[Hytosys]

Good question; I don't know. There's definitely a calm conversation worth being had about violence in video games.

In general: I would predict that if every parent strictly followed ESRB guidelines there wouldn't need to be a conversation.

[Loughla]

I agree with your second sentence an unbelievable amount. As the parent of a child, with friends who play violent, sexist, racist, terribly entertaining popular games, I wish every person who had spawn would follow ESRB guides.

To your first - is there really a conversation about violence in video games that is substantive? It always boils down to, "I don't like it," "I do like it". I think it's just too hard to control for all the variables in someone's life to actually see if violent video games have an impact at all.

[Hytosys]

>To your first - is there really a conversation about violence in video games that is substantive?

I effectively agree. I suppose the extent of my conversation is my second sentence, and only then because of anecdotal evidence.

Still, I'm sure there are psychology and sociology students who would love to step forward with their studies. It's not often you encounter a bunch of those sorts talking about this issue on the internet, though. Especially on Hacker News.