Since the first version was released in 1997, the Grand Theft Auto series has lowered the bar for appalling video game content. And now, the game’s fourth installment, Grand Theft Auto IV: Liberty City, is set for release April 29th. We urgently need you to take action today to keep this brutally violent video game out of the hands of children.

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.

The PTC is asking its members to call on all major retailers:

1) To reconsider any decisions to sell Grand Theft Auto IV: Liberty City.

2) To insist that Take Two Interactive (which publishes the game) and the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) actually review all playable content before issuing a rating for the game. Given Take-Two Interactive's reckless or intentional misleading of the ESRB and ESRB’s failure to respond quickly in the aftermath of the “hot coffee” mod fiasco stemming from the previous edition of GTA, retailers must be reassured, in writing, that the rating given the game is accurate and that there is no hidden or modifiable content in the game.

3) To insist that the game not be displayed in view of minors, and retailers must check photo ID before sales.

4) And finally, to call on retailers not to not market this video game to children.
Legally, stores can not sell children pornographic magazines or handguns – but they can legally sell video games to children that contain pornographic content or that teach children how to kill. In the wake of the horrific school shootings in Paducah, KY, Lt. Col. Dave Grossman , a West Point psychology professor, Professor of Military Science, and an Army Ranger stated:

"Certain types of these (video) games are actually killing simulators, and they teach our kids to kill in much the same say the astronauts on Apollo 11 learned how to fly to the moon without ever leaving the ground... All you have to do is see what kids are being scripted to do (on the video games) to get the high scores, and you know that in a very short period of time, their dark fantasies are going to become your tragic realities.”

We must demand that retailers do their part to keep socially irresponsible games like Grand Theft Auto IV: Liberty City out of the hands of children. Please take action today. And please share this email with every concerned adult you know.

Sincerely,

Timothy F. Winter
President
Parents Television Council