GTA IV gains new foe – Mothers Against Drunk Driving
We knew this would happen, and it has. The critics have rounded on Grand Theft Auto IV mere days after it’s release on Tuesday. As well as the usual suspects such as Jack Thompson condemning the game, we have a new foe to contend with – Mothers Against Drunk Driving, otherwise known as MADD. I’m not saying a word.
After months of anticipation, and impatient waiting, GTA IV was finally released in to eager gamers hands on Tuesday morning. While some PS3 and Xbox 360 owners were arguing over which console had the better version, and others were trying to get past the bugs, the naysayers were readying their guns and ammo to launch the first strike against the game.
First of all, the old guard. Jack Thompson, who is the enemy of every right thinking individual who likes to play games as a hobby, called the game “pornographic” and urged indictments to be served on Take Two, Sony, Microsoft and a host of retailers for making the game “available to minors”.
Yada yada, carry on preaching your claptrap Jack, very few people are listening, and most of those are laughing at your preposterous assault on a hobby enjoyed by millions of law-abiding citizens around the world.
But a new foe has entered the breach, with Mothers Against Drunk Driving rallying against one particular aspect of the game. The organisation doesn’t like the fact that in the game you can go to a bar and get drunk, and then get in a car and drive. According to The Associated Press, they released an obviously pre-prepared statement saying:
“Drunk driving is not a game, and it is not a joke. Drunk driving is a choice, a violent crime and it is also 100 percent preventable.”
That may well be, and no-one is claiming that drunk driving is anything but a bad thing. But this is a game, and the main character in it is a gangster, involved in organised crime. He’s hardly going to be bothered about getting pulled over by the police for a sobriety test.
Rockstar Games retaliated in a statement by saying:
“We have a great deal of respect for MADD’s mission, but we believe the mature audience for ‘Grand Theft Auto IV’ is more than sophisticated enough to understand the game’s content,”
“For the same reason that you can’t judge an entire film or television program by a single scene, you can’t judge ‘Grand Theft Auto IV’ by a small aspect of the game.”
MADD refused to add any further comment to the statement. Yeah, I bet they did.
Grand Theft Auto IV is a game. Okay, it’s violent at times, and has some elements which show society at it’s worst, but it’s a game, not real life. That seems to be a fact missed by Jack Thompson (yet again) and now MADD.
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13 Responses to “GTA IV gains new foe – Mothers Against Drunk Driving”
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May 1st, 2008
atleast they arent as desperate as Jackie boy… atleast they arent threatening frivolous lawsuits… GO SOCCER MOMS!!!! and their Holy Bible the Desperate Housewives….
May 1st, 2008
i’m almost certain that not one of the millions who buy this game is a member of (or even cares about) MADD. With that in mind; thanks for your concern, ladies.
May 2nd, 2008
Listening to one of these women talk about losing their own children is a pretty sad thing. I attended an AA meeting years ago with one of the men I was responsible for, and learned their perspective.
I can imagine it would be pretty painful for one of them to see or hear of a game where people are playing at having a good time driving while drunk and killing others. Watching a show with this content would probably be a similar experience.
While this is still not Rockstar’s fault, and they should not be viewed as part of the problem, the statement mentioned here is valid and should be listened to, like the Surgeon General’s warning on a pack of cigarettes, or even the warning on shows like “Jackass” (these stunts were done in a controlled environment with professionals and should not be reenacted at home, etc.).
Any person with half a brain would already know this, but there are some pretty stupid individuals who need extra guidance, and some devious ones that will look for any scapegoat so they will not be held responsible for their actions.
While the “mature” audience Rockstar speaks of is more than sophisticated enough to understand the content, I have no doubt a few immature people will not, or won’t care, whether they are of age or not. For instance, those who committed crimes the night of opening.
Unfortunately, these people will be the ones that make the headlines. Even though there is already something wrong with their outlook on committing crime, any association between them and the game will be played to the hilt to further preexisting agendas.
May 2nd, 2008
Sorry, the above should read:
those who committed crimes the night of the GTA IV release, not “opening”.
May 2nd, 2008
well… what brings in more viewers to watch your news channel…
“Video Game sold out all throughout the world”
or
“Violent video game is released and is causing even more violence”
I think I should be a script writer…. I could “tweak” the news… just like the professionals
May 2nd, 2008
Violence, at least in GTA IV, seems to sell just as much as violence in the news.
May 2nd, 2008
Has anyone actually tried drink driving in GTA4? believe me it does not encourage it!, the screen becomes blurred and shaky and the new more realistic driving mechanics make it impossible to not hit something, plus the police now instantly if your drink driving and chase you. The game even encourages you to take a cab instead with a message if you get in a car whilst drunk, I’m more frightend of drink driving then ever
May 2nd, 2008
ME
your on the Money with that coment. I thought no one was going to say it. It is true it encourages you to take a Taxi. I was going to do that but I could not figure out how to get one. I now know how to. Anyways driving drunk in the game is very hard to do and it gives you a bit of reality. MADD should give credit for that.
May 2nd, 2008
GTA IV is a game that encourages you to try things you wouldn’t normally do in real life, even if only once, including drunk driving.
Obviously, the consequences in game are not the same as real life, even though they may be disadvantages or simulate.
MADD has members that have lost close family to drunk drivers, so they probably wouldn’t like any media that encourages even a one time “play” at drunk driving.
Maybe if your console had a meltdown after you drive drunk in game they would be satisfied as a group. Many members of MADD could take one look at this game without playing it and see several things wrong with it, because of their own personal experience. Many others could also look at the game and see it has nothing to do with their cause, but they are probably the minority.
That said, it’s pretty understandable that they don’t fully support this games success, and becomes an easy target for people who are emotionally involved. Logic in saying this is “only a game” or “drunk driving in game makes you hit things or get arrested” does not help.
GTA IV is a great game, just don’t be surprised when people like MADD members or Jack Thompson make public statements against it. The last thing they will think is that it is just a harmless game, let alone that only adults will play it.
To them, it is a sign of moral decay, and something to be discouraged, not encouraged.
May 2nd, 2008
MSGT
Don’t get me wrong I don’t condone the use of alcohol. SInce it’s Sabbath I’ll just tell people what the Bible says on that.
Proverbs 23:20-21, 29-34 NKJV
20 Do not mix with winebibbers, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat (unclean); 21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? 30 Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. 31 Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; 32 At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. 33 Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things. 34 Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: “They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?”
Galatians 5:19-21, NIV. “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity …idolatry and witchcraft…drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
And I’ll finish with
Isaiah 65:8, NKJV. Thus says the LORD: “As the new wine is found in the cluster one says, ‘Do not destroy it, for a blessing is in it’ ”
Proverbs was written by Wise Solomon
May 3rd, 2008
I find that insulting… cus Im not a christian… Im gonna “pull a Jack Thompson” and say… that since I have never read the Bible… and dont know what it has… I will say that it encourages children to be violent.. THERE JACKIE!! can I team up with you in your “Holy war” against video games now???
May 3rd, 2008
DWH
I don’t want to turn this into a religious site but to say that the Bible encourages children to be violent is complete rubbish. People hardly read the Bible in this day and age so how is it responsible for influence and for all this immorality in society. It comes form the media not the Bible. The Bible is the furthest thing from peoples minds today. If people would read it society would probably not be in the state it is now because it teaches such good values and lessons.
May 3rd, 2008
dont get offended CAD… I wrote them in jest.. thats why I wrote “pull a Jack Thompson”
jeez… people can get so touchy nowadays… but nonetheless. I am sorry if I offended you or your faith… there.. are we even now??