Red Cross Wants Geneva & Hague Conventions Applied to Video Games

Some one set us up the bomb
~Japanese-to-English translation from the game Zero Wing

The International Committee of the Red Cross wants to have the Geneva and Hague Conventions applied to video games. They are concerned it seems about the effect of war games on gamers.  Most video war games and first person shooters do tend to flout the conventions. (So do plenty of governments, even signatories of both.)

The 31st meeting of the International Committee of the Red Cross (last week) discussed many issues including videogames and the effect they have on the public. The video game panel investigated games that depict modern warfare explored the possibility of applying the Geneva Conventions to videogames. The description for the discussion is: While the Movement works vigorously to promote international humanitarian law (IHL) worldwide, there is also an audience of approximately 600 million gamers who may be violating IHL in the virtual world. Exactly how videogames 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.

When will the cries of "Violent video games are destroying the world" stop? Everyone reading this either is or knows someone who plays these violent killing games. I could not say that everyone reading this is or knows a real violent killer. Okay, anecdotal evidence is not conclusive and does nothing to further the conversation.

Manhunt 2, one of the most violent games available. This image was about the mildest I found:

So yes, it looks extremely violent and while I've never played it, I'm going to guess it does not adhere to the Geneva Convention. Even with the Geneva Conventions in place it would be unacceptable for very young players due to the level of violence alone. (Use the ratings as a guideline! I reccommend it.)

So please read these Video Game Myths. Highlights:

• Juvenile violent crime in the United States is at a 30-year low
• No research has found that video games are a primary factor or that violent video game play could turn an otherwise normal person into a killer
• Almost 60 percent of frequent gamers play with friends
• Even primates make distinctions between play fighting and actual fighting

Note: I think it is important for the Red Cross and every one else to remember video games are not the real world and attempting to apply real life rules to games seems patently silly.

Something else I learned: The percentage of women playing games has increased. Women  outnumber men playing Web-based games. Efforts in the mid-90s to build games that appealed to girls made inroads. The Sims game was successful in attracting many female players that had not played games previously. (I played that one!)