Virginia shootings rekindle violent gaming debate

A group of gamers is planning a demonstration this Saturday in New York to protest against claims that Monday's shootings at the Virginia Tech college were somehow caused by violent computer games.

Cho Seung Hui killed 32 students and teachers on 16 April in what is considered the deadliest shooting rampage in US history.

Fellow students described the 23 year-old as angry, menacing, disturbed and depressed.

Cho had been found stalking women on two occasions, wrote violent essays for his English classes and had been recommended to seek psychiatric help. He also played violent computer games, particularly Counter-Strike.

Attorney Jack Thompson and TV personality Dr Phil McGraw were quick to blame the shootings on Cho's video games habit while seeming to ignore some of the disturbing symptoms that he displayed.

Thompson is a self-described Christian conservative who has a track record of crusading against rap music and video games.

Dr McGraw said on a CNN show: "Common sense tells you that if these kids are playing video games, where they're on a mass killing spree in a video game [and] it's glamorised on the big screen, it's become part of the fibre of our society. 

"You take that and mix it with a psychopath, a sociopath or someone suffering from mental illness and add in a dose of rage, [and] the suggestibility is too high."

The protest demonstration has been organised by Empire Arcadia, a company that organises gaming competitions and youth events. 

Although the organisers do not mention the comments made by Dr McGraw or Thompson, they state that the rally seeks to mourn the Virginia Tech victims as well as protest against the perceived link to games.

"This demonstration is to show that gamers will not take the blame [for] this tragic matter, but we will do what we can to help put an end to terrible events like this," the official announcement states. 

"We reiterate and urge that all leaders of gaming communities, organisations down to the last gamer set aside 10 hours of this day to pay respect and come together not just as gamers but as human beings for peace."