Doom creator: video games “cathartic” and reduces violence
There is a great deal of controversy over violence in video games especially in light of a bombing. While many are quick to pin violence in video games as the root cause for such crimes, others such as John Carmack feels otherwise.
Recently a major Norwegian retailer, Coop Norway took 51 games off its store shelves after Anders Behring Breivik killed over 70 people in a bomb attack and shooting spree. Breivik claimed to have played Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and World of Warcraft to train for the attack.
John Carmack, Doom creator and brains behind id Software in an interview with IndustryGamers stated that he never took the “violence in video games debate” seriously.
He stated, “I really think, if anything, there is more evidence to show that the violent games reduce aggression and violence.” He added, “There have actually been some studies about that, that it’s cathartic.”
Carmack argues that a crowd in a gaming convention is probably much more peaceful than a random cross section of a college campus. While Carmack’s interview wasn’t a direct response to the recent incident by Breivik, it does echo the sentiments of many in the industry.
According to CVG, a study conducted by researchers in Texas and with the Centre for European Economics Research revealed that video games actually helped reduce the crime rate.
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56 Responses to “Doom creator: video games “cathartic” and reduces violence”
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August 1st, 2011
“Breivik claimed to have played Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and World of Warcraft to train for the attack. ”
How the fuck do you train for a bombing by playing World of Warcraft?
August 1st, 2011
http://www.vg247.com/2011/08/01/witcher-2-360-gets-pushed-into-q1-2012/
Bummer as this was the only other good 360 “exclusive” coming out this year that would interest me.
Q1 isn’t too bad.
There’s too much coming out by the end of the year anyway……………….For PS3 owners!!!!!
August 1st, 2011
“How the fuck do you train for a bombing by playing World of Warcraft?”
You wouldn’t.
He used WOW as his excuse when he would go training by telling his friends and parents that he was meeting a fellow guild memeber…ect..
WOW eats a lot of time so it served as the perfect excuse to be anti social in the real world.
August 1st, 2011
Oh, boo hoo. Each person is responsible for his or her actions. It’s nothing more or nothing less. It’s that simple.
August 1st, 2011
I´m going to post this here:
h**p://kotaku.com/5363596/buddhist-monk-games-satiate-my-desire-for-aggression
August 1st, 2011
I find myself more aggressive playing online games. If I’ve had a bad match sometimes it’s best for people not to talk to me for a little bit afterwards as I may inadvertently snap at them for no real reason.
August 1st, 2011
Video games have helped me stay out of trouble over the years. I would be an entirely different person if I didn’t have them in my life, and I started early. I have been playing video games since the age of 2, starting with the Atari 2600.
When I look back at a lot of the people I grew up or went to school with…
Several of my old gradeschool classmates are dead now. Alot are addicted to drugs. Some OD’ed. A few were murdered. One was killed “by accident” by another (who is currently in jail serving a life sentence). One of the funniest things is this one guy who acted the most macho, who said he could date any girl he wanted, and now he is sucking dick for drug money lmao.
Anyway, if not for video games I could very well have been somewhere in there.
August 1st, 2011
“I find myself more aggressive playing online games. If I’ve had a bad match sometimes it’s best for people not to talk to me for a little bit afterwards as I may inadvertently snap at them for no real reason”
LMAO – my brother is just like that.
Some games are okay for everyone, even if they are rated mature (Killzone, COD, Halo, fallout, L4D, etc) but others are not – GTA, GOW, Gears, Dead Space, MK and a few others
August 1st, 2011
@Roca
I was gonna say “Whats so bad about Dead Space?” but I just remembered that I beat DS2 yesterday and well… the fucking eye thing kinda creeped me out a little lmao. My nephew was watching me finish up the game while I was doing it and he cringed on that one as well lmao
August 1st, 2011
I’d let my kids play 18+ games. I was watching horror movies from the age of 3, even the worst ones. Never affected me, I won’t mollycoddle my kids so they grow up to be weak and soft like this ‘student’ generation, where it’s now ok for grown men to use womens hair straighteners and wear make up. There the types who grew up and their parents wouldn’t let them do anything.
Violent games and movies don’t affect you at all, that’s bull.
August 1st, 2011
They’re the type*
Get used to a lot of typos from me. New iPhone and it likes to correct a lot of my words lol.
August 1st, 2011
@oldschool
I really think its only a small percentage of people it affects. For starters its a parents place to take care of their kids, and that includes knowing what a kid can handle and also to know what their kid is getting into.
For example..
When my nephew was younger (he was 10 or so then) he really wanted to play GTA San Adreas. My sister had no idea what the GTA games were like so I stepped in. My nephew certainly was not mature enough to play any GTA games at the time. A few years later he matured enough to do so.
August 1st, 2011
“so they grow up to be weak and soft like this ‘student’ generation, where it’s now ok for grown men to use womens hair straighteners and wear make up.”
That’s one hell of a stereotype. So, all men (or students) that wear make-up or straighten their hair are ‘weak’ and ‘soft’?
August 1st, 2011
I wear make up whenever I’m broadcasting over national television..and I’m not even close of being weak or soft.
horror stuff is okay for most kids.
August 1st, 2011
Not all Dan, chillax, didn’t mean to hit a nerve. I have a lot of student friends and I give them a hard time for straightening their hair. Look at how different men are now from the men of 20years ago. Men are more feminine now, especially the student population, maybe it’s just England, who knows.
That’s my opinion and I stand by it fully.
August 1st, 2011
@ fahk:
You do have a point, I suppose it’s down to the parent whether or not they think their child can handle it. But I think 95% of kids should be able to.
Games are a good way to vent anger or frustration, like drowning Lara in the old TR games when you couldn’t figure out a puzzle lmao. I box so that’s a good release when you have pent up anger as well but playing games is satisfying as well.
Games do not influence anyone to do anything at all, anyone who says different is obviously a retard.
August 1st, 2011
Don’t worry, no nerve was hit lol.
I don’t believe men have become more ‘feminine’. Times have changed, that’s all.
At one point, if a man cooked the family meal instead of a woman it was frowned upon. Now, if a man straightens their hair it’s frowned upon. When I’m your age it’ll be somethig different. Idk . . men wearing thongs or something.
“There the types who grew up and their parents wouldn’t let them do anything. ”
In my experience, and I guess I’m part of this ‘student’ generation, the opposite of this is true. The kids with most freedom have ended up doing this kind of thing.
August 1st, 2011
@roca
National TV? You being serious?
August 1st, 2011
Thongs? Lmfao!
My cousin who was mollycoddles wig very strict parents is now a pill head and snorts cocaine 24/7. I believe in being strict, otherwise your kids will never learn but I also believe in ‘learning from mistakes’ which you can never do if you don’t have enough freedom to make a few mistakes.
I could never spend long on my hair, I’m not that vein(correct spelling?) I’m bald all the time, just easier to shave it all off lol.
August 1st, 2011
“I don’t believe men have become more ‘feminine’. Times have changed, that’s all.”
Ever see the MetroSexual South Park episode?
I know it’s satire and to the extreme but they make a good point.
August 1st, 2011
‘National TV? You being serious?’
@ Dan:
Are you joking? Everyone on here knows that Roca is the weather man on CNN news. He does the Wednesday slot.
Come on pal we all know this! I thought you knew?
August 1st, 2011
@ phranc:
Remind me of that one please.
South Park always have a valid point, they always say what other people are too scared to say.
Matt & Trey are not fans of PC lol.
August 1st, 2011
It was about how ‘Queer eye for the straight guy’ is feminizing straight men.
The woman of South Park liked it at first because their men were hygienic and polite and liked to cuddle, but they eventually got sick of it because they ..you know..married Men, and approached the Queer Eye stars.
It turned out the Queer Eye Stars were some other species known as Crab people and their plan was to feminize all of Earths Men so global takeover would be a breeze for the Crab people.
Yeah…
Awesome!
August 1st, 2011
Oh yeah! LMFAO!
Brill ep!
“Look like crabs, talk like people. Craaaaab people, craaaaab people”
Genius haha.
August 1st, 2011
“Are you joking? Everyone on here knows that Roca is the weather man on CNN news. He does the Wednesday slot”
the forecast for this weekend looks good if you live in the east coast.
Dans303
Of course I was being serious
did you forget how serious I was when I told story about when my PS3 fell into the train tracks..hahaha
August 1st, 2011
btw guys, today is my birthday
Just so you know…I accept PSN card codes
I can already tell oldschool will be the first one to send me a code.
August 1st, 2011
@ Roca:
Aye, here’s a code for you pal; As soon as Sonics head pops up at the start menu quickly type in Up, down, left, right then A,B,C and start together. That will unlock any levels!
Have fun and Happy Birthday! Lol
August 1st, 2011
Happy Birthday Mr Weather Man!!
I guess this is you then . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5L9Gl91csU
August 1st, 2011
Happy Birthday Smooth Operator!
August 1st, 2011
Smooth operator? Have you and Roca has a PSN love affair? Lol
August 1st, 2011
“Have you and Roca has a PSN love affair?”
Not just PSN . . . it flips and flops between PSN and XBL.
August 1st, 2011
@Roca
I got you a present. I got you the same you gave me last year, only in a bigger box
August 1st, 2011
btw Roca, I saw your twitter account lmao rocax1
August 1st, 2011
Oldschool,
Lol. No, I am not that kind of person. Get your mind out of the gutter. Smooth Operator is Roca’s nickname because of his love of the Ps3 and his “smooth” way of handling the Xbots. There are few who do it better.
Dans,
Lol.
August 1st, 2011
Sorry Twilight but I am by nature a gutter mind lol.
August 1st, 2011
“Anyway, if not for video games I could very well have been somewhere in there.”
Lol like sucking dick for video game money? Lmao jk
August 1st, 2011
“”So, all men (or students) that wear make-up or straighten their hair are ‘weak’ and ‘soft’?”
Umm, yes. It means they like it in the poop shoot. (aka xbitch)
August 1st, 2011
Happy Birthday Dude!
August 2nd, 2011
thanks everyone!
August 2nd, 2011
You’re so welcome!
*slips tongue down Rocas throat, Twilight slaps me for it out of insane jealousy*
August 2nd, 2011
“btw Roca, I saw your twitter account lmao rocax1″
@FahKin
LOL I don’t tweet much there and I don’t follow real people – I use it mostly for news feed
August 2nd, 2011
@oldschool
“Smooth operator? Have you and Roca has a PSN love affair? Lol”
PS Eye FTW!!
August 2nd, 2011
@Roca
I noticed lol. Most of the stuff you follow is Sony related lol. Talk about a fanboy.
I also saw your Facebook lmao. No wonder oldschool slipped you the tounge like he did lmao
August 2nd, 2011
my facebook is private and unsearchable, how did you see it?
Damn facebook and its broken privacy rules lol
I follow more Android and Tech-related sites like CNET, Tech Crunch, Best Buy, Google, ArsTechnica, TmoNews.
I also following alot of PS3 developers & Kevin Butler
There is much to follow about Nintendo or Xbox and the little news they generate I get from Kotaku, Joystiq and other gaming sites I follow.
I used to follow Major Nelson but he only tweet scams and sales pitch..There was barely any awesome annoucement coming out from his twitter account lol.
August 2nd, 2011
@Roca
Even if your FB is “private” and “unsearchable” there is still a partial way around it. In your case I couldn’t see any of your info, but I could see your pic, your name, and your location.
August 2nd, 2011
But how did you come across my page? I have it set up that “only friends” can search for me.
August 2nd, 2011
lmao Ashamed to be found out?
I will let you know how I came across your FB page, because I’m a nice guy and all that lmao
Roca Twitter > Brothers Twitter > Brothers FB page > Roca FB page
Its simply connecting the dots lmao.
I’m guessing your brothers name is Luis. You’ve mentioned several times you have a brother and he plays on Xbox alot.
Your brother is also listed as a follower on your twitter account so it was easy enough to see his twitter page, which kinda linked to his FB page.
Your bro doesn’t have all his info marked as private, so I can see his friends and family, which links directly to your FB page lmao.
And this is exactly why I only have 8 people on my FB page lmao.
BTW Roca, my girlfriend says your kinda cute but don’t get any ideas ok? shes mine lmao
August 2nd, 2011
damn you’re a proffesional stalker lol
LOL – your gf said that in front of you?
I might be visiting Philly one of these days, if I do I’ll let you know so you can hook me up
lol jk
August 2nd, 2011
@Roca
lol yeah one thing I learned about being online is that it often pays to look things up, and it also pays to stay hidden.
Yeah, she did say that in front of me lol. It’s not a big deal though. I mentioned before that I have an open relationship so things like that come up from time to time. Its no big deal. We both do what we want (while trying to be respectful of each others health and safety of course). She is also bisexual so you know sometimes we get into those “damn that chick is hot” conversations lmao. Those ones are great
And actually, this one is probably going to come as a shock but I agree with her. You are not a bad looking guy.
August 2nd, 2011
thanks to both of you I guess lol
Now I have look at the log of who’s visit my page to return the favor
August 2nd, 2011
lol have fun with that one. I’m pretty sure I have everything marked as private/friends only, including pics so I don’t know how much you will get, if anything at all.
I’m not one for sharing my FB page lol. Me and my 8 friends lmao. I just dont do social networking lol
August 3rd, 2011
Wtf? Why do I get the feeling Roca and Fauk are going to hook up for a gang bang?
LMFAO
August 4th, 2011
LOL
that was wrong ncaissie..
August 4th, 2011
Whoa…a bromance developing right here on blorge!! Go fahkin? Go roca?….jking, good to see we can tear each others eyes out while debating, yet still be able to….in the case of roca and fahkin ( sitting in a tree…jking lol couldnt help it )and “complimenting” each other …i better stop lol good times eh guys….smh at myself lol
August 4th, 2011
You guys got it all wrong, FahKin was just being kind enough to offer me his girl
August 4th, 2011
Lol sounds like he don’t want her.