02/05/2008 > USA
There have been thousands of studies that
prove the link between violent media and aggression in children. Plus they (the media) have
advertising everywhere. You wouldn't see cigarettes or porn plastered across
billboards near a school. There are plenty of good video games, for example
flight simulators or surgery technique practice. We've been successful on
things like this before and we're confident this time we can go even further in
getting this game banned for under-18s."
This game is
just incredible. It's a technological leap forward and the graphics and the
scripts - the things the characters say - are fantastic. The game simply isn't
marketed at children. It shouldn't be exposed to children because of adult
themes - prostitution, drugs, alcohol - not because of this supposed link with
violence. There might have been thousands of studies proving the link between
computer games and violence in children, but there are just as many thousands
that disprove it too. There's no violence incited in the adverts, and if a
parent wants to ban it, they can go into the video console and set it so that
certain games cannot be played using a password system."
I spend all
my free time playing Grand Theft Auto IV - it's tough with having to go to
work. I've been playing GTA since '97 - it's my favourite game. You can go
bowling for a bit and then go on a shooting rampage and see how long it
lasts. This game is most popular with
older people. If the game were less violent then the artistic impression would
be ruined - it's about freedom of speech."
Grand Theft Auto: blood sex and drugs for the under-18s
GTA IV Trailer © Rockstar Games
A computer game that contains blood, violence, sex, drugs and alcohol has sold more copies in its first day than any other in history. But not everybody is a fan of Grand Theft Auto IV. Available for children of any age in the US, critics warn that the game could lead to youth violence.
Released at midnight on Tuesday, the fourth version of GTA is Rockstar Games' bestseller yet, shipping 9.5 million copies worldwide for the first week of sales. Despite a relaxed advertising campaign compared with other game launches, millions of people queued up all over the world to get a copy. Concern was heightened in the UK when in a "life-imitates-art" fluke, a man in a queue in South London stabbed a passer-by. But while the sale of the game is banned to under-18s in Europe, Americans are simply "advised" with a "mature" rating. The Parents Television Council says that is not enough, and is willing to go to court to stop the game being handed over to minors.
The contributors
"There have been thousands of studies that prove the link between violent media and aggression in children"
Gavin McKiernan is the national grassroots director of the Parents Television Council, a non-partisan educational organization advocating responsible entertainment.
There have been thousands of studies that
prove the link between violent media and aggression in children. Plus they (the media) have
advertising everywhere. You wouldn't see cigarettes or porn plastered across
billboards near a school. There are plenty of good video games, for example
flight simulators or surgery technique practice. We've been successful on
things like this before and we're confident this time we can go even further in
getting this game banned for under-18s."
"The game simply isn't marketed at children"
Adam Sinclair, 23, works at the Centre for Virtual Environment at Salford University, UK.
This game is
just incredible. It's a technological leap forward and the graphics and the
scripts - the things the characters say - are fantastic. The game simply isn't
marketed at children. It shouldn't be exposed to children because of adult
themes - prostitution, drugs, alcohol - not because of this supposed link with
violence. There might have been thousands of studies proving the link between
computer games and violence in children, but there are just as many thousands
that disprove it too. There's no violence incited in the adverts, and if a
parent wants to ban it, they can go into the video console and set it so that
certain games cannot be played using a password system."
"If the game were less violent then the artistic impression would be ruined"
Humberto is a 27-year-old Grand Theft Auto fan from Washington.
I spend all
my free time playing Grand Theft Auto IV - it's tough with having to go to
work. I've been playing GTA since '97 - it's my favourite game. You can go
bowling for a bit and then go on a shooting rampage and see how long it
lasts. This game is most popular with
older people. If the game were less violent then the artistic impression would
be ruined - it's about freedom of speech."
Screenshots from the game
Extracts from the game
Adam Sinclair's statement
Mr. Sinclair says:
"There might have been thousands of studies proving the link between computer games and violence in children, but there are just as many thousands that disprove it too."
This comment is counter-factual and not based in reality.
The subject of whether violent media can have a harmful affect on child development is proven, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Psychological Association, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Psychiatric Association all agree and even issued a joint statement to congress to this affect back in 2000. Point to one group that has half the stature that these groups do that would disagree.
What a load of rubbish,
What a load of rubbish, Gavin.
Even backed by these dodgy American organisations - whose very existence relies on this rubbish science, these "thousands of reports" (and it's not; it's actually only a handful from the same authors over and over again) are scientifically unsound and use such small sample sizes that they are worthless to the world at large.
If videogames had such an effect on children, we'd be seeing a massive jump in violence right now, but that's simply not the case. If videogames had such a impact, the most violent country in the world would be Japan, and again it's simply not the case.
Look at the crime statistics, which are a better real world indication of the effect of video games on the wider population, and you'll find that since the introduction of the Playstation, youth crime rates in the USA, UK and Australia have all declined.
Yes, it's got nothing to do with the Playstation or videogames, but that's precisely the point!
seriously?
are you really saying that the american medical association and half a dozen other groups of physicians and scientist hold absolutely no weight? There is not really any point reasoning with someone who believes that but i will make one statement for the benefit of others who read this.
do you think media and video games in particular have the ability to teach things or do you discount people learning to fly planes in flight simulators or surgeons practicing their art or any number of other positives as being "scientifically unsound?"
interesting that games can do good but apparently they cant do bad also, first time in human history something positive didnt also have a negative application as well.
The game is full of adult
The game is full of adult themes, but this is the reason the game has an 18+ rating. In terms of game design and gameplay, Grand Theft Auto 4 is a marvel and builds on the quality of the previous games in the series. If people under the age of 18 are getting hold of the game then the retailers or parents are to blame.
Games
I'm not sure that parents check every game their under 18 children play. Easier to block some internet sites or TV programs than that games
sure
Sure. And if children snif cocaine, we should only blame the parents, not drug dealers.
ya your right, the parents
ya your right, the parents should be held responsible for that too...