Public debate in US Video game controversies

jack thompson, activist, filed lawsuits against makers of violent games, alleging simulated violence causes real-world violence.

in 1980s, ronnie lamm, president of long island pta sought legislation govern proximity of video game arcades schools. in 1990s, joe lieberman, senator, chaired hearing violent video games such mortal kombat. david grossman, former west point psychology professor , lieutenant commander, wrote books violence in media including: on killing (1996) , stop teaching our kids kill (1999). described first-person shooter games murder simulators, , argued video game publishers unethically train children in use of weapons , harden them emotionally towards commitments of murder simulating killing of hundreds or thousands of opponents in single typical video game.

in 2003, craig a. anderson, researcher testified on topic before u.s. senate, said,

[s]ome studies have yielded nonsignificant video game effects, smoking studies failed find significant link lung cancer. when 1 combines relevant empirical studies using meta-analytic techniques, shows violent video games associated with: increased aggressive behavior, thoughts, , affect; increased physiological arousal; , decreased pro-social (helping) behavior.

in 2005, anderson criticized in court failing give balanced expert evidence.

in 2008, in grand theft childhood: surprising truth violent video games , parents can do., kutner , olsen refuted claims violent video games cause increase in violent behavior in children. report there scientifically non-significant trend showing adolescents not play video games @ @ risk violent behavior , video game play part of adolescent boy s normal social setting. however, authors did not deny negative influences of violent (m-rated) video games on pre-teens , teenagers: kutner , olson suggested views of alarmists , of representatives of video game industry supported flawed or misconstrued studies , factors leading violence in children , adolescents more subtle whether or not played violent video games.

henry jenkins, academic in media studies, said,

according federal crime statistics, rate of juvenile violent crime in united states @ 30-year low. researchers find people serving time violent crimes typically consume less media before committing crimes average person in general population. s true young offenders have committed school shootings in america have been game players. young people in general more gamers—90 percent of boys , 40 percent of girls play. overwhelming majority of kids play not commit antisocial acts. according 2001 u.s. surgeon general s report, strongest risk factors school shootings centered on mental stability , quality of home life, not media exposure. moral panic on violent video games doubly harmful. has led adult authorities more suspicious , hostile many kids feel cut off system. misdirects energy away eliminating actual causes of youth violence , allows problems continue fester.

2013, in playing war: how military uses video games , corey mead, professor of english @ baruch college showcased how u.s. military financed original development of video games, , has long used them both training, recruitment purposes, , treatment of post traumatic stress disorder. argues 2 industries intertwined each other in military-entertainment complex . writing in 2013, scholars james ivory , malte elson noted that, although research on video game effects remained inconclusive, culture of academic field had become contentious , politicians had put pressure on scientists produce specific research findings. authors concluded improper scholars or legislators to, @ present, portray video games public health crisis. research oxford psychologist andrew przybylski has shown americans split in opinion on how video game violence links gun violence. przybylski found older people, women rather men, people knew less games , conservative in ideology think video games cause gun violence.

several groups address video game violence topic focus on. groups such parents against violence, parents against media violence , 1 million moms take stances aimed @ limiting violence in video games , other media. groups opposite interests, such entertainment software association seek refute claims.