By Ben Rosario

House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta has warned that teenagers who play “risk-glorifying, character-based video games” meant for mature audience may likely “act aggressively, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and have unprotected sex”, as claimed by a study.

Marcoleta issued the warning as he filed House Resolution No. 342 proposing a congressional inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the said study findings on the adverse effects of allowing minors to play video games that are rated for mature audiences.

HR 342 directs the House Committee on Welfare of Children chaired by Tingog Sinirangan Partylist Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez to conduct the legislative investigation.

Citing a study conducted by researchers headed by Jay Hull, Marcoleta said children below 18 must be barred from accessing mature-rated games “as they were associated with changes in a wide range of high behaviors.

Hull is a social-psychologist at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA.

“The Committee on Welfare of Children should prescribe countermeasures in order to curb, if not discourage youngsters from engaging in such character-based video games,” he said.

According to Marcoleta the study noted that character-based games “let people practice being someone else and practicing at being a character who is an anti-social deviant may have broad behavioral consequences on kids.”

He noted that the study “suggests” that game players may develop the behavior of deviant game characters and may likely act “in a host of dangerous ways, not just in specific ways enacted in the games.”

Among the violent character-based video games are the Sniper Elite, Bulletstorm, Conan Exiles and Dark Souls.