Those of us in the FGC already know this, but fighting games are truly something special. As it turns out, they can be a real difference maker when it comes to the number of incidents that can happen in a correctional facility.
As reported on by the New York Post, New York City’s Correction Department has apparently spent $59K of taxpayer dollars on 1,247 PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 games consisting of Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1, as well as non-fighting games like Madden NFL and NBA 2K24. These games are being played by inmates within the New York correctional facilities.
It’s funny to think that games about fighting (Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1) can be used to reduce the number of fights that break out. Of course, only inmates with a history of good behavior can gain access to the recreational rooms containing these video games.
According to a longtime officer, these games are essentially like “holding a carrot over” inmates’ heads as a way of getting them to cut down fighting and rule-breaking. This is apparently especially effective within facilities housing younger inmates.
However, there have been some critics of this sort of tactic. After all, the money being spent on these games could go towards better air conditioning for the prisons, more work staff, or even towards the homeless population.
Some are even saying that this is encouraging crime since, once a prisoner serves their time, they’ll just go back to doing crimes as they felt that they were a “privileged prisoner” during their incarceration.
Regardless, it seems that inmates at NYC correctional facilities are now able to settle their differences in Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1 rather than in real fights.
Sent in by: IBMOR_8T7.