So as we all know, the news media are raising a stink (again) about violent video games, claiming they're murder simulators. Now, it's been obviously claimed by many that video games do not teach any actual combat skills to people as they are wholly unrealistic in many ways. I'd like to play the devils advocate here and counter this a little.
A little disclaimer though that I'm arguing this as someone who actually loves guns and violent first person shooters. I am merely stating these things for accuracy so we don't look like total idiots when we defend these things.
Anyway. So while it is true that games today do not teach you how to aim accurately with a gun, how to aim quickly with it, how to competently reload it, maintain it, or etc., they CAN teach military tactics and quick thinking. The most immediate example for this that comes to mind is ARMA. Especially in multiplayer. Barring that, there's also Insurgency. Also a Multiplayer game. Going on the single-player side, there's Rainbow Six 3 and Far Cry 2 on Infamous, although FC2 is of course one of the more unrealistic games for this sort of thing. Having said that, on Infamous, you are just as weak as everyone else, and getting hit at all is BAD. Not just that, the AI is very competent and will try to flank you constantly.
It is through these games that you can learn some combat tactics and good habits. First and foremost, stealth is practically REQUIRED if you want to survive. Second is that a well-coordinated group to infiltrate with is mandatory if you can get one. These games have also taught me how effective snipers can be, how to clear corners safely, to watch the ammo in my magazine, to conserve my ammo, to use grenades intelligently, to always get the first strike, to watch my sightlines, to blindfire to get an opening, to know what a good position is, to always be in a good position, and etc.
Now here's the thing. The piece of shit scumbags that actually go out and do the shootings don't actually seem to play these more realistic games, or if they do, they aren't employing these tactics at all. Another thing is that it's too late. These games are already out in the wild, and to try to take them off the market will only make them even more popular. Again, I'm only stating these things for accuracy's sake. It's important that we know what we're arguing here.
A little disclaimer though that I'm arguing this as someone who actually loves guns and violent first person shooters. I am merely stating these things for accuracy so we don't look like total idiots when we defend these things.
Anyway. So while it is true that games today do not teach you how to aim accurately with a gun, how to aim quickly with it, how to competently reload it, maintain it, or etc., they CAN teach military tactics and quick thinking. The most immediate example for this that comes to mind is ARMA. Especially in multiplayer. Barring that, there's also Insurgency. Also a Multiplayer game. Going on the single-player side, there's Rainbow Six 3 and Far Cry 2 on Infamous, although FC2 is of course one of the more unrealistic games for this sort of thing. Having said that, on Infamous, you are just as weak as everyone else, and getting hit at all is BAD. Not just that, the AI is very competent and will try to flank you constantly.
It is through these games that you can learn some combat tactics and good habits. First and foremost, stealth is practically REQUIRED if you want to survive. Second is that a well-coordinated group to infiltrate with is mandatory if you can get one. These games have also taught me how effective snipers can be, how to clear corners safely, to watch the ammo in my magazine, to conserve my ammo, to use grenades intelligently, to always get the first strike, to watch my sightlines, to blindfire to get an opening, to know what a good position is, to always be in a good position, and etc.
Now here's the thing. The piece of shit scumbags that actually go out and do the shootings don't actually seem to play these more realistic games, or if they do, they aren't employing these tactics at all. Another thing is that it's too late. These games are already out in the wild, and to try to take them off the market will only make them even more popular. Again, I'm only stating these things for accuracy's sake. It's important that we know what we're arguing here.