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Joe Biden Seeking Video Game Industry Input on Gun Violence
- Thread starter Frustrated_Grunt
- Start date
While I don't think there is any convincing evidence right now that consumption of violent media causes or triggers violent behaviour, I do think that gaming has a real problem with violence nonetheless. One that starts with the fact that most gamers and people in the industry seem completely unwilling to even discuss the level of violence present in video gaming, and how dominant violent games are both commercially and critically. Yes, there are of course major exceptions, and film share the problem to a degree, but it's certainly worth having the discussion rather than making dismissive remarks and ignoring it yet again.
Why is it we so readily accept that a huge portion of the best selling and highest budgeted video games are incredibly violent, or that escalating the level and detail of violence ever further is a major selling point?
Why is it we so readily accept that a huge portion of the best selling and highest budgeted video games are incredibly violent, or that escalating the level and detail of violence ever further is a major selling point?
On the other hand how would it look when you have comcast and mpaa accepting the invitation while having representatives of the video game industry turn it down?
RustyNails
Member
Dennis Dyack of course.
It is a shame that the news media are singling out video games though. I mean all week the news has had all these experts talking about this subject and it has been mental illness and video games, video games and more video games and next to no mention of movies, music or anything else. The media are as usual have been glorifying these last few shootings more than ever to almost disgusting levels (Interviewing children in their house the day they are heading back to school in that Newtown). I guess if it has to happen though at least Biden is going to sit down and listen hopefully not just some smear campaign like usual.
movies were blamed, music was blamed, it's just that video games are what's popular, which is why most media is giving it the most attention. it doesn't help when the most popular title is call of duty either. anyways i don't see why ya'll are up in arms about this, i mean it's not like talking to biden can do any harm.
Not sure if sarcasm but I meant news media. The people who make these mass murderers famous.
Sorry I meant the news press not the Biden meeting I should have clarified that.
The Elite
BOSS
Heh. QFT
God yes. I'm don't care about them being violent, I'm just so sick of them.
iamshadowlark
Banned
I swear some of the people on the internet(including here) have such a ridiculous persecution complex in regards to this whole ordeal. Nobody is going to take your precious video games. The Hot Wheels thing is fucking disengenious.
Anyways, I think this is a great idea. Would love to hear more details. There's a quite obvious link, no matter how big or small it may be, in regards to video games and violence.
Anyways, I think this is a great idea. Would love to hear more details. There's a quite obvious link, no matter how big or small it may be, in regards to video games and violence.
outunderthestars
Banned
Exactly. When the Vice President of the United States asks you to come talk to him, you go.
Wolfgunblood Garopa
Member
People thinking that the hot wheels analogy is clever is a more pressing matter than gun control right now.
Vane_MagicCity
Banned
Discussing the matter is an admission of guilt. It's like the trick question "Do you still beat your wife?". To answer it at all is a problem. This is a situation where "we don't comment on specualtion" is the best answer.
Of course, when the White House comes calling....
iamshadowlark
Banned
The only way this could turn into a positive is if the industry walks into the meeting and immediately says fuck you to everyone. If they're not going to do that, then they shouldn't be there. The first amendment is infinitely more important to this country than the archaic second.
Fix the gun laws and then maybe the gaming industry can look at stricter restrictions, labels or other attempts to limit access of M rated games to minors.
Just as Ms. Lanza put a gun in her child's hands, you can't stop shitty parent from buying M rated games for their kids. But to compare the two as equals is about the most asinine thing I've ever heard.
Fix the gun laws and then maybe the gaming industry can look at stricter restrictions, labels or other attempts to limit access of M rated games to minors.
Just as Ms. Lanza put a gun in her child's hands, you can't stop shitty parent from buying M rated games for their kids. But to compare the two as equals is about the most asinine thing I've ever heard.
outunderthestars
Banned
No it isn't.
Thank god you people don't in any way represent the video game industry.
SolidSnakex
Member
There have been some that expressed concerns over the level of violence that more recent games have shown. This especially started becoming a talking point after E3. I know that Warren Spector has said that "ultraviolence has to stop".
But Europe does largely play the same games as the US, and the amount of violence there (gun violence in particular) is tiny compared to the US. After the Sandy Hook shooting there was a report that said that 15 of the 25 worst mass shootings over the past 50 years have taken place in the US. Finland with 2 was the only other country that had more than one. So, I think reports like that make it hard to point the finger at entertainment.
The Elite
BOSS
Wow. No.
It's best to go in and have a meaningful discussion about the issue. That doesn't mean these "representatives" can't stand firm about the major points regarding gaming's impacts on the mentally ill, shootings, etc.
Vane_MagicCity
Banned
That's a brilliant argument. How much time did you spend on it?
stevematic
Member
He is.
I grew up playing violent games, and I have never really seen the issue with them until recently during E3 2012 when I felt utterly disgusted by the amount of people cheering at the extremely graphic shotgun blast to the face in the gameplay demo of The Last of Us. However, I believe violent games are merely a symptom of an already violent society, not the other way around. Restricting the consumption of violent games is not going to help alleviate the underlying problem. Conversely, that can not be the full explanation either given the general popularity of violent games around the world, yet the varying degree of actual violence by region.
iamshadowlark
Banned
Thats pretty much all the argument that subject needs.
Yes it is. It implies that games are just as responsible for gun violence as those who sell guns.
Carnby
Member
This should have been the first post.
U n i o n 0015
Member
"I can't point to any conclusive evidence, but I KNOW it because...uhh...SCIENCE!"
It's witty, but illegal street racing would be a closer analogy than car safety.
I'm not *quite* sure where the loop-the-loops fit in this analogy.
Vane_MagicCity
Banned
What do you suppose is going to come from these talks, censorship or nothing?
The Elite
BOSS
Thread title should read "gun violence" instead of just "guns." It really does make a difference. The majority of popular video games depict gun violence in some form so the industry should definitely have a seat at the table when it comes to this discussion.
I'm shocked at people who would rather just have the industry sit on their hands instead of going to the White House and engaging in meaningful discussion on the issue. That isn't an admission of guilty. It's telling the WH, President and Vice President that they are willing to be actively involved in discussing the issue. That's always a positive.
I'm shocked at people who would rather just have the industry sit on their hands instead of going to the White House and engaging in meaningful discussion on the issue. That isn't an admission of guilty. It's telling the WH, President and Vice President that they are willing to be actively involved in discussing the issue. That's always a positive.
It seems to be largely driven by emotion rather than scientific research. I'd hope that the subject needs a better argument than that.
Do you in fact have a side-business manufacturing and selling flaming torches and pitchforks, or something?
outunderthestars
Banned
The world is not that binary. In politics you bring together stakeholders. Seeing as though the NRA has already attempted to demonize videogames, I think it is incredibly important that the ESA be at the table during the discussions. This allows them to present evidence to refute the claims of the NRA and other extremists.
The ESA thinks it is important enough to send the CEO as opposed to a low level policy analyst.
They're not going to take away your precious video games.
Jesus. It's like we've turned into NeoGUN going crazy over the imaginary taking away of our rights. To
So did I. Same with the God of War presentation. Those two instances definitely opened my mind to the possibility that there may a cultural issue within gaming itself. That in itself may not even suggest any kind of links between gun violence and on-screen violence, but it did perhaps suggest that maybe as gamers we have been getting a little too comfortable with the idea of seeking pleasure out of disturbing imagery.
Biden is already speaking with the NRA about gun policy.
iamshadowlark
Banned
No, the concept that simply discussing something is by any shape or form "an admission of guilt" is obsessively juvenile.
Good post.
Neuromancer
Member
Wow good job IGN. That piece was really good, I'm impressed. I agree with Casey 100%.
Wolfgunblood Garopa
Member
nm, beaten
The whole Comics Code Authority thing... happened. I think it's reasonable to at least be wary if you're interested in a newish medium that many people still view with distrust.
Of course, it's no longer the 50's.
SolidSnakex
Member
It's not a gamer thing. It's an entertainment thing. Just look at horror movies. I'm not even talking about torture porn, i'm just talking about traditional slashers. A big part of that genre is in how people will be killed. Or look at action movies. How many times have you seen people lose their shit because a sequel for a movie was announced to be PG-13 when the previous movie was R? The main reason for that is because the violence would have to be toned down.
The Elite
BOSS
Wasn't the CCA a self regulating entity that was borne out of hearings in Washington? There was some pretty bad shit being depicted in comics prior to that (baseball with human organs on the cover of a horror mag comes to mind). That was a self regulating authority because the comics industry wanted to be actively involved in what they were distributing. There is nothing wrong with that.
The ESA already has its self regulating system with the ESRB. So I don't see the comparison.
Interfectum
Member
I think the problem with what Joe Biden is doing is it leads to misplace blame and creates a very easy target. Having a 'discussion' on violent video games after a school shooting is like putting a bandaid on a gaping head wound.
I mean what are they going to discuss? Biden: "Hey guys why so many guns?"
Why not discuss how people with mental health issues can get guns so easily or why is it that guns are tied to patriotism in America? Why is it the rest of the world can enjoy violent content and not shoot each other up? What is different about them vs. America?
I mean what are they going to discuss? Biden: "Hey guys why so many guns?"
Why not discuss how people with mental health issues can get guns so easily or why is it that guns are tied to patriotism in America? Why is it the rest of the world can enjoy violent content and not shoot each other up? What is different about them vs. America?
Circling the wagons is not an appropriate response. Open discussion and the opportunity to state your case are infinitely more valuable in the fight against ignorance.
Once again you failed to read the article. Biden is speaking with a lot of people and a lot of groups of which the video games industry is one.
Vane_MagicCity
Banned
The rest of the civilized world has universal health care which to me = better access for mental patients. That's just my opinion though.
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