Grand Theft Auto---good???

[Dan Murphy]

Apparently the season's hottest selling video game, Grand Theft Auto, Vice City, has a number of concerned folks and groups trying to make sense of it all.

With people/groups saying.....

this crime-does-pay game, players get points for stealing vehicles, shooting police officers and helping drug lords. The open-ended action allows players to do all kinds of other outrageous things, just for the thrill of being bad: driving around and robbing people, knocking out a pizza delivery man and taking over his route, consorting with a prostitute, beating up women who get in the way of a mission.

"I'm really offended that anybody would sell a (game) that has this kind of violence in it, that kicking a woman to death is a game, is fun,

....points are scored for picking up and having sex with a prostitute — and a bonus is awarded if the player kills the prostitute and takes the money back.

"If we think 'Sesame Street' taught our 4-year-olds something, what do we think 'Grand Theft Auto: Vice City' teaches our 14-year-olds?" Mr. Walsh asked.

If you go to six stars, the National Guard gets called in. The FBI don't come out until five stars," Kim says.

Directed by Gomez, the pastel-clad character Tommy Vercetti hijacks several cars, steals motorcycles and a scooter. He kills pedestrians; visits a porn studio where you can watch a g-string-clad woman and man simulate sex; causes a fight at a nightclub where replicas of the Village People dance and sing; and spotlights a pair of bare breasts on the side of a building.

Soon, Vercetti heads to the strip club, where he can watch pole dancers or get a private performance.

"This is for people who like video game girls," Kim says somewhat dismissively of the dancing woman in a black thong and lace bustier. The longer you watch her, the more money you spend. The woman gets paid in $5 increments

"A game will not teach my children how to live their life. I will," said Todd Harris of Eden Prairie, who bought Grand Theft Auto for his 10-year-old son, Dawson. Harris said he hasn't played the game, in which characters can get points for having sex with a prostitute and then more points for killing her.

The video game has come under fire from anti-violence activists, who say rewarding players for killing police officers or hijacking cars can desensitize teenagers to violence. As in its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto III, players can pick up prostitutes off the street, have sex in a secluded area, then beat the woman to get their money back. The prostitution scenes feature explicit dialogue, such as "Oh, yeah, baby" and "You in me yet?"

....I guess the endless debate of what is/is not acceptable/appropriate will continue. Personally, I think the position of Toy R Us to sell a 'game' like GTA III is ridiculous. But when we see what is acceptable today, such as the repetitive demeaning/degradation of women in our society (even in places like here on the DIS), and the increased acceptance of violent behavior, I guess the market to peddle such product is out there.

Do you have or would you buy Grand Theft Auto, Vice City? Any thoughts on the above??

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-cta21.html

http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20021214/southsound/27761.shtml


http://www.washtimes.com/national/20021220-692065.htm

http://www.oregonlive.com/living/or...tandard.xsl?/base/living/1040302600193942.xml

 

[helenabear]

Truthfully I wouldn't get that game. I didn't even get any further than the mature rating and foul language before I decided it was a game I wouldn't want. Now that I have read even more about his game I will have to say no way would I want it. Some of the ways you can earn points is disgusting in my eyes. I do play some video games but honestly I never buy any that have mature rating mostly because I know there has to be stuff in them that I will find offensive. Granted I just got a game that is for outrunning the cops (and dang it, I keep getting caught), it does have a rating for "everyone" and it is no where near as terrible as those things mentioned for that game. I am not a prude but I don't find it amusing to play a game where having sex and then killing a prostitute gets you more points. JMHO.

 

[shep]

My nephews were playing that..They love it...
But then I think they know not to do those things...I hope...

Elaine--Is the game you got 'Need for Speed'?

 

[Mark P.]

Can't believe they came up with such a stupid 'game'...

 

[helenabear]

Originally posted by shep
Elaine--Is the game you got 'Need for Speed'?

Yep... Luis is playing it right now. Good game, but I'm having a hard time with the steering of the Lotus.

Sorry Dan, don't mean to hijack this thread with that. One thing to add though, it does sound similar to the Crazy Taxi and the Simpson's Road Rage so I think those two are nicer alternatives to Grand Theft Auto.

 

[shep]

Originally posted by helenabear
Yep... Luis is playing it right now. Good game, but I'm having a hard time with the steering of the Lotus.

Sorry Dan, don't mean to hijack this thread with that. One thing to add though, it does sound similar to the Crazy Taxi and the Simpson's Road Rage so I think those two are nicer alternatives to Grand Theft Auto.

Ditto on the sorry Dan...

Elaine--rented Mario Party 4 & Outlaw Golf---didn't really care for either...

Might have to rent NFS though...
DW won't let me get Simpson's Road Rage..

 

[JohnTBap]

Isn't this a debate?

 

[Tuffcookie]

Dan, Youngest DS had a sleep over last week-end and I told them I would let them rent 1 game apiece for Play Station 2. The other boy wanted Grand Theft Auto but I told him that was out! I only buy games which are rated "E" and a few "T".

I agree, what are parents thinking (or not ) when they buy these type of games?

TC

 

[RhondaS]

While discussing gifts for the kids this year with my sister, she mentioned that my 9yo nephew wanted GTA Vice City.

A few days later, I saw a special on one of the news programs discussing this particular game, its contents and rating (M for Mature). I have to say that I was a bit surprised with the content of the game.

I picked up the phone and called sis. While she hadn't purchased the game, another family member was going to get it for my nephew.

After explaining the games content and rating to her, she then called the other relative to let tell them not to get the game. The other relative told her that she "wondered" about the game when my sister told her that my nephew wanted it, but assumed that my sister "knew what she was doing".

Well, my sis didn't "know", she had honestly never even noticed that the games had ratings.


It's not just Pac-Man anymore, is it?

I won't allow the "M" rated games at my home and now my sister won't either.

 

[helenabear]

Todd, I'll reply without getting too off topic. I don't blame Amanda for not wanting that game in your house. It is rated for Teens and from what I have heard that one and Crazy Taxi can have some somewhat foul language. There are some teen games that I play with some friends' children that they are allowed to play ONLY if the sound is off.

I agree TC, I am not sure what parents are thinking when they buy games like that for kids. Ones like that I think are made for adults only and even then I'd hope that a game like that never makes it into my house.

 

[EROS]

visits a porn studio where you can watch a g-string-clad woman and man simulate sex; and spotlights a pair of bare breasts on the side of a building. Soon, Vercetti heads to the strip club, where he can watch pole dancers or get a private performance. (EROS would NEVER condone such raunchy behavior)

Prettttttttttttttttty Disgusting . I guess that there are some pretttttttttttttttttttty sick people out there . Fortunately, none of them are on the DIS...........we're a RIGHTEOUS bunch

i'm just heading out to toys r us now

Hey, this game is clearly inappropriate for children, ..............but I don't think that it will lead adults into degradation and a life of crime

 

[EROS]

This book was BANNED IN BOSTON until the early 50s . Our teenagers have been reading it now for 50 years, but we haven't fallen into a cesspool of debauchery............YET . Similiarly, Grand Theft Auto isn't likely to cause our society to "decay".......

"Many people dismiss this book as nothing but pervertedness and filthiness. They fail to see the beauty of this tale. This book deserves literary merit, for it's a brave masterpiece. Not, as one prosecutor put it, "dirt for dirt's sake."

This book should not be seen as a piece of work advertising pornography, but rather as a mere attack against industrialization. Perhaps Lawrence, through the tale of Lady Chatterley and her lover, was trying to bring a message across about industry (Clifford Chatterley's coal mine) and the working class (significantly the gamekeeper, Mellors). But, of course, we can't overlook the endless romance between Lady Chatterley and her lover, for it is what this story is about.

The fact that it contains that little four-lettered Anglo-Saxon word that begins with an "F" is more reason why this book deserves literary merit, for it is one of the first and foremost important works of literature to contain it. Now, of course, it is hard to find a book, a movie, or a song without that famous word.

If D. H. Lawrence should be remembered a thousand years from now, it should be for writing this story. He was a very courageous, very daring person to have written it. This taboo of a story is one that will stay in the reader's mind forever."

 

[Jeff in BigD]

Just as I wouldn't let a child pick out just any DVD or CD, I also wouldn't allow them to pick any VG without first looking at it. It would behoove the parents to realize that 1/4-1/3 of games that come out are are rated M & are only meant for gamers 18+. This is probably the most out there game, which is why it's getting the media attention, but there are also games where you play a mafia hitman, a game where you drive a getaway car for bank robbers, etc.


I have the game & it is quite violent, they make no bones about it. It's not a matter of "points" as that article seems fixated on. You have money & health. In regards to the consorting with a prostitute, you pick them up in a car & then the car bounces up & down, which is a little humorous, but certainly not erotic. The main point of the game is that you're trying to become the new mob boss of Vice City, but there's other crime families & gangs in the way. It's kind of like a video game version of Scarface.

The game is full of 80s music like Michael Jackson, Toto, Blondie, Hall & Oates, etc. There are several references to 80s pop-culture, from the cars, the clothes, TV shows, movies, etc. It also has a cast of well-known actors like Ray Leota, Burt Reynolds, Tom Sizemore, Dennis Hopper, Lee Majors, Gary Busey, etc. These are all factors that are appealing to Gen Xers, but kids wouldn't really care about. It's not for everone obviously, but the vastness of the city, the game AI & the versitilty of the game are big selling points as well.

 

[EROS]

I dunno, JEFF . I can just hope that this game won't lead you down the path of...........DEPRAVITY .

If you find that you're losing your way, please PM me........I'll set you straight .........

 

[Krisu]

DS does not own this game but has played it many times at friend's homes. I think you have to take into consideration the age and maturity. We did talk about the game when it first came out since he talked about it all the time. I told him my concerns. He said "jeez Mom, do you really think I'm going to do any of that stuff because it's on a game?? Well I guess I don't really know that, but I do know he is a respectful,kind ,courteous kid and a Boy Scout whose troop does a lot for the community I guess it is a parent's decision. And I wouldn't want someone telling me I couldn't buy it if I wanted.

 

[Lucky4me]

last year my sons took some of their Christmas money and went in on this game together. I watched 2 minutes and made them turn it off. The game was never played when I was in the house again. I'm sure it's at DS's apartment and that's where it can stay!

This year they are getting sweaters...

I can't imagine ANY parent allowing their children (even if they're 19 and 20) to play this violent game in their home. It makes me sick.

 

[Jaypd]

I didnt read what everyone wrote so this may just be a repeat.

How about not blaming video game companys or stores. It all comes down to what type of parent you are.

If you teach your child right from wrong and real and fake then I see no problem with games like this.

This is not the so called old days its time to move into the 21st century.

 

[Disney Doll]

I think children learn what they live. I think the video game manufacturers have the right to produce any games they want. I think parents need to be up on the rating system and monitor what comes into their household. I feel the same way about television and song lyrics.

Whether or not anyone else agrees with what you do as a parent, and there will be those who will say you are shielding your child or whatever else, I think certain things are appropriate for certain ages. I don't think a 7 or 8 year old needs to be playing a video game that involves car theft and prostitution. Perhaps a 16 or 17 year old is a different story, depending on the child and their upbringing. Different ages, different stages of development.

 

[Ricola]

Thanks to you, EROS, I have to stop at Barnes & Noble on the way home from Toys T Us.

 

[EROS]

Ricola, I'd recommend that you read Lady Chatterly's Lover under the covers with a flashlight to avoid arousing suspicion .......