Violent
video games have long been a topic of controversy, particularly so after major
video game publishers such as Sony and Nintendo were named in lawsuits stemming
from the Columbine shootings of 1999.
Allegations were that the perpetrators of that horrible crime were
regular game players of violent video games and now a video game called Saints
Row 2 allows players to commit virtual insurance fraud.
Violence and Video Games
Violence and Video Games
This
begs the question; do violent video games inspire people to act with violence
in real life? If so, could video
games cause people to commit non-violent crimes as well? The Saints Row 2 video game in
particular has a component that encourages players to commit insurance fraud in
order to advance in the game and obtain bonus points.
The
National Institute on Media and the Family estimates that today’s young people
play video games for about 8 hours per week. When you consider the conditioning that may occur during
these games, its easy to consider that a person may be inspired to attempt to
act out these fantasies at some point.
Insurance Fraud - A Game?
Insurance Fraud - A Game?
Saints
Row 2 contains a feature that allows players to commit insurance fraud in order
to build up an accumulation of money throughout the game. The player’s cash is built up by
jumping in front of vehicles, and the goal is to do this without really getting
injured, and to do it in such a way that the player’s character can stand up
quickly and move on through the game quickly.
Will
video gamers be able to discern fantasy from reality? What effect do these games have on young people? While games like Saints Row 2 are not
illegal, games that encourage or mimic law-breaking activities should be
carefully regulated to ensure that young people do not get the wrong idea when
it comes to violent or non-violent crimes.
