Medical and mental health experts agree that all the data on television violence immediately transfers to violent video games. Research specific to video games conducted in the last few years indicates that violent video games cause much greater physiological changes than non-violent games (heart rate, blood pressure, adrenaline, noradrenaline, testosterone), and that the harmful effect is much greater for males who pretest high on measures of anger and hostility.

Preliminary research conducted by British and Canadian brain researchers indicates game playing may release dopamine, the same kind of pleasure-inducing chemical as cocaine, amphetamines, cigarette smoking, alcohol and other addictive substances.

First-person shooter games also function as killing simulators or conditioning devices of a type and quality used by the military and law enforcement to train staff to both shoot with accuracy and reflexively. Simulators are used extensively and the scientific data on their effectiveness in behaviour modification is exhaustive, according to Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, a world-renowned expert on violence and the roots of aggression.

At right is a screen shot from Grand Theft Auto. The player is kicking a prostitute.

Research

Research reports on violent video games can be found in the Research section. Click here

Government regulation

Information on regulation of video games can be found in the Government Action section. Click here

Copycat crimes

Information on crimes believed to be connected to video games can be found in the Copycat Crimes section. Click here

Grand Theft Auto worries gang experts (2004)

Killzone's guns feel "real" (2004)

Counterstrike fanatic ordered gun (2004)

Japan struggles with violent video games (2000)

Missouri pulls violent video games from prisons (2004)

Name of the game is "gore" (2002)

Name of the game is "violence" (2004)

Advertisers want video game exposure (2004)

ESRB to "label" rape video games (2003)

Postal 2: Silly or sick - interview with game developer (2003)

Soldier of Fortune decision in B.C. (2000)

Company to appeal Soldier of Fortune X-rating (2000)

B.C. initiatives on violent video games (2000)

Doctors unite against violent games (2000)

Toronto police chiefs press for tax on violent video games (1999)