Theo Kavadias continues to create and manage creation of virtual games despite serious recent Criminal Convictions:(

Posted on July 1, 2008. Filed under: crime | Tags: 2006, 2008, australia, Australian Flexible Learning Framework, blue tongue entertainment, community, county court, False imprisonment, guilty plea, Holmesglen Institute of TAFE, intentionally causing injury, legal, Melbourne, moral duty, risk, sentence, Theo Kavadias, THQ, victim impact, Virtual worlds |

The details of this case are on record with the County Court, Melbourne, Australia – case R v Kavadias.

On the 30th of May 2008, Theo Kavadias of Melbourne, Australia, was sentenced for criminal acts that took place in January 2006. After nearly two years Kavadias plead guilty to the charges before him:

1: False Imprisonment

2: Intentionally Causing Injury

The criminal, violent and vicious actions took place on the 16th of January 2006. Such acts were committed against his partner since 2004, a women, with two children, who in 2003 was under his management at Holmesglen Institute of TAFE.

In 2005 Kavadias left his management position at Holmesglen Institute of TAFE, to take a role developing and overseeing the creation of virtual games, covering a number of platforms, such as Playstation, X-Box and the like. The company he continues to work for is Blue Tongue Entertainment, a part of or connected to the larger body in the USA THQ.

Whilst in sentencing the Judge may to some have been lenient, as he did escape a prison term (although suspended for two years and many other conditions placed, such as community based order, psychiatric assessments and the like for two years as well), he was at least given a sentence that may bring some solace to the victim, who it is reported has suffered greatly as have her children from the trauma, Kavadias brought into their lives and changed those lives forever.

Kavadias whilst sentenced continues to create, manage and oversee the production of games, that children play, some with violence involved, as many of the games for game consoles appear to involve.

It can be said that for Kavadias he should be now free to continue in his life, his work, but should we all not be concerned about the type of people such as Kavadias, who are in many ways playing with our children’s minds, via the games produced under the direction of someone like Kavadias.

We have so much violence to deal with, in our community today. Teenagers a great concern to us all in our community. Should we allow convicted violent offenders to be placed in positions, where they have the power to influence, manipulate the thoughts and behavior patterns of our youth?

The criminal acts of Kavadias were brutal and the finer details of what he did to his victim over hours of locking her in his home, beating her and worse, are a matter of public record for anyone who wishes to take a closer look, at exactly what he did and is capable of.

This is not fiction it is fact and we as a community should question the rationale behind large corporations, in the game, educational and music industry, employing people with such convictions (especially when they are serving their sentence currently and for the next 2 years) and are in positions that could be detrimental to our youth and community.

Kavadias has had a negative impact on a women who was an innocent party and her two children, who saw her beaten, confused and scared by a man they believed was nice and even their friend. Their lives will never be the same and have not been since the criminal acts took place.

Whilst this all happened in the Real World, should we not consider the influence that such a person could have in the virtual worlds that our youth are immersed in much of the time. It may not be instant, but the violence continues in other forms – the games – thus the psychological effect of such games created, developed by people like Kavadias, may not be positive, instead negative, placing thoughts of taking the virtual violence into the real world in the minds of those who play them.

Big money for the companies sure. Kavadias is obviously talented but how can we be assured that he will not continue to do harm in virtual worlds (if in the real world the conditions of his sentence will see him incarcerated). How do we measure the threat, the risk’s Kavadias poses or potentially poses in the virtual worlds – or is it impossible to do so.

Many parents I have spoken too, are concerned and I believe rightly so. Maybe Blue Tongue Entertainment and THQ can provide the answers and assurances many seek now and I believe many others will seek, when they are aware of what has transpired.