International law firm Pinsent-Masons offers an illuminating discussion of violence in video games and analyzes the "great divide" in censorship measures adopted in the U.K. and the U.S.
The "great divide" is also an apt term to apply to the gap between research on the consequences of exposure to violence in video games, and the hype to which fear of violent games has given rise. They point out: According to industry statistics, a majority of computer game players are over 18, with the average age of a gamer being 29. Academics point out that there has not been any definitive research linking bloodthirsty games such as Grand Theft Auto with violent responses in players. In a report published for the Video Standards Council, Dr .Guy Cumberbatch said: "The research evidence on media violence causing harm to viewers is wildly exaggerated and does not stand up to scrutiny". Dr Cumberbatch, head of the social policy think tank, the Communications Research Group reviewed the studies on the issue. He concluded that there was an absence of convincing research that media violence caused harm. Click Here to read the full article.
Visit Joystiq.com for a post reacting to the article, and convenes an intriguing discussion thread in which gamers tackle the topic of censorship.