Prisoners Play Violent Video Games
Here is some more fuel to the fire for those who loved the article on “Murder Simulators”, you will love this little piece on the types of games played in one particular Australian prison.
Inmates are allowed to buy one new video game a month at Port Phillip Prison.
Among games on a list circulated to prisoners is Grand Theft Auto in which the player assumes the identity of a criminal to blow up buildings before racing through streets with police in pursuit.
The Courier Mail 5th June 2002
The article goes on further about the types of games played in prison.
Carmageddon challenges players to crash into pedestrians with killing as many people as possible the key to success.
The Playstation game Road Rash Jailbreak allows inmates to act out the role of a gang member who races to a finish line with 15 other thugs. While police chase, the player drives maniacally while attacking rivals with pipes, clubs and bottles.
A range of war games, including SpecOps Covert Assault and Rogue Spear — Rainbow Six, allow prisoners to play soldier.
Games with strong horror themes and graphic violence such as Resident Evil 3 and Evil Dead also feature on the list.
The kick-boxing game Street Fighter lets players have bare-knuckle bouts in bars.
Those keen to employ those skills first-hand can prepare themselves with a range of bodybuilding supplements also available for sale at Port Phillip.
A 2kg pack of Rock Hard protein powder is available for $64.90, Extreme Growth can be purchased for $66 and Growth Chews cost $55.
The games, priced between $4.80 for Actua Pool and $93 for Vandal Hearts 2, come from a selection of several hundred available to inmates.
However, the writer of the article seems to approve of some games:
Those with more tame tastes have a range of sedate titles from which to choose, including Crash Bandicoot, Championship Surfer, Simpsons Wrestling and Dukes of Hazzard Racing.
Thank you Mark Buttler for your take on games in the prison system.
posted by Shane G · at 6:40 am · filed under News
I love the assumption that all people in prison are violent people, and that they’re somehow “acting out” their crimes by playing games.
And this is a great quote: Psychologist Ronald Conway said while he did not usually back censorship, some was needed in this case. “It does seem to endorse, subliminally, the life they have led. There’s a case for weeding out some of this stuff,” he said.
Oh, it “seems” to? “Subliminally”? Nice science work there, brainiac. The sun “seems” to revolve around the earth, too.
And this: “They’d be better being tutored on the pain victims go through as part of the commission of their crimes.”
Well, you’d hope that this was being done already, regardless of the games priosners play as recreation.
Then this: “Pumped up by their violent video exploits, inmates can also buy specialist bodybuilding supplements to bulk up.”
Holy CRAP! LOOK OUT! He’s PUMPED UP on VIOLENCE! WHO KNOWS what he’ll do? You know, I’ll bet the average gamer’s reaction to playing a violent video game is to open a packet of corn-chips and play another round (I know that’s what I do).
Finally, this: On GTA3 - “the player assumes the identity of a criminal to blow up buildings” Don’t recall blowing up any buildings, but then, I was PUMPED UP ON VIOLENCE!
People, please! Stop reacting, stop blurting out stuff to try and placate the angry masses. Let’s all just sit down, take a controller in hand, and spend a marathon session playing Soul Calibur. It’s the most peaceful resolution I can think of.