in

New Yorkers love violent video games, but this state is even more bloodthirsty: study

new-yorkers-love-violent-video-games,-but-this-state-is-even-more-bloodthirsty:-study
New Yorkers love violent video games, but this state is even more bloodthirsty: study

New York gamers may go gaga for gore, but not nearly as much as players in the gluten-opposing Golden State.

A new study compared violent video game Google searches in all 50 states, to gauge whose players were the most “obsessed with” dark, carnage-heavy games, like “Grand Theft Auto,” “Call of Duty,” “Hitman,” and “Mortal Kombat.”

Topping the list is California, which had the highest interest in aggressive, blood-spilling video games, with 52,081 average monthly searches per 100,000 people, according to the survey by tech-review site Cloudwards.

A screenshot from Grand Theft Auto showing two men holding large guns.

In the Grand Theft Auto franchise, players are rewarded for beating up the elderly and running over prostitutes. Rockstar Games

The Empire State finished second, with 27,211 average monthly searches for violent video game titles per 100,000 people.

Maryland took third, with 9,348 average monthly searches per 100,000 people, “highlighting a notable interest despite its smaller population,” the site said.

A screenshot of Mortal Kombat.

Gamers are encouraged to kill their opponents in the appropriately titled Mortal Kombat series. WB Games

Alabama, in fourth, “breaks the mold of tech hubs having the highest demand for violent video games,” the study found. “Despite its smaller populations, Alabama shows a considerable number of searches, suggesting a strong gaming community with an interest in violence.”

Gamers in Ohio, which came in fifth, and Massachusetts, which came in seventh, each had more than 5,000 average monthly searches for gruesome games.

A stack of Grand Theft Auto IV games.

Violent video games like the Grand Theft Auto series don’t stay on store shelves long. AFP via Getty Images

Cloudwards tracked Google search volumes for more than 90 of what the site deemed were the most violent games.

Rounding things out at 49th and 50th place were Wyoming and North Dakota, which averaged just 47 and 25 violent video game searches, respectively.

It’s well established that “frequent exposure to violent video games increases the likelihood of inappropriate aggressive behavior, including violent behavior,” said Craig A. Anderson, a psychology professor at Iowa State University.

A PC gamer is seen at a keyboard, with a headset.

Gamers in North Dakota were the least interested in violent titles. Parilov – stock.adobe.com

But Anderson added there isn’t enough concrete data to make a direct link between the games and people’s behavior, a point psychologist Rachel Kowert echoed.

“There is no research linking video game play to any kind of long-term changes in aggressiveness or aggression,” added Kowert. “While a few studies have found short-term spikes in aggression post video game play, these research studies were done in highly controlled settings and found short-term changes only.”

aoc-helps-stranded-motorist,-but-x-users-not-impressed-as-photo-goes-viral

AOC helps stranded motorist, but X users not impressed as photo goes viral

bar-owner-says-ex-police-commish-edward-caban’s-brother-james-tried-to-‘extort’-him,-nightlife-cops-subpoenaed

Bar owner says ex-police commish Edward Caban’s brother James tried to ‘extort’ him, nightlife cops subpoenaed