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lank

(can't find the embed code)

Too lazy too actually watch the video right this second (though I do appreciate it and might do so later) I'd just like to put in my two cents. Sorry if I'm being rude!

Anyway, there's a lot room for abuse in the future of video games (and even some today) for creators to use stuff (like updates and data collected about what the player does and other things) to do some pretty scary things. For example, despite not being that fun, lots of people play them. Why? They take advantage of operant conditioning to create and reinforce the habit of playing said game. (Sources: Search YouTube for the videos "Extra Credits: The Skinner Box" and "Game Theory: Candy Crush, Designed to ADDICT". Don't worry, these videos refer to behavioral psychology, so they refer to studies that can be objectively measured and verified.)

There was also a Cracked article about how this could be abused in the future, though I don't know its name off the top of my head. But yeah, video games are truly immersive, in more than one sense, and while they have lots of potential for good things like entertainment or education (when done correctly) there's also potential for bad things if people aren't careful. THAT'S what PETA and politicians should be worried about in video games, not Mario jumping on koopas, or depictions of sex in M-rated games.

"THAT’S what PETA and politicians should be worried about in video games, not Mario jumping on koopas, or depictions of sex in M-rated games."

Apologies if I'm missing something, but there doesn't appear to be a difference at all. You mentioned operant conditioning and behavioural psychology, and then that advocacy groups/politicians should be more worried about 'important things' rather than violence and sex in games.

Isn't conditioning/psychology the very reason why advocacy groups lobby politicians against these things? As in, they don't want violence and sex to influence similar behaviour in their children? It seems like you're trying to distance yourself from overbearing parents while agreeing with them at the same time.

well this turned off-topic fast