Parental group targets GTA IV
- Posted May 1st, 2008 at 08:31 EDT by Mike Harradence
- 3,889 views
- 44 Comments
Parental group Mothers Against Drunk Driving has launched an onslaught of criticism against Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto IV this week, expressing its concerns over the fact the game allows players to drive vehicles whilst under the influence of alcohol.
The group said it is “extremely disappointed” that the game boosts a virtual representation of drunk driving, pointing out that the offence has been known to claim up to 13,500 lives every year.
"Drunk driving is not a game and it is not a joke," MADD commented. "Drunk driving is a choice, a violent crime, and it is also 100 percent preventable."
Furthermore, the group is also insisting that the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) raise GTA IV’s rating to Adults Only (AO) as opposed to Mature (M).
MADD also requested that the game’s "manufacturer" consider preventing all distribution of the title out of respect for individuals whose lives have been affected by drunk drivers.
Grand Theft Auto IV is available now on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
Comments
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Totally Twisted
- 8:35am BST - May 1st, 2008
- 1
Well, i have the game and i wouldnt let my kids play it or view it. As a sane adult i can enjoy this as a form of entertainment. To me it's just doing things i couldnt and wouldnt do in real life, so it's fun.
Tommyboy ;)
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fraznez |
FRAZNEZ- 8:40am BST - May 1st, 2008
- 2
i played gta III when i was like 14 i think, and according to the rating and parents concerns i was too young, but in actuality its just a game; sure its gory and has drugs use and the language isnt of the elizabethan era, but its just a game. i dont know why peolp cant get it through their heads ITS JUST A GAME. so stop blaming sh.it on games and take responsibilty for what you did or whatever your crazy as.s kid did
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Wintee |
bluedotred- 8:56am BST - May 1st, 2008
- 5
Right,
let's ask the simple question first, have they actually played the game?
Forgetting the fact that this is a mothers group, and this game is 18 rated, they don't actually have any control over what their children do.
But yeah go on, I'll humour them for now. Let's BAN GTA IV, cos it's bad. It promotes drink driving (lets ban Sonic while we're at it incase my kid chokes on plastic rings). But wait, the MADDs won't be happy cos there's still drunk drivers. So lets ban alcohol! Yeah! Prohibition. Hang on, we can still make our own alcohol because there are books and the internet telling us how to do such things. So let's ban those!
Woo! Ok! So now we're an internet censoring, book burning nation of right wing nutcases living in a censored version of the world where any that pushes boundaries is considered dangerous and persecuted. Welcome to Germany circa 1938 (Although some would say that the US is slipping dangerously close to that kind of rhetoric).
Would the MADDs be happy now? I mean there's still cars out there and sober people can still run you over.
Yeah I know I'm over simplifying the issue and dramatising it but for ****s sake it's a game. It's not promoting alcoholism or drink driving (in fact the drunk driving in the game made me really quezy the way the screen wobbles and driving was a complete swine, so infact its highlighting the dangers of drink driving - It's a positive promotional tool isn't ).
We get this crap every time something that pushes the envelope comes out. I'm just waiting for them to jump on the prozzie bashing next.
Look it's as simple as this. If you're going to play a computer game and then mimic what it does - run someone over, shoot someone, become a plubmer and eat giant mushrooms (that is SO a euphomism for drug taking!) - then you're obviously a complete mentler anyway and shouldn't be in society. The fact that these nut jobs sit in playing computer games 24/7 is probably a good thing as it keeps them off the streets and away from me!
Huff puff!
I thank you very much!
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Xdeth |
Xdeth- 9:09am BST - May 1st, 2008
- 6
@Shader - I couldn't agree more. They are only pouring gas on the the inferno.
I love it when these no name groups come out of their woodwork to bash something they havn't even played. And for the love of God where are the parents? I'm sick of this BS. Do they cry foul when people in movies drive drunk? or TV shows? Its an ADULT GAME ment for ADULTS. When parents start being parents we won't have this problem. Hey mothers, You don't like it? Move to AUS. I heard they love to ban stuff. No offense to you aussy guys. I got love for you.
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JD-82 |
JD-82- 9:22am BST - May 1st, 2008
- 7
am i the only one that realises that you can call a cab if you're drunk? you take a mate to a pub and get slashed and then you can call a cab and have them take you where you want to go...seems fairly responsible...Rockstar have given people the choice of driving under the influence or taking the responsible (and safe) option...
people have to understand that this is just a game...nothing more...
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Paranoimia |
Paranoimia- 9:24am BST - May 1st, 2008
- 8
Let's face it, people were getting p!ssed and jumping in their car long before videogames even existed. The GTA games reflect society, they don't define society. If drinking and driving weren't already a major issue, it wouldn't be in the game - and the game itself isn't going to encourage anyone to do it. If you could snap your fingers and make GTA disappear, you'd still get morons drinking and driving.
Instead of going nuts over a game, MADD should be doing some proper campaigning - like maybe pushing for a change in the law so that pubs and bars are prevented from having car parks, meaning that people aren't actively encouraged to drive to and from the premises.
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falky64
- 10:14am BST - May 1st, 2008
- 13
F*K off sl#ts. Seriously I love driving around drunk, who cares its a Game. Just dont play it or even look at it or I will punch u in the head myself, geez. Let us gamers enjoy life the way GOD wanted us to, drive around in a car drunk while running down people. I would have to say most people know someone who has died from Drink Driving and I am against it totally, but in a Game I DO WHAT EVA THE H#ll I WANT!!!!
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richkaos |
richkaos- 10:19am BST - May 1st, 2008
- 14
It is down to the parents to take resposibility of their spouses, if you are taught the difference between right and wrong there is no problem, unfortunatly these days a lot of parents dont give a sh1t and are extremely ignorant and thus so too are their easily influenced children. I dont care what anyone says, if you have been bought up properly games movies music will not influence you into a life of crime. So perhaps these mothers should spend more time watching over and educating their loved ones as opposed to trying to pass the buck to cover up their incopetance
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Die-romantic |
Demon_King- 10:36am BST - May 1st, 2008
- 15
Drunk driving on GTA IV wtf! its only when your dating someone bullsh!t I guess them idiotas got this from some british paper
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1solidsnake |
solid1snake67- 10:57am BST - May 1st, 2008
- 16
i'm against drunk driving but in a game?? that's not real and most people know that i hope. there just worrried ABOUT THE CHILDREN!!!! if i knew one of the kids who's mom was doing it. i would probably ell all there friends and have there Azz kicked.; because the probably started playing it and there mom freaked out. i mean c'mon this is bull crap. (just a game) you play that stuff you cAn't do in real life freely you can do in a virtual world. makes no sense. Women orry to much. not like there kids aaren't going to grow up and go to a party and drink and drive. or are they going to keep them in there rooom from the outside world. when i turned 21 i started drinking. but, i usually do it at home and don't go any where else after that. because with my luck i would get pulled over. so mother's who say GTAIV. i saw a mom buying this game for a 15 yr old kid. so, don't worry about us instead. go bytch out your fellow mother and have a fight with her and say don't you love your son anymore!!!! what about the childeren!!!!!!!!!! nooooooo! the violence of GTAIV is to real... lol should i take the game back cuz my mommy won't be happy if i go pick up hookers in a game
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Tha_Last_Romeo |
Tha_Last_Romeo- 11:01am BST - May 1st, 2008
- 17
OK... Who cares, they shouldn't buy it for their child. I think we should get together and start definding RockStar. These people are dumb and need to get a $#%& life.
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funItalian
- 11:10am BST - May 1st, 2008
- 19
Get a life MADD, it's just a video game, Hey, wait a minute....wasn't there someone from MADD that got busted for DUI not too long ago?! and I believe she was someone that had some seniority there too... Was it because of a video game or just plain outright stupidity?? HMMM...I wonder...
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ryanmormon
- 11:52am BST - May 1st, 2008
- 21
you can shoot people with uzi's in the game. Needless to say I don't think the video game encourages that (that being a much more dangerous act) anymore than it does drunk driving. lets start a different club, gamers against killing. gak, who's in!?
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tommyboips3uk
- 12:20pm BST - May 1st, 2008
- 23
absoultley pathetic gta obviously implements it is a game it doesnt try to implent it as LIFE ( or a realstic game to that) so anyone who takes this game serioiusly( to the point where they copy the actualy game in real life) is wrong not the game
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gingo |
gingo- 12:21pm BST - May 1st, 2008
- 24
psn id: gingo..... all i can say to these people is STFU!!!!! the game clearly shows the dangers of drink driving and doesn't encourage it in any way, its a form of entertainment and if people can't find the point between a game and reality then they need serious phycological help
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solid79 |
solid79- 12:46pm BST - May 1st, 2008
- 27
I hate to sound cold but drunk driving is part of the world we live in. I do not agree with it at all. However, I do feel that most kids at the age of 17 has an understanding of the dangers of drunk driving. These moms need to chill out. I can think off tons of movies, TV shows, and books that show people drunk driving. GET A LIFE AND LET GAMERS GAME!!! I wish gamers and all these people can have a televised debate over gaming and handle this video games are destroying the world BS. Like Jay Z said. "If you don't like my lyrics you can press fast forward. If you don't like games and what they represent then don't support them.
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XSpike_SpiegelC |
XSpike_SpiegelC- 1:02pm BST - May 1st, 2008
- 28
well in GTA IV you have a CHOICE to drunk drive, and if a cop sees you, you are wanted....So this groups argument is NULL AND VOID!!!!
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sideshowrob |
JuggaloRob- 1:38pm BST - May 1st, 2008
- 31
Bad publicity is the best kind. These idiots are just helping the game sell more copies
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bracomadar |
bracomadar- 1:53pm BST - May 1st, 2008
- 32
HA! Out of all the insane stuff you can do in the game, they're worried about drinking and driving. If these people would spend time being parents instead of making public outcries, they woudln't need to be worried about their kids doing stupid things. Anyone who is dumb enough to do something they did in a video game already has "issues" that MADD can't prevent.
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Emo-Mercenary |
Clarky-132- 2:59pm BST - May 1st, 2008
- 33
Its not about crink driving, you over-protective mother. I wish these people would play the game first, before automatically trying to ban it...
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TheCh0sen01 |
TheChosen01- 5:04pm BST - May 1st, 2008
- 35
This will never go away sadly, there will be groups of people saying this isn't right and we shouldn't promote such things but when you're 18 it is YOUR choice what you want to do and play. There's no sense in trying to do anything to take action on Rockstar or the game itself. Its only a game! What about movies there are far worse things being betrayed and thats actually REAL people portraying it! If you don't want your children to play the game or be exposed to what the game has to offer than do your job but we all know that if they want to play it or see it their going to one way or the other BOTTOM LINE! Give it a rest!!!
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Triple Dk |
TripleDk- 5:39pm BST - May 1st, 2008
- 36
"Raise it to AO!!" Why not just say ban it!?
But seriously that's stupid! Of what I've heard, it actually shows how it is to drive drunk, right? So, you get the experience virtually to see how easy you crash while "under the influence of alcohol". I've also heard you fall every 3 steps you take if you're drunk, lol
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I95SOUTH |
I95SOUTH- 5:46pm BST - May 1st, 2008
- 37
"Drunk driving is a choice, a violent crime, and it is also 100 percent preventable."
They said it right there!!!!!!! Its a choice, Im sorry for the ppl who lost their lifes but it was their choice to drink and drive no one put a gun to thier head, no one put a bottle to their mouths so stop b.i.t.c.h.i.n.g and go do motherly stuff that counts. Its a game not real life, the game will not make you drunk.
psn id: I95SOUTH < ---- Drunk froom reading this article
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yoboyrob9041226 |
BIGROB904- 5:50pm BST - May 1st, 2008
- 38
i still dont get how people are able to make movies with the same things as the game but people say not one world but as soon as a game comes with it they want to go crazy and want to band stuff these people are just dumb as he**
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rageandsin |
rageandsin- 7:09pm BST - May 1st, 2008
- 39
this obviously shows mothers don't have enough to do and need more work and their preaching to the converter considering most mothers used to be wild teenagers themselves who probably drank and censoring children this much is bad for psychological development and could probably cause brain problems if mother sensor a childs life to an extent.
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TSS.BLOOD
- 7:18pm BST - May 1st, 2008
- 40
The dam parental groups dont want to target GTAIV, they want money, they wnat to recompinsated for thousands of drunk-driving deaths, by blaming this gaming, and claiming its the main source of why poeple drink and drive. These parent groups have no power what soever, with no money, you have no power, and what better way to make money than to try sue someone.
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InfernoReaper |
GrimDarkling- 8:08pm BST - May 1st, 2008
- 42
So MADD wants Rockstar to just lose $100 million and change the game to AO, because of an OPTION in the game? Nobody HAS to get drunk and drive, it is purely choice, just like the act of driving drunk. The age is set at Mature and I'm sure Rockstar has been getting plenty of close reviews after Manhunt 2. They wrongly judge something they've never tried, just like the black group that found RE5 to be racist purely based on the location of the game. I am insuring the reverse by saying it is racist to make a game with only one white man constantly in deadly situations.
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I guess we should burn books because they teach us to question and not follow like little blind sheep. Maybe the speed limits should be set to 10mph everywhere so when people do crash, it isn't bad.
If anything, this game discourages players to drive drunk after they see the effects it has on you. MADD is just a bunch of over-protective, overbearing mothers who can't cut the umbilical cord and try to force their religions and beliefs onto their kids. Otherwise known as false (hypocritical) Christian, Catholic, or whatever they believe in.
I have nothing against Christians or Catholics, I am just saying I hate all the overzealous religious sects that try to push their religion onto everyone else to limit their freedoms, while not practicing themselves. Going to church does not mean you believe and it does not make you any less of a whore, if you are one (most girls are now).
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LA Noire is no longer exclusive. It's going to the 360 as of now. Did Sony decide to change the exclusivity for LA Noire to future GTAs? I hope.
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falky64
- 8:53pm BST - May 1st, 2008
- 43
Just 1 more thing, i recon this pushes across the message not to drink drive in the best way ever because people get to experience what its like to drink drive first hand in the game and I recon Rockstar are awesome for having this in their game as everyone will take notice of it and probably think twice about doing it for real.
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Oldawg |
Oldawg- 2:35pm BST - May 5th, 2008
- 44
I feel like they did an excellent job with the drinking and driving piece. If you've played the game, you can't say that it is promoting drunk driving. It is exactly the contrary. Driving drunk is far easier to get away with in reality than it is in this game. I tried it a couple times (in game that is), and it just doesn't work well for you. Also, you get negative comments about doing it from whomever you are partying with...
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