November 13, 2007
Given the amount of rhetoric on both sides of the video game violence issue, it's great to see young people approach the topic with an open mind.
And that's exactly what Jake Lackner, Katie Aldworth and Maxine Gallegos have done. The trio, students at the Denver School of the Arts, recently interviewed a mixed bag of researchers, activists and media types (including GP) about game violence. The result, a well-done documentary, is now available on YouTube.
Interviewees included Andrew Bub aka GamerDad, Fordham Media Studies Prof. Paul Levinson, Josh Golin of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, Jay Senter of Common Sense Media and Dr. Doug Gentile of Iowa State University. Friends, parents, teachers and siblings were also interviewed.
Paul Levinson offers his own thoughts on the project.
And that's exactly what Jake Lackner, Katie Aldworth and Maxine Gallegos have done. The trio, students at the Denver School of the Arts, recently interviewed a mixed bag of researchers, activists and media types (including GP) about game violence. The result, a well-done documentary, is now available on YouTube.
Interviewees included Andrew Bub aka GamerDad, Fordham Media Studies Prof. Paul Levinson, Josh Golin of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, Jay Senter of Common Sense Media and Dr. Doug Gentile of Iowa State University. Friends, parents, teachers and siblings were also interviewed.
Paul Levinson offers his own thoughts on the project.
Comments
No, at least not outright. his comment on it is usually "Moral Kombat will be great. I'm in it" which, well, is where I got that.
Why is it that the moment an article is on here even remotely linked to the argument about violence in them, a particular person has to do the forum equivalent of jumping up and down and screaming 'look at me!'?
not as long as we have the 1st amendment
Heres hoping Spencer Halpins work is able to have this level of balance or better, while having a higher production value.
Either way, Good work all around. We needs more stuff like this.
The parent child interviews were a nice touch.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
I also like the parent-child interview, especially how parents are concerned. But my question to a mom, what are the negativity are you talking about? I know what she's trying to say, but I could be mistaken. what's with the word "incite"?
And I do hate people (Golin) using confirmatory studies to support their cause, but I do like GP's and Levinson's balanced point of view.
i wish I could find Dr.Gentile's study, it's probably in his recent book. Oh to the kids who made the film, Dr.Gentile is not a doctor, but a doctor of psychology. So psychologist is more appropriate.
@RelaxGuy
Yes, I heard it too, probably refering to kids getting fatter and fatter.
Golin, though, seems to be parroting exactly everything JT's been saying, which I guess shouldn't surprise me since he's been working with them, no doubt coaching them to say these very things.
"We wouldn't be satsified with 40% sales of alchohol or cigarettes to minors." Well sorry, but it can and does happen. Unfortunate fact of life. We have laws and policies in place for that though just like there are for video games. The difference is, games are not proven to have tangible negative physiological effects regardless of what anyone says, and thus they are not considered to be as dangerous as alcohol or tobacco. As has been pointed out, the laws that keep getting drafted which in effect treat games like these substances (or porn of that matter) is why they keep failing.
I found it amusing that the parents and kids have two totally different viewpoints. Considering that it's the kids themselves who actually play these games, I'm more inclined to believe what they say. The parents (especially the two moms) stuck me as overprotective and a little out of touch.
And again, when we get to aggression, they always fail to state just what do they mean by that? Aggression is not necessarily a bad thing, yet it's painted in a way to somehow mean bad. Is this somehow part of the trend to try and raise a generation of pussies? If video games tought me anything, it's not to be afraid; go out there and take a chance. Don't be afraid to go after someone who's bothering you, or go after something you want. Stand up for yourself. At least that's how it was with me.
All in all, not as good as Moral Kombat, but still pretty decent for a student film. :)
Overall, it was a good video, somewhat unbalanced, as everyone else already agrees, though.
Parental concern is a good thing, though. That was one thing that struck me as a fantastic move. Interview the whole family and you see the big picture. The Mother is over-concerned, the father doesn't really mind, and the sister doesn't see any problem at all. Most of the people making a big deal out of this whole controversy are often mis-informed parents anyways.
But I agree that aggression and violence seem to be used interchangedly. Aggression is a positive atribute for people to have. Aggressive people make the best leaders as they get things done. When aggression is left unchecked and turned into violent or abusive behavior then it is bad.
Aggression itself is good.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
Ignoring the fact that these are controlled substances by law, and video games are not... just like movies are not... Take the metaphor one step further, most of society feels it's ok for a parent to let their kid have some wine on a special occasion, but would cry foul if they handed their kid a cigarette. So even cigarettes and alcohol are not equivalent comparisons...
I thought it was well presented. They balanced it quite well. Talking about censorship, and how it shouldn't be marketed to children, but then mentioning that it can be bought by children. Talking about effects, causing more aggression, but then throwing a wrench into that by saying that you can't really link increased aggression to increased violence.
The parents were a nice touch. Concerned about the content, but not panicky and fearing their child was going to turn into a serial killer, and not defaulting to that "well my child is perfect, but I'm worried about OTHER people's children".
Well done.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
The seem to act as if anything below 100% is unacceptable and means total failure.
I too find that the way the anti-game activist’s trumpet the 42% failure rate in video game rating enforcement to be odd. I have yet to hear any of these people even address the issue of movie failure rates. Sure theatres failure rate is only 35% but the retail side it is 71%. Surely that needs to be addressed.
Cherry picking my friend. Ignore data that is detrimental to your case.
Sometimes though, shouting "but those guys are worse" doesn't help your side, but makes it sound like you're making excuses. Just a thought.
It's good when talking about differences in media, but it shouldn't be brought up in a "well if you want to regulate us you need to regulate them too" kind of way. More a "You've agreed that they don't need regulation, why treat us any differently?"
It's all in the wording.
If only 'real' expositional media outlets would present such comprehensive and unbiased coverage.
I am not really a fan of the whole "Regulate everyone equally" debate. I just bring it up as I have looked through most of their sites (CSM PTC NIMF CCFC) and have found very little about the movie side of that report. The most that I have found is the generic review of the FTC Report. They blast them all, then procede to campaign against the video game industry.
I am not trying to scape goat. I am most concerned with the video game industry's numbers as that is the one I am directly involved in. The movie and music numbers don't mean much to me outside the fact that I am a parent that monitors my children's media intake and those numbers are meaningless to me. In fact as a parent the video game numbers are meaningless to me. It is only because I work in the game industry that I am concerned with the numbers.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
Jack Didn't get interviewed, Dennis did. He's likely throwing tantrums.
Almost all the parents in that were complete and utter morons. The makers didn't try to counter their views either.
Sixaxis FTW!
Why don't parents remember this? The very same issues were raised when they were kids.
Noticed that as well. Rather expected JBT to jump at the chance to once again say... well the same things he has said over and over.... hhmm. Now I wonder why he was not chosen for the interviews.... could it be?
Yeah I am sure jackie is irked. Bet being skipped over is as painful to him as his giving birth to an armadillo breech presentation (backend first) such a shame.
Subject:
Nice done overall. Seems to be a fair cross-section and none leading questions. Yeah the adults were... well not in the loop.
@ Jabrwock
You summed it up well.
The parents were a nice touch. Concerned about the content, but not panicky and fearing their child was going to turn into a serial killer, and not defaulting to that “well my child is perfect, but I’m worried about OTHER people’s children”.
There are all to many adults/parents that are like that. Wonder how long one can live in denial. "No no not my child, he/she is perfect... your child though." Those are the parents that buy the games for the kid just so they do not need to deal with them then turn around and blame society for putting the games in the hands of the kids.
I'll tell you what I learned from violent video games: how to out think your opponent. There is a lot of strategy that goes into a good multiplayer FPS; a lot of psychological warfare.
yeah, thats right, RTS does improve logical thought and quick, and correct managerial decisions, whereas FPS increases spatial awareness and immediate responses. these cannot be denied to be good things.
Pretty good since he considers himself the sole reason for seeing Moral Kombat
Good god, I hope not. He already has enough of a 3-year-old-in-a-suit reputation. Besides, I would hope he still has some sense of perspective. He's refused to discuss issues with individuals basically because it's small time, I would hope he would think same of little you-tube movies. Besides, they interviewed Dennis, right off that bat I would think that would dissuade jack-o for fear of catching dennis'es "censor-in-chief-cooties".
I agree. Try playing Myst, better for logical thinking. I think I got into programming thanks to this game.
@kurisu7885
Did he REALLY said that? (I also wonder what he really said in the metalgearsolid.org affair) If that's true, I never thought I'd see someone as delusional, loathable and egocentircal in a lifetime. I'm really looking forward to the moment Jackie boy will be disbarred, because it's sure that he's one-of-a-kind.
excellent work!
We disagreed because videogames have a possible effect over a long period of time that is not physical (it's mental/psychological) whereas cigarettes and alcohol are direct, immediate physical affects. I would be more apt to look into that argument further if he had compared it to R or even X rated movies and other pornography. Even then it falls mostly onto parents to do the policing.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
Random Tower: Game News and Commentary
November 13th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
The real question that should be on everyone’s minds is “How long until this video gets a DMCA take down notice?”
I completely disagree. The REAL question is what kind of person names their kid Zane?
to the study that was done on 5th graders...dont do studies on 5th graders do studies on humans who have fully developed their brain so they are more level headed
a good ending statement would be to tell parents to be responsible for their kids and not to blame it on video games cause they are the ones who let their kids play the game
*in a rough pirate voice* Over yander the waves and hills I see! The Horsemen they do ride! He comes for me, the white whale! Hark, thar he blows, out behind and to the rear!
Dennis, thanks again for posting this.
Mr. Golin has forgotten more about video game-induced violence than you will ever know. But then he's a total moron on the faculty at Harvard, right?
By the way, Mr. Golin uses his real name, unlike cowards like Black Manta.
Oh, and Dennis, check out 07-21256. Hooah!
You guys did a good job and got to interview people who care about the issue. It is good to see kids like me actully care about this issue. Althought most of the people seemed anti-game, but it seems balanced. Keep on doing great work like this and you could be great players in this big debate of violence in games.
Ben
Sometimes I do wonder if you're the real john bruce thompson as your online name claim to be or maybe you're just a troll. Dennis? Is he THE jack Thompson?
I agree with Jake; even if you didn't like the video or thought it wasn't balanced enough, I appreciate the fact that so many people have watched our film. I also really appreciate all the feedback. Thank you.
Thanks for posting this Dennis.
You know you only want our real names so you can mentaly molest our children.
simple as that
by 2012 videogames will be heavily restricted. and games like halo 3 will be unable to even be produced in the united states.
Its not nessarly the games that is causing the problem. but your upset that you cant beat the game, or that guy keeps appearing out of no wear killing you.
I've seen it many times on both sides.
Some guy is "owning" the entire server. You come in and keep killing him. It doesnt help that the server was filled with inbred retarded players, and him... So you begin to own the server. He cant accept this. He was owning, and now he is losing. Thus he gets grumpy, and we get "Angry German Kid"
With RE4, anyone gets angery when some little midgit laughs at them and demands that they obey them.
With me, RE4 and FPS release the tension i get from playing Mario.
Foxing platforms! Why is there so much jumping!
in 2012
We wont even be allowed to think of outer space. The Borg will assumilate us. We must resist, no mater how futile it is.
Feelings will be banned, anyone who feels will be a sense offender and burt alive.
"Mr. Golin has forgotten more about video game-induced violence than you will ever know."
I guess that goes for a lot of people who oppose computer games and try and legislate. Afterall, who else would try and pass through more laws after 9 have already been struck down but a person who has such a bad memory that he forgets most of what he knows about game-induced violence?
...
Who else but a greedy, snide, arrogant, rude, pathetic, ambulance-chasing, money-grabbing, attention-seeking, self-obcessed lawyer and his chronies...