• Activision Activism

    Students Protest Call Of Duty Dog Killing

    Students at the Academy of Notre Dame in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts, are up in arms over Activision's Call of Duty: World at War for promoting the killing of deadly attack dogs. More »
    03/20/09
    26,849
    444

    Comment by SadAstronaut: If only they killed the FRANCHISE that dog is from... 33 Responses | Other threads

  • violent games

    Study: Children Desire Mature-Rated Games

    A study published in the U.S. Pediatrics journal this month finds that giving a video game a mature rating makes it "unspeakably desirable" to children. More »
    03/02/09
    8,216
    110

    Comment by CMcCon342: Gasp! Kids want what they are told they can't have? How much time and energy went into this? 12 Responses | Other threads

  • Warning: Game Violence

    Congressman Calls For Health Warnings On Violent Games

    Do violent video games need health warning labels? California congressman Joe Baca thinks so, and he's introduced legislation that would make them mandatory. More »
    01/12/09
    6,023
    203

    Comment by theuglyteradon: And I want pot to be legalized, is this is a congressional wish list? 13 Responses | Other threads

  • uk

    Oasis Guitarist Reckons Violent Games Cause Knife Crime

    The recent increase of youth crime has Oasis songwriter Noel Gallagher. Eighteen teenagers have been murdered this year so far in London, and the Metropolitan police have set up a dedicated task force of 75 officers to combat crime. And the cause of this crime? According to Gallagher: More »
    07/04/08
    5,971
    277

    Comment by Justifan: they took away the guns. [www.reason.com] Gun Control's Twisted Outcome Restricting firearms has helped make England more crime-ridden than the U.S. and now its... more » | Other threads

  • violent games

    Parents! Watch Out For Meat Shields

    Time to wheel out mainstream media's default boogieman: VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES. In this today's thrilling episode, Arizona's KTVK-TV warns parents of "meat shields." Citing Yahoo!Games, KTVK 3TV writes: More »
    05/20/08
    20,175
    109

    Comment by BlownCamaro: I can't stand Cliffy. From his stupid hair, to his "bad ass" tattoo. I bet I could make him cry... more » | Other threads

  • news

    Advocacy Groups Want Games Locked Up

    As the GTA IV launch is once again trotted out as a controversy flashpoint, there's one thing the gaming audience tends to agree on: This game is not for children. Of course, just how zealous they are about enforcing such a mandate varies wildly. More »
    04/30/08
    6,613
    130

    Comment by MajorMcMuffin: Just thinking about my town - you can buy porn in the newsagents, i's down by the music magazines. It... more » | Other threads

  • clip

    "Kids Who Don't Play Video Games Are At Risk"

    In the aboveGrand Theft Childhood authors Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olson talk about their research and findings. Fascinating, intelligent stuff. Watch it. More »
    04/17/08
    122,506
    168

    Comment by akiko1874: imo, violent video games dont make violent people, violent people just choose to play violent video games. 1 Responses | Other threads

  • opinion

    Video Games Can Be A Rich And Magical Experience

    Several of you have pointed us to an amazing opinion piece by Naomi Alderman at The Guardian titled "If we deny children access to all computer games, we deprive them of a rich and magical experience", a beautifully written response to recent events in the UK like the Byron Review and the banning of shocking Kane & Lynch advertisements. She praises Byron's report for touching on the many opportunities for fun and learning that computer games allow, and how we need to move away from the notion that computer games cause harm, and then points out how the print and television media reacted by warning parents about violent games and monitoring their children at all times. In short, they completely ignored the positive points and focused on the negative. Alderman paints a much brighter picture, though the quote that struck me as the most poignant was this:
    The world of Grand Theft Auto does contain violence and misogyny; but then, so does The Godfather, or Goodfellas. So, for that matter, does The Iliad.
    More »
    04/11/08
    5,885
    85

    Comment by ubiquitous: Her arguments are well expressed, but using GTA as an example is a little weak. But then, so is... more » | Other threads

  • violent games

    Kane & Lynch Ads Banned In UK

    The Advertising Standards Authority is not amused by the recent UK advertisements for Kane & Lynch: Dead Men. The watchdog group has recieved 26 separate complaints against the violent ads, which include a TV spot, posters, and print ads. The main offender was the poster, which featured a gagged, crying woman with her head held back by one of the game's heroes. Another poster contained a quote from OXM calling the game "Grittier and nastier in tone than anything you've seen before, the violence here is visceral, brutal and very, very real." The television ads included the crunching noise of a rifle butt being brought down on a man's face and another man getting his throat cut. The ASA has ordered that Eidos not broadcast or reprint the ads again, deeming them too graphic and shocking to be seen in any medium. Hope no one gets fired over a game as average as Kane & Lynch. More »
    04/09/08
    4,406
    42

    Comment by The-Blur: @Sam_Lowry: Wow, I'm behind on the times then. What will they think of next! more » | Other threads

  • media

    'The Myth of the Media Myth': Games and Non-Gamers

    All of us have our stories about game-related interactions with non-gamers, some of them undoubtedly on the negative side of things ('I hate video games,' someone rather snottily told me at a party a few weeks ago, and that's certainly on the mild end of the negative spectrum). But is it something non-gamers even give much thought to unless they're pressed on the issue? Can people even explain why they dismiss games and gaming out of hand? Brenda Brathwaite muses on why this may be in an article over at the Escapist and talked to lots of people in the industry (our own Ashcraft even makes an appearance). Shall the gamer and non-gamer ever meet on equal ground?: More »
    03/30/08
    8,709
    72

    Comment by Anton P. Nym: I work at an office with gamers. The supervisors play WoW, mostly, and my boss hits me up for Halo... more » | Other threads

  • violent games

    British MP - Games Let You Rape Women

    The time-honored tradition of stodgy men arguing over things they know nothing about continued in England during last Friday's game censorship debate in the House of Commons, with MP Keith Vaz showing us how it's done while speaking in defense of Julian Brazier's bill to add a censorship level above the British Board of Film Classification. In comparing the interactivity of video games to movies, Vaz unleashed this little gem:
    However, someone sitting at a computer playing a video game, or someone with one of those small devices that young people have these days, the name of which I forget— [Interruption.] PlayStations or PSPs, something of that kind.
    More »
    03/03/08
    27,654
    172

    Comment by SteveVenezia: Well Masq lets you try to rape a girl, but if you try she shoots you. So if anything the... more » | Other threads

  • ratings system

    UK Gets Serious About Video Game Ratings

    The front page of the Guardian has an interesting story on the tightening up of the UK's video game rating system. According to the Guardian, only games that display "sex or "gross" violence to humans or animals" currently have any kind of age limit attached to them, leaving a large portion of games unrated that contain "weapons, martial arts and extreme combat." To make sure that large portion doesn't go unchecked, Ministers are proposing a completely overhauled ratings system. More »
    02/09/08
    2,533
    72

    Comment by Akin: @Onouris: Your reasonless logic is irrefutable!!! Man, at least tell me one English-speaking country with more freedom of speech than the... more » | Other threads

  • election 2008

    Iowa Caucuses Good On Gaming

    The results of yesterday's Iowa Caucuses are in, and it's a clear win for video game fans everywhere! As the smoke cleared and the votes were tallied, two of gaming's strongest critics managed to avoid coming out on top. Republican Mitt Romney, who likes to lump in violent video games with pornography as factors corrupting America's youth, found himself in second place behind Mike "Change Your Last Name Before Being Elected Please" Huckabee, with 25% of the vote to Huckabee's 34%. On the democratic side of things, Hilliary Clinton found herself trailing John Edwards 30% of the vote by a tiny margin, with Barack Obama taking the lead with 38%. Clinton has long been outspoken against violent video games, at one time claiming they were "stealing the innocence of our children...making the difficult job of being a parent even harder." I think we're ll well-aware as to how hard it is to be a parent and still have to do all that unattractive parenting stuff. Icky. Despite the early numbers, the candidacy is hardly sealed for either party at this point. Next stop, New Hampshire! More »
    01/04/08
    2,215
    123

    Comment by Swift_: We should probably all vote for whoever Witzbold likes. Unless it's an xbox 360, which cannot last 2-4 years. more » | Other threads

  • strategy

    Helpful Parental Game Buying Tips From Leland Yee

    Violent video games have topped the charts on and off since gaming began, and California State Senator Leland Yee couldn't help but notice that many parents suck at keeping them from children. Instead of using traditional methods of dealing with inattentive parents, Yee has decided to bring your mothers into this and simply release a list of helpful tips for purchasing games this Holiday season. For example:
    Pick games that require the player to come up with strategies and make decisions in a game environment that is more complex than punch, steal, and kill.
    I would go as far as adding that smaller children are excellent at fooling parents, and they should not be discounted. Sure, the bigger kids are more impressive and tougher, but those little guys know your firing rate and can swim circles around you. More »
    11/27/07
    4,136
    82

    Comment by archilles: When I was a kid, the cartoons were GI Joe, Transformers, Voltron, etc. The games that came out (which were... more » | Other threads

  • violent games

    The Morning Show's Other Gaming Expert

    Leave it to Jack to steal the anti-Halo 3 spotlight from someone even more deserving of our scrutiny. During JT's appearance on The Morning Show that Crecente picked over last week, Dr. Susan Bartel also appeared on the show to condemn violent games using the amazingly technical explanation that "When kids play violent video games, we can see that their brains are different than when they play non-violent games," going on to say that "We can see a very big difference in their brains which tells us how dangerous these games can be." Right, because brain activity is bad of course. When co-host Juliet asks how the increased brain activity is dangerous, Dr. Bartel leaps into a rant on how a child gets into the role and could kill people if bumped into in the street, completely dodging the question. More »
    10/16/07
    6,357
    97

    Comment by GabooN: What do JT and Susan want to happen? More censorship? I mean if they get what they want... more » | Other threads

  • law

    Comatose Oklahoma Game Law Dies

    Back in June of 2006, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry signed into law a bill that would make it illegal to sell or rent violent video games to minors. Due to go into effect November of last year, questions of the constitutionality of the bill caused it to slip from consciousness via a preliminary injunction. After a long struggle to keep the law alive, it passed away quietly in its sleep yesterday via a judicial decision for permanent injunction. My main reason for bringing this up is to share this awesome quote by Bo Andersen, President of the Entertainment Merchants Association.
    "It is time for lawmakers to stop targeting video games and the retailers that sell them. They should recognize that all video games are rated, retailers are choosing to enforce the ratings in their stores, and the new PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 video game consoles and Vista computer operating system all allow parents to control the types of games that can be played on them. These voluntary steps, not government regulation, are true to the spirit of the American Constitution."
    Someone give that man a cookie, right now. More »
    09/18/07
    2,170
    26

    Comment by beatngu: i made him a cookie... but i eated it . :( more » | Other threads

  • political posturing

    Tory Leader Wants To Ban Violent Games

    British Conservative leader David Cameron wants to fight crime in Britain, and of course on of the key ways to combat the criminal element is baning violent video games. Yes, violent video games are one of the many societal dangers that Cameron feels need to be done away with as part of a long-term plan to fight crime by changing behavior of schoolchildren both at home and in the classroom.
    "We are never going to deal with crime unless we look at the broader context and say, 'Yes, tough laws, strong action on the police, but also action to strengthen our society'.
    More »
    08/28/07
    3,111
    80

    Comment by xRazor11x: If parents think that violent games are altering their children's then don't buy the game for them. ... more » | Other threads

  • the sound and the fury

    NY Game Bill 3: Anticlimax

    The saga of the New York video game law has reached as dramatic a cliffhanger as you're likely to get in politics, as both the Senate and Assembly final agreed on legislation, only to have the session end before the measure could be passed. Despite the bad timing the measure is fully expected to pass with the new session starts in July, with the Governor Eliot Spitzer standing by with pen in hand. More »
    06/22/07
    633
    25

    Comment by Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.: @eakolb: Give us time. Gah, politicians. more » | Other threads

  • cold flashes

    Virginia Tech Travesty In Crappy Flash Form

    With the controversy that the Columbine-based game Super Columbine Massacre RPG! caused, the Virginia Tech tragedy was bound to receive a game version by someone. Flash site New Grounds has a flash game titled V-Tech Rampage. The worst part? V-Tech Rampage doesn't bring anything more than shoddy, tacky game play to the table. Free speech and free expression are great. Just make sure you've got something to say. Otherwise, it's noise. Brian Ashcraft More »
    05/14/07
    8,459
    33

    Comment by woodpecker: He posted his flash game first on a recently built community gaming site that he frequently posts on called ultragameplayers.com.... more » | Other threads

  • play

    FPS, A Stage Production

    Over the weekend, First Person Shooter: The Play premiered in San Francisco. The play is set in a start-up video game company that has achieved big-time success due to a the "hottest, most violent game on the market." Things go bad when the company is blamed for a schoolyard shooting. The play was written by Aaron Loeb, former IGN writer and current game developer COO. Says Aaron: More »
    05/07/07
    745
    6

    Comment by seasponge: Man, I want to see this. more » | Other threads

  • harvard

    Harvard Gamers: Violent

    Our source for all things gaming The Harvard Crimson is running a piece on the university's first official video games tourney. US $400 in prizes were up for grabs, along with a Nintendo Wii. A hundred or so crammed into the Lamont Forum Room last week to battle it out in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Halo, Starcraft: Brood War and Warcraft: Defense of the Ancients. Says student Matthew R. McFarlane: More »
    03/06/07
    1,393
    13

    Comment by BDecker19: Hey guys. First off, you harvard folks I hope signed up for the group (harvardinteractivemedia.org) Also though, that article gave... more » | Other threads

  • science

    Teen Video Game Violence In Contexts

    The latest edition of the sociology journal Contexts features an article by Karen Sternheimer that tackles the subject of the effect of violent games on teens. Entitled Do Video Games Kill?, it explores the use of video games as a "folk devil"; a device allowing society to focus blame and fear, offering up an easy explanation for complex problems. More »
    02/28/07
    2,088
    13

    Comment by devilmoon: Why don't sensible stories make the news these days? more » | Other threads

  • crime

    Killing Homeless Is Like A "Violent Video Game"

    CNN has a sad piece up on a teen attacks against the homeless. Nathan Moore and his friends Luis Oyola and Andrew Ihrcke savagely beat 49 year-old homeless man Rex Baum. They threw rocks and a barbecue grill at Baum and punched and kicked him. They then hit the man with a baseball bat and a pipe before smearing feces on Baum's face and cutting him to "see if he was alive." The teens then went to McDonald's and bragged about this murder before police picked them up. Quoting CNN: More »
    02/20/07
    7,095
    42

    Comment by ARVash: This is one of the few cases where I actually believe the person is demon possessed.. more » | Other threads

  • onechanbara

    Onechanbara To Slice Up Xbox 360

    More »
    08/28/06
    2,732
    12

    Comment by FunkyJ: This has been mentioned on Kotaku before... I know because I was the source! more » | Other threads

  • dead rising

    Dead Rising Censored In Japan

    08/09/06
    589
    8

    Comment by Riquez: It's untrue that you can't kill innocents. I live in Japan & have the Japanese version of this game. You... more » | Other threads

  • reservoir dogs

    Brit Cops Bitch about Reservoir Dogs Game

    More »
    07/31/06
    899
    15

    Comment by Nick Kostalas: i think there's a more significant problem with mistrust of police in europe than there is in most places in the... more » | Other threads

  • violence

    Brutal Games Make You Brutal Numb

    More »
    07/27/06
    1,058
    21

    Comment by S C: A little bit late to mention but worth while none the less: Terra Nova writer Edward Castronova seriously thrashed Carnagey... more » | Other threads

  • breaking

    ESA Wants Gamers to Rock the Vote

    Boasting a banner complete with smiling multi-ethnic people smiling, the ESA launched the Video Game Voters Network. All kidding aside, here's the ESA's mission statement from their "About Us" page: More »
    03/13/06
    79
    2

    By lsmith

    Comment by Ivan M.: An endeavor like this is long overdue. Go to last week's issue of "The Escapist" and read "Empowerment of The Innocent."... more » | Other threads

  • bully

    Rockstar's Secret Bully

    More »
    03/13/06
    290
    10

    By lsmith

    Comment by paul haine: "Can't Rockstar make a game that doesn't have to carry a lot of controversy to sell??" I understand they're making a... more » | Other threads

  • breaking

    Tennessee Busts Out the Violent Games Ban Stick

    More »
    03/10/06
    234
    7

    By lsmith

    Comment by BigManZam: That guy looks like he gets a kick out of seeing naked little boys on his computer screen. more » | Other threads

  • breaking

    Utah Senate Knocks Games-as-Porn Bill Out

    More »
    03/02/06
    1,036
    5

    By lsmith

    Comment by dtrain: "You go against their games, and you go against them" I have bad news for you, my brother. Gamers passionate enough... more » | Other threads

  • top

    Utah House Passes Games-as-Porn Bill

    Whoa, that was fast. Utah's Games-as-Porn bill has already passed through the House of Representatives according to Gamepolitics. It wasn't even close - the votes fell 56-8 in the bill's favor. This law treats violent games like pornography and will allow sellers of violent games to minors to be prosecuted. To what extent? 1Up pointed out that the bill would make selling the games to minors a third degree felony, putting it on the same criminal level as reckless drunk driving. More »
    02/24/06
    470
    8

    By lsmith

    Comment by Frank DeVall: There is something wrong with this law. If You want to enforce the rating scheme fine. But blowing this way... more » | Other threads

  • violent games

    Utah Game Law Examined by Experts

    More »
    02/20/06
    74
    1

    By lsmith

    Comment by Draconis: The lesson for the Legislature, then, is that some issues are better dealt with in the home rather than the... more » | Other threads

  • breaking

    Violent Games Equal Porn?

    More »
    02/15/06
    430
    11

    By lsmith

    Comment by Teksuo: Can you say stupid? more » | Other threads

  • mark ecko

    Ecko Banned in Australia

    More »
    02/15/06
    998
    12

    By lsmith

    Comment by Matt J: For anyone interested in hearing what Ecko has to say on the matter, check out http://media.fairfax.com.au/?rid=18105 to listen to a... more » | Other threads

  • violent games

    Virtual Reality Breeds Soldiers of War?

    More »
    02/14/06
    1,153
    3

    By lsmith

    Comment by republican007: I think you guys are blowing this whole military video game out of the water. Seriously quit thinking inside the... more » | Other threads

  • violent games

    New Bedford Mayor Cites Video Games In Recent Killings

    Sadly, the mayor of New Bedford, Mass, hometown of deceased murder suspect Jacob D. Robida, has decided to single out video game fantasy violence as one of the root causes of this week's real-life violence that took place on his watch. In response to the hate crimes allegedly perpetrated by Robida, Mayor Scott Lang has issued a statement reading "violent video games have to be taken out of our homes". More »
    02/05/06
    232
    9

    Comment by cbisnow: I agree that blaming ICP is as retional as blaming video games. I'm sure he was only joking. ... more » | Other threads

  • top

    Take-Two, Rockstar Sued by LA

    More »
    01/27/06
    2,367
    1

    By lsmith

    Comment by boxmyth: I'd like to point out that Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo is running for state attorney general, and seems... more » | Other threads

  • violent games

    WebMD: Video Games Teach Children to Use Violence

    More »
    01/13/06
    4,520
    10

    By lsmith

    Comment by Omnitron: I think the core problem that gives rise to all this public vilification of video games, transcending parental irresponsibility and... more » | Other threads

  • jack thompson

    Netjak Does Jack Thompson

    More »
    01/11/06
    271
    13

    By lsmith

    Comment by Omnitron: Despite his being less qualified than judge Samuel Alito for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, Jack Thompson would... more » | Other threads