Decker

Such righteous indignation! Peter Jennings lead into the piece thusly: "Next up: A video game that gives extra points for killing WOMEN!"
The gist of the peice was nothing new. M-rated game that kids love. Shocked politicians, confused parents, a sociologist explaining how this sort of game is useful and geeky teens talking about how much fun they're having. They also showed plenty of the most graphic sniper kills to get the audience all riled up. It must have worked, as I immediately got a "bad parent" lecture from my wife about playing the game with a one year old in the house
Way to go, ABC. You discovered the most popluar video game in the country and it only took you nine months. I wonder why they didn't talk to the game developers or publishers. One more thing: they mentioned that the game was banned in Austrailia, which I thought was mythology, not fact.
Any other thoughts?

Groucho

It wasn't banned in Austrailia...they just had to tone down the violence a bit to release it there.

Zinc

The game WAS banned in Australia, as such a toned down version was released. As I understand it the chnages had to do with the prostitutes and was not a violence issue? True?

Shuki

AFAIK it was the prostitutes and then killing/beating them afterward which is a sex crime in Australia. Which makes NO sense at all!! like stealing cars is no crime or running down people or just blowing people away...

Dimension X

Here's the text version of the report: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/D...mes020701.html

Edit:

From: http://www.zdnet.com.au/gamespot/pla...0263191,00.htm

mlpala

I dont know if you all remember, but the last Grand Theft Auto also had simmilar coverage, and what did that lead to, but a much better version of the game. Press is press, and this will only serve to stir even more excitement over the game IMO and lead to more title in the genre. Enough First Person Shooters, we need creativity, like GTAIII. So thanks Pete for reporting on such an awesome game

jw2299

watch GTA3's sales spike after this report. When will the conservative media get it? When you report on how bad something is, people go get more of it.

The Bus

Oh my. I didn't notice. Let me go return my almost-year-old game back to the store.

BigDave

I wouldn't really call Peter Jennings conservative considering he was part of the reason why Toby Keith couldn't sing his song about sticking his boot up their (ie. Bin Laden) ass for the USA.

jw2299

An update:

My wife works for the police department here. She said that last night a bunch of the officers came in for the midnight shift talking about GTA3. They thought it was interesting that you could kill a hooker and stuff. She didn't give me the impression that they were anti-GTA though. As a matter of fact I got the impression that it was going to be a rental at some cop's homes this weekend.

KnightLerxst

One of my best buddies is a cop. He has played this game through twice, it was one of the reasons why he picked up a PS2. He chuckles when he beats the crap out of a cop.

People really need to lighten up about violence in games. If you don't want your kid to play it, don't buy it for them. The media is not to blame for shitty parenting.

Groucho

I wouldn't be surprised if the "outraged parents" who contacted ABC were shills for Rockstar and/or Sony.

RobLutter

I saw a mother buying this for her 12-year-old the other day and I advised her that it may not be appropriate for her child. She just walked away... stupid parents!

This game is in no way intended for people under 17, they shouldn't even be able to buy it (without help from parents).

On a side note... I am having a blast playing GTA3 on my PC

MaxPayne

HAAHHAHAHA this thread is so freaking stupid im laughing out loud. I'd love to believe a 12 year old can go out steal a car, get it on with a hooker, purchase a sniper rifle and shoot down random pedestrians. OOOHHH NO and also we cant have any swear words can we? We must protect our children from all swearing because they may pick it up right? Un****inreal, just take a step out the door buddy and walk down the street and listen to how people talk. Censorship is funny to me because its never ending. You have to be 17 to buy GTA3 and you can be 16 and drive? I'm pretty sure a car is a more dangerous weapon than a game. I'm sorry but this whole tread is insulting to the human race, and to think that low of your nations children is an insult. Perhaps the real reason the gov wants these games off the market is because they dont give a **** about your children but they want to maintain national security, ever given that a thought? These games probably appeal more to crazy nutcase terrorists than to the kids of this country.

Lampei

You might want to read the whole thread through before saying "it's freakin' stupid and an insult to the human race". People here are saying that the segment on the game was idiotic, not the game

MaxPayne

I know, and i'm talking about the segment as well.

Lampei

Alright, sorry, misunderstood. Just seemed like you were complaining about what RobLutter said.

FonMan

This is nothing new, I can remember when the original castle wolfenstein, the one that turned John Carmack into a legend, was relentlessly attacked by the media. They said its "realistic graphic violence" would corrupt kids.

I am against banning any video game, but I do agree that there needs to be stricter controls on the "M" rated ones. I have never seen the BlockBuster Dude give a rats arse who rents what. As a parent, there are some things that you simply do not let the kiddies play. I do not play HALO until my 4 year old has gone to bed or at school. I do not feel that he should be exposed to the violence. GTA IS a game with terrible content, but I feel it is the right for adults to be able to buy this sort of game.

badlieut

Isn't the next Dave Mirra game going to have nudity in the game? It will be interesting to see the stink that one will cause.

stingo

Somewhat tangentially related: NPR ran a story yesterday about the fight for safety regulations on ATVs in West Virginia. To NPR's credit the story was balanced enough to give the two views (pro and con). But I had to admit I nearly fell off my chair when I heard a state representative (I think that's who it was) make the connection between safety and bad parenting. (The state legislature does not want to enact these regulations). Just a thought.

Fanboy

I was at an EBX a couple of weeks ago and a woman was deciding whether she should pick up the game for her 8-year old child. Here is a near-verbatim transcript of her convo with the EBX desk jockey.

Woman: "So, is this game alright for kids?"
DJ: "Well, it's rated Mature. There is a lot of violence in the game."
Woman (concerned): "Oh, really?"
DJ: "Yeah, the game is sorta centered around stealing cars and killing people."
Woman: "Hmmm. Is there any nudity?"
DJ: "Umm, you can pick up a hooker and if you take her to a secluded spot then, ummm, the car starts to bounce up and down."
Woman: "But there's no nudity, right?"
DJ: "No, just suggested stuff."
Woman: "Okay, we'll take it."

Josh H

That shows you how messed up this country is.

Violence is ok, and sex and nudity is not when they are natural and harmless.

I'm not saying porn is ok for kids, just that it's ridiculous that many parents make tons of effort to shield their kids from sex and nudity, and don't give a second thought about letting them play a violent game or watch a violent movie.

It makes no sense.

FonMan

Well.....
It may be a stretch to consider picking up a prostitute a "natural and harmless" act, but I get your point. Also, it is not fair to say the coutry is messed up....but there are some pretty stupid people living here, this chick is definately one of them. As a parent, how could you listen to the clerks description and conclude that this game would be appropriate for an 8-year old

This brings up another point. As "gamers" we should be the strongest advocates of a clear ratings system and stringent enforcement. It's cases like this that will start the public believing that games should be banned. Most adults do not understand that video games cater to different markets, just like movies and music. I think it is getting better, But people of my parents generation still think that ALL video games are kids games. This is why congress flips out on ocassion.

Josh H

FonMan, I agree about the picking up a prostitute. I was just talking about her concern over nudity, rather than violence, as opposed to the game in general.

I agree that we should be the staunchest proponents of strict enforcement of the ratings system.

If the ratings system is enforced, we'll here less from politicians and others about violent content in games.

M-games are great for us older gamers, but there is no way kids should be playing them, especially ones as young as 8!

Bell65

we have on eof the most liberal medias in the world, they just are hipocrits sometimes. Its ok for the president to have oral sex in the office or to take out short term loans that were all now paying for, but not for a harmless video game. People say that all this stuff is corrupting america and they are full of crap. I was exposed to all this stuff as a kid and am an honor student and have never been convicted of a crime.