Originally Posted by dropnosky

Lots of articles discuss Lanza's practice of sitting in the basement focusing on violent video games for extended periods, but these are articles that quote people like the plumber who came to his house, his barber, ect. Not sure I trust those sources as how would they really know?

Im not sure such a question on video game limiting would have had an effect on this guy, but still, it seems if you take the accounts we hear at face value, was a huge part of his life. Did it have an effect? who knows, seems like it could have to me though. The only person who could answer that question would be Lanza.

The only way I see age restrictions on video games working is with the help of parents doing the restricting. And the benefit I see to that would be that it allows kids to develop other interests as well in formative years, without necessarily having those interests developed FOR them, as the entertainment industry definitely does.

I don't see it as stopping people from being suggested to, I see it as allowing someone to become more of a complete person first.

I know from personal experience, that as child I was banned from TV or games until homework and chores were finished and only on certain days could I watch or play anyway. I wasn't necessarily banned from running about outside, and other activities. Just those two types of recreation were off limits, the others were frowned upon if I hadn't finished my requirements, but I could sell the idea of a bike ride, or kite flying and homework later to them.
(this may have been based on the fact that I was a butterball, and the parents were worried about me becoming a obese gamer the second I got into them, but there were other good side effects)

Subsequently, gaming culture and TV did not make up much of my childhood, which allowed me to expand other interests first, and by the time I had unrestricted access to gaming culture, I didn't become overly obsessed, and fall deeply into those worlds. I was able to enjoy them normally, and then quickly lost huge interest in them.

The allure of some of these gaming worlds is simply amazing to me considering the march of technology and complication in todays games. Have you ever met anyone who was addicted to World or Warcraft? Thats their reality, its appalling.