Breadcrumbs

[hungryhounduk]

Hey Peeps
Just saw this and thought of you

Violent war-themed video games could be subject to The Geneva and Hague war crimes conventions, according toThe International Committee of the Red Cross.

While many art forms incorporate extreme violence, some have argued, that unlike other mediums, games allow users to participate in acts of violence and should face greater regulation as a result.

During the 31st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva, the committee discussed the influence of video games on the public perception of violence.

According to reports, the committee also discussed whether war crimes standards should apply to the virtual victims of war video games.

Taken to its most extreme conclusion, that could theoretically mean applying the same standards for virtual victims of war - pixels and sprites - as human combatants and civilians.

"While the Movement works vigorously to promote international humanitarian law worldwide, there is also an audience of approximately 600 million gamers who may be virtually violating international humanitarian law (IHL)," the Red Cross's description of the event read.

"Exactly how video games influence individuals is a hotly debated topic, but for the first time, Movement partners discussed our role and responsibility to take action against violations of IHL in video games. In a side event, participants were asked: 'What should we do, and what is the most effective method?'"

The debate could potentially lead to the committee asking developers to adhere to news rules, or even the Red Cross itself lobbying governments to adopt greater regulation on what can and cannot occur in video games.

Previous reports, including a 2007 study ('The Playing By The Rules Project') by the Geneva-based TRIAL, expressed fears that games such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, in which users play as soldiers who are able to kill innocent civilians, undermine real-world efforts to promote humanitarian law.

In a report revealing the latest Red Cross discussions, Gawker Media-operated website Kotaku quoted a member of the committee as saying that it was too early for the Red Cross to publicly air its views on the matter.

Alexandra Boivin, head of the Civil Society Relations Unit's Department of International Law and Cooperation for the committee, said:

"Unfortunately, it is too early in the discussion to share our views publicly. We will be posting some information on the ICRC's website in the weeks to come, with a view to stating and explaining our interest in the topic."

[MrAksel]

I only have one thing to say, poor gamers!!!

[GoodGuy17]

If this happens, I can almost guarantee it will be repealed. And if that doesn't work, modders will just be spitting out mods to allow the content.

This is just a flat-out uneducated argument. They don't have to play it. And I don't really find myself waking up in the morning wanting to take an LMG and kill some civilians at an airport from playing MW2. They are basically saying 3d models created by game devs have just as important lives as real people, which is unbelievably stupid! They must be the video-game PETH, People for the Ethical Treatment of Humans, or should I say, PETHETIC.

[Casirus]

I was thinking the exact same Reboh they just cant even begin to put something like that in place the gaming market bring in to much the goverment will just say Meh NO can do

[CodenStuff]

Oh @#$% off Red Cross lol

Im sick of all these stupid people trying to control what we do and dont do with our own lives and for god sake there video games...ITS NOT REAL!! Dreams are more real than video games and I often dream about killing debt collectors on my doorstep but its ok because its not real.

Concentrate on REAL LIFE problems rather than wasting your time on something that will never ever ever never happen. Approximately how many REAL people have been shot and/or tortured while palying video games? NONE! (fair enough my niece tortured me with her constant whining in my ear when I use to play games but that doesnt count!) . Shut up, move on and get a life.

Infact everyone just shut up im going to eat what I want, drink what I want, do what I want (within the law obviously) when I want!

Gordon bennett WTF :? **** ***! lol

[Axel]

Lol they just got mad because they got killed by a camper
Sony would die and many game companies, all free fps games will be dead , EA (though they still have got nfs). They are just retarded
btw : there are people that would really kill themselves for this(I know one lol)

[comathi]

Geez, instead of wasting our money and going against video games, maybe they should stop wasting their time and our money and maybe... I dunno... fight to save REAL lives.

Something tells me they have nothing better to do of theor lives, and just attack the first thing they see. Why the heck would people buy games where the red cross has to come in and save all the guys you just shot..... gosh that's really dumb.