Earlier this month, six people in Florida were brutally murdered by four people because several items of theirs were stolen: some clothes and a xBox game console. Now, not to say that murder is to be taken lightly, but one can't help but notice that the media is paying special attention to the subject of the xBox in the murder case. Look at these news excerpts:

"Sheriff: 4 charged in Florida killings over Xbox" — CNN.com

"Police: Xbox Theft Spurred Fla. Slayings" — ABC News

There are many other examples of this elsewhere, both on the web and television. One news agency must be given some credit — after looking through Fox News's archives, I found that it wasn't until later that they mentioned the factor of the xBox theft.

But that doesn't solve anything.

The reason this rant was written is because this is just another example of the media taking a shot at the video game industry for spurring violence. Instead of stating the motive as "theft", they chose to say "theft of an xBox — and some clothes". And, because the media has been spoon-feeding the public this idea for a while, they're eating it right up, playing the theft of the xBox as the main motive. There was no talk of hidden motives, anger between both parties.

Nope.

It was the evil xBox's fault.

I will admit, there are quite a bit of video games that are violent. Hell, I've played quite a few of them. However, the companies that produce don't advocate the actual violence. Sadly, because of a few wackjobs in this world, the name of video games is tarnished. Known now to the older generations as "murder simulators", they are quick to point the blame at every act of violence even distantly related to video games.

Is there a way to remedy this? Sadly, it will take more than complaints to change this terrible opinion. But you, the reader, should know to look past all this. Know that video games are meant for entertainment, and nothing else.

Don't let a psycho or two ruin that for you.