News
New Study Finds No Link Between Video Games and Violent Crimes
In news that will have many of us violent video game veterans go duh, a new study published in the Psychology of Popular Media Culture has confirmed — again — that there is no correlation between the rate of consumption of video games and the number of crimes in the United States. So even though Grand Theft Auto V sold about a trillion copies, it’s monumental success didn’t inspire a bunch of folks to leave the safety of their homes to embrace a life of crime.
The study was conducted by researchers at Villanova University and Rutgers University. After analyzing actual facts, their findings are as follows…
“Finding that a young man who committed a violent crime also played a popular video game, such as Call of Duty, Halo, or Grand Theft Auto, is as pointless as pointing out that the criminal also wore socks.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself, though, for some reason, I always assumed socks were banned in prisons. Don’t they like putting bars of soap in them so they can beat their fellow inmates with them, or do I watch too many movies?
If you prefer your facts a wee bit more in-depth, here’s something for your mind to chew on:
“Annual trends in video game sales for the past 33 years were unrelated to violent crime both concurrently and up to four years later. Unexpectedly, monthly sales of video games were related to concurrent decreases in aggravated assaults and were unrelated to homicides.”
So not only are video games not leading people to bludgeon the elderly for their spare change, they may be keeping those who are inclined to partake in activities like that indoors.
“Searches for violent video game walkthroughs and guides were also related to decreases in aggravated assaults and homicides two months later. Finally, homicides tended to decrease in the months following the release of popular M-rated violent video games.”
In related news, the study did find a sore lack of sweet ass foliage in video games*.
*I made that up.
For the full report, head on over to GameSpot.
We have the Jason Universe to thank for the recent return of Jason Voorhees, with the short film Sweet Revenge and Jason’s arrival in Dead by Daylight helping to bring the hockey mask-wearing horror icon back into our lives. What else is planned, you ask?
In a chat with Variety this week, Jason Universe’s Robbie Barsamian teases that everything we’ve seen up to this point is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Jason’s return.
“We’ve been busy behind the scenes laying the foundation that everyone is finally starting to see come to life, but this is just the tip of the iceberg,” Barsamian teases.
“We have a thrilling lineup of new projects that we can’t wait to share more details on soon.”
Barsamian also notes during the chat with Variety, “We want to give fans fresh takes on what they love most about Jason and continue to expand his world in authentic ways that resonate with horror fans today.” One of those expansions will take the form of the upcoming Peacock and A24 series “Crystal Lake,” which stars Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees.
“The Crystal Lake TV series will take fans back in time to tell the story of how Pamela Voorhees came to be the mother of all slashers,” Barsamian tells Variety this week.
“Crystal Lake” premieres October 15 on Peacock.
Callum Vinson (“Chucky”) is playing young Jason in “Crystal Lake,” which will tell the origin story of the masked slasher who has stalked the grounds of Crystal Lake for decades.
Last year, the Jason Universe team had teased that a new movie and a new video game are top priorities for the near future. But at this time we have no updates on either front.
Stay tuned for more from the Jason Universe.
You must be logged in to post a comment.