The information in this article is in some cases woefully inaccurate or clearly out of context. It is epitomised in the "Testing Games" section alone:

Manhunt 2: The original Manhunt was only blamed for the death in the media, police information stated that the murder was due to the disturbance of a burglary. Incidentally, the game was owned by the victim, not the killer

Grand Theft Auto 4: Players cannot engage in prostitution and are not encouraged to drink drive. All crimes commited in the game result in severe consequences, as in life

Bully, Scholarship Edition: The writer neglects to mention that the point of the game is to stand up to the bully described in the article, not endorse or glorify their actions

God of War: The "prisoners" and "victims" are in fact beasts of classical greek mythology, such as minotaurs and cyclops's who are intent on killing the player

With such misinformation, I wonder if this article is merely an example of journalistic sensationalism

Chris, gamer,

The Byron report must have been a real kick in the teeth for the “Popular Press”. It didn’t sensationalise the Violent Video game, like the press would have hoped, but actually gave a breath of fresh air to some very tired sweeping generalisations. Its actually the work of some “research”, a phrase that may be a little unfamiliar to some. It has an open and objective view of its subject and makes some good sensible suggestions.

Grand Theft Auto IV In the latest instalment, players run over pedestrians, kill police, visit prostitutes and are encouraged to drink-drive

“Sounds like a press or politician night out to me”, but on a more serious note,

Bully: Scholarship Edition Features a shaven-headed schoolboy who terrorises other pupils and teachers at his school with pranks including dunking children’s heads in lavatories and firing catapults at teachers. Criticised by antibullying campaigners and teaching unions for “glorifying” school bullying

No, no ,no, its quite the

David, Barcelona,

Games are no different to films or TV programs, so why are they treated so differently? Films such as the Saw series contain far more violence than some of the games mentioned above, and yet that's fine because films are considered more 'socially accepted' whereas anyone who plays a violent game is a psychopath?

On top of this, why do people find it so easy to criticise such games, and yet they buy them for their kids no questions asked? It's idiots like that ignoring the massive "18" logo on the front cover that need to be educated, not games developers.

Tom Eccles, Leeds, United Kingdom

It had been a wonderful evening and what I needed now, to give it the perfect ending, was a little of the Ludwig Van.

james, Barnsley,

By even attempting to ban games like Manhunt 2 the morons at the top make the game more popular. I've played the original manhunt and honestly it does nothing for me. They're a lame attempt at titillating violence but the media dresses the next one up to be something else "Ultra-violent".

As for Tanya Byron maybe she should go back to the house of tiny tear aways instead of being the governments "GTA prostitute".

I'm sick of games taking the bum wrap for the lack of regard parents have for certificates and their own skills in rearing their child. If they were really that concerned about what their children were doing they might actually consider "spending time with them" and "playing games with them" novel concepts, I know!!

G, London,

yet again, the media are jumping on the band wagon with violent games, taking the easy way. We are adults for pity's sake. We can tell the difference between reality and fantasy. Focus on educating parents, not stigmatising gamers.

Btw, I'm not a prostitute killer, I have no car, I dont drink drive, I have no desire to ever hurt or shoot anyone. Yet I'm going to get GTA4. I'm getting it to have my mind blown by some of the first next-gen gameplay.

DO you do need someone who knows about games to work for you? You obviously don't have anyone that does at the moment.

Colin Mills, birmingham,

Grand Theft Auto IV In the latest instalment, players run over pedestrians, kill police, visit prostitutes and are encouraged to drink-drive - WRONG

At no point has ANY GTA title actually encouraged you to kill innocent people or drink and drive.....and you are NEVER rewarded for doing it.....it gets you into trouble.

Bully: Scholarship Edition Features a shaven-headed schoolboy who terrorises other pupils and teachers at his school with pranks including dunking children’s heads in lavatories and firing catapults at teachers - WRONG

The character you play as in this game does NOT terrorise other pupils, his role in the game is to STOP other pupils from doing that stuff. Just like GTA.....any bad stuff you do only results in you getting into trouble and you are NOT rewarded for doing bad things.

I wish journalists who write this stuff would actually do some research into the games they are talking about.

Adam, London,

How on earth is Condemed2 never mentioned when it comes to gratuitous violence? Any game where u can kill by crushing someones head in a vice has to be gratuitous. The game features prolonged acts of bloody violence and some how went under the radar of all newspapers.

Mark, Swansea,

The so-called Manhunt killing was a farce of so-called journalism. The killer never had the game, the victim did, and the motive for the killing was in fact theft as stated by the leader of the investigation. Then again, why let the facts get in the way of a good story?

The media in general simply get a second hand sound-bite and run with it without actually playing the game for themselves. Games, like movies and books, have different contexts which are often ignored in favour of sensationalist descriptions such as those above.

In GTA you CAN kill pedestrians, it doesn't mean you have to. You CAN visit prostitutes, it doesn't mean you have to. In fact, it's never stated anywhere in the game or instructions exactly HOW that's done, sound-bites such as above are the reason so many know about it. As for the drink driving thing, that is flat out wrong. You are not encouraged to do it, it is merely a part of ONE mission in the game.

I'm all for BBFC ratings though.

Paul Dennett, Blackpool,

"Manhunt 2 Developers Rockstar recently won a nine-month battle to sell this ultra-violent game in Britain despite the British Board of Film Classification objecting that the action, set in a psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane, “encourages visceral killing and focuses on stalking and brutal slaying.” The original Manhunt was blamed for the murder of a boy, aged 14, in Leicester in 2004."

Have you even bothered to play this game or even research it? The quite relating to the original Manhunt / Stephan Parkeet murder is especially rediculous considering the police involved in the case officially ruled out the game as having anything to do with the murder.

You'd be surprised just how many of your (mature) readers play computer games and following the Sun / News Of The World / Daily Express route of 'BAN THIS SICK FILTH!!!!' simply patronises these readers.

S. Shaw, Douglas, IOM

"Bully: Scholarship Edition Features a shaven-headed schoolboy who terrorises other pupils and teachers at his school with pranks including dunking children’s heads in lavatories and firing catapults at teachers. Criticised by antibullying campaigners and teaching unions for “glorifying” school bullying. "

Its not glorifying bullying, If anyone actually bothered to research the game at all they would realise your not a bully; Your actually standing up and protecting people who are getting bullied.

But I suppose any excuse for The Sun/News Of The World/Any other tabloid to print some huge Title in caps saying how games glorify violence or whatever is easier than actualyl paying attention to important news.

Mike, London,