In case you were not aware, on Thursday President Donald Trump had an hour-long meeting with Congressional leaders and video game industry leaders behind closed doors in the Roosevelt Room at the White House. Attendees included company representatives from Bethesda, Take-Two, Rockstar, and the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), as well as critics of violent media from the Parents Television Council (PTC), Media Research Council (MRC), Representative Vicky Hartzler, a Republican Congresswoman from Missouri, among others. The meeting, which the White House describes as one of many with the game industry and other stakeholders in a national discussion surrounding school shootings, was closed to the press. However, some of the attendees revealed what went down in post-meeting statements and press interviews.

The meeting kicked-off with the screening of the following 88-second video that depicts violent scenes from game franchises like Call of Duty, Sniper Elite, and Fallout:

Unlisted video from The White House’s YouTube channel​

Following the footage Rep. Hartzler said that the president would ask, “This is violent isn’t it?”, asking for comments and thoughts among those present.

"I think for many of us there, there was a shocked silence," Melissa Henson, a spokesperson for the PTC, said during a press call following the meeting. "Those from the video game industry were quick to defend [the video games] saying they were meant for a mature audience and that they weren't intended for kids to see."

“I think he’s deeply disturbed by some of the things you see in these video games that are so darn violent, viciously violent, and clearly inappropriate for children, and I think he’s bothered by that,” said Brent Bozell of the MRC.

In a press statement following the meeting, the White House added that “the President acknowledged some studies have indicated there is a correlation between video game violence and real violence. The conversation centered on whether violent video games, including games that graphically simulate killing, desensitize our community to violence.”

It is not the first time that President Trump made a connection between violence in video games and real violence. He has been quite vocal about his thoughts on the matter in the past...

Video game violence & glorification must be stopped—it is creating monsters!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 17, 2012

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... even if studies showed no correlation between the two, as the ESA pointed out: "We discussed the numerous scientific studies establishing that there is no connection between video games and violence, First Amendment protection of video games, and how our industry’s rating system effectively helps parents make informed entertainment choices."

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who was also at the meeting, also acknowledged that there is no evidence linking violent video games to the tragedy in Parkland. But he said he wanted to ensure “parents are aware of the resources available to them to monitor and control the entertainment their children are exposed to.”

"The tone of the meeting was that it was for information gathering, fact finding," the PTC's Melissa Henson said. "I don't believe anyone came in there with a policy outcome in mind. The President was not walking in there with his mind already made up. I am under the impression there will be future conversations, though no next steps were discussed."

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While nothing consequential went down during this specific meeting, similar ones are bound to happen, especially in the wake of increasing reports of public violence. Decisions might then be made that will have a heavy impact on the video game industry.

Views are highly divided regarding the issue of violence and video games. This will probably remain the case in the foreseeable future until a consensus is met, however unlikely that may be. But what do you think? Is there a correlation? Are there any changes that need to be made within the video game industry that can help to curb real-world violence?

 

[FAST6191]

As far as online shooters then https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19 + "the game creates the fanbase*"

*classic example being DOTA/moba type affairs. As a bad player tanks a match, the mechanics are obtuse as you like (with such things seemingly being clamoured for by the player base) and player rankings are visible to others it necessarily leads to exclusionary/elitist practices.

Equally I would argue for an inverse of the blood/gore scale -- having seen people see the real results of a fight over the years the blood less/wound free thing espoused by much media seems almost entirely backwards from where I sit (I am not sure where completely over the top gore would sit). Reserve the "cartoon"/a-team firing stuff for those that know better.

I am aware of the arguments, however the lack of evidence, historical precedents, massive inconsistencies between countries (barring certain genetic traits which I doubt manifest in a useful way here medicine mostly works on all people, all over the world) and adherence to age meaning something (I don't magically gain something on my 18th birthday, nor has anybody else, unless they meant 17 in those countries where 17 is the thing) means I am inclined to ignore it pending worthwhile evidence.

 

[Redhorse]

And we are all aware that all video games are filled with bloody violence./Sarc.
ie Wario Ware etc..

 

[APartOfMe]

And we are all aware that all video games are filled with bloody violence./Sarc.
ie Wario Ware etc..

Nice necro

 

[Condarkness_XY]

Is any good gonna come of this? I don't think so. President Dumbass is hellbent on screwing the industry just like he's hellbent on screwing all Americans.