The controversial Manhunt 2
Recent research carried out for the British Broad of Film Classification (BBFC) suggests that interactivity in games keeps gamers rooted in reality - it does not generate negative reactions.
This comes at a time when the likes of TV funnyman, Dr Phil and another US identity who operates out of Florida (and who you can read about on this link) have leapt on videogames as causal in yesterday's horrendous massacre at Virginia Tech.
The BBFC's research claims that when playing a game, contrary to the perception of non-gamers, people “are concentrating on making progress, and are unlikely to be emotionally involved.” Further to that, when playing violent games, “most gamers are concentrating on their own survival rather than the damage they are inflicting on the characters in the game.”
The report points to one gamer stating, “I no more feel that I have actually scored a goal than I do that I have actually killed someone. I know it’s not real. The emphasis is on achievement.”
The research, carried out by Cragg Ross Dawson, an independent research company, consists of interviews with gamers, parents, gaming professionals and members of the specialist press.
The director of the BBFC, David Cooke, responded to the report, saying, “We were particularly interested to see that this research suggests that, far from having a potentially negative impact on the reaction of the player, the very fact that they have to interact with the game seems to keep them more firmly rooted in reality.”
He goes on to add "This firm grasp on reality seems to extend to younger players, but this is no reason to allow them access to adult rated games, as they themselves often admit that they find the violence in games like Manhunt very upsetting."
Before we all cry “Ha!”, however, the word “suggests” should be duly noted. Many of the findings are derived from discussions with gamers rather than analysis of them. The report notes,
SPOnG is relieved to learn, however, that we're at least not intentionally acting out sociopathic fantasies when we play Resistance: Fall of Man.
You can read the full report right here.
This comes at a time when the likes of TV funnyman, Dr Phil and another US identity who operates out of Florida (and who you can read about on this link) have leapt on videogames as causal in yesterday's horrendous massacre at Virginia Tech.
The BBFC's research claims that when playing a game, contrary to the perception of non-gamers, people “are concentrating on making progress, and are unlikely to be emotionally involved.” Further to that, when playing violent games, “most gamers are concentrating on their own survival rather than the damage they are inflicting on the characters in the game.”
The report points to one gamer stating, “I no more feel that I have actually scored a goal than I do that I have actually killed someone. I know it’s not real. The emphasis is on achievement.”
The research, carried out by Cragg Ross Dawson, an independent research company, consists of interviews with gamers, parents, gaming professionals and members of the specialist press.
The director of the BBFC, David Cooke, responded to the report, saying, “We were particularly interested to see that this research suggests that, far from having a potentially negative impact on the reaction of the player, the very fact that they have to interact with the game seems to keep them more firmly rooted in reality.”
He goes on to add "This firm grasp on reality seems to extend to younger players, but this is no reason to allow them access to adult rated games, as they themselves often admit that they find the violence in games like Manhunt very upsetting."
Before we all cry “Ha!”, however, the word “suggests” should be duly noted. Many of the findings are derived from discussions with gamers rather than analysis of them. The report notes,
“It was explicitly stated at the outset that the research could not resolve the issue of whether playing games desensitises people to violence in a way, or to a degree, that has regrettable effects on their behaviour. This important question was acknowledged to be beyond what the proposed research design would be able to deliver.”
SPOnG is relieved to learn, however, that we're at least not intentionally acting out sociopathic fantasies when we play Resistance: Fall of Man.
You can read the full report right here.
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