WASHINGTON -- Surgeon General C. Everett Koop says he was making a 'purely personal judgment' not backed up by scientific evidence when he made a remark indicating video games may lead children to violence.
In remarks to the University of Pittsburgh's Western Psychiatric Institute Tuesday night, Koop said video games like Missile Command may be to blame for inciting violence. 'Everything is 'zap the enemy,'' Koop said. 'There's nothing constructive in the game.'
In a written statement Wednesday, Koop said the comment did not represent official policy and backed off on his comment.
'My off-the-cuff comment was not part of any prepared remarks. Nothing in my remarks should be interpreted as implying that video games are per se violent in nature or harmful to children.'
'In replying to a question following a speech on family violence at the University of Pittsburgh, I indicated that some video games may tend toward violence in their tone,' he said.
'This represented my purely personal judgment and was not based on any accumulated scientific evidence, nor does it represent the official view of the Public Health Service.'
Jim Buchan, a spokesman for Koop, declined to comment beyond the written statement. Buchan said he did not know what Koop said in Pittsburgh and had been unable to get a transcript.
Koop was criticized for the remark by a trade group representing video game and pinball machine manufacturers.
Glenn Braswell, executive director of the Amusement Game Manufacturers Association, wrote the surgeon general demanding evidence to support his statement.
'After stating your views, you publicly agreed that you had no scientific evidence on the effects of video games,' Braswell said. 'Respectfully, we must remind you that your only official mandate and authority is to develop scientific evidence.'
Braswell said many psychologists say the games improve motor skills, develop concentration and introduce millions of kids to computers.