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No, just no
(and I'm not a gamer) Yes, some computer games cause violence. A lot of computer games don't do intuitive things perfectly enough. In the future, there will be new paradigms that find more perfect ways to channel enjoyment---consider the potential of a computer that can detect your "favorite color" for example Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music. [1]
Why is it that I can see violence, blood and killings on American television all the time, but not sex. Is it somehow more OK to be violent than sexual?
Surgeons who play video games make fewer surgical errors because of improved visual attention and reaction time. [2][3] Playing games is an indication of social competence for boys. In fact, not playing games *at all* should be concerning as those kids have higher chance of getting into trouble. Also, playing *only* violent games is concerning as well. [4] These and other *real* (cultural) differences may be responsible for such lower rates of murders in Japan than in U.S.

As conclusion, statistics showing that video games don't have correlation with violence is totally bogus. In reality, those two may or may not be correlated - it cannot be determined by this statistics. Difference in the amount of games being purchased is insignificant compared to other differences among two societies. Singling out this detail as the possible cause of violence is highly unscientific.

Do *Japanese* play as many violent games as do kids from U.S., or just any games? If not, this statistical comparison is irrelevant. If yes, is that the essential or significant component for expression of aggression?

Japanese culture promotes cooperation more than competition & ego-centrism. US had nine times higher murder rate committed by teenagers than Japan. Japanese spent nine times more money on video games than Americans. This example illustrates that there is no correlation between violent behavior and playing video games. After playing a violent game 'Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance' for 15 minutes, people have aggressive feelings, thoughts, and behavior, physiological arousal, and increased heart rate for up to 10 minutes after they stop playing. In other words, this is a time window in which there is a real risk of increased violence in the real world. Playing a non-violent video game 'Hard Hitter Tennis' did not cause these aggression related changes. [5] Of course that brain will process aggression during playing of violent games. However, it proves nothing about extension of this aggression beyond the game. Do kids remain aggressive when they turn off computer? [6] A link has been found. It is silly to ignore it. Exposure to violence affects our mood and emotions, whether this violence is in our home, school, TV, or video game. Effects will vary but there will be some effect in each case. Brain scans during first-person shooting game clearly show activity in the part of the brain specialized for aggression. [7] School-based attacks are serious crimes, and may be considered sociopolitical. However, they are not the only form of violence and aggression. In fact, these are very rare forms of violence. Original question refers to violence in general. Above statistics tells nothing about correlation of games and general violence and aggression. Approximately one-quarter of the school based attackers had exhibited an interest in violent
movies, one-quarter in violent
books, and one-eighth in violent video games, and one-third had expressed violence in their own
writings, such as poems, essays or journal entries. Given that 9 in 10 kids play video games and 6 in 10 kids play violent video games, and the fact that only 1 in 8 attackers played violent video games, it is obvious that computer games are not a significant cause of violence. [8] Let us assume they are. Should we censor them or ban them? All types of prohibitions lead only to increased use of prohibited goods and services. The solution is not in limiting it, but in offering quality alternatives. Why not make really awesome non-violent games that kids will start playing? I think they do increase intolerance and therefore inclination towards aggression. What causes violence in general? Poverty? Violent environment? Abusive parents? Exposure to violence? Genetic predisposition or disorder? Infant nutrition? Combination of factors?

Does this debate sound familiar? Although in this period of game popularity increase juvenile violence decreased, it may be due to a number of other causes which have nothing to do with games. Maybe laws were changed and juveniles are arrested less. Maybe economy got better or worse. Maybe prisons were already so full with prisoners that young kids didn't want to end like their older neighbors or family members. Maybe the usage of cell phones which was on the rise in the same period somehow influenced decrease of violence... Violent juvenile crime in the United States has been declining as violent video game popularity has increased.[9][10] Maybe kids playing those games would be even more violent if they didn't get their anger out through a harmless play. It can be argued that games are the or at least a cause for increased violence. However, maybe this is a correlation and nothing else. Maybe these kids played games for mature audience precisely because they are psychologically differently developed than other kids who didn't choose to play those games.

Violent games are played by people who are competitive, or people who like guns, weapons and violence. Violent games are not played by those who don't like these things. Actually, there has been at least one study which shows correlation of playing Mature-rated games and hitting or beating up someone. [11] Violent video games may even reduce violence by providing a safe outlet for aggressive and angry feelings. Does the media which often promotes violent movies and violent news instead of love and peace, does it contribute to violence in real life? I remember when I was a kid we used to play Cowboys and Indians, or Partisans and Germans, or Cops and Robbers all the time. We were faking killings. Do these games increase our chances of committing crimes? No conclusive link has been found between playing violent video games and violence and crime in real life.[12][13] Are computer games a significant cause of violence?
Nature vs. nurture debate.