i heard u cant do a push-start or something-start with automatics coz u cant put it in 2nd gear or something like that

These studies really annoy me. Like those other "studies" that have "proven" that playing games like GTA will lead to more violent behavior. It's true that games like GTA and racing simulators *might* increase the likelihood of behaving in a dangerous way, it usually does not. IMO, parents play the biggest role in both situations; if the parent does not allow the child to drive dangerously when he/she first starts to drive, then the child would be more likely to drive sanely. Likewise, if parents teach children that guns are not toys, and teach them to respect guns as well as other living things, they will be far less likely to go on a shooting rampage.

I don't know about anyone else but I know for sure that my kids will learn to respect guns (so they won't hurt themselves), respect others (so they'll get into conflicts less often), and to drive safely.

@anticlutch,

while i do not disagree that GOOD PARENTING is the major factor in child development... take 90% of teenagers... and remove the parent influence... and you say these games have NO IMPACT on the kids? Nope. Cannot agree with you.

And, as we all know, in the modern family, parents and children spend ever less time together... and kids have less respect for adults (whether teachers, parents, or strangers)... which all adds up to the fact that the modern teenager (on average) is less likely to be WELL PARENTED (whatever that means!)

lol i really disagree with the title but i own a 90 integra 5 speed stick with a b18 engine id lie if i said i didnt have fun in the snow or drifted my street in the summer just because i was 4 days away from buying new tires ;)

i mean im all for safe driving but seriously 3rd clutch e-brake riding riding e-brake 2nd clutch out gas....ya sooooo fun. tehe

@Bonkers
That's too bad then. At 17, I play many racing/violent video games and I've been driving for about a year and a half and I haven't got into an accident nor have I recieved a ticket/citation of any kind. My parents taught me to drive safely, which I do for the most part (I do speed once in a while if someone gets on my nerves.. but who doesn't?). And I'm also fortunate to have a cousin who owns quite a few guns and taught me how to shoot them (which is great fun :D).

I don't mean to be racist or anything, but I think that the second part of your reply generally applies to Caucasian and black households; in Asian households (much like my own), as well as Hispanic, it tends to be very family-oriented. And although parents of all ethnicities teach their children to be respectful of adults, it, in my experience, is most visible in Asian household. Children from Korea, China, Japan, and Taiwan (there may be others as well) are taught from an early age to bow when greeting adults, to talk in a respectful manner, etc.

Do take note that my statements were generalized; they are in no way meant to be applicable to everyone. The statements are merely from what I've seen/experienced, as I am fortunate to have friends from a variety of different ethnicities.

As a side note: some of these games have an ESRB rating for a reason. I don't get why parents buy a M rated game (for those of you who do not live in the U.S., M rated games are for people 17 and above) and give it to a 9 year old. Games like Counter-Strike should not be given to younger children for both the well being of the child, as well as the other players who have to put up with the incessant screaming and whiny voice of the child. My guess is that these types of children are the only types included in the "studies" which makes the outcome seem horrible :shadedshu

Solaris17lol i really disagree with the title but i own a 90 integra 5 speed stick with a b18 engine id lie if i said i didnt have fun in the snow or drifted my street in the summer just because i was 4 days away from buying new tires ;)

i mean im all for safe driving but seriously 3rd clutch e-brake riding riding e-brake 2nd clutch out gas....ya sooooo fun. tehe

FWD burnouts, ftw? lol

@anticlutch,

I have to agree with your there... about cultural differences with family. I have spent a lot of time in asia and can say there is a WORLD difference between asian and "contemporary" european caucasian family behaviour. Also within Europe there are big differences, from country to country, from class to class, from family to family, from person to person.

But, remove the positive effects of good parenting, and imagine if it didnt exist. (Perhaps an extreme, but ever more common "to some degree" in some sectors of society). What then? Remember that these observations in the research study are not based on your family. Dont take things personally. Remember that this research is trying to identify issues that are relevant to general public policy. Not every family is like yours (or mine). Not everyone has an IQ > 100. In fact, more than 50% dont. LOL.

i dont play racing games :D
I do play twisted metal though

That's the thing that ticks me off though. These "studies" are only used by the 'haters' in order to justify pulling great games off the shelves, or putting an absurd rating on them. Like that one case with Rockstar... a grandmother bought her grandson GTA:SA and later tried to sue Rockstar because she found out that he had applied the "Hot coffee patch" and saw animated sex scenes. If she had not given him a game that was not appropriate for his age ratings, he would not have been able to apply the patch. IMO, lawsuits where parents buy a game that is rated above what their child's age is should be thrown out immediately.

Let's not get into an argument guys.

I improved my driving-in-the-crap-that-looks-like-snow skills...in a stick shift :).
And no you can't push-start an automatic, you need to rely on your friends to have jumper cables :p.

Lol, there's no arguement here zek... Bonkers seems to be on my side :P

I was just ranting at the general stupidity of the population, as well as the stupidity of these so called "studies". :|

Heh, I'm too lazy to read all that, I just see a bunch of @bonkers and @anticlutch, so I had to ask :).

Im going to solder guns and rocket launchers on my dads truck and go blow shit up cause I play twisted metal

Schweet. :D

@zak. Don't be lazy :roll: @anti and @bonkers are debating, not arguing. :roll: P.S. Two cultures meeting in the middle and agreeing. Pretty good stuff.

Hahaha I loved twisted metal when I had the playstation 1. Oh my friends and I would always co-op. Good times...

anybody remember the games interstate 76 for the pc or vigilante for the console (ps1/n64)? Those were the bomb!

I have an automatic now with a clutchless shift. It is good in winter cause you can still start in second. The automatic is great in heavy stop start traffic. Plus the clutchless does ok when need to downshift if want to fly around someone with higher revs. I miss my manual cause it keeps me more awake mostly. That and torque is generally better. Gas mileage as well. The both have positives and negatives. The worst part of either is the monstrous payments. And as far as games influencing people yea sometimes I would like to ram in to the next person like a game but most people have enough sense to note that you can't push the reset button after. America needs an autobahn. And I also think they could do it and make everyone who wants to use it pay about 5% more for their license. Maybe add some driver training. If anything it would be a good way to release some steam. I usually exercise for that but getting over the triple digits on the highway would do the job. I mean whats the use in having a few hundred horsepower if can't let it out to play. And as far as parenting is concerned. I think the US has gotten lazy in that department. We do not want to impose iron will on our kids like our parents but at the same time we are too lax in the discipline dept. Just an opinion. No need to get worked up about it. :) :)

JuntaoAmerica needs an autobahn.

Check out Wyoming...there are massive straights with no speed limit....

Wyoming = America's autobahn...

Ah, I remember Vigilante. I didn't like it as much as Twisted Metal, though.

RickyG512to totaly disagree, im a good racing gamer but when it comes to real driving i drive realy safe and calm

but i think this is because my car has a MPG meter and it kills me when it drops when i drive it fast

i drive safe coz it saves money and its more greener

everytime a car over takes mee i always meet it at the next traffic lights, if i drive fast i will only be like 3 meters in front compared to if i was driving econicaly

But cars get more MPG when in the highway/freeway (driving faster), so how does it kill MPG?

A Nissan Pathfinder gets 16 City and 23 Highway...

Azn Tr14dZBut cars get more MPG when in the highway/freeway (driving faster), so how does it kill MPG?

A Nissan Pathfinder gets 16 City and 23 Highway...

A car's engine is only efficient up to 55-60 mph... any more than that and you're wasting fuel.

demonbrawnAh, I remember Vigilante. I didn't like it as much as Twisted Metal, though.

i loved V8: second offense...great game. I need to find it in my collection of ps1 games, and play it on a ps1 emulator....

anticlutchA car's engine is only efficient up to 55-60 mph... any more than that and you're wasting fuel.

Guess your right...I keep forgetting that when they do those MPG tests on the highway it's only ~60 Mph. But when driving from on state to another and no (cops) in sight...80...90...100...;)

Azn Tr14dZGuess your right...I keep forgetting that when they do those MPG tests on the highway it's only ~60 Mph. But when driving from on state to another and no (cops) in sight...80...90...100...

We're all guilty of that sooner or later ;)