'Grand Theft Auto' Makers Fight Lawsuit

yahoo.com | Nov 11, 8:19 AM | DUNCAN MANSFIELD

[billbears]

Remember before the internet and walkthroughs? 1-900-ZELDA-LIVES ;) Now those were some bad days

[gcruse]

I am so old, the only things Zelda bring to mind are Zelda Fitzgerald, wife of F. Scott, and Dobie Gillis' girl pal.

[discostu]

Luckily I had a friend that was a playtester for a few game companies, I could always ask them. If they hadn't tested the game (which generally meant getting all the answers from the company) they knew somebody that had.

Life before the internet was so primitive, actually having to talk to people. Fie.

[Ispy4u]

It does have at least one lesson that's true to life.

You can shoot a whole lot of civilians before you really get the cops' attention.

But if you even aim your weapon at one cop you get the entire force after you non-stop.

[The Good Doctor]

I read a report that the next game was going to be GTA Sin City. Based in Las Vegas in the Seventies.

[usadave]

The boys told investigators they got the rifles from a locked room in their home and decided to randomly shoot at tractor-trailer rigs, just like in the video game "Grand Theft Auto III."

The key word here is "decided". A million people play "Grand Theft Auto III" and then decide NOT to randomly shoot at tractor-trailer rigs on the street. Two people play "Grand Theft Auto III" and then decide TO randomly shoot at tractor-trailer rigs on the street. It was a personal decision by the two boys and they should be held solely responsible for the shootings. This lawsuit should be thrown out.

[jpl]

Zork I made me start opening mailboxes outside of white houses with boarded front doors, and Myst made me start tring to enter books by touching them with the palm of my hand.

[Legerdemain]

That game is well known by any 8 year old boy born prior to 1960 as "Smear the Queer".

Ah, that was the name of it. Man, that brings back memories......I will have to introduce this in my neighborhood again...I wonder how you say smear the queer in spanish....aaaarrrrrggggg

[JoeSixPack1]

Show some respect, young'un - I discovered Dirt.

Oh yeah, well maybe! But I'm so old, I remember clean dirt! Those were the days!!!

<|:-)~~

[bc2]

Playing Pacman made me want to eat little pills while running around a dark room with loud music playing.

You know, somewhere I have a quote from a Nintendo exec saying "if life imitated video games, kids would sit around in dark rooms listening to repetative electronic music popping pills all night."

Kind of funny if you've ever been to a "rave" because that's pretty much what goes on there.

[LouD]

Actually, I have no problem with adults playing games like GTA. I've played it myself, although I prefer Need for Speed as a racing game, and Redneck Rampage for sheer mayhem.

My problem with games like this, and first person shooters, is that they are marketed towards kids - and I do believe that playing realistic, violent games desensitizes them to violence, and teaches them that violence and anti-social behavior are legitimate responses to life's problems.

And yes, I know that parents should be supervising their children, and not allowing them to play violent games. However, many parents don't adequately monitor their kids (or just plain don't care) and those children are learning to consider some pretty horrific behaviours as normal.

[discostu]

I've seen a lot of GTA commercials, they use music kids wouldn't recognize, and put the Mature Audience (a voluntary label) warning right on the screen. That's not marketing to kids. When I bought mine I got carded even though I have gray hair. That's not marketing to kids. While I seriously question the psychological effect violent games have on kids Rockstar Games has gone as far as software company can to not put GTA in the hands of kids.

[Charles Martel]

I bought a used PS2 just so I could play Vice City. I sold it as soon as I found out an XBox version was on the way.

I've been considering a new game console (gotta do my part to spread this death and destruction, y'know); is the XBox clearly the superior platform? Just about every retailer has it and the PS2 at the same price point (though the online pack for the Sony kicks up the price quite a bit).

I've pretty much kept up with the PC games, but the last game console I owned had an "Atari" label on it. FWIW, I'm not looking for online play imediately (I satisfy that craving using the PC to play Day of Defeat), but since the unit will be hooked to the TV and there's a Cat-5e connection on that wall, what the heck...

All hints, tips and comments greatly appreciated.

[billbears]

I bought the XBox even though the games are not as plentiful as the PS2. IIRC, the XBox has a faster video processor. Not sure though, but if I had to do it again, I would probably still choose the XBox

[LanPB01]

As far as hardware is concerned, the XBox is far superior. At first glance, the prices are similar, but when you compare what you get with an XBox vs. that of the PS2, there's no comparison. XBox has an 8 gigabyte harddrive (which you can use to download additional levels through XBox Live, and to store games). The PS2 has nothing. XBox comes ready to play online (it requires broadband), while you have to buy extra hardware for the PS2. PS2 can only handle two controllers, unless you buy another piece of hardware. XBox can handle four. The XBox has a Pentium III processor going at 700 Mhz, while the PS2 only goes at 233.

The reason PS2 had remained more popular than the XBox is due simply to the fact that it had a year head start. As far as I'm concerned, Grand Theft Auto was the only reason to own it; now that GTA is available on the XBox, I have no reason to ever use a PS2. Some sports fans claim the PS2 has better titles in that arena, but I've never cared for those anyway.

[meyer]

That kinda puts the kibosh on my gathering together a mechanized army and invading France after playing Panzer General II...

Really, the only reason the Germans used tanks is that they didn't want to walk.

[jedwardtremlett]

Here's something else to consider:

'Miami lawyer Jack Thompson, who represents the victims, dismissed the free-speech protection claim. "What a surprise," he said Monday. "Well, good luck to them."

'Thompson said he would seek to move the case back into state court for consideration under Tennessee's consumer protection act.'

From

http://www.canada.com/news/world/story.asp?id=99749081-72D0-4563-A3F7-7A829EE71890

Jack Thompson. Remember Jack Thompson?

The same fellow who tried to deprive us all of 2-Live Crew back in the late 80's - early 90's?

The same fellow who filed a lawsuit blaming entertainment companies after the shooting in Paducah, Ky?

Same one who called Collumbine the 'pearl harbor' of the Culture War?

http://www.theescapist.com/columbine8.htm

http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/article.asp?ArtID=6211

It would pay to keep an eye on this guy. He's definately acting behind the scenes to try and kick over a domino or two. I find his attemps to harness others' grief and sorrow to promote his own personal agenda to be sickening.

J

[metesky]

'Miami lawyer Jack Thompson

That would be former FReeper Jack Thompson, IIRC. He met a bad end on this forum.

[Junior]

"The devil made me do it."

[jedwardtremlett]

Really? I guess I should have figured he'd have shown up, here, at some point.

Did he walk out with his tail between his legs, or was he slung? Inquiring minds want to know... ; )

J