EA CEO: TV Violence Is Just as Bad as Video Game Violence
By Andrew on Sunday, September 16th, 2007 at 2:37 PM PST In Electronic Arts, Game Companies, Gamer Life, Games Industry
Are video games more violent than television? It’s a safe bet that the video game industry doesn’t think so.
Some recent evidence of that is when Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello compared the two during the Royal Television Society’s Cambridge Convention. “With videogames, I can be on the edge of my seat immersed in them, but TV is storytelling – I’m lying back and it comes to me,” Riccitiello said during the convention.
But Michael Grade, chairman of the British media company ITV, refused to believe it, claiming that video games are in a “moral vacuum.” The difference, to him, is that TV tells a story which “contextualizes” the violence. Because if you put it in a story, showing someone getting his head blown off is okay.
If that’s the case, then why take a stab at video games? Everyone knows each mission in Grand Theft Auto is a story in and of itself. You know who the real culprit is here? Disney. Their cartoon violence is over the top.
Rock On! I agree completely!
i agree with this as well. for every GTA there is a show like the shield or sopranos or some retarded movie like hostel or saw, that is equally if not more graphically violent. speaking of hostel.. why didnt that get rated with something other than R its like freakin Manhunt 1.5