See guys! I am trying to stop back in more, even if it is to share some of my stuff from over at GI. I posted this yesterday and thought you guys might be interested. If I am going to get a wide array of comical opinions on the subject matter anywhere, it will be here. If you have a chance to read the interview let me know what you think!
Press Release
PTC Puts Grand Theft Auto IV Retailers on Notice
Retailers Must Keep Adult-Themed Video Game Away from Children
LOS ANGELES (April 23, 2008) – With the next installment of the violently graphic Grand Theft Auto video game set to be released next week, the Parents Television Council™ called for retailers to keep the game away from children.
Grand Theft Auto IV: Liberty City, rated ‘M’ (Mature), is set for release April 29. The Grand Theft Auto games include constant graphic violence and sexual situations. In past versions, players could re-enact having sex with a prostitute, beating her bloody, taking her money and running her over with a car; shooting at police officers; and, by using a code easily accessible on many internet sites, having a realistic sexual encounter on screen -- complete with audio commentary. This modification in the 2005 game was not disclosed to the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) when they classified the game M, which carried a suggested age of 17 and up for purchase.
“This brutally violent video game must be kept out of the hands of children, and we are calling on all major retailers to reconsider any decisions to sell this game. Since the first version was released in 1997, the Grand Theft Auto series has lowered the bar for graphic and grotesque video game content,” said PTC President Tim Winter.
While most of us are in a euphoric haze from playing GTA IV, it can be easy to forget that not everyone is excited about the release of Rockstar’s hit. I had a chance to chat with the Parents Television council – the organization responsible for the above press release – and talk about the game, the role of parents in keeping Mature titles out of their kids hands, and the legislative plans of the PTC. If you have some time on your hands,
check it out . I will admit the interview is lengthy, but the interview provides insight into a group of activists we don’t always go out of our way to understand. Unlike the above press release, the conversation was calm, collected and lacked the media hype we often see in debates of this nature.
I am very interested in hearing your feedback on the clarified stance of the PTC. Did you find their arguments to be rational and reasonable? Do you still feel that groups like these are speaking on a subject matter they don’t engross themselves enough in to understand?
Share your thoughts!
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As director of what is essentially a lobby, McKiernan owes it to his group to be more educated on this point. Very (very) basically, if the government wants to censor or rate speech, it must do so itself and not farm out the responsibility to a private corporation that cannot be held politically accountable for its actions.
Now as an adult, I get to play whatever I want.
Grand Theft Childood, already did a several year study that proved there's no link between child violence and gaming. In fact not letting your child or teen play video games is a bad thing. They feel left out and have no outlet for their anger. So they shoot up some place. So that, we the gamers win. Parents 0!
Yes, I agree. That's why the game is rated M, for Mature; you know, audiences of 17 years or older.
"...and we are calling on all major retailers to reconsider any decisions to sell this game."
Why? When has broad censorship ever been a positive thing?
"Since the first version was released in 1997, the Grand Theft Auto series has lowered the bar for graphic and grotesque video game content,” said PTC President Tim Winter."
Wouldn't Grand Theft Auto, with its "constant graphic violence and sexual situations" be raising the bar for graphic and grotesque video game content? It's not enough for a head shot anymore when you can traffic with prostitutes and summarily execute them with a crowbar post-coitus.
allthough I have to say that the interviewee didn't get all his facts straight... I mean it was never Rockstar's idea to have the 'Hot Coffee' available for the users AND it didn't include a simple code but actual hacking of the game...
I agree totally with his idea that kids shouldn't play GTA-style games, I wouldn't let my (future) kids play it either... As for the legislation, they can do it, but only if they leave the M-rater and AO-rated games available for us :-)
KIDS DO NOT HAVE MONEY. KIDS ARE NOT CONSUMERS. PARENTS PURCHASE VIDEO GAMES FOR THEIR KIDS. PARENTS WHO PURCHASE INAPPROPRIATE GAMES FOR THEIR KIDS AND THEN COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR CONTENT ARE IDIOTS.
If Target were to be selling pornographic magazines, they would keep them covered and would keep them behind counters or in special sections where they would control access to them
Every Target/Circuit City/Best Buy I've been to keeps their (high profile) games in a case that requires an employee with a key to open.
An M rated video game is a bigger concern than an R rated movie
I'd rather let my children play a GTA game than watch a movie like 'Hostel' or the 'SAW' series.
The current movie rating system has a lot of problems There's no standard set in place, it's an arbitrary system implemented by people who don't have any sort of credentials. (See 'This Film is Not Yet Rated')
I can't stress how asinine I think this "argument" is. M rated games should not get in the hands of those who they were not intended. Retailers who carry M rated games should be required to give purchasers written discretion stating the reasons why a game may be M rated that must be acknowledged (read: signed). Giving something to somebody to sign would be more effective than just asking for identification in my opinion.
The PTC is a joke, like B. Keljore said in his 1st post, "it's another organization that shifts blame away from the parents". God forbid people take some fucking responsibility upon themselves.
Hey did you buy that new video simulator?
I own a lot of video simulators
I'm gonna go buy a video simulator
>>off-topic Adam Hughes cover inclusion. your cosplay rocks<<
Always finding something about the youth to hate. I remember when they banned skateboarding for two months in my local town, "because we were disturbing the peace". Back then it was skateboarding, now it's video games.
It will pass. It always does.
my nephew loves SR2, as well as Twilight Princess and Mario Kart (he is 7 years old).
In my time I loved Rambo, as well as the muppets and other kids shows/movies.
My nephew isn't less morally adept because of SR2, and I was no less morally adept.
LOL old people