Jonathan Blow and a handful of journalists blames the Orlando mass shooting on violent video games

The Orlando mass shooting incident is beyond insane. And I just found out that Jonathan Blow (and a handful of journalists) blamed the Orlando mass shooting on violent games. So here´s my (Robin Ek, TGG) thoughts on the matter.

[Rhezin]

.....

[TGG_overlord]

I bet that Blow is just jealous of the success of FPS series such as "Battlefield" and "COD".

[Errorist76]

@stardustlemon

Ask Donald Trump!

[GamingIVfun]

In all these cases of mass shooting the perpetrators were mentally unhinged, these people could be influenced by anything, but they probably see very little in a rational way. Making video games, TV and Movies and journalistic media the scapegoat for hate and violence to avoid real problems like bigotry, mental illness, lack of gun control, the sale of semi automatic weapons (guns created to kill large amounts human beings easily), is wrong and too easy.

Their are multiple reasons for this terrible kind of behavior, we need to address all of them.

[saywat247]

i dont recall ever playing a game which the player is part of an isis terrorist group and is told to shoot up nightclubs and movie theatres and so fourth. can anyone recall such a game? dumbass journalists just trying to stir things up and put blame on a certain community. what about all the violent movies that come out?? that doesnt provoke terrorists attacks right it's just games? these irrelevent journalists really are dumb aren't they? making stupid claims with not a piece of evidence to support it. if video games didn't exist i wonder what these fools would place the blame on.

[solideagle]

I would agree with him partially. Thes3 games create nothing but hatred. First it was russians then germans and now muslims. When u see media hate someones gonna go crazy.
There might be difference of opinions but in the end we are all humans. My condolences to famillies. Very sad to hear this news.

[Dark_Knightmare2]

No they don't there has been plenty of studies that have shown violent games not to be responsible for hatred,murder etc. It's ridiculous this kind of stuff is still brought up every time a tragedy occurs instead of oh I don't know tighter gun control but no we'll just blame it on video games and quietly sweep the real problem under the rug

[OoglyBoogly]

@Dark_Knightmare2

Tighter gun control is hardly what's needed. If we're going to do that then why not have tighter religion control? Or tighter control and mental facilities and testing everyone periodically? Most of these attacks are due to religion in some way or another so why do we just allow it to go unchecked? Most people that own guns, a vast majority, aren't violent and shoot up people. Why limit them while not limited the ACTUAL problem?

Plus, if you want to kill people you'll find a way either way. Look at the Boston Marathon. There were no guns there, just improvised explosives. Guns aren't the problem, people are the problem. Jacked mentalities are the problem.

And don't take this the wrong way either. I'm not some gun nut, I'm a pacifist that doesn't even own a gun. All I'm saying is if we're going to point the blame stick at something let's point it to the actual issue.

[solideagle]

I think i should have said media creates hatred and video games are one format of media. I myself am gamer and it does not affect me but some lunatic will get the wrong idea.
Again this idiot was an idiot and We shouldn't generalise like muslims/islam is the problem. Problem was this crazy guy.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

Never go full retard

[trooper_]

No game tells anyone to go on a shooting spree and kill innocent people. This guy was sick, plain and simple.

[Letthewookiewin]

How bout a crazy friggin Muslim decided it would be a good idea to shoot innocent people. Friggin Blow.

[trooper_]

...I knew the blame game was coming.

This argument is as old as stale bread.

[Null1980]

So sad. Nevermind that the guy had a warped ideology. ISIS warped him, not video games. There were at least a couple of girls who died from my hometown of Lakeland, FL in this. :\ My sincerest condolences go out to their families and all the other families effected in this.

[TGG_overlord]

With no doubt, and I´m very sorry to hear it. And I think it´s time for action now, so that something like this won´t happen ever again.

[dp277407]

I'm from Lakeland, Sorry to hear about that I had a couple people that were friends of friends die but thats as close.

[Null1980]

That's cool to see another Lakelander on here. I moved away 2 years ago, but grew up there most of my life.

Yea, you hear about people dying sometimes... but its a weird feeling knowing how close terrorism has come to our small town. My family still lives there. Crazy.

[dp277407]

Same here OtterX I lived there for more than half my life and have been away for a few years but still all my family on my Father's side is down there still. It is weird for something like this to happen so close and if it did I always thought it would be a Disney kinda thing

[BosSSyndrome]

I agree that video games dont cause violence, but ISIS? You guys know he was an american citizen from NY right?

[Null1980]

Haven't you read the reports? He declared allegiance to ISIS,

"During his rampage, Mateen spoke with a 911 dispatcher three times, Comey said, pledging loyalty to ISIS but also the brothers who bombed the 2013 Boston Marathon and the Al Nusra bomber. Mateen called the brothers his "homeboys," according to Hank Shaw, who runs the FBI's Boston office."

That's the issue, homegrown ISIS/terrorist sympathizers.

[DragonKnight]

Don't be so quick to believe that ISIS really has anything to do with it. There are times when people will claim any reason to justify their hate. The reason for his shooting is homophobia. His own father spoke of a time in which the shooter was out with his son and saw two men being affectionate with each other and he couldn't stand it. He said (paraphrased) "Look at that, they're doing that in front of my son."

He hated gays. Had nothing to do with ISIS even though they are claiming it. They'll claim anything.

[MrSwankSinatra]

Retards, Retards Everywhere.

[TGG_overlord]

And #FullMcIntosh...

[Gardenia]

So the reason is not that you can buy machine guns which normally are only used in a war

[brandrick]

I've just written another take on this: http://www.gamebrit.com/201...

[TGG_overlord]

Nice =) I´ll check it out ;)

[Null1980]

Great writeup. Did you submit here on N4G? I was touched last night by how some of the Bethesda developers and even the developers of Mafia III (in an IGN interview I was watching) acknowledged it. Here they are making really violent games, but you can see the compassion and humanity in their eyes and their words. Experiencing real world violence is completely different than video game violence. I don't get affected by movies and games..... but man, once I clicked on a video on a news site that showed an actual ISIS beheading. I felt sick to my stomach, didn't even finish it. For MOST people, I think they would feel this way. It's just not the same.

Edit- great writeups from both of you.

[TGG_overlord]

Thank you =) Yes ;) Oh? I´m glad to hear that they feel that way. And yes, it´s not the same. It´s not the tools but the people who pull of crazy stunts like the Orlando mass shooting.

[InTheZoneAC]

I blame it on a broken mind influenced by other broken minds

Mr. Blow and these other journalists should quit breathing because blaming this on a game is entirely stupid.

[TGG_overlord]

Correct, as no sane person would do this. Absolutely, and what makes it even more messed up is that they all work in the games industry...

[Fist4achin]

I'm so tired of hearing this crap blaming the video game industry. We might as well blame video games for the asshole beating his ex wife. Come on...

My thoughts go out to some people just trying to enjoy an evening out.

[TGG_overlord]

So am I, and the whole thing made me think about this picture:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.p...

[Sharky231]

It's official!! Video games started ww2! Then were responsible for 9/11! They will ultimately lead to A.I. and bring about the end of the world! Any mass shooting is a tragedy but don't you think it's really because there's crazy people in the world! It use to be blamed on rock and rap music! Next it will be blamed on origami or something to that nature!

[InTheZoneAC]

video games created Nazi's

[TGG_overlord]

And don´t forget the great battle of Castillon (1453) ;)

[Wikkid666]

..

[Majin-vegeta]

Right....its not cuz of his religion or anything*Rolls eyes*

[Errorist76]

It doesn't have to do with his religion. It has to do with the interpretation of it! Christianity isn't pro gays either! Please stay objective.

The IS is as Islamic as the KKK is Christian!

[NotEvenMyFinalForm]

His values are based on his religion and as much as people want to believe that Islam is about peace no one can deny that it is this same religion that serves as the foundation of a terror group like Isis who murder even women and children. And before you bring up some crap like the Crusades I want to remind you that the year is 2016. When was the last time about a gun touting, mass murderer Christian? Meanwhile we hear about some Muslim attack like every month like that attack on Paris last year.

[Errorist76]

@NotEvenMyFinalForm

2011

Google Anders Breivik please!

Terrorism is bad no matter what religion is used to justify it.

ISIS needs to be brought down but no Muslim thinks what they do is Islamic. Please broaden your horizon.

[brianunfried]

They forgot to blame Heavy Metal Music, Dungeons and Dragons, Horror Movies and Harry Potter Books. It's ironic because we all know the real cause is always religion.

[johndoe11211]

So question, was religion behind the millions of people Stalin murdered?

[Pandamobile]

No, that was based on insane political ideologies.

[garrettbobbyferguson]

Communism is essentially a cult, so sure.

[PaleMoonDeath]

It was an ISIS member, absolute tool of a man.

The sooner we deal with these monsters the better, but these damn beta-male weak politically correct idiots will find anything other to blame, imagine that.. ridiculous.

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

This is absolutely disgusting. Clickbait bastards. And if they actually believe this stuff, they're morons and should be fired immediately. The possible reasons why he did this have already been outlined, so stop trying to capitalize on a mass shooting, you mindless, heartless losers. Jonathan Blow should be ashamed of himself.

[Chaosdreams]

Yeah, video games.

Has nothing to do with other underlining reasons, say, religion fanatics, weak gun laws, a decline in mental health....it's the video games guys.

[DrJones]

Not gun laws in this instance

[trouble_bubble]

What the, this again? The shooter called 911 and pledged his allegiance to ISIS, not the ESRB!

What is it with these ambulance chasers that always seem to come out of the woodworks to blame pixel guns. Why not blame the last London has Fallen movie instead?

Sorry to say but they play shooters in Australia and Canada too but you don't see them spray'n'praying 100 people and taking hostages. Can I blame my speeding ticket on Need for Speed? Look, this guy had access to real guns and was questioned by the FBI before. Maybe address what's really going on here. You could start with that phone call.

[LoveSpuds]

Yet another absolute tragedy in the US, yet more excuses from those who refuse to acknowledge that guns are a major problem in America.

I have just read a story about a poor guy trapped in the bathroom of the club who was sending his last texts to his mother, absolutely heartbreaking, my sincerest condolences to all those affected.

[DrJones]

Blame radical Islam

[LoveSpuds]

All too convenient to pin the blame for attrocities on terrorism, exactly the kind of distraction your gun lobbyists, politicians and authorities look for.

Believe me when I tell you that the eyes of people in the rest of the world are wide open, it is quite clear where the blame for gun violence lies. Its not with violent movies, violent games nor religion or politics, it is with the easy access to guns.

How many of these killings can you pin on terrorism? http://www.gunviolencearchi...

[Imalwaysright]

How about blaming the easy access to guns in the States? How many more mass shootings and deaths are needed until americans finally open their eyes?

[Germany7]

So a honest citizen can't buy guns because of islam terrorists and criminals? Sure, blame the Confederate flag next as well. /s

[Imalwaysright]

A honest citizen can still buy guns with tighter gun control laws.

[LoveSpuds]

This is a predominantly American community squire, dont expect much support for your completely accurate post.

[Dasteru]

Retards looking for attention. Ignore them.

[Elda]

Idiot mentality.

[NotEvenMyFinalForm]

At this point sjw's even transcend Jack Thompson. The left have come full circle now, which gotta show that the extreme left and extreme right are one and the same. Same arguments, equally authoritarian and all bigots.

[GamePeace]

Blame violent people, not violent videogames. Mentally sane persons can distinguish between videogame and reality. I too played some videogames that contain a lot of gore and violence and stuff like that, but it did never want to make me try those things in real-life.

Sure, violent videogames can have a negative impact on people who are mentally unstable, those should not play such videogames. I don't know if I can really agree with Jonathan Blow and those journalists, because you can't just blame 'violent videogames' in general, in many of those 'violent videogames' games you kill monsters and not people.

What Jonathan Blow and those journalists did, is a generalization of things and not a clear distinguishment. That's pretty weak from people who work for the industry ...

[Dirtnapstor]

SMH....
And who or what do these types blame these horrific acts on, prior to the 80's!?!

If you want more (past) rediculousness, look up Atari's Bezerk and all the controversy that surrounded that for a time.

[Offbasic]

Video games are not the only violent form of media. if u ask me I think movies are far more violent. Games are pixels but movies are made to be realistic. If you can't realize the difference between real and fake, you have far more issues then thinking games represent real life outcomes.

[jznrpg]

There was nothing related to video games and Orlando. Ridiculous

[UnHoly_One]

Just when I thought Jonathan Blow couldn't be any more terrible.

[Poli_Games]

This really pisses me off.

[BlackIceJoe]

This makes perfect sense, because he couldn't have been a radical that said allah Akbar before he killed people. People need to grow up, know there is sickos that think they need to do this because of their religion and stop trying the put the blame on everything else or then the wicked person that did this.

I could put a gun in a person's hand, but here is the thing the person has a brain and they should know not to kill people. Just because l gave them it doesn't mean they have to use it. So l just wish people would stop trying to find a scapegoat, admit that the person was sick in the head and it isn't because of something else, but because they're sick themselves.

Look at it another way if video games, music, movies really were the problem you'd have have more violent stuff like this going on, but you don't. Here is another bit of information killing with guns has gone down in the last thirty years. So you can't blame it on video games. So people need to stop putting blame on everything else other than the person that is burning in hell right now.

[DualWielding]

Homophobia is to blame, not video games

[killer876]

but they didnt blame the real issue
Islam

[opinionated]

Morons. I can't stand smart dumb people. Can build an entire game without a lick of common sense.

[SmokingMonkey]

Videogames, 1980 - Present - The cause of all violence

Religion, Dawn of Man - Present - Not causing violence since it's inception....you Heathen!

[Germany7]

Pathetic and we could expect that from clueless politicians and journalists, but now a game developer as well?

Shame on you, Blow, makes me really glad that I didn't play The Witness.
Overrated developer always looking for atention.

[Sunny_D]

uhhh yeah, that is very counterproductive for a game dev to claim that games cause mass shootings. Do they not want games to sell?

[Nodoze]

Here we go again....round and round the blame shifting goes. You know what the root cause of this incident was? Mental illness. You know another primary ingredient? Hate. When a religion is thrown into the mix that glorifies the behavior that is also a significant factor (before you object read the Koran):

“Kill them wherever you find them and drive them out from where they drove you out. Persecution is worse than slaughter.” 2:191

Stop the ridiculous infantile blame game. This guy was an adult. He made a decision to do this. His actions have impacted many lives and families and the ripple effects are going to be significant. NO VIDEO GAME did this.

I supposed violent movies and TV are not to blame? Or glorification of the killer with our current mindless 24/7 news media. This guy got exactly what he wanted. He is now infamous.

Watch for the inevitable gun grab coming soon from a politician near you. Cause we all know it is the tool that makes the house, not the person who wields it.

Please ban spoons - as spoons have made me fat.

[Horseheadinthebed]

I think the Orlando shootings are down to religion, homophobia , gun laws and mental instability(in no particular order) nothing to do with gaming....

[opinionated]

Gun laws only matter to the stable people who follow them. Gun laws had nothing to do with what happened. Disarming the citizenry is the exact opposite of a reasonable solution. The guy had a fucking bomb on his chest. Everything else you are correct.

[The7Reaper]

This is good logic similar to my logic of how gay people are born because grains of sand touch and kids grow up seeing that so they think it's right..... lol like seriously come on now dumbest thing ever.

[Apocalypze]

Ugh.........This is getting old!

[FreddyFazbear]

Well if thats the case then I guess hitler is playing violent videogames at his time or napoleon or atilla the hun. Very very smart journalists and blow. Bravo

[ZombieGamerMan]

No John Blow, violent video games isn't the culprit. It's literally a violent, bigoted religion and piss poor gun control to blame

[hirobrotagonist]

Jonathan Blow is a moron and his mentality isn't helping anyone or the industry

[TXIDarkAvenger]

So stupid.

How many times are these idiots going to blame it on violent video games?

[Darkwatchman]

I was interested in eventually playing The Witness, but after reading his tweet, I'm not supporting anything from him.

[Xavior_Reigns]

Nope. Stop trying to point the finger and instead look at yourself. Were you bullied or are you the bully? Have or are a shitty parent? Those questions right there are the cause of almost all besides religion (fanatical.)

[PsylentKiller]

ISIS thanks you Mr. Blow. Pull the attention off of them so they could keep killing innocent people.

[2600Thunder]

And then they go home and binge on the oh so nonviolent Game of Thrones.

[Nephesh]

This had NOTHING to do with video games! It was a terror attack done by a Muslim. The media will always try to spin it differently if it involves Muslims.

[Mighty Boom]

Your guns goyim, give them to me.

Remember this: When these lying bastards in the media start blaming guns as the cause, think of the fact that Paris has some of the most strict gun laws on the planet (they're practically banned) and those Molsems killed and wounded more people than in Orlando.

[Mighty Boom]

Why is there a black soldier on the cover of a WW1 video game?

This PC nonsens makes me sick.

[thorstein]

Jonathan Blow sounds like a potato.

[PeaSFor]

some peoples are afraid to admit radical ISLAMISTS are straight up cancer, so they blame everything else instead.

dat elephant in the room is simply too big to ignore

[Rachel_Alucard]

Notch btfo of him
http://cdn1-www.craveonline...

[Kallisti]

Jonathan Blow should just stick to blowing dicks

[MasterD919]

This nutball was an ISIS-lover and a follower of Islam. Let's call a spade a spade here. Enough of the politically correct B.S.

Blaming guns, American's political system or anything else along those lines is literally the equivalent to defending this degenerate. Here's to hoping he felt every bullet as the cops laid waste to him.

[GamePeace]

I like some games with 'violent content', but I'm rather sceptical and careful with those games where you shoot at people for most of the time. I don't consume such games on principle alone. Not because it could have a negative impact on me, because there's a lack of empathy to them, even though the persons are not real, although I think that some games have really realistic human models. I don't like movies where people are tortured or brutally killed, why should videogames get the freepass? Bloodborne can be seen as 'violent' too, with all that hacking and slashing, with all the blood over the place, but you're just killing monsters and not humans. It makes it more bearable for me, there's a red line for me, if this certain line is crossed I'm out!

[ShinRon]

I blame rock n roll and Beavis and butthead