Computer games have become one of the most popular forms of entertainment. Manufacturers are competing in creating new games as well as new versions of those already available on the market. Interactive shooting games and complex strategies with complex mechanics stand out among them. Many of the top-grossing titles are set in the realities of armed conflicts (such as Battlefield or Call of Duty).
As games of this type – apart from the information layer – also involve a lot of emotions, they can stimulate socially undesirable behaviour – says dr Mateusz Piątkowski. - Just like the series of games entitled Grand Theft Auto, the plot of which is to commit crimes or other immoral acts. For example, many players still remember the mission "No Russian" in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 game, in which a player participates in a terrorist attack combined with the mass shooting of people gathered at the airport.
The scientist from Lodz has observed that when developing plot threads in games set in the realities of war, the reference to international humanitarian law limiting the scale of destruction and violence occurs at a very different degree. Some of the games do not take up these issues at all, because producers exclude the possibility of civilians appearing on the battlefield, forgetting, however, that combatants are also subject to rights and obligations under international law.
Dr Mateusz Piątkowski explains:
Other games even affirm making the civilian population the target of an attack – such as conquering a settlement in the Total War series (a player may decide if to annihilate the population). On the opposite extreme, there are such titles as ARMA III, where in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross, an add-on to this modern battlefield simulator called "Laws of War" has been prepared. A player can choose from several scenarios related to the conduct of hostilities, but in compliance with the provisions of international humanitarian law.
A player's behaviour and humanitarian law
The goal of the project implemented by the lawyer from Lodz is an attempt to answer the question whether in computer games set in an armed conflict, a player's behaviour is in any way characterised or determined by the norms of international humanitarian law.
Dr Mateusz Piątkowski adds:
It is also very important to examine to what extent states which are obliged to implement the ius in bello standards "under all circumstances" can and should influence computer game producers in order to promote international humanitarian law also in virtual reality.
The research of the scientist from Lodz is carried out using observation, because there are no studies yet, which - using this method - would analyse the virtual reality of games and collide it with the norms of international humanitarian law. The research effect will be the preparation of a scientific article which, in the form of a case study, is to analyse the current degree of impact of this law in computer games.
The results of the research should be of interest, in the first place, to computer game producers, also countries themselves (e.g., with regard to introducing systemic restrictions on the content of games), and also users, in the context of their critical approach to controversial situations that they encounter in games set in the realities of armed conflict.
In the virtual world ...
The level of attractiveness, graphic and plot complexity of games is constantly growing, making new products on the market break sales records. This trend has been reinforced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The inability to leave their homes and the long-term isolation made many people decide to spend this difficult time in front of a computer monitor. According to the data provided by Valve company, the owner of Steam (the largest gaming platform for personal computers), at the peak of the lockdown period in April 2020, almost 24 million users from all over the world logged in at the same time, of which nearly 7 million playing games offered by this platform at the same time. Another lockdown at the beginning of 2021 "resulted in" another record – nearly 27 million users logged in at the same time.
The project of dr Mateusz Piątkowski is carried out as part of the Excellence Initiative – Research University (IDUB) competition.
IDUB UL Grants
The Excellence Initiative – Research University (IDUB) – a grant competition under which the University of Lodz finances research ideas of its scientists and doctoral students. By supporting them in conducting high quality research, the university pursues its strategy of striving for research excellence in all fields and disciplines. The competitions also serve the purpose of internationalisation - developing and strengthening the university's cooperation with international researchers. As part of grants addressed to researchers from outside the university, experienced and young researchers join the UL team. This fosters the fusion of experience and enhances the scientific potential of the university, supports networking and staff mobility.
The grants are funded through a 2% increased subvention for the universities that in 2019 took part in the IDUB competition. The University of Lodz will receive additional funding for research until 2026. Internal grant competitions have been implemented since 2020.
Currently, in the second edition, more than PLN 3 million has been granted to young, experienced researchers and doctoral students in such grant competitions as: UL IDUB "Grants for young and experienced researchers" and "Doctoral research grants".
Source: dr Mateusz Piątkowski, Faculty of Law and Administration, UL
Edit: Iwona Ptaszek-Zielińska, Promotion Centre, UL