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Letter: Nonviolent aggro

Published 27 May 2000

From Nick Csikesz

The study on “virtual violence”
(6 May, p 25) does nothing to prove that
violent games lead to violent people. Wolfenstein is a fast-paced action game
which requires quick reflexes and puts the player on edge. True, it has
violence, but a sports game has the same effect on people. Myst, on the other
hand, is slow-paced and thought-based, requiring the player to contemplate
actions before taking them.

Clearly, the person playing the action game will have a more competitive
spirit after finishing and would push a button longer. This is more to do with
competition than violence. I would be interested to see the results of a
violence-based game pitted against a sports game.

Westford, Massachusetts

Issue no. 2240 published 27 May 2000

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