I call B.S. on this, too. Blaming video games is nonsense.
BUT. First person shooters DO have an effect, known to any police officer or soldier that has done "siloutte" training.
Studies in WWII found that most soldiers hesitated that crucial second before firing their weapon, and so never really hit anyone --- a natural hesitation about killing people.
Silloutte trainng --- firing automoatically at human forms popping up --- removed this hesitation, to some degree.
New Army studies have shown that new soldier that have played lots of First Person Shooter games COME INTO the Army WITHOUT the hesitation.
In short, FPS DO remove that hesitation.
ALL THAT said, nothing in FPS makes someone go shoot people.
BUT they do make them better shooters, if they do make that decision.
I would not consider GTA3, Vice city, or GTA SA a FPS, since it is more of a rear view and does not have the feel of let's say F.E.A.R. or Half-life even if you put the camera in FPV.
>>>In short, FPS DO remove that hesitation. >>>
I'd say it took more than 1 second (the hesitation speed) to kill three people.
Playing Counter-Strike certainly helped my paintball skills.
Eh-excellent! I've never shot a man and I've been concerned about what happens if I have to shoot someone entering my house. Glad to know that my extensive playing of FPSs will help me just cap his butt with extreme prejudice.