"Their findings indicated that the driving game induced the greatest change in heart rate and brain activity and the FPS induced the smallest change. Yep, according to the study, driving games actually cause gamers to become more aggressive."



Increase in heart rate and brain activity means higher aggression? How? Unless the brain activity measured by the EEG is what proves aggression. I really have no idea how they work so I do not know but the article separates the EEG measurements from aggression measurement so I'm assuming they do not.



Racing games definitely do make my heart pound way more than an FPS. I'm sure my heart rate is elevated while I play an FPS but it doesn't really start beating until I'm put in a tight situation where I have to react quickly, but that only lasts for a short while. On the other hand, I know my heart is beating like crazy during racing games for a long period of time (not really in PGR though, more like games along the lines of Burnout)



I wonder exactly how the researchers defined "Aggression." The definitions of aggression in these studies are always different. I also wonder how they measured the aggression levels. With studies on younger children I think they allow the kids to play with each other while being observed after they are exposed to the violent media. But I don't think you could tell a group of 18+ year old people to go and play amongst each other. That would be a bit weird.



Anyway, I have a problem with all these studies in general. They only measure short term effects. Show me a study that proves violent games cause long term effects that lead to the violent acts that they are so often tied to and I'll believe they are related.

That last paragraph is the real problem here. They also need to demonstrate the presence or absence of some sort of cumulative effect, like Jack Thompson's claim that people "train" on something. Training implies an increase in aggression over time.

I watch my aggression levels, and those of my 11-year old son, and find that we are more relaxed while playing FPS games than most others, due to the fact that they tend to be less frustrating. Things are lain out better, there are not many impossible acts to complete, nor are there many "game-enders" that occur... On the contrary, I see him getting the most aggressive while playing Little Big Planet, on a user created board where the layout just sucks and it is impossible to complete a board, or worse yet, while playing the PSN version of Wheel of Fortune! Last night he was screaming because the final puzzle answer was "FLAPDOODLE," this following one where the answer was "KAPOOEY." What the hell kind of phrases are those anyways?



Aggression (at least in our little informal family-based study) seems to stem from impossible missions, or extremely difficult situations (driving games would fall into this). The release of stress we all experience from overcoming the enemy in a FPS, at least in our home, is a real relaxor!

Of course no on will get aggrivated from playing an FPS.... offline.



No, had this study included Halo 3 online, I'm sure the participants aggression levels would be much, much higher.

Dude, whenever I play Halo: 3 or GTA, etc., I always feel better afterwords. I get to take my real-life anger out on virtual people. I always feel way more relaxed after playing violent videogames... but that's just how I am, I guess.