Doom's lead programmer John Carmack says 'violent video games are cathartic'

Melbourne, August 03 (ANI): The creator of the most infamous video game, Doom, has dismissed the debate that such games are violent.

Speaking about the topic in an interview with Industry Gamers, Doom's lead programmer John Carmack said that, "violent games reduce aggression and violence".

Doom, which was linked to the 1999 Columbine High School massacre - spoke about the topic in an interview with Industry Gamers.

"I never took seriously the violence in video games debate. It was basically talking points for people to get on CNN and espouse their stuff on there," News.com.au quoted him as saying.

Doom was a favourite game of Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, leading to widespread debate about the role games may have played in inspiring the massacre.

However Carmack said players of violent games were generally more peaceful than others.

"I really think, if anything, there is more evidence to show that the violent games reduce aggression and violence," he said.

"There have actually been some studies about that, that it's cathartic.

"If you go to QuakeCon and you walk by and you see the people there (and compare that to) a random cross section of a college campus, you're probably going to find a more peaceful crowd of people at the gaming convention.

"I think it's at worst neutral and potentially positive," he added. (ANI)