Posted Jan 16, 2008 at 10:03PM by Nicolo S. Listed in: Opinions & Analysis Tags: virtual reality, piracy, Saudi Arabia
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Tommy Vercetti from GTA: Vice City - Image 1Violence in video games and piracy that allow children to easily afford games with their own money are problems even in Saudi Arabia, said a group of educationists after a study conducted in Saudi's capital, Riyadh. A group of young juveniles were involved in the study, and it ended up with a conclusion that 90% of youngsters were negatively affected by violent video games.

According to the study covered by Asharq Alawsat , many young people were unable to distinguish virtual reality from real life. Cited were "evil scenarios" such as combating security forces, destroying state property or violating people in various ways that juveniles wanted to imitate after extended hours of play.

Piracy was blamed by research, saying the complete absence of official censorship coupled with lower than US$ 2 price tags (as opposed to US$ 27- 53 prices for legit copies) allow violent video games to spread among children.

The study also noted the lack of games that develop mental abilities and skills, and the how certain games "do not encourage youths to adopt strong values and noble customs and only time is wasted." It also concluded with the idea that "society is facing a critical issue as the danger lies in the fact that video games are interactive," reports the Asharq Alawsat.


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15 Comments


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   by Syraxius - 2008-01-16
 » excuses, excuses, excuses

trying to divert the attention from their lack of national security and civil education by pushing the blame to video games


   Re: yakhan - 2008-01-17
 » Excuse me Syraxius

As a proud Saudi I can say that we do not lack security and education. Our military and education is as better as any other developed country.
   by poeticjedi - 2008-01-17
 » hmmm

well perhaps if they didnt treat their kids like the kings of the world, they wouldnt have this issue in the first place, a well developed child can interact with almost any media and know reality from non reality. Train your children and yourselves first, stop blaming ev eryhting else before you qiestion "did i really do everything i could to stop this from happening?

Cause god knows, the saudis and arabs were a perfectly peaceful people before video games, the more we ignore the fact that violence exits and it is a commonplace scenario, the worse it will get.
scuse any typos, been up wayy too long

   by saud_shaban - 2008-01-17
 » You can't just blame the kids

i live in Saudi Arabia and something i noticed while going to school here is that the parent here don't pay attention to there kids,they just buy them games with out looking at the rating on it ,they do know what the M, T or E that you see on game boxes mean.

   by hamburgler - 2008-01-17
 » o

i kill people sometimes. only when i play violent video games though because it triggers my brain to murder.


   Re: joemontana03 - 2008-01-18
 » ...

typical idiot comment.
   by goemon4@gmail.com - 2008-01-17
 » Video Games = World Wide Scapegoat

Really, Saudi Arabia isnt excatly known for its peace. Mabey their looking around, or watching the news. Cause im sure as hell more influenced when i see the news on Iraq seeing people blow themselves up there. For what? A VIDEO GAME?!?!!!!111 No, over religion and polotics and money (real evil) video games are entertainment, not some evil corrupter. I mean movies are way worse (anyone watch the *****ing Saw movies? Huh Saudi Arabia? Ever go see a movie?) or is it the interactive part? Last time i checked the Ludovico Technique was NOT interactive, as far as brainwashing goes (look it up if your lost)

Video games arent the problem, and blaming them isnt helping them, its making them worse, open your eyes people and look at the bigger evils which we all know are there (Religion, Greed, Polotics)

Ya Twits.....


   Re: na2rul - 2008-01-17
 » wait

American politics - greed for power and fuel supply - make up lies as excuse to go trash other countries - provoked the religious -triggered outrage - revenge.

ALL for the sake of ur lazy ass economy. Ur greed costed LIVESS!!

Saudi is home of muslims and iraq is full of rebals that happen to be muslims..... "different countries".

Give it a break, there are f.u.cking kids dying out there.
   by Advertising -
   by CHUCKINGROCKSATSPACESHIPS - 2008-01-17
 » Hogwash!

"ALL HAIL THE DICTATOR!" There I said it. Does that make it any better?

   by Deerwings - 2008-01-17
 » many young people were unable to distinguish virtual reality from real life.

Here, it's simple. One has a controller, the other doesn't. One also has a power switch, the other doesn't. Amazing!


   Re: White Power Ranger - 2008-01-17
 » Well said...

But however I'm not surprised that militant jihaad extremists have a hard time distinguishing those two. Don't forget they are the same people who blow themselves up thinking they will go to heaven and get 73 virgins(not specified the gender) for killing infidels. Saudis are also the same people who give $55,000 USD to their kids if they are born a MALE. $0 if they're born a female.

Well here's a spoiler for you... YOUR RELIGION, and any other one for that matter, IS MADE UP OF LIES. All religion does it brainwash people into being racist and it encourages HATE against others.

No god would ever intend for you to take a life of another living being, but the sad part is that every religion does. And I'm not just talking about the arabic religions, I'm also referring to christianity and judaism.

***** RELIGION, without it the would would be a much better place.

   Re: weezar - 2008-01-18
 » get your facts straight

I can actually point out a quote in the Quran(Muslim bible) that says killing innocent people is a great sin

That said, your rant about religion being lies is actually a lie itself
The only problem with the middle east is that they think they're being attacked by innocent people (except the Americans in Iraq) and so they bomb whoever attacks them
I would call it a phobia of being over-religious

Islam may be a peaceful religion, but the people may not be
   by Mister Common Sense - 2008-01-17
 » sure,

Video games are also responsible for terrorism. A new study just proved it.

   by tinglemaps - 2008-01-17
 » "the complete absence of official censorship"

This isn't an issue regarding video games as much as a free-speech issue. These countries in that region of the world want to suppress their people and thus sustain their power over them. It is simply outrageous that these people, children and adults, have to pirate these games because they aren't allowed to buy them.

   by Neuromancer - 2008-01-17
 » Once again parents take no blame...

Heaven forbid the parents of any of these precious kids, in any country, should take an interest in what their kids are doing! If you buy them a game, read the back of the box. If you see pixelated people getting blown away on a TV in your home, and you're butthurt about it, TAKE IT AWAY!



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