May 01 2008
Taking A Stand
An article from the AP, written by By DERRIK J. LANG, told how Mothers Against Drunk Driving is not happy. They think the rating on the game “Grand Theft Auto IV” needs to be stricter. The Entertainment Software Ratings Board, the independent organization that assigns video-game ratings, has given the game a Mature Audience rating. MADD wants the board to reclassify “GTA IV” as an Adults Only game. MADD feels that the action-driving game, which includes the ability to drive while intoxicated, is sending the wrong message to everyone who plays the game. Games are supposed to be entertaining. MADD has said that there is nothing funny about driving while intoxicated. I agree.
According to a post on AlbertMohler.com, the game carries the “M” rating for “Mature” and is to be sold only to customers 17 and older. The label warns of “blood,” “intense violence,” “partial nudity,” “strong language,” “strong sexual content,” and “use of drugs and alcohol.”
Parents need to take a stand and not let their kids play this game. It has been said that it takes 60 hours to get to the highest level. 60 hours of killing, pilfering and gruel. The pictures are not animated. It is as if you are killing real people when you become engrossed in this game. Can we not find something better to do? Even the creator of this game has said that parents who let their children play this game are not good parents. This is an adult game and should be labeled as such.
4 Responses to “Taking A Stand”
The real reason they want the adult only reason is so it is pulled from most shelves, not because it simply bumps the age requirement up by one year.
Parents should watch what their kids play. There’s no reason something should be pulled from the shelves and censored like that.
Good point Karen. I think it should be labeled adults only and only sold to adults.
Being a household that owns almost all the GTA games, I have to disagree. I think the M rating is high enough. It should only be sold to adults with that rating!
However, it is the parents who buy it for their underage kids that is the problem.
After having worked in retail for a few years I would have to say parents need to watch what their kids are playing and doing. I watched many parents buy there kids M rated games and not blink an eye. I’ve even had parents get mad because we couldn’t sell an M rated game to their kids.
Parents need to be parents, not the government or the entertainment industry.