Im currently working on my University dissertation and the topic is on Media Violence and to what extent (if any) does it influence viewers/gamers, especially children, to cause felonies and violent crimes. And one of my main bits to concentrate on is Video-games. What are your views on this? Would really appreciate your views.

Theres no need to get the previous Devil May Cry games just to get the 4th one. The only reason to get the original ones is just for the simple fact that theyr an awsome set of games

METAL GEAR SOLID 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pretty much THE reason that Im getting a PS3. That Haze looks really cool, and the new GTA and Final Fantasy just looks amazing. I think next year is when the PS3 will truely soar to its potential.

I actually found MGS3: Subsistance today, after trying for ages to find it. I part exchanged a few **** games, as well as normalMGS3 just so I could get. Well worth it. I just dont know how they made the game more amazing, but it god damn happened :D

I think ALL of the MGS games are just perfection incarnated into pixels :P

But if I had to pick, it would most likely be MGS2.

I just dont know why people diss the game because they thaughtRaiden was the biggest gay or retard to grace one of the greatest and most popular videogames to date. Give the guy respect... especially after what he can do on MGS4.

My personal favourite out of the video nasties is Zombie flesh eaters (the unofficial sequel to night of the living dead lol), just the mere fact that Im a huge fan of zombie flicks. But I also love Texas Chainsaw, ofcorse, and Nightmare of a damaged brain.

Its like as if many filmmakers, independant onesin particular cant be as daring or original as theycould be compared to the old days, because of Hollywood. Seriously, I mean I know its totally goin off the point of this discussion. But it just pisses me off that Hollywood cant think up of anything original anymore. For example; the upcoming films Hitman, Max Payne and MGS!?Aswell as the never ending number of sequels, prequels, remakes etc. Dont get me wrong, Im looking forward to how Max Payne and MGS will turn out on the big screen. HoweverThe film industry needs a kick in the ass.

You know what... I couldnt of put it better myself. I know that Im researching this but if anyone asked for my ownopinion... I would have to say that it a loads of **** the idea of being brainwashed into violence, by what people call "Image training".

I mean just like you... Ive played a rediculus amount of violentvideo games (Manhunt, Doom trilogy, Die Hard trilogy, Project Overkill, GTA, Resident Evil, Quake etc etc.) But the only urge Ive ever felt after playing these games is getting hungry and wanting a beer lol.

I just think Britain and other parts of Europe are just so up-tight and proud, that they dont even want to think of the slightest idea that these people who commit these'copycat'crimeshave something genuinely wrong with them in the first place. They want a red-herring, something to point the blame at.

Take this one for example: The Jamie Bulger case back in 1993: Two 10 year oldboys kidnapped a 2 year old kid from a shopping centre, and killed him on a railway track 2 miles away from the shoppingcentre. Then the press started blaming the movie 'Childs Play 3', with NO evidence what so ever, except of the "close resemblance" to one of the scenes to the actual crime :| However the parents, or the two ten-year-olds never owned the film and both of the boys stated that they have never seen the film.

I mean what the hell does it matter what a criminal has watched or seen in their spare time!?

Neway it wil be abit of a pain in the ass since I shouldnt really bring my own opinion into perspective. However that is genuinely what I think, just like you.

Thanks for your comment... much appreciated

I think this certain topic within Video gaming and media as a whole has been a very debateable one ever since the dawn of violence within video games in the 80's. Evolutioned from hundreds of red square pixels spraying everywhere at the pull of a trigger, right down to the realistic depiction of someone being gutted with a chainsaw, orgetting his head smashed into dust with a baseball bat.

We can all understand that sadist violence like this can cause abit of an uproar, especially if its sole purpose is pure entertainment. However, is it really harmful to the people who play these games. Who is to blame? Is it the game developers, is it the parents, is it the lack of strictness within buissnesses in selling these games to the young and naive, or is it the press?

Many games have being under the spotlight with such controversy; including theGrand theft auto series, Doom (especially after the school murders that happened awile back), and, ofcorse not to forget, perhaps one of the most notorious games to have being criticised for its "influential" content, Manhunt.

Im writing as book on the effects of media violence on society, so it would be a huge help if you could contribute and let me know exactly what you think, with absolute honesty. You can even refer to other types of media text (violence in T.V and film, the 'Video Nasty' era etc.)

Looking forward to hear what you think

Thank you :)