I know this thread is old, but I didn't I initially didn't want to start a new thread and I wanted to add to this thread to discuss how violent video games make people violent. I honestly do believe that video games that teach any kind of violent action such as, but not necessarily limited to: shooting a simulated gun like in Grand Theft Auto or an electronic game gun like in a coin operated Area 51 game, throwing a simulated fireball like in Super Mario Bros., throwing a simulated sword like in the Legend of Zelda and/or other simulated violent action does contribute to making someone violent. Let me explain how violent video games can have the potential to make people violent.
Violent video games condition people to be violent by having the people repeat certain actions they see to the point where people 1, enjoy them and 2, believe them to be the natural way of living/acceptable means of resolving disputes.
In World War II, Japanese military officials ordered Japanese military subordinates to stab to death Chinese prisoners - they did this to condition them to enjoy killing, accept killing, and believe killing to be the natural way of living. That's what these violent video games do. They are programs that teach players how to kill.
Let's take for example pressing buttons on a control pad to shoot a simulated gun like in Grand Theft Auto. The person playing this game will repeatedly shoot at targets to the point where he/she likes killing and where it feels natural to kill and where it is acceptable to kill.
I firmly believe any video game that teaches a person to kill any person is wrong even if the person. Video game developers can develop games that are not violent and are really good to play. They don't for several reasons: 1, the game developers would say that kids would say that such games are for "sissies" and thus most of the kids would never purchase them; 2, the game developers themselves are most likely violent people or are people who don't care if their games are violent or not - I have firsthand experience with those who develop BattleTech, Wing Commander, and Homeworld wargames - they're violent and the developers absolutely refuse to develop nonviolent versions. There's a book I hope all of you get to read it's called Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill. It explains how violent games make people violent. I'll ask you people to stop blaming parents - they're doing everthing they can.