I am 22 years old, I grew up playing video games since I was about 5. I started out with the basics (Mario and Duck Hunt), grew up, started playing more games, even violent ones. I played Mortal Kombat, Doom, Quake, Grand Theft Auto, Half Life, Counterstrike, Halo, and almost every other of the "Big Bad Evil Violent Games" that "Warp the Minds of Innocent Children". I also grew up listening to metal, punk, and hardcore music, more things that "Warp the Minds of Innocent Children". I used to play Dungeons and Dragons (Another of the mind-warping gateways to immorality.) I was the only child of a single working parent that was in college most of my youth. In sum, according to the media, I should be off killing people, doing drugs, stealing, having sex with prostitutes, blowing up cars that drive by on the street for fun, burning churches, praising satan, commiting suicide, or one of hundreds of other stereotypes the media drones on about. I don't. I go to school (and do well). I live on my own, in the second highest area in the country as far as cost of living is concerned. Video games have done absolutely nothing to harm my psyche or my outlook on life. I don't see other people as targets to shoot or obstacles to world domination or whatever. Video games are what encouraged me to read more. Reading more got me interested in science and technology (and cars). Video games were, for me, a stepping stone to more important things. News stories like this just undermine one of the leading influences I had in improving my life.

I also tend to agree that Video games can actually be a stepping stone to something good, also for me, the right video games open your mind to think more, it'* also a place to vent frustration and can be positive, cause hell, it'* virtual...that kid just has mental issues and something else in the future probably would have set him off, some other video game, some movie series even, who knows....

OK, I'll concede that not all vendors are properly doing their jobs, but I've witnessed the age check, I'm 31 and I've had to show ID. This issue should reinforce parental involvement. When my nephews stayed here, I could tell you in detail about every game inhouse to play.

As I re read this, and have put more thought into it, I believe the intent of this thread form the Authors perspective was to focus more on the addiction, not necessarily the content of the video game.
The fact that the video game was violent may or may not have been an influence, but the point is that the reacted because he was told he had to stop playing.
Potentially, this could have happened if he had been playing Madden, Guitar Hero or even something like Mario or Sonic or something like that.
Like previously mentioned in this thread by several posters, trying to take something form an addict can have very bad results, regardless of what the addiction is.

Thank you for sumarizing it. That'* at least what I'm getting at. The need for moderation is more than aparent, and the moderation needs to be dictated by the parent. The responsible party.

No problem.
There certainly needs to be more parental control in many house holds.
It seems like a lot of parents have NFC what their kids are up to.

Aint that the truth. Look at the 10-15 year old kids on Maury, beating the hell out of their parents, sleeping with everyone'* mama, doing drugs. I just don't understand it. But unfortuantly, there isnt disapline like there was 10 years ago. For example, my parents had no problem with grabbing a wooden spoon, or belt, but if I so much as yell at my kid the wrong way people act like I'm killing her.

Even if you THINK you know what your kids are up to, it can change in a split second!!

Just when you think they are with a friend that you actually approve of hanging out at the local Papa Ginos, you get a call from the local PD asking you to come to the station.

I think SOMEONE failed to make that kid realize the difference between a video game and real life. The video game didn't cause that. That kid has SEVERE mental issues

Yeah, I gotta give you that.
I know that i wasn't always doing what I told my mom.

But, at the same time, a lot of parents don't even pay attention. They just assume their kids are alright.
My mom had no idea what was happening in the movies I watched or the video games I played or in the comics I read.

But, Tony, you're right too. No matter what you do as a parent, you can't guarantee your kids will do the right thing either.

Free will can be a real b!tch