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Games "nomalize" (sic) killing, says report

According to this, a recent study at the Indiana School of Medicine has shown that, "Exposure to violent video games, even E [Everyone - Ed] rated video games, increases aggressive thoughts, increases pro-social behavior and increases general arousal," said Dr Greg Snyder, a psychologist at Omaha's Children's Hospital.

The study compared brain scan of a teenager who has just played what was deemed a nonviolent video game to the scan of a teen who had just spent 30 minutes playing a violent game.

"The more normal [violence] is, the more likely it is they're going to activate or engage in those behaviors when provoked or even unprovoked," Snyder added.

Ryan Miller, the manager of general operations for Gamers in Omaha, countered, said video games become an easy scapegoat when children turn violent.

"Just like any new media, it gets attacked. When any new genre of music comes out, it gets attacked. TV will, of course, get attacked. I'm sure, way back when, books got attacked," he said.

Lots more through that link. We'll post some more news, right after we get back from killing some people.

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Patrick Garratt avatar

Patrick Garratt

Founder & Publisher (Former)

Patrick Garratt is a games media legend - and not just by reputation. He was named as such in the UK's 'Games Media Awards', the equivalent of a lifetime achievement award. After garnering experience on countless gaming magazines, he joined Eurogamer and later split from that brand to create VG247, putting the site on the map with fast, 24-hour a day coverage, and assembling the site's earliest editorial teams. He retired from VG247, and the games industry, in 2017.

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