I think the classification used for violence here is any game which rewards hurting imitations of other people.
There has indeed been research demonstrating that such elements increase levels of agression in players, though on the other hand, partially due to the fact that every researcher uses a different definition for both violence and agression, and in part due to the fact that there is often more to these games than violence alone, noone has ever been able to esablish a direct link between agression and violence in games. It is, on the other hand, safe to say there is some correlation.
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3. One factor contributing to violence is entertainment media products such as violent video games. Years of research have shown that viewing entertainment violence can lead to increases in aggressive attitudes, values and behavior, particularly in children. Research on violent interactive media indicates that it has a strong and more lasting effect on violent behavior.
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This statement though is the result of unfounded extrapolation and likely serves no other purpose than to instill a sense of dread. For one thing, there have been no real publications on research regarding the long-term effects of 'violent interactive media' in children.
Perhaps ironically, it has been shown that the effects on behavior work both ways, good rolemodels promote good behavior in equal measure. It would likely make more sense to tell all these concerned parents to mind their own manners and habits around the children (tone of voice, language, smoking and the like) rather than to take away games or deny them. There is also the hypothesis that it is far better to let the children play the games, but for limited hours, rather than to forbid them touch it at all.
Finally, by some definitions of violence, cartoons like Tom & Jerry, Roadrunner and whatnot are brimming with it. Characters delighting in hurting others, and doing so in a comical way. Instead of starting at games which need to be bought and are therefore not readily accessible to children, why not get the TV stations to stop broadcasting this sort of thing?