GTA IV is already stirring up the public, and Chicago has been worried enough to pull an ad campaign for the game. The GameSpot article details a Fox report about recent violence in Chicago, and how wherever they went ads for the game were to be found on buses and platforms. Considering past controversies the rose over bus ads for past GTA games, the CTA has decided to pull this ad campaign all-together.
Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive’s insanely popular and extremely controversial series Grand Theft Auto will see new success April 29 when the next installment in the series, GTA IV, releases on store shelves. The game is already drawing controversy over its mature content, and the dangers of underage gamers being exposed to it. The game is rated M for mature players 17 and older, yet that doesn’t stop gamers under 17 from getting their hands on it. The GamePolitics article talks about the accounts of three underage gamers who have played previous GTA games. In two cases, the parents just bought the game for the children. One teen says the rating didn’t bother his parents, who just thought he was could understand the difference between real life and the events in the game. In the last case, the teen managed to obtain it through an online game trading service. He states that his parents would have been more angry that he went behind their backs than at the rating of the game.
The Parent Teacher Assosiation and the Entertainment and Software Ratings Board are forming a stronger alliance than they had before, the goal of which being to educate parents about the video game and internet universe. The article on Game Informer goes on to explain a booklet the groups have put together to teach parents how to ensure their children’s saftey in both gaming and the internet. In addition, the presidents of both organizations will be hosting a free webcast on April 23 at 7 p.m. EDT. It will explain in detail the ESBR rating system for videogames, give more advice and instruction about proper online safety, and have a Q&A session at the end.
Both GamePolitics and GameSpot are reporting on FTC requests for more information about Electronic Arts’ planned takeover of Take-Two, acclaimed makers of the Grand Theft Auto series. The type of information requested has not been specified by EA, but it is believed that the FTC has anti-trust (i.e., monopoly) concerns. EA has made a buyout bid worth $2 billion, but T2 has been outright refusing, claiming that the offer undervalues the company. More information can be found in the GamePolitics and GameSpot articles.
In this article, GamePolitics discusses the recent banning of the popular Sony game God of War by the Sharjah municipality in the United Arab Emirates. The game, featuring intense and bloody violence, scenes of nudity, and a story involving the slaying of a Greek God, was stated to contradict Islamic values and deemed dangerous because the game was popular among children.
In March, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 saw a price drop in Europe, with core system now priced at £159.99, premium at £199.99 and elite at £259.99. GameSpot reports that just a month after the price drop sales of the console have more than doubled. Unfortunately, Microsoft would not give specific sales rates before or after the price drop.
In another GamePolitics article, a review of the book “Grand Theft Childhood: The Surprising Truth About Violent Videogames and What Parents Can Do” is brought to light. The reviewer, Adam Thierer, has some very good things to say about the book, which, despite the title, gives the truth about the arguments most video game critics use. The book itself if a very good read, and very informative for those that don’t know much about the controversy raging over violent video games.
This GamePolitics article shows how mainstream video games are becoming, detailing plans by Scotland’s educational minister add video game design to Scotland’s national school curriculum.
GameSpot gives details on plans by Singapore’s Board of Film Censors and Media Development Authority to create two new video game ratings. Rating M18 will be for games made with mature audiences in mind, and will include games featuring realistic depictions of violence or drugs, nudity, or bad language. It will be a restricted category, requiring an ID for purchase. A rating of Age Advisory will be given to games with less realist or extreme depictions of the things in the M18 rating, and will be recommended for people of age 16 and above.
In this GamePolitics article, Tanya Byron tries to correct a misinterpretation of of her widely-discussed Report on the effect of video games and the internet on children. Kieth Vaz, a frequent game violence critic, has been trying to connect the video game Manhunt to the 2004 murder of Stefan Pakeerah. Despite the rejection of the link by detectives that investigated the case, Vaz is still trying to connect the game to the murder, and wants to use the Byron Report as evidence of the connection. Byron comments on the matter stating “… it’s not as simple as violent games making people violent. I’ve never said that, and would be sure to disagree with anyone who inferred that from the Review.”
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