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'Grand Theft Auto IV' is alive, addictive
26 comments | Read story
Anonymous | 7:29 a.m. May 8, 2008
GTA IV is alive, addictive...and a sad commentary on the state of our society.
Glamorizing the life of a criminal? Sad.
placebo | 10:25 a.m. May 8, 2008
i'd like to know if the above comments were made by people who have ever
played a Grand Theft Auto title. my guess is no.
funny how we form opinions about matters with which we have no first-hand experience. "i've never played or seen this game, but I know it's awful."
i won't bother trying to sell you the merits of the game (which far surpass its demerits), except to say that more often than not, it's parodying American culture � our rampant religiosity, our excessive celebration of valueless objects and conceits and our pushy, know-better attitude in particular.
it takes morality seriously, recognizing, and unabashedly portraying, how hard it can be to do the right thing. unless one's head is buried in the sand, of course. then life's a breeze.
funny how we form opinions about matters with which we have no first-hand experience. "i've never played or seen this game, but I know it's awful."
i won't bother trying to sell you the merits of the game (which far surpass its demerits), except to say that more often than not, it's parodying American culture � our rampant religiosity, our excessive celebration of valueless objects and conceits and our pushy, know-better attitude in particular.
it takes morality seriously, recognizing, and unabashedly portraying, how hard it can be to do the right thing. unless one's head is buried in the sand, of course. then life's a breeze.
Comments continue below
re: placebo | 10:32 a.m. May 8, 2008
It sounds to me like you're trying to rationalize. This game is pure
violence and hate. I've seen it played before. It's absolutely
disgusting that we allow such filth in our homes.
RE: re: placebo | 11:09 a.m. May 8, 2008
How much nicer to have grown up playing "cops and robbers,"
"cowboys and indians," shooting birdies, torturing horny toads, and
swiping watermelons from the neighbor's field. Reality mischief and
mayhem. Those were the days.
Bryan | 11:22 a.m. May 8, 2008
iT's a game people. come on! their is a Mature rating on it for a reason.
Don't let it end up in the hands of under age kids. If you dont like it,
than don't paly it. It's very simple.
A Father | 11:47 a.m. May 8, 2008
yes going bowling and playing darts is pretty violent.
You can do "criminal acts" in GTA4, but you don't have to. Its an open world game where its your own choice. If you choose to steal a car, you can. However, you will suffer the consequence of that action.
I've seen worse material in PG-13 movies that what is in GTA4. So, before you start bashing a video game you know nothing about, take a look at your own DVD collection, and ask yourself if your a hypocrite.
You can do "criminal acts" in GTA4, but you don't have to. Its an open world game where its your own choice. If you choose to steal a car, you can. However, you will suffer the consequence of that action.
I've seen worse material in PG-13 movies that what is in GTA4. So, before you start bashing a video game you know nothing about, take a look at your own DVD collection, and ask yourself if your a hypocrite.
Be a Parent | 12:28 p.m. May 8, 2008
To all of you who say "we shouldn't allow this in our homes."
Please, don't tell me what is and isn't acceptable for me, a grown
man, to have in my home. How quickly you all forget about "agency"
that is talked about so much. If you don't like the game, don't play
it. If you don't think it is good for kids, do whatever you need to to
ensure that your children don't play it. If you don't want your
husband to play it, that is your issue to work out with him.
People forcing their values on others is exactly the kind of thing that this game takes a satirical aim at.
People forcing their values on others is exactly the kind of thing that this game takes a satirical aim at.
To A Father | 12:29 p.m. May 8, 2008
I don't have any DVDs in my collection where one of the characters has sex
in his car with a prostitute and then runs over her in his car... backing up and
doing it again. I challenge you to show me a PG13 movie with this type of
graphic sex and cold-blooded murder in it. I assume that by calling yourself a
father, you must have children. Like pornography, this game does not belong in
your home.
placebo | 12:42 p.m. May 8, 2008
to the person who claimed i'm trying to "rationalize." you know
what i like about the word rationalize? it contains the word
"rational" in it. yes, i'm trying to be rational, judging GTA in
accordance with reason and logic (and standards as to what constitutes a good
video game), not broad dismissals. i was raised to think critically and
analytically.
for example, i stopped playing the PSP GTA because it crossed my personal boundaries of what i find to be offensive. there were parts about the game i liked a lot, but after a certain bestiality reference, i decided to stop playing. but that doesn't mean i'm going to throw out the baby with the bathwater, or tell other people they shouldn't play it. that's called fascism.
for example, i stopped playing the PSP GTA because it crossed my personal boundaries of what i find to be offensive. there were parts about the game i liked a lot, but after a certain bestiality reference, i decided to stop playing. but that doesn't mean i'm going to throw out the baby with the bathwater, or tell other people they shouldn't play it. that's called fascism.
Hmmm | 12:50 p.m. May 8, 2008
There are several different sides to this that can be taken.
The one that needs to be addressed is, should we be watching rated R movies? And if this game would be considered a rated R if it had one, should we be playing it?
Have I played previous GTA games? Yes. Do I still play GTA games? No.
I have since given up rated R movies and inappropriate games, in an effort to rid myself of the adversaries influence over me. When I made this decision I ended up shredding almost 200 DVD's, this included GTA:SA.
One could say, "What a waste of money to shred all those DVD's". The real statement should have been, "What a waste to spend all that money on those DVD's in the first place".
I am not saying this is what you should do, only this is what I did. What is eternal salvation worth to me? More then a few DVD's. What is it worth to you? That is a decision you will have to make.
The one that needs to be addressed is, should we be watching rated R movies? And if this game would be considered a rated R if it had one, should we be playing it?
Have I played previous GTA games? Yes. Do I still play GTA games? No.
I have since given up rated R movies and inappropriate games, in an effort to rid myself of the adversaries influence over me. When I made this decision I ended up shredding almost 200 DVD's, this included GTA:SA.
One could say, "What a waste of money to shred all those DVD's". The real statement should have been, "What a waste to spend all that money on those DVD's in the first place".
I am not saying this is what you should do, only this is what I did. What is eternal salvation worth to me? More then a few DVD's. What is it worth to you? That is a decision you will have to make.
placebo | 1:10 p.m. May 8, 2008
ps - i'm not mormon, so maybe i'm just in the wrong forum altogether.
the desnews' web site is just much cleaner than the trib's,
that's why i come here.
TJ | 1:46 p.m. May 8, 2008
Have you ever noticed that the games that are violent get the best reviews?
Wasn't Halo (1,2,3) all rated as the best of one of the best each time they
were released? What do you do in those games? Run around and kill other people
and aliens. I played GTA-SA and din't really like it. I got bored with it.
I can stand and of the Halo games but that to me is all personal preference. The
point of all of this is that I do not like a lot of violent games and would
rather play NCAA football or Arena football but those football games do not get
ratings anywhere close to the violent ones. Are violent games better? not always
but people prefer violence the majority of the time. Some the movies with the
highest ratings are rated R even though there are better movies that are rated
PG. You can complain all you want but the point is that the people doing reviews
prefer violence and controversy. It is all about controversy. We thrive on
controversy in our society and this game is a perfect example. I do like Call of
Duty games but they'e pretty violent
TJ | 1:47 p.m. May 8, 2008
Sorry my last comment should say
I can't stand all of the Halo games.......
I can't stand all of the Halo games.......
To hmmm | 1:51 p.m. May 8, 2008
I'm not sure what most of what you said even means, what your motivation
is. However, good for you for being congruent with your principles. We only
screw up when we live in ways we personally believe are wrong yet do it anyway.
Don't like the genre but... | 2:17 p.m. May 8, 2008
I'm a gamer personally I don't care for the GTA games because
it's not my style. I wanted to comment on all the delusional parents out
there who don't think there kids will play a game without violence, unless
you have a total stranglehold on your childs life they have play GTA or another
game with violence. I am tired of people (neighboors, ward members etc.) who
tell me to my face how evil I am for allowing it into my home, I keep my games
locked away from my daughter, if I polluting my mind and soul as you say,
telling me I'm 'evil' is not the best way to get me to listen to
you. Comes down to this, YOUR the parent, YOUR the adult, well SO am I and I can
make my choice without anyone telling me that I'm evil, and for those
people who say how can your wife allow...leave her out of it, she probably knows
so its none of your buisness.
Assume | 2:23 p.m. May 8, 2008
Why does the first poster imply that everybody at the DNews or readers of the
web site are LDS? I find that annoying and I promise there are lots of LDS folks
who watch "The Sopranos" and other violent TV shows and movies with
harsh language and killing. The DNews also runs reviews of them.
jesus | 2:40 p.m. May 8, 2008
I want the new grand thef auto 4 for psp
Love It | 2:47 p.m. May 8, 2008
Grand Theft Auto 4 is the best videogame ever made by anyone. Everyone and
their brother should be buying this game, and playing it with their children.
Hero of Canton | 3:26 p.m. May 8, 2008
This game is great as were the previous incarnations of this series. It's
full of mischief, sex, murder, drugs and rock and roll and I like it just like I
liked the others. And just like the others, I will be BitTorrenting this when
it comes out on PC but I digress...
I am a gamer, have been for going on 18 years now, and I still can't understand the need for whiney people to force their ethics on me as a gamer. I am a returned missionary, active church goer, eagle scout, active in the community blah blah blah blah...I watch rated-R movies, I drink my mnt. dew like its water and I spend time with my wife watching Sex In The City and you know what? I still know the difference between right and wrong and I choose my own path in life. If you can't man/woman up and be responsible parents when it comes to your children then stop talking and start doing. I don't need self-righteous individuals forcing their choices on me, I need them to start with their own lives and their own families and stop bothering me.
And to the reviewer, well done.
I am a gamer, have been for going on 18 years now, and I still can't understand the need for whiney people to force their ethics on me as a gamer. I am a returned missionary, active church goer, eagle scout, active in the community blah blah blah blah...I watch rated-R movies, I drink my mnt. dew like its water and I spend time with my wife watching Sex In The City and you know what? I still know the difference between right and wrong and I choose my own path in life. If you can't man/woman up and be responsible parents when it comes to your children then stop talking and start doing. I don't need self-righteous individuals forcing their choices on me, I need them to start with their own lives and their own families and stop bothering me.
And to the reviewer, well done.
PG-13? | 5:35 p.m. May 8, 2008
Somebody asked for an offensive PG-13 movie (although this has little to do with
the game). How about one in theaters right now: Prom Night "Rated PG-13 for
violence and terror, some sexual material, underage drinking, and
language."
PG-13? | 5:42 p.m. May 8, 2008
I decided to look up an offensive R-rated movie to see what its content was. It
is R-rated which is the equivalent of the game. I actually can't reprint
what the content was because the moderator wouldn't approve it. The
language part, for a 90 minute movie says this, "94 F-words, 20 sexual
references, 23 scatological terms, 10 anatomical terms, 6 mild obscenities, 1
derogatory term for homosexuals, 1 religious profanity, 10 religious
exclamations."
The movie is based on the idea of torture for money. Which is worse?
The movie is based on the idea of torture for money. Which is worse?
R, even | 10:28 p.m. May 8, 2008
"What is eternal salvation worth to me? More then a few DVD's. What is
it worth to you? That is a decision you will have to make."
Well, perhaps you were watching the wrong films. I, for one, have quite a few rated-R DVDs in my collection (though there are many other films I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole.) And do you know what? I feel that I am a better person for having watched films like "L'enfant" and "Fanny and Alexander" and other such works of art. Because the fact is, some of the greatest films ever made are R-rated - the most enlightening, the most spiritual, the most intelligent - and I do not feel that watching them "compromised my salvation." We should be careful in our media choices, but remember that the MPAA is a secular and arbitray organization, and their ratings are not an indication of quality or morality. You may not choose to watch them - you probably wouldn't like them anyways - but don't think that those who choose to do so are "giving up their salvation" or something nonsensical like that.
Well, perhaps you were watching the wrong films. I, for one, have quite a few rated-R DVDs in my collection (though there are many other films I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole.) And do you know what? I feel that I am a better person for having watched films like "L'enfant" and "Fanny and Alexander" and other such works of art. Because the fact is, some of the greatest films ever made are R-rated - the most enlightening, the most spiritual, the most intelligent - and I do not feel that watching them "compromised my salvation." We should be careful in our media choices, but remember that the MPAA is a secular and arbitray organization, and their ratings are not an indication of quality or morality. You may not choose to watch them - you probably wouldn't like them anyways - but don't think that those who choose to do so are "giving up their salvation" or something nonsensical like that.
R, even | 10:35 p.m. May 8, 2008
"Some the movies with the highest ratings are rated R even though there are
better movies that are rated PG."
You're absolutely right - there are some wonderful PG-rated films. But there are also some wonderful R-rated films. And many (or even most) of the greatest films being made today are R-rated. It's not that they're "controversial" (you probably haven't heard of most of the greatest films coming out) or particularly violent (though some are) - but it's that they're among the most spiritual, and humanistic, and intelligent works of art being made today. Some of them do depict immorality (while others are very mild), but remember that the mere depiction of something does not make a film evil. Just as many of the greatest works of literature depict immorality and extremely evil behavior - and still, somehow, remain spiritually uplifting.
You're absolutely right - there are some wonderful PG-rated films. But there are also some wonderful R-rated films. And many (or even most) of the greatest films being made today are R-rated. It's not that they're "controversial" (you probably haven't heard of most of the greatest films coming out) or particularly violent (though some are) - but it's that they're among the most spiritual, and humanistic, and intelligent works of art being made today. Some of them do depict immorality (while others are very mild), but remember that the mere depiction of something does not make a film evil. Just as many of the greatest works of literature depict immorality and extremely evil behavior - and still, somehow, remain spiritually uplifting.
Hypocrites | 6:35 p.m. May 9, 2008
The most violence I experience comes from people who fancy themselves as good
christians.
They tailgate, slide through stop signs, speed, change lanes into me. They do all this as my precious little kids ride with me in my car.
You have no business criticizing a GAME when many of you will hop in your cars and REALLY put others in REAL danger with your rotten driving habits. Clean up your dangerous REAL habits before you gripe about a FANTASY GAME.
They tailgate, slide through stop signs, speed, change lanes into me. They do all this as my precious little kids ride with me in my car.
You have no business criticizing a GAME when many of you will hop in your cars and REALLY put others in REAL danger with your rotten driving habits. Clean up your dangerous REAL habits before you gripe about a FANTASY GAME.
AHHHH!!!! | 11:03 a.m. Aug. 6, 2008
WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOO
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Hate to go down this road, but a LDS man has no business playing this game. The waste of time and messages it gives. There is a road rage story today in the D news, its stuff like this that make us #1 in violence. Men need to own up and grow up. Wives need a back bone to not allow this crap in the home.
A Father.