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Feature: Violence, Psychology, and Video Games
by Staff [PC, Console/PC]
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October 22, 2009
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Why is violence such a central part of video games? That's one question asked in a new Gamasutra feature by Michael Thomsen, who spoke with a psychologist and two game developers from different professional backgrounds about the proliferation of violence in games.
"Some researchers have expressed concern that repeated physical action in video games (e.g., defensive shooting) could condition violent responses in the real world. But this is only a theory," said Cheryl Olsen, co-director of the Center for Mental Health and Media and co-author of the video game violence book Grand Theft Childhood. "One could argue that because a gamer has to act to keep the game going, he/she is more aware that the game is a fantasy compared to passively watching, say, a slasher film."
Jason Rohrer, the indie developer known for evocative games including Between, said that playing and enjoying a violent piece of interactive entertainment is "A bit like taking the mask off the scary monster and trying the mask on yourself -- you can diffuse the psychological power of a false stimulus by fully deconstructing it. In a movie, we can't do that as easily."
It's a dark side that resides in everyone that may be at the root of objections against violence in video games -- many people want to suppress their base instincts. "In real life, there's already this perceived 'dark side,'" Tomm Hulett said. He's a producer at Konami, on Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. "In a horror game (or movie, or book) it's about playing off that dark side and revealing something that the player already fears deep down, and forcing them to deal with it."
For a fascinating look at the current state of violence in video games and why gamers are so drawn to virtual conflict, read the full Gamasutra feature, published today.
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I honestly think this can brew the opposite. Video games release tension and serve as an escape. Games have been known to be very very therapeutic, more then generators of negative thoughts. Not to say there is a very minute amount out there that can be effected in the wrong way by video games, but then that would also mean general media as well.
I believe Hirokazu Yasuhara covers this thoroughly in a interview here on Gamasutra. The man is a underrated designer and can teach us a lot in this interview here, enjoy :)
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3769/game_design_psychology_the_full_.php?
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