Gamers Line Up for Grand Theft Auto 4
I don’t know about your neighborhood, but here in Manhattan people are lined up around the block outside of every video game store. Why? They all want to be among the first to grab the just-released “Grand Theft Auto IV” game.
Earlier editions of the game have sold a combined 30 million copies in the U.S. This one has huge buzz and even bigger expectations. I met gamers at a launch party last night who pre-ordered it last fall, then stood in the rain for 8 hours last night, just to get their hands on the long-awaited game.
Before you rush out and get it for your favorite gamer, be warned: it is as violent as it is popular. It’s rated “M,” for mature users age 17 and older, because it may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.
I talked to some gamers who lined up to buy the game. Check out the video:
With a description like that, of course I tried it out! After hearing years of reports about the violence, I grabbed the controller and immediately asked store employees, “How do I kill someone?” They instructed me, “Push the B button to punch someone, and just keep doing it until they die.” I have to say the blood splatters were pretty realistic. Grand Theft Auto is wildly popular, but it’s not something I’d want any of my nieces or nephews playing.
Tune in for more on this story on FOX Business at 7pm and FOX News at 7:45pm.
And in the meantime, we’d love to hear from you.
–Will you buy this game?
–Does video game violence concern you?
–Should I feel guilty for “killing” a virtual person?
Click on “comments” below and give us your thoughts.
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I have already purchased this game (we also own all the other in the series).
“Video violence” does not concern me. It is made up by “experts” trying to explain the bad behavior of some, or those who committ violent acts to place the blame on someone or something else.
Should I feel guilty for “killing” a virtual person? The fact that you put the word killing in quotation marks is telling. No, it’s a GAME. Did you feel guilty when you played the board game Risk as a kid and wiped out a whole country? Did you feel bad when you played Dodge Ball in gym class and slammed kids with balls as hard as you could?
As the parent of teenage sons, the problem with their generation is NOT violent video games. (My kids have played these games from the start, as we do not censor….they are all high school graduates, attending college, get good grades and have given us no trouble). It is the lack of parental involvement in their lives, which leads to zero consequences for their bad behavior and finding others to balme when “Little Johnny” screws up.
Jill, you know what else contains violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. The news. Cool, huh?
Michele hit the nail on the head with that post, Parents are to be responsible for their children. Running around blaming games, music, and television for the problems of kids really is a stupid thing. Take all three of those away and believe me nothing will change.
Parents have total control over their children, if something goes wrong blame the parents. We have rating systems for games, movies, television, and music. They are all there for a reason, if you dont want your child dealing with any of it, be a parent.
Blaming this stuff for a kids bad behavior is just passing the buck on POOR PARENTING!!!!