Why is violence so "fun" to people in video games?

What's with violence and people these days?! Why do teens and children play grotesque video games like GTA and war simulants?? Have we learned nothing from the past??? The Hebrews in Egypt, slavery, the Holocaust... All reminders that we need, no, we MUST be a peaceful race to survive. These games are only making us blood thirsty for war and death. Why, tell me, WHY are people into these games?!?! It's sick, just sick. I mean, fantasy violence like Zelda really does no harm, but why do people like games where you can shoot people in the head/crotch and see them squirt blood everywhere?? And like in GTA, where you can beat up and kill old ladies on the street! WHAT'S UP WITH THAT???? Tell me what you think.

Power. Everyone wants power. Beating up old ladies shows you have power over them. Shooting zombies shows you're more powerful than them. It's all about power.




And, of course, beating up old ladies is fun.



DISCLAIMER: I Cannot be responsible for anyone going out and actually beating up an old lady after reading this, though I do condone it. And if anyone goes out and tries to shoot a zombie, I'll just laugh at them. Loudly.

Personally, I don't like obscene violence either, but that's beside the point. Some people do, so let them have it. Why do they like it? Well, the reason is probably different for each person, so anyone who likes video game violence, please speak up and let us know, why do you like it? Huh? Why, Huh? Why, huh?

Woo! 1,111 posts!

Ok, my raw thoughts on this at the moment are as follows,
We, humans, have a curiosity to see horrible things. I don't know why but it seems to satisfy people even as it repulses them.
Take the example of a car crash. Most drivers would try to slow down when they go past to have a look. And, be honest with yourself, you'd be dying to have a look at the scene, too.

However, I think we've reached disturbing levels, violent-games wise. The other day .. I walked in on my brother while he was playing .. (what's it called again! >_< a game where you have to kill all these repulsive creature things) (counter .. strike .. maybe?) Anyway, and I absolutely recoiled in horror at what I saw and had to run out the room.
Some gamers I spoke to actually consider this as a good thing because any violent tendancies they have, they'll just spend on these games leaving the peaceful human part of them to interact with the rest of the world.

I, personally don't like such games and wouldn't play them >_>

Do you want your child or people use acts of violence in real life? People like violent video games because it's entertaiment. People do have common sense not to act violent actions in real life though. Violence has been around since the begining of time, just have to deal with it or do something stop it, but you'll never stop violence, ever.

Originally Posted by LOZelda64

What's with violence and people these days?! Why do teens and children play grotesque video games like GTA and war simulants?? Have we learned nothing from the past???

I don't really see why people like to go on about violence in video games, when all the games with the most violence are seriously outnumberd by the games that have no violence or just fantasy and comic violence.

The Hebrews in Egypt, slavery, the Holocaust... All reminders that we need, no, we MUST be a peaceful race to survive.

Every leader that tried to stop violence, commited violence themselves. I think I'll take a note from Epy's custom rank: "Establish World Peace: KILL EVERYBODY."

These games are only making us blood thirsty for war and death. Why, tell me, WHY are people into these games?!?! It's sick, just sick.

Why are people into racing games? If they were gullible enough, they could see the world as a race track and get into a deadly accident killing themselves. Why are people into RPG's? If they were influenced enough by the perfect little enviorment that it shows, they'll start to lock themselves away in their own little imaginary world. To say that violence in games makes us blood thirsty sounds like a quote from the pages of Jack Thompson.

I mean, fantasy violence like Zelda really does no harm, but why do people like games where you can shoot people in the head/crotch and see them squirt blood everywhere?? And like in GTA, where you can beat up and kill old ladies on the street! WHAT'S UP WITH THAT???? Tell me what you think.

See above quote for answer.

I wouldn't say that I enjoy violence but it certainly gets my mind away from bad life problems...GTA is just bad...I don't know what Rockstar is thinking about..They're trying to make America look badder than it already is or something??Sure beating up old ladies is fun but yeah the game gets way too violent some times.To me the GTA games seem to run on a Kill->Run->Busted->Kill cycle and get boring after a while without the needs for cheats.

I believe that it isn't fair to compare video games with real life events. These two things are completely different. How can you compare pure entertainment that's not even real to something that happens in real life, like, say, murder? In addition, studies haven't (yes, havne't) shown that violent video games have a huge impact on people in their daily lives.

Anyway, why violent video game is fun? It's because we all like to be heroes.

Relating back to my power statement, it's just a rush that everybody needs every once in a while. Have you ever played "Turok: Evolution" for the GC? It's actually a rather terrible game, as games go, but when you switch on all the guns, and infinite ammo, and invincibility, and spend 15 minutes running around the stage with a gun the size of Kansas, splattering blood and stuff all over walls, and blowing limbs and heads off, it just delivers this massive rush of power. I'd never go out and do that in real life, of course, but face it: Everybody wants to be more powerful!

Whether it's wanting to be the boss at work, or wanting to no longer be bullied, or whatever, that rush of power makes you feel, if just for a moment, that you really are the more powerful being. I go through Turok splattering heads, or I punch someone, or blow something up. It all delivers the same rush, but the videogames are obviously the less destructive examples. Does that mean I condone such extreme violence? Heck no! I can get that same rush from playing WW, and allowing myself to be surrounded by enemies, and spin attacking them, and watching them go flying, and feeling the power of the attack, but it's shorter, and harder to get.

It's kind of like a drug, except, perhaps less harmful. Everyone just needs that hit once in a while, and violence in videogames can deliver that. That's why they're so popular.

Originally Posted by LOZelda64

What's with violence and people these days?! Why do teens and children play grotesque video games like GTA and war simulants??

Just as an answer to that question, children only play those violent videogames because their parents tell them to. But if adults want to play super ultra violent games let them. As long as the violence doesn't carry out into the real world

edit: i mean't "let" not "tell".

Or is it because they tell them not to play them? It's natural to want to rebel against authorities, and, surprise, I think it's because it makes the rebels feel more powerful! I have a 13-year-old sister, who, at the moment, doesn't listen to anything my parents say, and actually tries, whenever possible, to do the exact opposite. Kids reel against their parents to try and establish themself amongst their friends. It's like saying: "I'm much more powerful than my parents, they can't tell me what to do, so I must be better, or at least on par, with all my peers."

Why are video games targeted? I see much more grotesque/controversial/inappropriate content on TV and in movies.

Now, I haven't seen any studies on this. It is just my own personal observation. I do believe that violent media can affect your mind, however subtley. Many of us enjoy this media and will argue with a statement such as "I play violent video games all the time and I haven't killed someone." Of course not. That would be an extreme situation. I have noticed past an increased tendency to become agitated and swear in a friend when he would play M rated FPSs. It was quite noticeable. I also think that violent games dull your sensitivity to certain events and images.

Personally, I see the effects much more on people who listen to music. Particularly rap. Then you have to argue the cause and effect. Perhaps the rap music is just a result of the person wanting to live the thug life style in the first place. Still, rap music could intensify and speed up one's realization of that sort of life.

Regardless, it is ultimately up to the person to choose what media they take in and how the media affects them is determined by their maturity. I do think media can affect your mind, but not to a great degree. People like Jack Thompson need to get a life.

It's a nice theory, but videogames don't actually seem to be able to influence sane people.
And these videogames aren't fun because of the violence, they are fun because they are well made.

Originally Posted by LOZelda64

What's with violence and people these days?!

I like your choice of words, "these days". It's as though people haven't been violent for all of time. Boy, people in this day and age sure have deviated from their more serene, affable lifestyle. Instead of thrusting cold steel into someone's throat or chest, or perhaps bathing their foes in the oh-so-lovable burning oil and gigantic rocks, we have demons known as guns that fire off thumb-sized projectiles through someone's lobes and limbs and even, dare I say it, concealed weapons?!

Oh man...yes, we're much more violent these days. Pfft, forget the past, human beings have become the epitome of all that is Hell.

Originally Posted by LOZelda64

What's with violence and people these days?! Why do teens and children play grotesque video games like GTA and war simulants?

Because they're fun to play, possibly? Excuse my random, completely infeasible hypothesis.

Originally Posted by LOZelda

The Hebrews in Egypt, slavery, the Holocaust... All reminders that we need, no, we MUST be a peaceful race to survive.

Estimated World Population of 1910: 1,750,000,000
WWI Combined Casualties: 22,062,427
Estimated World Population of 1940: 2,300,000,000
WWII Combined Casualties: 62,315,800
Holocaust Victims High Estimate: 6,017,760.
Estimated World Population of 1950: 2,556,000,053
Estimated World Population Today: 6,848,932,929

Your figures don't seem to explain why we're not surviving as a whole. However, there is always the chance of nuclear holocaust if some nutcase were to launch one and declare war.

But save for that possibility, we're surviving just fine. :D

Originally Posted by LOZelda64

These games are only making us blood thirsty for war and death.

I smell conservative conspiracy theories! Who wants a good ol' drink down at the blood rave?

Originally Posted by LOZelda64

I mean, fantasy violence like Zelda really does no harm but why do people like games where you can shoot people in the head/crotch and see them squirt blood everywhere?

Please explain to me how swinging around a twenty-seven-or-so inch blade at monsters and Spanish-looking [Ganondorf] people isn't classified as violent? I mean, Miyamoto might actually be trying to encourage people to kill off nature by making Deku Babas look like rabid plants bent on breathing green gas at you, hissing, and biting your shoulder off. Who knows?

Secondly, people with common sense will keep the violence in the game, not start going out into the city thinking they can do this stuff and, depending on the number of stars they get, can just hide someplace and not be apprehended later?

It's not the violence, it's the motives behind the violence. There is a huge difference between beating up old ladies in a game like GTA and shooting zombies that are trying to kill you in a survival horror game. Video games are targeted as a cause for violence, because of a few stupid games like GTA. As if the other industries weren't just as bad. Some of us are retards, and get lost in these fake worlds. Some of us are sane.

Oh, and why is it fun? Be honest. Did you have fun killing an evil bastard like Ganon in OoT? I really wanted to kill him, and it was oh-so-satisfying striking the final blow.

I actually don't find GTA very entertaining, and I can't stand watching people play it, slashing off random people's heads.

A game where you just go around killing people pointlessly isn't fun to me either. But as I think its more of the storyline and graphics that grab peoples attention. Also killing people in games is, for me, a way to relief stress.

I honestly think it has to do with the fact that one can commit a crime, and not be punished by it themselves (the character does, but not the player). You have to see that video games are little portals to false alternate universi. The only real "beef" I have with violent video games is how it effects the child's mind. No, I'm not saying that all violent video gamers are going to run rampant throughout the streets, what I'm saying is, they don't fully understand between life and death. There was a case about a school where a student was reported to be shot and killed. Most of the classmates (who were friends with this person) didn't care. They sort of thought of it as "Oh, another NP that's gone. He's not going to affect me". Once the majority of kids get into that mind-set, I'll be terrified.

What is needed? Realism (and not just graphics). Is it going to happen? No so much. The only two realistic things we experince in most video games knowadays are physics, gravity, and visual. But the fact that a person can be shot numerous times and can still stand and walk away isn't giving the right message. If games were more realistic, GTA would be more of a stealth/operation spree kind of a game. 1-3 shots can kill you (in vital body parts), not 15.

-BGS

Originally Posted by Lone Wolf

I believe that it isn't fair to compare video games with real life events. These two things are completely different. How can you compare pure entertainment that's not even real to something that happens in real life, like, say, murder? In addition, studies haven't (yes, havne't) shown that violent video games have a huge impact on people in their daily lives.

Anyway, why violent video game is fun? It's because we all like to be heroes.

Well, they aren't totally different. I mean, some people just get a violent personality because they play violent video games. Most of the time, they end up dead or have killed someone. And you don't need to act out physical violence to be a hero. Martin Luther King was a hero but he never physically hurt someone. See, bam! Right there, you yourself have already gotten the thought that violence is the only way to become a hero.

Originally Posted by LOZelda64

Well, they aren't totally different. I mean, some people just get a violent personality because they play violent video games.

Do you have any sources for this? As far as I know no tests have ever shown this. Unless it has been shown this is a rather pointless debate.

Because people are morbid in general, which is why we have horror movies and violent games. Through these, we can enjoy violence without the consequences: true psychological side effects and a mess on the carpet.

I think violent videogames are killing don't actually have the same effect that really killing someone does. You don't feel the psychological effect (guilt, revulsion, fear, or even the extreme pleasure that slash-o-holics feel.) It's just a novelty that appeals to our morbid side, but it is just a novelty. It annoys me when people say that violent video games make people behave violently. The people who were "inspired" by violence in the media, (you hear journalists bleating about copycat murders) would have just ended up killing or hurting someone anyway, because you have to be pretty disturbed to want to try out the real thing to begin with. No matter what the nanny state wants you to believe, nobody goes from happy wholesome outgoing teen to reclusive homicidal maniac, just by picking up a copy of Grand Theft Auto and playing it.