Dan Olsen’s Weblog

My insights and comments on technical issues and anything else I feel like saying.

“Video games made me do it…”

I have been following the story about Devin Moore who has been convicted of capital murder. Moore killed two police and a radio dispatcher by grabbing one of the officers guns. Moore claims that “Life is a video game; everybody has to die sometime.” His lawyer also claims that Grand Theft Auto made him kill. Do I believe a video made him kill? No. Do I think Moore has some psychological issues? Yes! I find it ridiculous how often we see people blaming anything but themselves for their actions.

Another thing I find odd is that we do not allow killing and stealing in society but in society we have so many games that makes these crimes the main purpose of the game. This seems a little strange to me. Why are we allowing games that promote illegal activity to begin with. When I play video games I prefer the sports games. I don’t need to play a game where the goal is to run around and kill and steal. Plus, having two young boys who like to watch me play game now and again, I don’t want to expose them to violence. What am I supposed to tell them, “it’s okay to kill as long as it is a video game.”

All in all, I think video game companies should focus more on wholesome games rather than games that promote killing and stealing.

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