Video Games: violence and addiction?

[Tigers of Old]

Ohio teenager Daniel Petric killed mother over Halo 3 video game
By staff writersNEWS.com.auJanuary 13, 2009

Teen not allowed to play Halo 3
Gets gun, says he "has a surprise"
Shoots both of his parents in the head

A TEENAGER obsessed with a video game has been found guilty of murdering his mother and injuring his father after they took the game away from him.

Daniel Petric, 17, planned to kill his parents because he was angry that his father would not allow him to play Halo 3.

On the night of the murder, the Ohio teenager used his father's key to open a box and remove the game, plus a 9mm handgun, the Associated Press reported.

Petric went into a room and said to his parents: "Would you close your eyes? I have a surprise for you."

Petric's father, Mark, said he was expecting a nice surprise. Instead, his head went numb from the gunshot, the Associated Press reported.

Mark Petric survived the shooting. Petric's mother, Susan, died of a gunshot wound to the head.

Defence Lawyer James Kersey said that Petric took the Halo 3 game with him when he fled the scene.

In sentecing Petric today, Judge James Burge said his obsession with Halo 3 may have warped his sense of reality, but rejected the defence lawyer's plea of insanity.

"I firmly believe that Daniel Petric had no idea at the time he hatched this plot that if he killed his parents they would be dead forever," Judge Burge said.

Petric may have been addicted, but the evidence also showed he planned the crime for weeks, Judge Burge said.

The teenager was found guilty of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder and other charges in the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas.

Petric faces a maximum possible penalty of life in prison without parole as he has been tried as an adult.

The judge did not set a sentencing date
http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,28348,24908710-5014239,00.html

Have been struck by this article and have seen a few of them creep up of late.
Not really sure what to think of the notion that teenagers are being overly influence by video games but certainly wanted to put it out there for debate as I have a young boy myself who's attracted to gaming as most kids are.

I just worry that the line between reality & fiction us getting more blurred as the quality of these games improve.

What are your thoughts on it?

 

[Disco08]

Too much of anything (well, almost anything) is bad for you. There's no harm in these games if they're used in moderation. You could say the quality of the games makes them more addictive and more likely to blur reality but I remember staying up all night playing Mario Cart on the Nintendo and I remember weird crimes caused by people that played Dungeons and Dragons.

 

[Freezer]

Not a game player myself (hate them actually) but have noticed how addicted some seem to be to them.

My nieces and nephews barely look up when we visit and it happens all the time. They don't seem to have a limit on the type of games they're playing either, but I guess that's down to parenting.

Get outside and get dirty I reckon.

 

[Panthera tigris FC]

Too much of anything (well, almost anything) is bad for you. There's no harm in these games if they're used in moderation. You could say the quality of the games makes them more addictive and more likely to blur reality but I remember staying up all night playing Mario Cart on the Nintendo and I remember weird crimes caused by people that played Dungeons and Dragons.

Agreed. Although I would question the used of the word "caused" in the D&D example.

 

[Disco08]

Yeah, committed would have been better. I've got a good book on a case involving a kid in the 80's losing his grip on reality to D&D.

 

[skiptomystu]

I like gaming (all be it mostly sports titles), but this story really makes me feel sick.

 

[Dyer Disciple]

Too much of anything (well, almost anything) is bad for you. There's no harm in these games if they're used in moderation. You could say the quality of the games makes them more addictive and more likely to blur reality but I remember staying up all night playing Mario Cart on the Nintendo and I remember weird crimes caused by people that played Dungeons and Dragons.

I think you are talking about two separate things there, role playing games like D&D are a very different thing to computer gaming, especially the time period you are referring to.

Most of that roleplaying/D&D stuff was driven by religious groups/politicians in America who objected to a game that had wizards, black magic, demons and devils etc in it. It received a lot of sensational attention as a result which of course the media ran with and blew up every story associated with it.

I think parents have to take a lot more responsibility, it's true you can't stop children from doing a lot of things, but a lot of parents put parenting of their kids on others, instead of taking ownership themselves. That's why I am not a fan of censorship myself.

The amount of parents who turn a blind eye to what their kid is doing in their room for 12 hours straight on weekends or who are thankful to have something to park them in front of and have them out of their way for hours, would number a high percentage.

A big part of it is the relationship kids have with their parents I think. The ones who use it as recreational are fine, the ones who use it to escape reality for hours and hours at a time are a worry.

I think understanding the psychology of games, their appeal and why kids play them is integral to ensuring your kid plays them safely.

As Disco said and I agree (mostly as he also said :hihi) too much of anything is bad for you.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Too much of anything (well, almost anything) is bad for you. There's no harm in these games if they're used in moderation. You could say the quality of the games makes them more addictive and more likely to blur reality but I remember staying up all night playing Mario Cart on the Nintendo and I remember weird crimes caused by people that played Dungeons and Dragons.

Agree with the premise but I think Mario Cart is a fair way removed from the graphic violence we are seeing in some of the current games out there now.
Computer graphics are getting forever better and it won't be long before they are closely resembling reality.
Already the gaming industry is making massive inroads into the movie market and that's because it offers a heightened and more involved/realistic experience than cinema. I think gaming revenue actually overtook films for the first time recently.
When you are getting to that stage I just question whether you need to take stock of what kids are being exposed to.

Not a game player myself (hate them actually) but have noticed how addicted some seem to be to them.

My nieces and nephews barely look up when we visit and it happens all the time. They don't seem to have a limit on the type of games they're playing either, but I guess that's down to parenting.

Get outside and get dirty I reckon.

This is a genuine concern I reckon and your focus on parenting is valid but refer to the above article and it makes you wonder how much control parents have.
It's not the first time I have read recently about kids rebelling against their parents when they try to moderate or eliminate their game usage.
My guess is these rules have to be put in place pretty early to avoid kids getting addicted to games just as they would drugs etc.
I am not sure how much research has been done on gaming addiction but I'd imagine that there are plenty of naive parents out there who get these consoles initially as a babysitting device only to see it back fire on them later.
I certainly limit my own son's exposure and can't say I'll be out there buying him a games console any time soon.

he will certainly be out there getting dirty but I just hope his peers are doing the same.

 

[Dyer Disciple]

Yeah, committed would have been better. I've got a good book on a case involving a kid in the 80's losing his grip on reality to D&D.

That is the kid's issues though, not caused by D&D itself, that's merely what made his issues apparent.

 

[Panthera tigris FC]

Yeah, committed would have been better. I've got a good book on a case involving a kid in the 80's losing his grip on reality to D&D.

Correlation or causation. Or, did he lose grip due to D&D or did his personality (which predisposed him to losing grip) attract him to the fantasy world of D&D?

Plenty of geeks play(ed?) D&D. Most did not lose their grip (or their virginity :hihi).

 

[Panthera tigris FC]

That is the kid's issues though, not caused by D&D itself, that's merely what made his issues apparent.

Beat me to it. Exactly.

 

[Tigers of Old]

D&D is/was largely based on imagination.
The images in these games are basically force fed.
Significant difference IMO.

 

[Dyer Disciple]

I like gaming (all be it mostly sports titles), but this story really makes me feel sick.

One of the dangers I used to find with a lot of youth now with regard to sports is that these games are so seductive, it's easier for them to wake up at 11 in the morning on a Saturday, roll out of bed to the floor, pick up their gaming control pad and become a world champion in boxing, golf, tennis or win a premiership or Premier League trophy etc without having to go to a yard and get fit and learn skills and go through the highs and lows of sports participation.

Kids are becoming more and more static with these games taking precedence. Look at the way most of us grew up over 30....playing down at a creek all day, climbing trees to ambush friends, running around the streets for hours at a time playing war or fighting with water pistols etc. You rarely see that nowdays. Kids rather meet in bedrooms and commit mortal fatalities on each other with the hottest fighter chick in mortal kombat. :hihi

 

[Dyer Disciple]

D&D is/was largely based on imagination.
The images in these games are basically force fed.
Significant difference IMO.

Yup, in fact I would go as far as to say D&D is very good for kids. Really encourages them to learn how to communicate (they gather at tables with friends and have to tell stories/assume roles) not just in their bedrooms alone or fighting with friends over a console to see who goes next. Just about every kid who plays D&D is encouraged/inspired to read...helps their self esteem when they are basically acting in front of others, etc etc.

Seen some recent studies on it (as in over the last 15 years compared to the "devil worshipers" period of it), wish I could find them, that suggest it is a very positive past time. Like every done in moderation. That's the thing wiht D&D though it's usually something people have to meet to do which is always difficult and a once or twice a week thing or whatever. So also not like a game in their room they can play hours and hours at a time generally.

 

[Disco08]

That is the kid's issues though, not caused by D&D itself, that's merely what made his issues apparent.

Of course. I only meant to say that D&D could manifest these type of problems when violent realistic video games weren't around yet.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Don't get me wrong here people I actually think these games are very cleverly designed, even the violent ones and for many they are great fun. Many of them are pitched at adult gamers and they have every right to play such games. I am not condoning outright censorship here at all.

I am also encouraged that the industry in Australia is being regulated much tighter and am aware that category restrictions R, MA etc are now being introduced but like other addictions many kids will find a way to get their hands on the extreme stuff.
I feel pretty uneasy having my son/daughter exposed to the experience of such fictional violence over and over again without being aware of the ramifications & I worry about is how much research is being undertaking to prevent kids from getting hooked on the experience because as we can see in the article above in some cases it can't be healthy.

 

[Dyer Disciple]

Of course. I only meant to say that D&D could manifest these type of problems when violent realistic video games weren't around yet.

Anything interactive/identidy changing will, there is always going to be unhealthy people participating in things, the media is very quick to start pointing fingers but it's usually a lot deeper than...the last thing you did...what you spent your time doing...etc.

One of the problems with kids on these dangers is they are highly impressionable. I keep thinking it comes back to communication, the parent-child relationship and being aware of what your child is doing as much as possible and fully understanding of it's potential impact.

 

[Dyer Disciple]

Don't get me wrong here people I actually think these games are very cleverly designed, even the violent ones and for many they are great fun. Many of them are pitched at adult gamers and they have every right to play such games. I am not condoning outright censorship here at all.

I am also encouraged that the industry in Australia is being regulated much tighter and am aware that category restrictions R, MA etc are now being introduced but like other addictions many kids will find a way to get their hands on the extreme stuff.
I feel pretty uneasy having my son/daughter exposed to the experience of such fictional violence over and over again without being aware of the ramifications & I worry about is how much research is being undertaking to prevent kids from getting hooked on the experience because as we can see in the article above in some cases it can't be healthy.

I am so anti-censorship it is not funny. There should be adult games available to adults I agree with you. Also on the realism thing. I've played a few of these latest games and I cold nt believe how real one was in something I know a fair bit about. I would go so far as to say it could almost be used as a supplement to peoples training in somethings, I certainly understand the whole computer simulation thing better now that the military does. Staggering how real some of these games are in detail/mindset required to play.

Gone are the days of me spending 20 cents and button mashing street fighter on a arcade box at the milk bar on the corner or while waiting for fish n chips.

LOL...remember the space invader consoles in bowling alleys that were like tables...? :hihi

 

[Panthera tigris FC]

Gone are the days of me spending 20 cents and button mashing street fighter on a arcade box at the milk bar on the corner or while waiting for fish n chips.

And the world is poorer for it ;D. Ah...Double Dragon...where have you gone?

LOL...remember the space invader consoles in bowling alleys that were like tables...? :hihi

Bugger that...it was all about Galaga on the tabletop consoles. ;D

 

[Freezer]

This is a genuine concern I reckon and your focus on parenting is valid but refer to the above article and it makes you wonder how much control parents have.
It's not the first time I have read recently about kids rebelling against their parents when they try to moderate or eliminate their game usage.

My guess is these rules have to be put in place pretty early to avoid kids getting addicted to games just as they would drugs etc. I am not sure how much research has been done on gaming addiction but I'd imagine that there are plenty of naive parents out there who get these consoles initially as a babysitting device only to see it back fire on them later.

I certainly limit my own son's exposure and can't say I'll be out there buying him a games console any time soon.

he will certainly be out there getting dirty but I just hope his peers are doing the same.

Definitely. The "babysitting" aspect is a big one I think. Kids aren't causing the parents any problems while they're stuck in their room or at the TV. Makes life pretty easy all round. But I think it's detrimental to the kids in the longer term and certainly not good for family and interpersonal relationships.