What Violent Video Games Have Been Blamed For

Video games are often blamed for a lot of things. Sometimes, the blame is in the right place, but, in other instances, it is very misplaced. There are various reasons as to why parents and others blame video games for social behaviour problems, but most stem from the fact that some video games are violent.

When teens act out in anger after playing video games, many are quick to point fingers at the game. This is especially true in the cases where a teen kills someone. One example of this is Devin Moore, an 18 year old who killed three people after playing Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in 2003. Warren Leblanc, a 17 year old from Leicester, also blamed a video game, Manhunt, after he killed someone.

Video games also get the blame for teen obesity. This is especially true when parents see their children doing nothing but playing video games for hours on end. There is certainly some truth to this. After all, without exercise and a proper diet (something gamers rarely have), teens will become obese and unhealthy. The video game industry has worked to address this issue in recent years. Games like Dance Dance Revolution and Wii Fit get teens up off the couch and encourage them to exercise.

Video games have also been blamed for “rotting” kids’ brains. Parents say that their children do nothing but play games for hours in place of other activities, especially reading. Once again, the video game industry is working to change this. Brain Age and other games have been designed to teach problem-solving and logic skills to teens.

Overall, some complaints about video games are legit, but many appear to be over-exaggerated. Video game developers have taken note of these concerns, though, and are working to address them.