A recent study by the British Board of Film Classification has shed new light on the implications of violence on tv and in games. The study suggests tv violence has a more profound effect on gamers than the games themselves.

Because gamers have control over the events in videogames, the study says this added interactivity makes them more aware that the games are fiction and not reality. Other than television where the viewer has no control over the storyline and may thus have a less clear boundary between reality and fiction.

Violence in videogames has been a hot theme in history. Many studies have polarized the public debate. Pro-gamers say violence in videogames is not a goal in itself but rather an instrument on making the game more realistic. In games it's about a gamers' performance in achieving the goals of the game, and voilence is only a means in this struggle, not a goal itself.

The BBFC further says that a relation between violence and playing videogames cannot be proven. The recent shootings in the Virginia Tech-university are nevertheless linked to gaming. The shooter, a 23-year old student at the university had imprinted his Xbox loginname on his arm. This is seen as evidence by some anti-violence activists that playing violent games does have an effect and can cause violence in real life. However, the name the (ex-)student has written on his arm, 'Ismail Ax', refers to story in both the Thora, Koran and Bible involving Abraham sacrificing his son Ishmaël. This fact does imply social-political and/or religious motives instead of simply a "gamer-gone-mad".