The seldom-heard catharsis hypothesis gets aired by Steven Johnson, as a sort of spin-off of his recent book (in which it did not rear its much-criticized head).
I personally doubt if the idea is as dead as some people like to think. Hell, I predict its triumphant return in the near future. Beware.
Of course another interesting explanation for crime decrease has recently been aired.
The American Psychological Association continues its quest for improved morality in games, interestingly revealing that “violent perpetrators in interactive media go unpunished 73 percent of the time” (Source: MTV).
This is fascinating. It goes to show how unrepresentative I am- when I played Vice City I never completed the game, and was consequently punished for my in-game crimes 100% of the time. But we now have proof that most (perhaps all!!) other players must have completed the game at first try.
Here’s APA’s press release and official Resolution on Violence in Video Games and Interactive Media.
IGN: The “brew”-haha over the so-called “hot coffee” modification to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas continues, with a media watchdog group now issuing a warning to parents about the game — and developer Rockstar finally commenting on the allegedly unlockable pornographic content.
Showing my combined gaming effort of the near past, present and future here’s my state-of-the-art Axis submarine as Captain Schmidt glides gently through the narrow strait between Zealand and Amager only to find… a surprising mass of land (crippling my forward torpedo tubes) and no trace of Copenhagen.
Other than being geographically challenged, Silent Hunter III seems quite promising. But then again, I’m biased towards all things submarinian.
Online submarine battle, anyone?