Comments on: Critics slam 'GTA IV' without test drive

Politicians and organizations seek to cut off Grand Theft Auto IV even before its midnight Tuesday release.

[Badger2212]

This game is not bad... it's a work of art

No one cares if GTA IV has sex and violence, it just adds to the fun and the story. What is wrong with these people? Doing it in a video game is totally different then doing it in real life. Crime rates are dropping, and statistics show that video games are a way to help kids get out their anger instead of doing something like that in real life. Videogames or real life? Videogames keep kids happy and occupied also. Kids are not morons who get influenced by this stuff, they know that it's just a GAME, and doing something bad in a game does NOTHING. And if these morons actually played the game, they would know that THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST VIDEOGAMES EVER MADE. I'm reading the New York times right now and it's on their front page and they acknowledge it's violent but they call it a "thoroughly compelling work of cultural satire disguised as fun." What do they mean by this? People need to learn that GTA is not just a fun, violent, shoot em up game, it's a MASTERPIECE, which the NY times says "adds up to a new level of depth for an interactive experience." Reviewers say it's the type of story that could be nominated for an oscar, and the type of characters that have an amount of depth and emotion never seen before, and a world (based off of NY City) so big and detailed that the NY Times said it's "so meticulously created that it almost smells like NY." Screw these morons, they're NOT ruining one of the best pieces of art, and yes i'm calling it art, created this century. Please parents buy this for your kids they won't regret it. My mom bought it for me and I'm only 15. It got almost perfect reviews, probably some of the best reviews a video game HAS EVER HAD, is called "one of the best games ever made", and the violence just adds to the fun (but it doesn't encourage your kid to be violent). Plus it isn't as "bad" as the last one of course, and kids don't have to act violent if they don't want to. This game is not special there's violence in almost every video game. Plus I even hear there's parental controls. Again, this is not an "empty-headed" shoot em up game that only focuses on violence. This game is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, with so much depth and an extremely compelling story, a fantastic world, and exceptional gameplay. Reviewers say it's "The Godfather" of video games. Not all of it is sex and violence! Just read the reviews, you'll see how good this game is. They don't even mention sex and violence, they just call it one of the most beautiful pieces of art ever made.

[Badger2212]

One last thing

So please buy this game. The characters have an unbelievable amount of depth, they're not just people with guns. Niko Bellic (the main character) is not a murderer, he's an eastern european immigrant who came hear looking for the American dream, and has to fight his way up to the top after being betrayed by his cousin, and he tells a compelling story. The cut scenes are beautifully integrated, and there are so many things that you can do in the huge beautiful world. There are absolutely no significant flaws with this game, why else would it get some of the best reviews ever attributed to a video game. These morons need to play it then talk, and need to look at statistics before they go on saying how the new generation is getting out of control. There is nothing bad with this game.

[lowviscosity]

People are sometimes insane.

In the state of Texas one is considered an adult at the age of 17 years old. This is how it should be, a 17 year old can legally buy porn, go to strip clubs, and move out without any problem. Yet in a game that portrays these acts in fiction, it gets slammed? Critics of this game are retarded. People that do not want to see it should just turn their heads and stay silent. These critics will attempt to slam and sue anything that offends them. The world has become a great place for finger pointing and blame storming. I am an avid gamer and a successful person, games will not influence the strong minded. These games are fun and its a horrible thing to try to take away the fiction. I know many movies that include all or more of the acts that are put into this game, and those movies do not have critics. And yes these movies are available just as easy to all kids of any age. I think the critics are hypocrites. They should call them hypocritics.

[lowviscosity]

One more thing

I don't know how many sick and twisted books I have read that do far more than what GTA is capable of. These books are available for your children at the local library and even highschool. Trust me I've read them and even had to put some down because of the descriptive detail. So what now we're going to start taking books and movies away from kids?

[Bwfisher]

Jack Thompson is possibly a prisoner of his funding.

Folk like Mr. Thompson, once they have established themselves as spokespersons for such moral causes as fighting against GTA, are obliged to continue or get out. I am sure that there is some economic payoff for his strident attacks. He may even make a living as the paid head of such opposition thanks to donations from the easily scandalized,but obviously not as much as the CEO of RockStar.

[markbaland]

is sex really worse than violence?

why does our society fear sex in TV, movies,
games, and music, but accept violence in all media? why are people less concerned about teenagers watching the news full of murder than them looking at porn? kids are playing "games" (training simulators?) about being killers, thieves & terrorists, and think of it as fun,
and some (not all) want to do it for real, yet we are more afraid that they might see nudity or sex or want to have sex. if people were less sexually repressed, we would have less violent acting out.
animals are sexual and violent, we are animals, & when one animal desire is suppressed, another is sure to come to the surface. and who is protected by changing a rating from M (age 17+) to AO (age 18+)? are there really 17 year olds who don't know what sex is, what it looks like, want to have it, and most likely have it, more than older people do even...?

[Imalittleteapot]

(MAY OFFEND YOUR MOTHER)

People aren't actually against sex. They're against porn. I've never met anyone that was against sex. I never met Hillary, the Pope, any nuns, or anything like that. Not yet anyway. Sorry, I just haven't. However, almost everyone says they don't like porn. They only like to watch themselves I suppose. Except the problem is that's not really true. Let me explain.

How old do I have to be to buy adult material? 18. How old do I have to be to fight in the war? 18. How old do I have to be to legally drink alcohol? 21. How old do I have to be to pump my girl in the back seat of a Volkswagen? In my state consent is 16. What? How federal affects that I don't know, but the point is. Well the point goes without saying. You can have sex at a younger age then you can buy a DVD with sex on it. Great isn't it? One comes with an STD and one doesn't.

Each state has their own law also. That's the best part. That's because if a girl crosses any border line her vagina may instantly increase or decrease in maturity by a year or so. If I recall, Einstein called this the theory of vaginal relativity.

Let's take the democrats or liberal type thinkers as an example. Now I'm a quasi democrat on Wednesdays, but that doesn't mean I won't call them on their crap. They're usually the ones trying to get the violence/sex out of video games. At the same time they try to find new interesting ways to give our children access to birth control, condoms, and legal abortions. Now, I wonder which causes more sex? GTA or the fact that you just gave condoms to a 14 year old? Now that's coming from a dem. I can only imagine what the reps think of us. The bottom line is they are actually pro-sex and anti-porn.

However, the problem is many people that say they don't like stuff actually do like that stuff. They like the porn. They just can't admit it.

You see I'm the guy that fixes the friends computers because I'm the guy with the freaking comp job. Guess what else people don't do. BACKUP THEIR CRAP! Guess what I find when I backup their crap? Porn! HAHA! That's right. Even on computers owned by females. They all say they don't watch it though. Maybe 1 percent doesn't actually have any.

Now, I wouldn't call the people I know normal or anything so I don't know how many "normal" people have porn. The point is not everyone that says they hate porn actually hates porn. They just want everyone else to think they don't like porn. That also means some people that say they hate violence don't really hate violence. How many people that say TV is too violent have televisions?

The only reason people even complain is under the premise of, "We have to protect the children!", except that's crap too. The parents should actually be protecting the children, but the children aren't actually the ones that need the protection. Let's look at an example of why protecting the children is complete crap.

A lot of people worry that Internet porn filters are too easy for kids to bypass, but what's the flaw in the logic? The flaw is that it shouldn't matter. The pure innocent angel surely wouldn't want to get around them to begin with would they? THINK AGAIN! You have to ask yourself who's innocence you are trying to protect? The kid wants to get around the filter. The kid WANTS TO SEE THE PORN! LOL! His innocence is already long gone. He's already seen it at a friend's house. What are you protecting?

The reason our laws don't make any sense is simply because when people vote in the election they vote for less sex and less violence. When they vote with the wallet they vote for more sex and more violence.

They make the games violent because THAT'S WHAT SELLS!!!. THAT'S WHAT HAS ALWAYS SOLD!!! Just like all those porn sites on the web. You think they all got zero on their hit counters? It's the same thing with violence too. Everyone is buying it, but nobody is admitting it.

The bottom line is nobody is going to do anything. This is only free advertisement for the game as it always has been. Maybe not even free. Perhaps someone actually paid the critic for the review. I would have if I were selling the game.

It will be a seller. Maybe not a big seller since it's a sequel and all, but a profit maker. Life will go on, and next year the games will be even worse. Next year the lead character may be totally naked for the duration of the game with privates that have an extremely high polygon count for all we know. Unless of course Intel gets their way. It'll be ray traced into perfection then. That would be the only difference.

[b_baggins]

It isn't fear.

It's disgust. When sex is divorced from love, commitment,
marriage, children, selflessness and devotion and is turned into
nothing more than two dogs in heat in the street, it fills decent
people with disgust.

[smokified]

Kind of a good point

"why are people less concerned about teenagers watching the news full of murder than them looking at porn? kids are playing "games" (training simulators?) about being killers, thieves & terrorists, and think of it as fun, and some (not all) want to do it for real, yet we are more afraid that they might see nudity or sex or want to have sex"

The ones that do that kind of thing for real have far more deep seeded issues than just acting out what they see in a video game. The major issues is bad parenting whether it be neglect to properly educate, or neglect to act on an emotional or mental issue. Either way we are neglecting our children and this game has nothing to do with that.

[uknowstu]

Freedom is America

What is worse...GTAIV or a Quinten Tarantino film? Video games are no different than any of the Crying Game...Hamburger Hill...Natural Born Killer movies. The viewer or person purchasing the entertainment needs to accept responsibility, and nobody in government should be making these decisions for us. We need to get back to the free country that we once were and stop behaving like a socialistic, government dominated nation in fear of the old white man with white hair and a cane getting mugged while trying to get on an airplane. Identify the crack pots through profiling the way cops should and bust those who deserve to be busted...for illegal acts. If it is not illegal...let them be.

[Dr.NoobFragger]

WARNING: Content may be offensive to some!

Be honest, how many clicked this just because of the title? Probably several of you. It's a similar effect with games like the GTA series, Bully, and Manhunt 2. Politicians and "children safety groups" all get up in arms about what may be, no matter how small a chance, and give a game free advertisement and add the need for most to have it simply out of curiosity or the need for "forbiden" stuff. And then, when the subject of criticism turns out to be a turd in an expesive box (manhunt 2), those doing the criticizing just look bad. No offence for those who liked it, I didn't. The only reason GTA is on the chopping block again is because it is a blockbuster game and will raise the credibillity of anyone who thinks they have a problem with it. If someone started attacking some obscure game because of "offensive content," would they gain any ground with their arguement that video games are evil? Probably not. Big-name games make easy targets.

And the "evil" content on this game? Violence is all around us in the media already. There is no escape from it. Sex? I know someone out there will **** and moan about this, but screw them: sex was deemed evil by the church long ago to and has stuck and is still viewed in similar light in this christian-based society. Alcohol? Once again, everywhere. Drugs? Biggest subject of youth commercials. Sure it may be in prevention commercials, but I have learned lots about drugs from them and had only made me curious about them (leads back to the point of forbiden curiosity). I have never done drugs, but I still wanted to know about them from these "safety" adds. Sheltering young people from "demons" only adds to misunderstandment. Instead, proper education should be the right path.

And you people who use the forums to only ***** at others, a mental image: a smiley face flipping the bird to all of you.

[cheaps81]

Warning!

Mass Censorship Might be Offensive to some too!

[Imalittleteapot]

Hey Man.

I only clicked on it because of the title like you said.

[lowviscosity]

Great post

This points contains very valid points that one should consider before posting this. News covers anything and everything that is far worse than the game. The news also draws our attention by mentioning death, sex, and drugs. Its a known fact that the news reports these topics in order to get viewers. The more racy the topic the better ratings it gets.

Great post OP keep it up!

[Chewing Wax]

Violence in GTA IV

Having gone on seemingly endless sprees of random violence in previous GTA's, killing civilians for sport to pass the time, I find myself actually trying to to hurt the citizens of Liberty City in GTA IV. They're so freaking realistic, I actually cringe when I hit one of them by accident. The joy of cartoon violence has been ... replaced with everyday respect for human life. Maybe I'll get over it. I hope so. This game is a wonder.

[Chewing Wax]

Oops

NOT to hurt. I meant to say NOT TO HURT. Otherwise my post makes no sense.

[smokified]

Good analysis

It is true, the realism of the poeple actually makes it much less appealing to just go on a killing spree with a stolen ***** and a police chopper.

Most of the time if I engage in a fight for whatever reason in game, I stop shooting or punching when their health bar turns green indicating that they have given up so that I don't have to kill them but I get my point across.

[b_baggins]

I don't need to enjoy the full experience

of raw sewage to know it is disgusting.

Oh, and look up Tu Quoque fallacy. You use it a lot in your article.

[smokified]

Actually,

Yes you do.

You are making accusations and forming opinions and then passing them off as if people should consider your opinion in their day to day lives.

Based on your ignorant comments it is more than apparent that you have no idea what you are talking about.

If you don't want the full experience, fine, that is your choice, but keep your mud flaps shut with your worthless opinions that are based on no fact at all.

[tecmic]

Iceberg Tips

I'm not sure why this particular game is being targeted. The content is hardly any worse than some others. In fact, computer games in general, major on war, aggression, violence, conflict etc.
If we're going to worry seriously about what all this does to our children's mental state, perhaps we should do something about the other mediums that carry similar themes? Films and TV probably expose the young to far more damaging material yet we do little to stop it!

I bought a copy of GTA5 to see what all the hype was about. The game's presentation is depressing and negative. It's about street life in a depraved version of New York where aggressive behaviour is mandatory and crime a way of life.

It could be said that it reflects the reality of how life is for some in many of our major cities.

I suggest that this 'closeness' to real life situations, made trivial by presenting it as computer game, is maybe the real danger.

[smokified]

First of all,

It is GTA4. It is apparent that you lack attention to detail.

You also missed the entire point of the plot. I won't explain it again because it has been done numerous times, but maybe you have some mental issues that prevent you from processing all of the information you are faced with.

[dan356]

WOW!

If you go and kill people because you played a video game, you should of been put in a crazy house the day you were born. People really should just stop complaining about pixels assorted in a certain way, blood on gta= red pixels, not real blood. My god! A two year old could figure that out. Leave video games alone. Jack thompson should care about real things

[tcr071]

I can't but laugh at some of you

Here are some tips for those parents out there who feel the need to tell other parents what to do.

1. There have been countless studies that show violent video games and video games in general RELIEVE stress and WARD OFF anger. I know this might be tough to comprehend but that means playing a video game, yeah even a violent one, is a POSITIVE way to relieve anger and stress.

2. This game is rated M for Mature. You aren't allowed to purchase it under 17.

3. I would MUCH rather my child play an animated GTA IV where you are PUNISHED for crimes you commit (wow, what a horrid thing to teach children) than a violent movie XXXX.

4. GTA IV doesn't teach children to use guns. I know it is difficult to understand but moving your thumb stick up and down and pressing a button does not prepare you to wield a weapon of any kind. If anything it SCARES children away from weapons because in GTA IV if you use a weapon POLICE COME. (Again, a horrible thing to teach children. Be bad, police come. WOW)

5. Colombine? Va. Tech? These tragedies were done by people who were MENTALLY INSANE. Did you read that? Mentally insane. I can't believe some of you people would actually try to link GTA IV and these tragedies. I mean do we blame Microsoft Flight Simulator for the 9/11 tragedies?



I don't understand some people I really don't. There is a major theme of violence and "sexuality" in GTA IV but the game does a FABULOUS job of teaching crime and punishment. If you ram a car with the cops nearby police come after you. If you fire a weapon in public cops comes after you. If you run over people cops come after you. If you shoot a cop many cops come after you. If you blow up a car the cops and the fire department come.

A major message in this game is CRIME AND PUNISHMENT but I guess you people who enjoy living your lives behind locked doors would never notice that.

I find it sad that you expect other people to give up their personal freedoms and liberties so you can gain an ounce of security. Head on over to China you don't belong in America.

[lowviscosity]

Another Great post

Great post like said in the subject. I agree with all things stated, in GTA you get punished for killing, stealing, etc. Most gameplay in GTA IV is roaming around the city doing justice to bad guys that are trying to kill innocent people. The only cop I was ordered to kill in a GTA series was a crooked cop in GTA San Andreas that was killing innocent people and dealing drugs.

Great posting, good read!

[gnesterenko]

I find it funny

How these rabid critics get all frothy-mouthed over a video game that kids will play NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK OR DO. PERIOD. If the parents won't buy it, then they'll play at their freinds, or wait till its ported to the PC and simply pirate it. But have you ever taken the time to turn on your evening news and check out that subject matter? Do some research before you spew ignorance. Video games reflect violence already apparent in society, not add to it. You talk about the massacre shootings, and yet we still have gun control that is extremely lax. Where were the parents? These are the same people who probably MADE their kids watch popular snuff films such as 'The Passion' and cheer when Arnold wastes another bad guy in one of this older films.

And whats funnier yet is that by slamming this game, they are making it MORE popular, acomplishing exactly the opposite of what they intend. So keep frothing. Rockstar, take-two, and the rest of us who aren't insane will watch you, laugh at you, then go home and play some GTA IV, maybe pull a heist or start a shoot-out with the cops. You know. Good wholesome fun.

Good game.


Note: The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed.

"The view

[toodze]

Plain ignorance

It always boils down to giving the general populace a sound byte. Most of these naysayers have not even given GTA a chance before condemning it as a form of moral corruption. Granted, the themes in the game are geared more toward an adult nature, but that only solidifies the satirical nature of the GTA. There is a very engrossing story of a disillusioned man coming to the United States and dealing with the realities and lies hiding behind the image of the home of the free. Yes, guns, sex, and drugs are intertwined with the story, but this is just a reflection of reality, nothing more. GTA is escapism with a great story and always has been that way.

Where were these overly concerned people when RISK first came out? RISK is a simulation of world domination in the vein of Germany?s Third Reich. Your goal is to take your marauding armies across the globe, destroy other armies, and gain territories and resources to further the conquest of the world. Is that the kind of moral values we want to teach our children? I didn?t think so. Oh yeah, RISK can be purchased by a child, go figure.

[NIQ]

Critics Deny GTA's Valuable Life Lessons

What the critics overlook are the valuable life lessons one learns by playing GTA. Two come to mind immediately: 1) if you fire at a police officer, the response is likely to be disproportionate and, 2) if you lead the police on a high speed chase, the outcome is likely to result in tragedy.

If one pays no attention to the news each day, how else does one learn such lessons?

These lessons aside, GTA is great fun.

[Spartan_458]

As I always say....

...since when is it anyone but the parent's decision to decide what content they wish to expose their children to? It's certainly not up to the government, as every law put out there trying to regulate that has been repealed. And it's most definitely not up to that bastard Jack Thompson.

[Spartan_458]

Oh yeah...

..what about movies? You don't see any of these groups getting on movies, but they're far worse than anything in video games.

[madman_5117]

I forgot...

I forgot how young and politically unaware the gaming crowd is. Most of us "old guys" are also opposed to much of what Hollywood produces. And teaching 13 year old kids how to have sex in sex ed classes, and distributing condoms in high school, casual drug use in television, internet porn, etc. All the things that contribute to our society being less than it can be. That is the whole point why I spend my time doing this. As a people we can do so much more than create games like this, and then have parents who allow teenagers to spend hours and hours playing them. Both ends of the equation are wrong. And to point to the tragic and distasteful parts of mankind as rationale to continue the downward spiral is really just an immature line of thought. It's like saying lots of people steal things, so stealing isn't really all that bad. Of course it is. Thinking like that is evidence as to why Europe, Asia, and India have been kicking our collective butts in standardized test scores for the last twenty years. And jobs. Don't you worry about that though. Just go back to playing and defending GTA. Maybe you can find someone to pay you to do that for a living after the rest of the jobs are gone.

[cmpbllman9]

ha well rockstar saw comedy in this

on of the achievements in GTA is called "Warm coffee" and you unlock that because you get a girl to come home with you after a date. just found that funny.

[smokified]

That is called a digital middle finger

And everyone who it is pointed at, deserves it.

[Starfires]

Warning! Kill-Joy Comment

GTA obviously shares the same sickness as much other culture in our decadant times. Crime and vice hold more appeal than a healthy exploration of our inner selves.

In a sense they serve as an ironic commentary on this- the worst crime being committed by men in suits, after all. The irony is probably what they are all about, but still... it is kind of a shame that this is the best our generation can do. And no, I haven't played the game (yet!)

[sonymaster101]

yes it IS THE BEST

No, it is not a shame, becasue this IS the best our generation can do. one of the greatest video game servies ever made. just people like you and all the ranting critics slam the game, even though there are dozens of other games that have very similar, graphic content,

-Unreal tournament 3
-Half life 2 series
-Condemned 2: bloodshot
-And of course, THE HALO SAGA

some of these games are a little overrated, but they are all excellent and very fun to play, and are filled with language, blood, pointless violence, and in some cases, sexual inuendos. Besides, why dont you people just attack the film industry instead? they put out just as many extremely graphic and sexual titles, except in this case, it is real, live action. And a 5 year old can walk into a store and buy "the 40-year-old virgin: Unrated" no problem, but at the same time is stopped from buying an m rated game.

[smokified]

What do you mean

This is the best that our generation can do?

You mean invent technology that previously was only a dream?

Create a flowing work of art that from all facets is a giant step in the way we will interact with technology?

How about all of the new cures and surgical procedures that can save lives?

There are millions of examples of why what you say is based on lack of thinking before flapping.

[sonymaster101]

Thank you

im glad that someone has taken the time to really make an effort to get through to poeple and stop blaming the media.