Don't Study the Video Game, Study the Gamer

rrossman2 writes with this quote from a USA Today article about research recently presented to the American Psychological Association: "Video games — especially violent ones — are constantly under scrutiny from parents concerned about negative effects. Now, research suggests that those worries should focus more on the player's personality rather than the content of the games. 'If you're worried about a video game turning your son or daughter into a killer, don't worry about that,' says psychologist Patrick Markey of Villanova (Pa.) University. 'But is your kid moody, impulsive, or are they unfriendly? It's probably not the best idea to have that child play violent video games.' ... Markey found slight increases in hostility for those with certain personality traits: extremely high on neuroticism and extremely low on agreeableness and conscientiousness. ... 'We found — irrespective of violent content — the two highly competitive games produced more aggressive behavior than the two less competitive games,' [Markey said.]"

Re:violent LEGO games

[L4t3r4lu5]

Portal? That game where the psychopathic robot end boss tries to kill you by pumping a nerve toxin into the facility, having stated that the first bit blown off it was a module installed to stop it from pumping a lethal nerve gas into the facility?

Where you defeat the boss by using portal mechanics to direct its own explosive munitions back at itself?

Where you are frequently set upon by static turret pods with automatic weapons?

That game where you have to drop the only item your character is supposed to have an emotional attachment to into an incinerator?

Where you are almost burned alive by aforementioned psychopathic AI?

But wait, yeah... You don't get a gun, so it's totally not violent.