Riccitiello clashes with ITV boss over videogame violence

EA's outspoken CEO John Riccitiello has clashed with ITV's chairman Michael Grade over videogame violence, at the Royal Television Society's Cambridge Convention.

Grade attacked videogame content for existing in a "moral vacuum" reports Broadcast magazine, while Riccitiello defended the games industry, arguing the violence portrayed in games is no worse than in popular TV shows.

Riccitiello compared violent footage from hit shows 24 and CSI, films including Kill Bill and 300 and Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto game.

He argued that the games industry is acting responsibly, citing parental controls on home consoles as evidence, but admitted that videogames' ability to present a moral framework was still being explored due to the medium's infancy.

"With videogames, I can be on the edge of my seat immersed in them, but TV is storytelling — I'm lying back and it comes to me," said Riccitiello.

Grade argued that TV can use narrative and storytelling to better contextualise violence.