Violent Games Teenagers Play

The researchers, said an author of the study, Dr Kimberly M Thompson of Children8217;s Hospital Boston, rated the videos for every act of violence. Ninety-eight per cent of the games contained intentional violence, with 42 per cent showing blood, they said. Sixty-nine per cent rewarded players for killing characters or required them to do so.

Thompson believes many parents would be surprised at the violence. 8220;You have to pay attention not only to the rating but to what8217;s actually in the game,8221; she said. The researchers also said the ratings board should add new categories, like the PG and PG-13 ratings of the movies

New York Times News Service