Violent games reduce aggression, says id boss

Id Software's John Carmack has claimed that playing violent video games could help curb real-life aggression.

Speaking to IndustryGamers, the studio exec said that there have been studies about the "cathartic" effects of such games, and pointed to the "peaceful" crowds found at QuakeCon.

"I really think, if anything, there is more evidence to show that the violent games reduce aggression and violence. There have actually been some studies about that, that it's cathartic," he told the website.

"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."

Id has found itself at the centre of debates on video game violence, as its titles such as Doom and Quake have been alleged to have influenced real-life crimes.

The studio's latest release, Rage, arrives on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC in October.