I decided to try out the zombie killing Left 4 Dead video games when my kids were really into them, and it turned out to be a really interesting experience! But it really was so much more violent than I had ever been or dreamed of being in my whole life, I had some really disturbing dreams from it at first. Overall, though, it was just after my mother died and I feel like it was fairly cathartic, helped me dig out some of that anger and ugliness and exorcise it in a fairly harmless way. Plus it was really just amazing to see how much it takes to play those games and how slow and fumbling I am compared to my kids. And how sweetly protective they are of me in-game, too, especially my daughter.

I doubt I'll branch out beyond zombies and into straight up war games, but I still really enjoy playing it with the family from time to time.

I can totally picture you and your family with the zombie games! I think it's sweet that your kids are protective of you when you play. :)

I think violent entertainment can definitely be cathartic. I also *like* that it can have a desensitizing effect in some instances. But I think that, largely, the skill and the escapism of the fantasy worlds are the bigger draw with these games - like what you said about how much it took to play those games and how slow and fumbling you felt! I wish there was more entertainment that incorporated those draws into less gory games. Not happy fluffy smurf type games! But maybe... I dunno... More superheroes with PG type action, rather than "Let's plunder, kill, blow up brains, and ANNIHILATE!!!" Not likely, I know, but I can dream :)