The small town of Stalybridge was in mourning yesterday after schoolboys John Francis, 20, and Rupert Youngblood, 15, were killed after re-enacting a scene from the latest killing simulator, called Halo.

The two copied a scene from the best-seller by turning John's father's car into an alien tank similar to the one found in the chilling game. They crashed the 'tank' into a wall after simulating destroying surrounding vehicles with energy blasts from the makeshift turret they erected, and both boys were killed.


'This game is a blueprint for murder,' stated barrister Edmund Woolf QC, representing the distraught parents of the boys. 'Players are encouraged to kill each other with "energy swords, "plasma grenades", and other weapons easily reconstructed with common household materials.'

The game was released last week to a general public outrage- video games are thought to be responsible for 50 deaths a week across the country. In the game players control a superhuman android who is trying to murder an entire race, something that is all too easy for youngsters to relate to.

'It's a disgrace what these companies get away with these days,' said Rupert's mother, bravely fighting back tears. 'Everybody knows that these games turn children into bloodthirsty maniacs, so why don't the government step in and stop me from buying them for my children?'

The tragedy is the latest in a long line of shocking incidents related to video game's insidious grasp on British youth. Two months ago Imran Patel, 14, made a 'Mario' plumber suit and imitated the game character with tragic results- three fellow students were killed as a result of Patel bouncing on top of their heads and eating mushrooms.

'Something must be done to control these games companies,' added Mr. Woolf. 'Their irresponsible depiction of extra-terrestrial war and encouragement of "deathmatches" ensure the corruption of our youth.'

Bungie, the creator of Halo, declined to comment.


Source: http://www.xbox365.com/news/news.cg...yFZxxlPzNfX8637

"energy swords, "plasma grenades", and other weapons easily reconstructed with common household materials.'

'Everybody knows that these games turn children into bloodthirsty maniacs, so why don't the government step in and stop me from buying them for my children?'

three fellow students were killed as a result of Patel bouncing on top of their heads and eating mushrooms.