Violent Games Good for Kids

fjordboy writes "Scholars from MIT, the University of California in LA, and the University of London have worked together to oppose laws restricting children from playing violent video games. The battle is currently taking place in the US Court of Appeals and the case seems to hold a decent amount of merit. From Vnunet:"Experts on childhood and adolescence have long recognised the importance of violent fantasy play in overcoming anxieties, processing anger, and providing outlets for aggression." Similar article from Reuters as well."

Comments

So that's what's wrong with me

[principio]

I knew I should have spent more time playing video games and less time studying.

Don't believe it?

[FreshMeat-BWG]

For anyone who doesn't believe this: Sit through a two-hour long meeting with a manager and then go play twenty minutes of GTA3.

Feeling better aren't you?

Good for kids and adults!

This is dumb

[FortKnox]

Parents making a decision, you just need to know one thing:
Does your child easily descriminate between fantasy and reality?

If he/she can, then games aren't going to have a detrimental effect.
If he/she can't, start the conselling early. Maybe you can make a difference if you start now.

Re:Shouldn't it be

[stratjakt]

Actually the lions share of the market is over 18.

RTCW and GTA3 arent designed for little kids. If they were targetting my 9 year old, they'd be doing a piss-poor job.

He couldn't care less about the titles I enjoy.

I mean, how much money does the average 5-10 year old have in his/her pocket? Richie-Rich aside, its not enough to buy a new game every week.

New as in full MSRP on release day, they dont make money when you pick up Warcraft II BattleChest for 4.99 at babbages.

The video game industry didn't surpass the movie industry in gross sales on little Billy's allowance.

That's the reason there are so many 'Mature' games.

All this "good/bad for your kids" debate does is misdirect the public.

Video games aren't "kids entertainment", any more than all movies are "kids entertainment".

Re:Shouldn't it be

[stratjakt]

You mean like this?

http://www.nielsenmedia.com/newsreleases/1999/ho me tech.html

I wont bother you with actually reading it, here's the opening paragraph.

NEW YORK, MAY 13, 1999 - Young teens are the biggest users of video game systems - right? Not according to a new survey of home technology from Nielsen Media Research which shows nearly 75% of the 63 million people using video game systems in the U.S. are 18 years old or older (18+). The most recent data show that 25% of video game system users - 15.6 million persons - are teens (persons 12-17), 40% of users - 25.2 million persons - are in the 18 - 34 age bracket, and 34% - 21.4 million persons - are 35+.

Of course NIELSEN wouldnt know anything about entertainment demographics, would they?