IGN posted a story yesterday (today?) about a study that says simulated violence is not the same as real violence.

In a very frank and forthright manner, Sternheimer stated, "If we want to understand why young people become homicidal, we need to look beyond the games they play."

The story reminded me of a thought I had when watching Top Gear on TV the other week.  One of the hosts (the old one) practiced driving on a specific race track on the PS2 and then drove on that same real-life track in the same car to see if he could get the same time.   And he couldn't.

There were just two issues that prevented him from matching his PS2 time in real life.  The first was that he couldn't do in a real car what he could do in the PS2 game (i.e. break after entering a corner).  The second was that he didn't have the nerve to drive at the speeds he achieved in the PS2 game.  The car was capable and could most likely handle it, but the fear stopped him.

I thought this was interesting, since the media and freaked-out parents would argue that games are training simulators that desensitise you to real world situations.  Technically the game should have numbed the hosts fear of speed and the dangers, just like it numbs young gamers to the realities of performing a head shot with glock.