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I shall start this article on a contradictory note; the UK release of Grand Theft Auto 4 on the 29th April 2008 brought about two stabbings outside video game stores. Possibly the most bloody, violent and criminal game series to date provides the irony that those who are too politically correct (or blinkered) will swarm over as "evidence" in their claims to ban violent games.

Yet I still do not believe that video games influence how people function. Many things have been blamed for social unrest over the years and it now appears to be the turn of the video game. I should point to rock and roll or punk rock or almost anything that has been the "in" thing for a sustained period of time over the past 50 years.

My point here is; I have played games for a fair few years and if video games had influenced me I would be running around dark rooms, munching pills and jumping on mushrooms!

It sounds ridiculous when put like that, doesn't it?

Yet, that is the ridiculous situation that the government puts us in. Yes, I blame the government. When a government fails to do its job to the standard of public expectancy, finding a scapegoat not only becomes essential but inevitable. If street crime is up, why not blame it on a game containing street crime? It is much easier to lay the blame elsewhere and ban a game than admit failure and misdirection.

Unfortunately, this doesn't appear to work both ways for the gaming industry. If mathematics results have increased it, of course, is down to improved targeting in schools and better teaching. Not the newest, maths based game that has sold 10 million copies...

I must also contest that if someone is mentally unstable enough to be so greatly affected by a game that they go out and kill someone (or commit any crime) surely they should have been seized by the authorities earlier? Surely they should have been seized before their mental state became so bad? Again, in today's society it appears you must have committed a crime before you are a "threat". I always thought the definition of a threat was something that could be dangerous.

If you have committed a crime you are no longer a threat. You are dangerous.

I believe this is a social effect which only the authorities can rectify but they aren't going to, as it is currently playing in their favour. It would be interesting to see how quickly things change when video games get praised for social change. Until then, I can but hope and dream...Or go and shoot someone on Grand Theft Auto 4...

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