Blood, guts and relentless carnage; DO gruesome video games really affect youngsters and teach them to be violent? Or are they harmless fun? Psychologist Professor Mark Griffiths, the UK's leading expert on video games and their effects, takes a look at the nine most violent games currently available...MANHUNT man·hunt n. An organized, extensive search for a person, usually a fugitive criminal. manhunt Noun an organized search, usually by police, for a wanted man or fugitive Noun 1. 18PLOT THE player must kill as many people as he can using the most vicious and devious methods. The first time he kills someone he is urged to smother them with a plastic bag.MARK SAYSTHIS is one of the most violent - if not THE most violent - game on the market. It is clearly aimed at adults but even most of those would find it morally repellent. Although there is some game-play involved it would - and should - only appeal to a small minority of people who enjoy violence. Children, especially those under eight, might mimic what they see and should not be exposed to this game. GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE CITY 18 PLOT THE player becomes Tommy Vercetti Thomas "Tommy" Vercetti is a fictional character, voiced by Ray Liotta, in the Grand Theft Auto video game series. He serves as the protagonist, anti-hero and playable character in the video game , where he would emerge as the leader of his own organization. , a criminal walking around Liberty City who goes on a car-jacking spree. He pulls taxi-drivers out of their cabs, shoots them and steals their vehicles. Tommy embarks on a driving rampage, robbing and killing prostitutes and driving over innocent pedestrians. MARK SAYS THIS is clearly an adult game containing adult themes such as prostitution and violence. For most adults this is an entertaining game with a cool music backdrop - a bit like watching a Tarantino movie. But you wouldn't - or shouldn't - let your kids watch one of those either. THE GETAWAY 18 PLOT SET on the streets of London, the player is a gangster whose son has been kidnapped. Occupants of a police station are slaughtered - necks are broken, people are shot - and dozens of innocent bystanders are killed. MARK SAYS ONE of the redeeming features of this game is that one of your own flesh and blood has been kidnapped. Psychologically it plays on the fact that most people believe in an "eye for an eye" and that you would turn to violence if something happened to someone you loved. The motive is understandable but, even so, the 18 certificate is well-deserved. Hitman 2: Silent Assassin  This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling.You can assist by [ editing it] now. 16 PLOT WHEN launched this included a simulation of the 1984 attack on the Golden Temple at Amritsar where hundreds of Sikhs died. This was withdrawn and an edited version released. The player is a mafia assassin who has to kill mob targets. He must find different weapons and kill victims as silently as possible.MARK SAYS THE original was in poor taste - no game should be based on real events as it blurs fantasy and reality. With the second game, there is some motive involved and psychological involvement is high. As those killed are criminals it lowers feelings of guilt. The realistic death scenes are disturbing but regular players will become numbed. SOLDIER OF FORTUNE II: DOUBLE HELIX double helix n. The coiled structure of a double-stranded DNA molecule in which strands linked by hydrogen bonds form a spiral configuration. Also called DNA helix, Watson-Crick helix. 18 PLOT USING an arsenal of weapons including a flame-thrower and a futuristic microwave gun, players take the role of John Mullins John Mullins (born 6 November 1985 in Hampstead) is an English footballer who currently plays for Mansfield Town. Mullins is a versatile defender, who usually plays in the right-back position. Mullins began his career in Reading's youth team. - a mercenary who accepts the US government's most dangerous missions. This time it involves biological terrorism. There are 32 different areas of the body where victims can be shot - with a variety of gruesome results. MARK SAYS IT isn't violence for violence's sake. The fact it's your job makes it easier for the player to slip into the role of killer. The multiple ways to kill mean the novelty factor will take a long time to wear off. Regular adult players will become emotionally numb to this kind of fantasy killing. MAX PAYNE 2: FALL OF MAX PAYNE 18 PLOT THIS one is like the Charles Bronson film Death Wish. The player controls Max Payne, an ex cop whose wife was killed by drug dealers. He goes after them seeking revenge. He tracks them down to various crack dens and apartments where he kills them, usually by shooting them with handguns or machine guns. MARK SAYS IT plays the emotional revenge card by using excessive violence to avenge a loved one's death. The bullet-time sequences at least remind the player that they are acting out a fantasy. Older players who know the film Death Wish will also be aware that they are playing a part. ROADKILL road·kill n. 1. An animal or animals killed by being struck by a motor vehicle. 2. Slang One that has failed or been defeated and is no longer worthy of consideration: 18 PLOT SIMILAR in some respects to Grand Theft Auto, this game is set in a post-apocalyptic world. The player is behind the wheel of a car and up against all the other inhabitants. All of the people can be run over, shot or dragged beneath your car. At one point a rival is dragged around on the bumper creating huge streams and trails of blood in remarkably gory go·ry adj. go·ri·er, go·ri·est 1. Covered or stained with gore; bloody. 2. Full of or characterized by bloodshed and violence. scenes.MARK SAYSANOTHER extreme role play in which the player can immerse himself in the world of his character. It is not as violent as some of the other games, but merits its 18 certificate because of the bad language and gore. HOOLIGANS: STORM OVER EUROPE 18 PLOT RELEASED to coincide with the World Cup in 2002, this game has the player take on the role of leader of a gang of football hooligans as they rampage across Europe. Up to four people can play together to create ultimate mayhem - blowing up the police, taking over pubs, breaking into shops and beating up the opposition. MARK SAYS THE multi-player feature allows group cohesion and diffusion of responsibility Diffusion of responsibility is a social phenomenon which tends to occur in groups of people above a certain critical size when responsibility is not explicitly assigned. Diffusion of responsibility can manifest itself: If one player does something totally out of character, others will feel they have "permission" to act in the same way. Children may be particularly vulnerable to peer pressure with this type of game. POSTAL 2: APOCALYPSE WEEKEND 18 PLOT THE player takes on the role of a "trailer trash guy". He decides he will go on a killing spree because he has lost his job as a games developer. Players are invited to hack their enemies to pieces in a bloody rampage. They can use the amazing boomerang Machete, the Scythe scythe carried by the personification of death, used to cut life short. [Art.: Hall, 276] See : Death and the head-popping Sledgehammer See Opteron. . MARK SAYS THE motive driving this game is decidedly suspect. There is no other reason for the killing spree than a complete mental breakdown of a man who loses his job. The player might feel less guilty for this reason - but it certainly isn't a good reason. |
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