schmoe behind a gamestop counter.

But what it all REALLY comes down to... It's the FTC's job to find stuff and complain. If they didn't find stuff and complain, there would be no need for the FTC. They are a self-fulfilling entity. The problem exists because they exist.

 

[caamsa]

The problem is that there are too many parents out there that are idiots. Idiots should not be allowed to have children.

 

[Guest]

San Andreas -FTW =P

 

[tester24]

Another thing is besides steam last time i checked online outlets or any online retailer does not ask for your age. So a 16 year old with a debit/credit card can just buy whatever they want. No proof needed.

 

[Tonkyboy]

OK, enough already.

I get your point, and I don't think games should be banned, BUT.....

and this is a damned big BUT, PARENTS need to know what the hell they are buying for their kids. I work in different schools every day of the week. I am a father of two, and a gamer. I have been a gamer since before most of you were probably born. My favourite game is F.E.A.R. Would I let my kids play FEAR. NO F***ING WAY!!!

But When I see the work that kids do at school, and these were 7 year old boys, listing their favourite activities as "playing GTA San Andreas" and other extremely unsuitable games for children of that age, I am deeply disturbed. These are kids, and they should be protected from that kind of content. I have listened to these kids repeating stuff from the games they play. Its not nice. These games have their place in society, yes, but Parents need to police this, not the government.

No, video games do not make murderers, but kids of a young age are easily impressed. These kids had been playing these games for some time, and the stuff that comes out of their mouths..... it's not just games though. Parents think they can let their kids watch films totally unsuitable. Do you think that SAW III was suitable for kids ? I have heard at least one of these boys telling his mates all about Saw III and having a good laugh. (I've seen it - I know he's seen it by what he said.) Just because you think it won't turn them into killers ? If thats your opinion you are wrong. Its just plain unsuitable.

Now, any one of you here who can justify a 7 YEAR OLD BOY playing GTA San Andreas and then bragging about beating up prostitutes, I'd love to hear it.

 

[jellico]

You know, most of these govenment agencies were created to help protect the consumer from unscrupulous marketing, unsafe products, and unfair business practices... when, exactly, did we cross the threshold to where they believe their mandate now includes things like content and morality? It seems to me that most of these government agencies now exist to intrude in the lives of people and exert as much government control as possible. What really need to happen in these cases is the gaming, music and movie industries need to tell the FTC (and every other government agency) to F*CK OFF and mind their own business.

Similiarly, if we want to reduce the deficit and balance the budget, how about we defund a lot of these government organizations and programs. The founding fathers must be spinning in their graves!

 

[RADIO_ACTIVE]

Its good to see them pointing fingers at not just the video game market.