There also was that darn company, Acme that was investigated by congress for promoting violence through sales of bombs.
Posted on 04/28/2008 8:13:29 AM PDT by jmc813
"Grand Theft Auto IV" hits streets on Tuesday and is expected to race into record books as the fastest-selling video game ever despite being tailed by critics condemning its violent themes.
Rockstar Games is predicted to sell at least six million copies of "GTA IV: Liberty City" in its first week, with die-hard fans eager to play the game in which triumph depends on acts such as carjacking, gambling and killing.
"This is going to be the game of the year," video game industry analyst Edward Woo at Wedbush Morgan Securities told AFP.
Rockstar Games and its GTA franchise are a focal point for critics that fear violence in video games warps the minds of young players and turns them into real-world thugs or killers.
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) stamped a "Mature" label on GTA: IV banning US retailers from selling the game to anyone less than 17 years old.
The game's rating includes a warning it contains "intense violence, blood, strong language, strong sexual content, partial nudity and use of drugs and alcohol."
Game play includes simulated sex with prostitutes and drunken driving.
The ESRB and the National Institute on Media and the Family are urging parents to vigilantly check ratings on games for their children.
"With the latest installment of the Grand Theft Auto series...parents need to be reminded to make sure their kids are playing games appropriate for their age and level of maturity," says a joint statement released Friday.
"It is critical that parents consider the assigned rating carefully."
Despite perceptions that video gamers tend to be children, industry statistics indicate typical players are more than 30 years old.
"People think video games are for kids and they're not anymore," said Woo.
While concerns about violent games breeding criminals remain strong, US national statistics show that violent crimes by children have been on the decline for years while video game play has rocketed.
"If there is this big causal trend you would expect to see a large leap in violent crime among kids, but there is not," said Mia Consalvo, an assistant professor specializing in video game research at Ohio University.
Rockstar unintentionally made it easy for critics by patching over instead of removing a raunchy mini-game crafted into the software of the prior GTA title, according to Consalvo.
Hackers figured out how to unlock the game with a "Hot Coffee" modification that spread quickly on the Internet. An ESRB probe cleared Rockstar of wrongdoing but resulted in the game being re-rated adults-only.
GTA's appeal is fueled by a captivating story line and an open-world format that lets players go where ever they wish in a virtual New York City area, according to Woo.
Most video games are "linear" in that characters move along pre-programmed paths in animated worlds.
"Instead of just watching a movie and being fed the story you can can go another way and the movie goes in that direction," Woo said of the freedom players get to roam about in open-world games.
"That is what people want; more interactive entertainment rather than watching a TV show."
The blend of controversy, innovative play, and compelling story along with the momentum of a series started with the release of the first GTA game in 2004 create a "perfect storm" around the franchise, Consalvo said.
By Friday word spread that a pirated version of GTA: IV was loose on the Internet.
Rockstar declined to comment for this story. Rockstar is owned by Take-Two Interactive, a New York City firm that is a takeover target of the world's largest videogame maker Electronic Arts.
Take-Two rejected a two-billion-dollar offer from EA and delayed talk of negotiation until after the release of GTA: IV on April 29.
Analysts believe EA will need to raise its offer to close a deal with Take-Two, which hopes to gain leverage with a superstar launch of GTA: IV.
Bread and Circus.
You already have your vacation time set aside to play this for two days straight?
Already pre-ordered mine ... can’t wait! It got a perfect 10 from IGN. The last game to receive that score was Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the N64.
I can’t wait for this to come out. I wonder if Lazlo will be on the radio again?
No. Bah. :-( It was all set, and then I got a major project dumped on me for this week. I am, however going at midnight tonight to pick up my copy so I can go immediately home tomorrow and get right to it.
This has to be one of the most vacuous assertions in existence...
Yippee. Of course I’m cheap, don’t like paying first month price for games, I’ll wait until at least July and maybe later. But I will play. GTA is just plain fun.
Just substitute GTA for Halo.
I’ll pick it up if it’s available for PS2. I still haven’t been able to justify a next generation (what are we on 5 or 6?) console system to my wife :(.
I never could get into gaming. I have a PS3 and haven’t touched it for about a year. I thought it would be a fun distraction.
I was reading a few articles regarding a certain notorious ex-Freeper lawyer running his mouth with regards to this.
LOL at pre-schoolers playing Halo. Love the layout of that site, BTW.
Cant effing wait.
“There are now 1.4 copies of Halo for every person on the planet.” LOL
A lot of people, myself included, don't play video games other than GTA. (Madden during football season being the only exception for me)
Holding out for Spore.
Sigh, I have the Wii.
I have to get a Playsation 3. Darn...
Yeah, how many mass shootings were the direct result of playing "Cowboys and Indians" as kids?
I realize that my statement could be taken out of context, what I meant is that playing any kind of “violent game”, video or not, doesn’t make one become violent.
You could also choose an XBox, since it will have exclusive GTA content to download in the fall. That’s the one I chose.
There also was that darn company, Acme that was investigated by congress for promoting violence through sales of bombs.
That was pretty amazing...
How many people are on Death Row as a direct result of “Tom and Jerry” cartoons?
Yeh. BatJack's head is about to 'splode.
Or these guys...
I'll stick with my 360 for now.
Do not argue with me -- you're wrong. (sarcasm off)
nah...I’ll stick to my shooters.
(MetalGear)
(SoCom Navy Seals)
Hey now...guns I can justify to my wife easy...console systems not so much.
>>>Hey now...guns I can justify to my wife easy....<<<<
Why do you have to justify anything? You a grown man, right?
Oh just pickin wit ya....
Call me crazy, but I have a theory that part of the reason why the gun control fight has been tilting in our favor is because of the rising popularity of shooter games starting in the early 90s.
It resulted in a generation of urban/suburban people who would otherwise not be culturally accepting of guns. And it’s hard to ban things that are culturally popular.
I need to get a 360 now...The wife really likes “Rock Band” so maybe I can justify it :D
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