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Noel Gallagher blames games for knife crime

Games desensitise kids from crime, says Oasis song writer
Oasis' Noel Gallagher has blamed violent videogames as one of the reasons for the knife crime problem among Britain's youth.

Speaking to BBC Newsbeat, the song writer said that violent games desensitise kids from crime, which is "really, really scary," he said.

"I was up in Liverpool for a week a couple of weeks ago and even on the news there it's every single night," said Gallagher. "In my day, status was trying to be somebody, do you know what I mean, not trying to kill somebody.

"People say it's through violent video games and I guess that's got something to do with it", he suggested. "If kids are sitting up all night smoking super skunk and they become so desensitised to crime because they're playing these video games, it's really, really scary."

"I don't even know what Cameron or Gordon Brown are going to do about it," he added.

computerandvideogames.com
// Interactive
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YOUR BAND SUCKS!

now onto his claim...has he seen rambo??
SAeN on 4 Jul '08
Noel Gallagher pillar of society...
zm73 on 4 Jul '08
Any respect that I had left for him has just gone.
nintendo is the on 4 Jul '08
Noel Gallagher is slowly proving that he's entering middle age; when you think your narrow minded view of the world actually matters...
Rakhdeep on 4 Jul '08
Noel Gallagher pillar of society...

I was thinking along the same lines these comments coming from a band that has got a past history of its own for voilence and drugs.
lonewolf2002 on 4 Jul '08
3 words.

p**s off, Noel
MeatGolem on 4 Jul '08
Ah it seems Noel has risen from his slumber to utter some pish. People laugh...and he goes back to bed to bum Bono and Geldoff some more.
Rosepetal on 4 Jul '08
I blame knifes having pointy sharp edges that go easily into people for knife crime.
aefven on 4 Jul '08
jesus wept,NOEL GALLAGHER spouting morals about drugs and violence, thats a bit like robert mugabe singing give peace a chance.stroll on.
nagashino on 4 Jul '08
You have to appriciate that Noel didnt grow up with the money and status he has now.. so on one hand, he might know what it's like to grow up in a place where crime is common place.. however, you cant put the blame on video games.

It seems everyday another person is killed in terrible circumstances.. and the persistant coverage of these crimes on tv to try and deter people from it, may be doing the opposite and adding fuel to the fire.
Xdwardo on 4 Jul '08
what a absolute tosser,according to his statement,he must be constantly be playing video games as he deems him self to be a f**king hard bastard who is always being violent,dude,does us all a favour a sort your head out. NUMB SKULL
andyandzoe on 4 Jul '08
I watched Panorama last night that focused on the inner streets of Liverpool and the youth crime there. From what I took from it, violence seemed to be bred more by their hatred for their lives, circumstances and surroundings than by playing videogames. But then again, I never wrote Live Forever.
cian84 on 4 Jul '08
He knows even less than analysts..and that says something.

Did it occur to him that the ones out all night "smoking skunk" are generally the ones that cause crime. Not the ones that stay inside playing games, even if they are doing a bit of drugs.
almanac2015 on 4 Jul '08
Noel isn't exactly a psychologist is he, so he can burp off
funkyjack on 4 Jul '08
what a t**t
Montster on 4 Jul '08
violent games and violent films r a part of gang culture and status, but i dont think violence in any media causes people to be violent. i think poor education and upbring r more to blame. there has always been violence in the media from poetry and novels to films and videogames and yet the majority of people r law abiding citizens. i have read my share of violent novels watched extremly violent films/tv series and hacked to death countless zombies/aliens but never felt the need to stab some random individual.
majestictwelve on 4 Jul '08
he's got a kid now, so things have changed for him.
roland82 on 4 Jul '08
"Art imitates life" , not the other way round, or in your case, "Noel imitates Beatles" Razz
ted1138 on 4 Jul '08
he's got a kid now, so things have changed for him.

I feel sorry for his kid, I'd hate to have Noel as a dad.
timcsavage on 4 Jul '08
"If kids are sitting up all night smoking super skunk

and this has nothing to do with it,but video games do?
if i was a parent,i would be more concerned with them smoking that s**t than any video game they would be playing


i grew up playing video games and watching violent VHS rentals with my dad,and i turned out right

i stayed up all night on my PS1 playing resident evil 1 with a bottle of mad dog 20/20 next to me...didnt make me wanna go eat people,or shotgun them to the head

seriously though:when there is a crime,there is a criminal...its the person that is to blame,look at the person and look at his upbringing if need be...video games,movies whatever,that person should still know right and wrong


millions of people(especially now)play video games....and London have had 17 knife attcks i believe this year,why arent all the others knifing everyone?

its the same with the shootings over in the U.S..video games always get the blame

TBH if i didnt have COD4 to shoot online people,i prolly would be a bit more angry in my normal life..and then where would that lead?,LOL


Noel Gallagher..i really buzz off,as he does make me laugh with his comments about everything and i am a fan of his music,but i believe he is dead wrong about this..and it saddens me that he has said this

does passing 40 years old really change you like this?

i have 8 years to go if it does
metallicorphan on 4 Jul '08
^^ 18 fatal knife attacks in London this year on teenagers ONLY. The actual figure for fatal knife crime is nearing 35 I believe... Sad
Rosepetal on 4 Jul '08
The day Noel Gallagher is an authority on anything but being a banal, whiney tosspot is a LONG way off.
Depravo on 4 Jul '08
Well, most people here just proved they are complete t**s.

That was his opinion...I'm glad he has the nerve to say that.

And I gotta admit I have seen 12 year olds playing games WAY over their age group...The ratings are only a guidelines but I'd never let my kids (When I have them I'm only 21) play stuff like GTA or Dead Rising (even though that was more comic violence)

BUT, I'd blame idiot kids that are actually influenced by 50-cent/shatty movies/Videogames and parents that pay no attention to what the child is playing (and I do concider anyone under 18 a Child or "Young Adult"Winkthats the problem not the games themselves...


And I couldn't care less who disagrees with me lol
And to everyone who said Oasis suck...Your ghay they are f**king cool

**Edit**
metallicorphan, I admit I played and watched games well out of my age rating too.
But not everyone is as hard to influence plus I think Noel was hinting that this super skunk actually helps desensitize people...I've seen it happen.
But yeah I turned out right as well no criminal record rarely in a punch up (I avoid as many as possible etc.
Also more than anything else I think it's just the way todays generation is.
Todays youth mostly has no values, I mean I'm guessing your american but you might have seen the same thing.

People of about 18/25 sitting around doing nothing with themselves playing games and getting drunk or high, no ambition with their lives etc...It's all over the UK not EVERYONE is like that but most of todays youth is...
And some grow out of it but most don't.
And maybe just MAYBE games were a factor in it.
Something that detached kids from reality, gave them a diminished sense of reality in actual life, its a recorded thing..

But like I said not everyone is effected...And some who are effected fail to realize...
Zedfragg on 4 Jul '08
What I have read is that he suggest that kids being "desensitised" (through violent games, smoking weed or whatever other reasons he could have pick up) has something to do with knife crime, but I have not read Noel Gallagher saying "Videogames make people violent".

Don't be so picky. I think that in the last months every headline not saying "Videogames are great" is considered some kind of attack against games/gamers. Take easy people. It's just a hobby.
newtoneprods on 4 Jul '08
Rolling Eyes

Blur and Suede were so much better.
Biggwedge on 4 Jul '08
Suedes sucks big time. Sorry, I couldn't resist it.

Blur was ok, though someone should have shoot Damon Albarn to dead long, long ago. What an annoying guy...
newtoneprods on 4 Jul '08
its all very well throwing accusations that games are to blame, but what about music and films. as its probably been said before in this forum, but films and music influence people more than games. there are loads more films that have caused people to kill or be killed.

Noel Gallager (not spelt correct) has no right to lauch s**t like that.
1589vaughan on 4 Jul '08
I was a massive fan of Oasis from Definitely Maybe - Be Here Now - bought all the imports, special editions etc.. and there was a box set of the first 2 album's singles designed like a B and H packet with the words "rock and roll seriously damages your health on the front".

anyway, point being, there was a booklet covering the singles released from that album, and under the song Cigarettes and Alcohol, Noel is quoted as saying something like "some kid told me he heard that song, and told him he felt like getting p**sed and nicking a car (or something), so he did it, and i think that's very fu*king cool"

So, he can shut the hell up, basically.
The_Johnson on 4 Jul '08
What about religion? It's been a big influance in the murders of millions of people, but you don't see celeb's calling for a ban, do you? Confused
ted1138 on 4 Jul '08
^^ 18 fatal knife attacks in London this year on teenagers ONLY. The actual figure for fatal knife crime is nearing 35 I believe... Sad

Yeah its bout right, 6 people killed this week alone Sad. As i'm living in London, its really depressing and sad to see on every days news of another killing. Just really whats the mental thought of someone to pick up and knife and stab someone, we will never know....

Back to the point, another stupid attack on games, wont mean anything
casperthedog on 4 Jul '08
Its sad that noel has a point, as much as i love gaming, it is contributing to a growing problem in this country.
Its not just gaming mind, music and tv have both played there role.
stuartisgod on 4 Jul '08
Think you've spent to many hours in the sunsheeeiiiiiiiin Noel stick to music and stop spouting b******s.
Miss Marvellous on 4 Jul '08
You lot : Get off your high ponies and listen, you might learn something.

It is easy to say games have no effect whatsoever on a kids mental state. The fact is games like GTA especially do have some effect, aswell as the shooty games that are 95% of the library of choice in Yanky land.

Microsoft is chiefly to blame for this manifistation of evil violence in our society. As we all know that in America, they offer customers a free gun license to anyone who buys an Xbocks Elite on the 31st of every month.
Suivaloom on 4 Jul '08
One phrase comes to mind before I do my rant:

"f**k you w****r! Have you ever played a game in your life? Clearly not because it wa son the tv you f**king retard. f**k you and all the c**ts who think this."

You know people have been knifing people for decades, think it is video games now do you?

Last time I checked video games havent been round that long, not compared to things like knives. Imagine the 60s, get graphical video games then?
AJB123644 on 4 Jul '08
While Noel is entitiled to his opinion he really should think them through before he mouths off to the press. Serioulsy how many teenagers or adults for that matter who stay up all night playing games smoking skunk weed have the neccessary braincells left to go about knifing people(joke).

The reason why people today are more desensitised to crime is that there are so many more forms of media which report crime(24hr News Channels, Youtube etc). Games are not the issue parents are. Parents aren't mointoring their kids and the media they access.

When i worked in a gameshop the amount of parents who bought violent games for their childern (some under 10)was unreal. When i pointed out that the game wasn't suitable for the child, generally 70% of the parents bought it anyway and the other 30% weren't aware the of the nature of the game in the first place.
jamesc8 on 4 Jul '08
"some kid told me he heard that song, and told him he felt like getting p**sed and nicking a car (or something), so he did it, and i think that's very fu*king cool"

Noel's gonna have to eat those words. And play a bit of Rock Band (fake playing his own songs lol) before he shoots off nonsense.
Skreb-Masters on 4 Jul '08
Noel is entitled to his opinion, some journo has probably picked up on a small area in which he was discussing.

You lot never talk b******s do you? Thought not you pillars of society!

f**kin' Blur? Sorry but that is the biggest load of s**t I've heard in 2008. Damon is, was and always will be a w****r and so will every incarnation of his band. Even cartoons cannot save you.

Maybe people need to discuss what is wrong with society so what he says may be viable for him. I mean this country is f**ked up and f**ked up big time.
bigrednumpty on 4 Jul '08
Well, most people here just proved they are complete t**s.

That was his opinion...I'm glad he has the nerve to say that.

And I gotta admit I have seen 12 year olds playing games WAY over their age group... The ratings are only a guidelines but I'd never let my kids (When I have them I'm only 21) play stuff like GTA or Dead Rising (even though that was more comic violence) (blahblahblah...)

Let's hope you have more sense then, if/when you finally decide to bring another person into this crappy world.

The ratings are not only guidelines. They're a legal notification that, if you're under the age stated by the BBFC on the box, then you shouldn't be able to buy or play that game until you're old enough. Same goes for films, and magazines. Why? To protect those with impressionable minds, as the product in question has material within it that is deemed only suitable for those over a certain age. They are there for a reason, not merely as a guideline.

Noel... Yeah, perfect role model for our kids, isn't he. Loudmouth retard. Someone get a hosepipe on him.
Gabanski83 on 4 Jul '08
@Zedings i really understand what you are saying and totally agree.

many many things are to blame for the s**t state our society is getting in at the moment, and burying your head in the sand and ignoring these things will not help anyone.

Videogames music, movies, media all push this image along with poverty and the way people are treated. I dont believe from that statement that gallager pointed out videogames as the single cause just a part, and to certain individuals it may well desensitise them, we are all different people.

It is about time we all stood up united againt what is happening to people out there and each take a stance againt further violence.

you may agree or disagree with what gallager has said but it has made people take notice, and if it has made you feel the need to respond, instead of flaming like a troll, why not suggest what is to blame for all this mess, and what would YOU suggest we do to make our world a better place for us all, i for one am sick of all this hate.
cackpants on 4 Jul '08
CVG major rage-inducing thread! About time we had another one of these.
Balladeer on 4 Jul '08
I'm off to listen to 'Stations of the Crass'.
G189 on 4 Jul '08
It unfortunately is kind of true for skunk smoking kids, who are desensitised already without games, listening to gangster rap, not going to school, getting locked up every other week, on benefits, no respect for mum or dad, if he's still around and not in clink.
and why oh why is this new language of ending everything with innit, reffering to your house as a 'crib' or 'yard' and white and asian kids speaking as if they were born and bred in the jamaican district of the bronx?
There are decent teenagers but unfortunately there's always some dog turds on a freshly cut lawn.
meady on 4 Jul '08
Any respect that I had left for him has just gone.

You had any respect for him in the first place?
creamerybutter on 5 Jul '08
Well, most people here just proved they are complete t**s.

That was his opinion...I'm glad he has the nerve to say that.

And I gotta admit I have seen 12 year olds playing games WAY over their age group... The ratings are only a guidelines but I'd never let my kids (When I have them I'm only 21) play stuff like GTA or Dead Rising (even though that was more comic violence) (blahblahblah...)

Let's hope you have more sense then, if/when you finally decide to bring another person into this crappy world.

The ratings are not only guidelines. They're a legal notification that, if you're under the age stated by the BBFC on the box, then you shouldn't be able to buy or play that game until you're old enough. Same goes for films, and magazines. Why? To protect those with impressionable minds, as the product in question has material within it that is deemed only suitable for those over a certain age. They are there for a reason, not merely as a guideline.

Noel... Yeah, perfect role model for our kids, isn't he. Loudmouth retard. Someone get a hosepipe on him.

here here kids should NOT be exposed to violents films/games.
but must confess i liked oasis and blur great to get drunk/stoned to and when your going on a mugging/murder nothing better.
fyi it was a joke ive never listened to blur or oasis.
majestictwelve on 5 Jul '08
I'm thinking everyone needs to calm down a bit. He wasnt solely blaming games for whats happening with the knife crime, just saying it was a factor contributing to society becoming more desensitized to violence. One factor among many others... and i'd have to say I agree with him.

It's as though everyone saw the headline saying something negative about games and immediately swooped in to cuss whoever was attacking our precious pastime. Ever stop to think they might have a point?
samjam on 5 Jul '08
The rise in crime couldn't possibly have anything to do with tw*ts like Noel Gallagher making violence look glamorous. I mean, how many times have he and his brother been splashed over the pages of the red tops after getting into fights whilst out on the lash?

As for this violence in the news stuff, violence is MASSIVELY over-reported. It's a tried and tested newsworthy story that will always get people interested. The media play on our fears because frankly, following the exploits of the latest pseudo-celebrity psychopath knife killer is more interesting than the charity fund raiser down your local public library.

Bleh.
Seraosha on 5 Jul '08
If this is true...

A bit of my soul just died with this news. I am from Manc and Oasis brothers are legends to me. I thought they were down to earth and no bullsh*t. I am nearly crying.
LkS on 5 Jul '08
This is like those fat people that sued McDonalds for making them fat. These people had a choice and made it. It's not McDonalds fault with regards to how they turned out. Maybe they would have become fat anyway or started out fat. One possible reason they became fat was because they ate too f**king much! And didn't do enough exercise. And who knows how much they ate at home. Perhaps they forgot to mention to 90 cows a week they BBQ'd in the garden or the Sofa sized chocolate bars that they scoffed down on. But it's very easy for those fatties to point the blame. They don't want to be held responsible for their own actions or the possibility that their own bodies would have just put weight on anyway. Much in the same way that it's not a videogames fault that these kids are turning out to be murderers. Kids nowadays are doing drugs earlier, having sex earlier, getting drunk earlier. This is a way for them to numb the s**tty existence nearly all of us lead. This isn't the fault of anything other than the hard times we're all falling on. Parents don't sit down with their kids anymore and act like a family as we're nearly all living 24 hour waking lives. We just don't have the time! Back when I was a kid my parents took an interest in my life and spent time with me, making sure I was ok and well looked after. A lot of these murdering sons-of-bitches come from families that flat out either don't have the time to spend with them or just don't give two s**ts. If my parents turned out to be drunkards that were never there and I grew up in a rough area then maybe my life would be different, maybe I too would be spending the next 20 years in jail. I wouldn't necessarily have grown into an asshole from playing games.

To say that gaming is a large contributing factor to violent crimes is just wrong. Not all of these teens would have played games or be avid gamers. It's like saying that food is a large contributing factor (I mean it's keeping them alive long enough to kill someone), or that their bed is too uncomfortable and has slowly made them angry to the point where they snap and decide "Hey, I'm gonna kill someone because I'm mad at my hard mattress". It could be a birds nest outside their window that made them see red. It could be an old granny smelling of wet farts on the bus. An aerial that, no matter how it's positioned, will not pick up anything on the tv. It's utterly retarded to just pick up on the first thing that comes to mind when you hear on the news that another person has been killed.

Start at the probable root of the problem, their upbringing. Then work backwards on the pychological pathways that they took upto the point of deciding to commit their devious and dirty crimes. That's the only way of finding exactly why these particular teens are turning out to be dirty little disrespectful bastards who think it's funny to take away the lives of those are happy with living.

And Noel made one correct point, if kids are doing 'Super Skunk' WHAT THE f**k DO YOU EXPECT? They wouldn't have a clue what they were doing most of the time. It's like when you get drunk, you do stuff you wouldn't normally do. Comparison time: If someone gets p**sed, climbs into their car and then runs someone else over, where would the media point the blame? At the driver right? But not the car or the car manufacturer? Or the company that made the alcohol? Neither would be even considered as a contributing factor. The driver would soley be in the spotlight, the driver would solely get the blame. But kids getting high on skunk, playing games and then commiting a violent crime. Suddenly gaming is the problem most in focus...

NB: Not all of the above is necessarily linked to Noel's comments, but comments in general that I hear near on every day about gaming.

Also sorry to any fatties that I may have offended with the McDonalds bit above. Here, have a cookie.

http://trashmenagerie.com/images/CCC/Cookie.jpg

I kid, I kid Smile :GROUPHUGSFATTIES: (I'm called skinny so don't try to say I'm coming out with derogatory remarks! ;D)
MPH on 5 Jul '08
I'm thinking everyone needs to calm down a bit. He wasnt solely blaming games for whats happening with the knife crime, just saying it was a factor contributing to society becoming more desensitized to violence. One factor among many others... and i'd have to say I agree with him.

It's as though everyone saw the headline saying something negative about games and immediately swooped in to cuss whoever was attacking our precious pastime. Ever stop to think they might have a point?

I don't think it's the case that we're all swooping on this one story. I think it's more down to the fact that we're each being worn down by comments about gaming being one of the reasons that our society is becoming so f**ked up. Instead of actually looking to the real major sources, e.g. Drugs, alcoholism, etc
MPH on 5 Jul '08
Of course, he's the beer-swilling, pot-smoking, foul-mouthed role model we should all be looking up to. Talentless, washed-out, middle-aged, Beatles thieving k**b-head.
carterlink on 5 Jul '08

**Edit**
metallicorphan

, I mean I'm guessing your american but you might have seen the same thing.

People of about 18/25 sitting around doing nothing with themselves playing games and getting drunk or high, no ambition with their lives etc...It's all over the UK not EVERYONE is like that but most of todays youth is...
And some grow out of it but most don't.
...

nah, i'm UK,in fact i am a Mancunian like Noel here

yeah thats what i mean,thats what i was doing in around 95/96(aged about 20 then)...just weren't smoking skunk,the fact is that i still sit around for hours on end playing games..if i didnt have a job,it would be all day,LOL
metallicorphan on 5 Jul '08
I'm off to listen to 'Stations of the Crass'.

Upright Citizen. Smile
zm73 on 5 Jul '08
I think it's kinda strange how no one's pointed out yet that he said "People say it's through violent video games and I guess that's got something to do with it".

Then again that just speaks for itself Razz
dark_gamer on 5 Jul '08
Yeah this is pretty slanted journalism and its pretty blatant to see if you bothered to read the entire article.

Whilst it can be said that Noel did condemn video games, it was only very lightly and what he said was simply just speaking his thoughts out loud. He clearly didn't come into the interview wanting to condemn video-games, but through his natural thought progression that little gem probably just slipped out.

Furthermore, notice how the quote for the basis of this article is only half of a sentence? He condemning drugs (Irony?), and the playing of video games in relation to drugs.

I to a certain extent agree with him.

If you are consistently in the scenario he depicts, of smoking weed at the wee hours in the morning and playing games like Manhunt, or even Jericho, if you are an impressionable person then you are going to be more agreeable to committing acts of violence, as your sense of morality will be slightly warped.

However thats really the only scenario that video games can be attributed with crime for, and bearing in mind the person has to be quite a sociopath already to be in that scenario, the problem is probably already present.

Video games are not directly linked to violent crime in the majority of cases, and I feel what Noel was saying has been taken out of context for some shock journalism. Fair play to you though CVG, your certainly know how to keep the punters interested (and judging by the replies, angry)
Lewbyface on 5 Jul '08
Maybe spend less time criticising the world a la Bono, and more bloody time spent making your new album you mono browed monkey!! Exclamation
westyglos on 5 Jul '08
Interesting that someone from a band would say this as rock music used to be seen as the culprit for corrupting the youth. Video games are the rock and roll of today.
menali on 5 Jul '08
first the Jay-z rant now this,whats he gonna go off about next? Noel shuttup and get on with the album Very Happy
fiftypea on 5 Jul '08
So Noel is now a Sociologist is he? Oasis got a new album out soon, damn knew it was something. Think Noel needs to realise that the mondeo man of the mid 90s that bought their albums even thinks they are irrelevant now. Try crafting songs that are worth listening to, and avoid making a bigger ass of yourself Gallagher. His opinion on knife crime is about as valid as old woman hubbard down the street who lives in a shoe, fact probably less than.
clemdarkstar on 5 Jul '08
first the Jay-z rant now this,whats he gonna go off about next? Noel shuttup and get on with the album Very Happy[/quote

It'll be out in October. Noel's starting the publicity drive nice and early, after all it's not exactly going to fly off the shelves is it?
Octoroc on 5 Jul '08
By the looks of it most of you didn't read what he said. He said it was a contributing factor, which to be honest mixed with drugs and other types of easily accesible violent media must be having some effect.
FASELI on 5 Jul '08
This doodaa has too much to say for himself.Remember this manc wank made money from ripping off other artist's riffs and ideas. Mad
smudgy07 on 5 Jul '08
he's just hopped on the bandwagon. what a tw2t. are the japanese cutting eachother up in record numbers
justforkicks101 on 5 Jul '08
If kids are sitting up all night smoking super skunk

The kids up all night smoking drugs are generally unable to do much more after smoking than play videogames and eat junk food. The guy's just getting 2 birds with one stone by blaming drugs and games. He can burn in hell.
RLRL_ on 5 Jul '08
Its sad that noel has a point, as much as i love gaming, it is contributing to a growing problem in this country.
Its not just gaming mind, music and tv have both played there role.
Its gang culture that has caused this not video games i've played video games for nigh on 25 years and not once have i felt like stabbing someone not even my tw@ of a head chef. We seem to becoming a mini america where gangs have been around killing each other far longer then the humble video game and even this country has had gangs well before pong was even an idea as someone said before if these kids were indoors playing the bloody games they wouldn't be on the streets killing.

P.S My heart goes out to all the parents who have lost loved ones we live in hard times and as always its the innocent bystanders and the familys who are hurt the most> Sad
dangermou5e on 5 Jul '08
Sad.

Very few of the above posters have actually read the whole article.

Sad.
newtoneprods on 5 Jul '08
He has to rant about something else now Jay-Z completely Pwnd him at Glasto!

As ever, what a crock of sh*te.
funke_munke on 5 Jul '08
Saint noel and saint liam of gallager

Yeah right
cyberstevo on 5 Jul '08
I haven't read all of the comments, but Gallagher hasn't really done well at being right recently.....Jay-Z at Glastonbury anyone?

If knives and copious amounts of alcohol n drugs weren't available to these youths, and if mummy n daddy didn't buy them the games (that are rated for mature audiences) that are "to blame", I think we just might see a difference.

In Glasgow it's well documented that knife crime is quite often related to alcohol consumption. People have to blame something, and as long as there are games where you can kill someone about, gaming will be blamed for the downfall of mankind.

Did you realise Viva Pinata is the sole reason for Global Warming?
JazzJ on 5 Jul '08
Bad parents are to blame for knife crime. If they actually brought their children up to respect authority figures (teachers, police, etc.) then they might have respect for themselves and people around them as opposed to seeing hurting people as a way of gaining street cred.

Noel Gallagher is a tit.
willpd on 5 Jul '08
I have no idea how old he is but I guess he grew up in the early 80's? the number of offences, as reported by the Home Office's BCS (british crime survey) are the same in 1980 as it was in 2006. No violent video games were made in 1980 and loads were made in 2006.

Interestingly, in Britain the year that the most amount of offences were reported (in the last 20-30 years) was in 1995, at the height of Oasis's fame and when there was still a football hooligan ethic around, (which maybe there music could have fuelled?) though I don't really feel this was the case.

Really though this was a stupid question to ask Noel as I guess it's not his strong point and would be a foolish question to ask a songwriter/rock star.

Hope the new albums good anyway.
frostythebush on 5 Jul '08
So much hate for a man that in fact doesn't appear to be actually saying what a lot of you guys think -maybe not intentionally anyway

Games clearly are not the cause but can i'm sure be an influence in exactly the same way lots of things can also.I guess the difference between games, books and films is how it's possible to act out these virtual crimes in games

The passing on of wrong morals from generation to generation is mostly the cause for today's ever growing problem.It's getting worse and most definitely will not get any better.Under the right conditions though it's easy to see how games could indeed desensitise the harsh reality of crime and death.Were my head a buzz with drugs and violent gaming, a less than happy childhood and an anger in me that meant i really didn't care anymore, i might possibly do some extremely stupid things too

Games are just one ingredient maybe contributing to crime of this nature but it's not the cause and i'm sure Noel doesn't think this either
Adropacrich2 on 5 Jul '08
If kids were playing violent video games, they wouldn't be stabbing each other every night.

They go out, argue over something petty, fights start, then the community splits up and just fight. The kids say they have nothing better to do and its always someone else. Only the media blows it out as this big problem, so it gets bigger because they want to copy other people. Real people. Like YOU(?).
AegisK on 6 Jul '08
OASIS SUCK

SKUNK RULES
Keithoid84 on 6 Jul '08
Video games responsible for knife crime? That's a load of bulls**t, and everyone knows it.
coruscant on 6 Jul '08
Errm... actually at no point dose he say that video games are to blame he just said that violent video games may have something to do with teenagers being more violent and hostile and judging by many of the comments left on this story I think I can see where hes coming from...
Chrisordie on 6 Jul '08
first the Jay-z rant now this,whats he gonna go off about next? Noel shuttup and get on with the album Very Happy[/quote

It'll be out in October. Noel's starting the publicity drive nice and early, after all it's not exactly going to fly off the shelves is it?
Hmmmm.......quite posibly not, LOL.
fiftypea on 6 Jul '08
Coincidentally, I had a dream last night that he was driving a dumper truck full of the monsters from I Am Legend up the stairs of my house. Colonel Campbell told me that I had to stop him at all costs, so I jumped down the stairs (in slow motion, with epic music in the background), landed on the back of the truck and then slit his throat. It was awesome.
madman_marshall on 6 Jul '08
This is exactly the kind of thing I'd expect a numpty like Noel Gallagher to say.
solidnsnake on 6 Jul '08
Bah, get back to Deal Or No Deal ya tosser.
MisterBedo on 7 Jul '08
Yes Mr Gallagher, it's the games. Lets get all the kids into drugs instead, they never hurt anyone...
fat_tony2001 on 7 Jul '08
And I blame that talentless tw@ for sheeeee-iteeeeeeee music, what a nob
davey8705 on 7 Jul '08
What a plonker they who speak out about things they no nothing about,what game did Noel last play?
He probbly doesnt even own a playstation,and as for shooting aliens and zombies that need no feeling.Take COD4 the way the dead sometimes twitch is for me rather sickening.I am 31 years old and find that as games become more realistic in graphics the border line for the easliy influnced becomes very blurred.But you have to be the village idiot to be that influenced to do it for real.I was brought up with 18 movies,Manga,James Herbert,GTA and other media of crime and violence and I turned out not to bad.
Domin666 on 7 Jul '08
Anytime someone mentions games in a negative way they're branded with the usual crap on the internet.

f**k it, he was right, impressionable people could be influenced by games, as much as anything else, that's common sense.

As for the anti-Oasis sentiments, well their last three albums were s**te(Standing on the shoulkder, but Definitely Maybe and (What's the story) Morning glory, were classics, two more classic albums than most bands of today will ever muster.
Regardless of Noel Gallaghers hypocracy and penchant for a daft quote, those two records are fantastic.

You may disagree with me, but just like Noel Gallagher saying games might influence impressionable people, not changing my opinion on games, I won't change my opinion on those two classic albums based on "oasis are sheeeee iiittte" comments regardless of how relevant they may be to the bands current incarnation.
tommycockles on 7 Jul '08
Oh dear alot of people here have gone down in my estimations. You read a title "Noel Gallager blames games for knife crime" (which is a misleading representation of what he actually quoted) and your quick to attack him with nasty comments that aren't called for, making yourselves look small minded.

(Reminds me of the Kaiser Chief's song "We are the angry mob, we read the papers everyday, we like who we like, we hate who we hate - but we're all so easily swayed"Wink

In fact Noel said "People say it's through violent video games and I guess that's got something to do with it" ...he is not solely blaming video games, he is stating that they could be part of the reason kids become desensitised to violence. With graphics become ever more realistic it is a fair comment to make.

Yes Noel isn't exactly the best role model and has done and said stupid things in the past, but people can and do change. Becoming a father makes you realise what is important in life and changes you priorities.

This whole knife issue goes much further than drugs and games. Like others have said it is a sad reflection on what modern society is. The decent people seem to be almost in the minority, we now have the 'Jeremy Kyle generation' Idiots with no morals, no respect, no prospects. Wasters who sponge off benefits and think the world owes them free housing, food, Plasma TV's etc... but with no intention to work for it. Scum that shag around without protection, drink to excess, do drugs, crime.. because they're bored. They don't care of the consequences of their actions, they have no intention of ever paying towards the upkeep of a child that came out of a 1 night stand or rocky relationship. Kids will joyride cars, knife people etc. because the law system is pathetic due to human rights crap. Under 18's get away with murder (literally) and those old enough to go to prison think it's like a holiday camp (free accommodation, food, TV, Games consoles etc)

The government need to stop giving money away to people who milk the system; claiming incapacity when they aren't, depression (can't be bothered to work), popping out more babies for more benefits and bigger houses. Give rewards to people who help themselves, people who contribute to society. Stop all this human rights rubbish - if you commit a crime that goes out the window, and you should be scared of the punishment.

Rant over Mad
Eclipse Dj on 7 Jul '08
And just what would that dumb ass manc know about anything?
He lives in nana land with all his money and is completely detached from "normal" life. So you'll excuse me if i don't take a blind bit of notice of anything that spills from his stupid mouth!
wudragon on 7 Jul '08
What an idoit! This guy's completely out of touch with reality! If you have nothing useful to say, its better to keep quiet and keep your ignorance a personal secret... unless your that great of one you let it all out!
MADGTR on 11 Jul '08
Hey, I just wondered if Noel has realized yet that knives have been around longer than videogames.
TreyTable on 12 Jul '08
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