- The report from the American Psychological Association (APA) reviewed more than 300 violent video game papers published between 2005 and 2013.

- Players were tested in a variety of ways over a variety of time periods from the short term to the longer term - and researchers concluded that violent video game use has an effect on aggression.

- Their report concludes that:

'The research demonstrates a consistent relation between violent video game use and increases in aggressive behaviour, aggressive cognitions and aggressive affect, and decreases in pro-social behaviour, empathy and sensitivity to aggression,'

- APA admits that more research is needed to understand how violent videogames can affect children.

- Pro-gaming groups expressed against this report by calling it 'anti-gamer' and being comprised of studies picked with an agenda.

- Mark Starkey from the Heart of Gaming arcade in Acton, North West London said:

'This is just history repeating itself. Yes, video games have become more realistic and more violent overtime and there is a heightened level of realism that could affect people in society. But no more so than violent films and the ratings system is the same in games.'

- Responding to the report, UKIE, (UK Interactive Entertainment) said:

'This report, like others before it, does not identify a causal link between games and aggression, and definitely no link between games and real life violence.'

'Such studies also show that games offer many positive cognitive skills benefits, such as problem solving skills, team management, and social skills.'

- The review also indicated that there is 'insufficient evidence' about whether playing violent video games can lead to criminal violence or delinquency.

- APA 'strongly encourages' the American rating system to update the videogame ratings to 'to reflect the levels and characteristics of violence in games, in addition to the current global ratings'

http://www.skynews.com.au/business/tech/2015/08/18/violent-video-games-lead-to-aggression--study.html

How many crimes have you committed because of violent videogames fellow gamers?

Why does media and scientist insist so much in relating violence with videogame? Sociopaths background goes WAY beyond videogames

Everyone needs a escapegoat. :D

And stupidity leads to crime. At the very least ban both to be consistent.

That's honestly not surprising, but it's not just video games. Violent sports (American Football, Wrestling, ect.) make people more aggressive aswell. So does violent tv, and violent movies.

Give the bros some beer and turn UFC on and watch the sparks fly.  That is why weed is needed to calm them down.

Well, we should be clear here, scientists posit all sorts of theories, not very many of which ever make it past the peer review phase.  The problem arises when you have peers who are just as narrative focused as you are, and are simply blind to (or intentionally overlook) serious weaknesses in your methods/argument.   There's a very real issue with journalists not being very diligent in researching both sides of a claim, in things they report.  The result is a huge internet/public outcry/outrage over X issue, before anyone has a chance to actually analyze the methodology, which usually turns out to be either terribly biased, or not nearly in-depth enough to draw any conclusions from.

It should also be mentioned that every form of entertainment in history, has been subject to these types of attacks.  Movies, books, comics, cartoons, and music have all been blamed for every ill that society has ever suffered, and the arguments and data have always failed when subject to any kind of scrutiny.

People take these studies too personally. Obviously it can lead to aggression, they aren't attacking your precious past time anything with violence can lead to elevated levels of aggression and it's shocking, I know, but video games aren't exempt from causing aggression o.o XD They aren't saying that people who play games are going to become serial killers, just their aggression levels are higher -and do they even specify to what extent? Because it could only be very slightly higher and they would report it as aggression.

Ok you can tell yourself that

This.  People will always try to find a scapegoat.  And it usually is aimed at something the researchers personally dislike or just don't understand.  People need to realized that the people who are doing these sutdies either never got into video games or are not young enough to grow up playing them.  I think in another 30-40 years, these scientists will be looked at as foolish as those who felt Elvis music caused juvenile delinquency.