Videogames and violence

Just a couple of days after I handed in an assignment for my other module (Researching New Media) which dealt with violence in video games, the topic hits the headlines again:

• Joystiq ponders, "The Political Game: How old is too old for game blame?"
  
  "When pundits, culture cops and massacre chasers espouse their theories about the forces that drive real-world killers, exactly how old does the perpetrator need to be before video games get a pass?
  Based on recent events, that magic number is ... 30."
  
  "It's bad enough that some critics will reflexively point the finger at video games when a 15-year-old commits a violent act. It's indefensible to blame games for the actions of a man in his mid-20's."
  
  



• GamersWithJobs reckon games are "No Cause For Murder"
  
  "The argument that games cause terrible acts of homicide implies that movies, music, or even other people can have the same power over anyone."
  
  "Lasting, positive change will only come when we stop reaching for causes and start creating conditions that will support kids and teenagers who need it. We can’t make anyone put the pin back in the grenade, but by supporting active, caring people who want to help, we might be able to influence some of those fateful decisions before it gets that far."
  
  



• ./ Games is discussing whether "Games Are No Cause For Murder"