Bloomberg unhappy over new videogame

[Professor K]

Those were my favorite books in grade 6! Is there anyone among us who could resist peeking ahead?

I loved getting one for a book report. It was always easy. I'd always pick like "go back home and go to bed" or something and end the story after 2 pages.

 

[ny32182]

This game sounds like it needs a CCW feature where the 1st person character catches a .45 round between the eyes robbing the the car with an armed citizen

All previous versions of the game *do* have this happen sometimes.

For those who find this game "sickening", I assume you would also find any other entertainment where the "good" people get hurt to be sickening? Never watched any movies, or read any books, or seen any TV shows where an innocent civilian or cop gets hurt, right?

 

[Thain]

am not a fan of the GTA series of games. It actually sickens me that game producer make game like GTA. Last thing we need is to glorify anti social behavior, gangs, violence, and criminal acts. Who wants to play a game where youcan beat up old ladies, or kill innocent people for fun.

Is it really any different than watching a movie that features anti social behavior (Taxi Driver), gangs (Godfather), violence (A History of Violence), or criminal acts (Resevoir Dogs)?

Is it that different from reading a book that features the same? What about a painting? Or a poem? A song?

The medium is just new, and thus easily attacked. Those over 30 don't play video games, but they do vote. 18-29 year olds play games, and don't vote. Slap the words "rock`n`roll" into the above, and you've got the politcal landscape of the 60's in a nutshell.

As for who wants to play? The GTA titles have all sold millions of copies, at $50 a pop. Its quiet possible that more Americans played GTA these last few years then went to the theater to see the Best Picture Oscar winners.

One might also consider, even if video games aren't one cup of tea, that most game industry professionals and studio big-wigs tend to be pro-gun. At least, among the American studios (I'm sure the Japanese and European guys would like to be too.) Compare that factoid agianst the prevasiling wisdom coming from Holylwood.

 

[G36-UK]

This game sounds like it needs a CCW feature where the 1st person character catches a .45 round between the eyes robbing the the car with an armed citizen...

If it really was set in NY, wouldn't that kind of put a crimp on that idea?

One thing I liked about the GTA series was that barring the missions, it's only as violent as you yourself want to be. I admit, the game does feature violence towards police, but in no way does it "reward" you, unless you can consider being chased and shot at a reward.

 

[torpid]

I can guarantee that the GTA4 version of NYC is 100% safer than the real one.

No player in NYC will ever be murdered, assaulted, raped, robbed, or carjacked by the polygons displayed on the screen. Once they turn it off and head out the door, however, the possibilities are actually real.

Maybe Bloomberg ought to try condemning the actual crimes in his city instead of virtual ones.

 

[Warren]

Thain and ny32182,

I disapprove of GTA because you advance through harming innocents, not because innocents are harmed.

In the same vein I refused to watch the Sopranos because of the glorification of a bunch of murderous scumbags who we were supposed to sympathize with.

Just recently their was a show called Thief with Ray Liotta, in the first episode the "heroes" killed a museum guard and got away with it. I refused to watch from that point on.


So, no I am not being a hypocrite by condemming GTA as worthless, amoral crap.

 

[Thain]

I never meant to imply hypocracy on your part, and I apologize if I did. I do fully proclaim that I will personally put the crown of King Hypocrite of Hypcritainia on the head of Mayor Bloomberg,if given half a chance.

My point was that violence, crime, and other assorted "dark side of life" subjects are the material from which enormous amounts of entertainment, art, and media draw water.

It doesn't matter, to me, if the matterial is in the interactive medium of a video game, or the tried and true medium of an oil painting. (Ever see Saturn Devouring His Sonby Francisco Goya[/i]? It is not family freindly.)

That painting, which is hailed as a masterpeice, is far older than video games. It depicts an act far, far, more heinous than anything you'll find on a PlayStation. But consider that the story its based on is more than 5,000 years old, and has been retold in every medium that has ever been invented.

I don't enjoy playing GTA, because I find the controls all wonky. I don't enjoy playing Halo, because I find the plot trite. I didn't watch American Idol because I hate pop music...

But there are others out there who enjoy it, and it don't bother me none.

 

[tmajors]

I disapprove of GTA because you advance through harming innocents, not because innocents are harmed.

You can actually beat GTA III (I haven't played I or II) without intentionally harming innocent people, and it isn't any harder or easier to do it that way. Yes the games have your character with the ability to harm anyone but they don't have to be played that way, nor is it a requirement.

One time I played through the only innocent people I hurt was completely unintentially, once accidentally shooting an innocent bystander that was next to a gang member, and another when I whipped around the corner in a car and ran someone over that was jay walking . There were of course others but it was in the same vein, unintentional.

There is even a side mission that you have to do in order to complete the game 100% that involves running around the game world armed with a camera and taking tourist pictures of all the touristy areas. No violence, theft, or crime involved.

In actuality going on a rampage and just shooting anyone and anything is a right quick way to end the game, so there is consequences to actions.

Not disparaging your opinion, just saying that part of the misnomers of GTA III is that in order to win you have to be a bad guy hoodlum.

 

[Warren]

I never meant to imply hypocracy on your part, and I apologize if I did. I do fully proclaim that I will personally put the crown of King Hypocrite of Hypcritainia on the head of Mayor Bloomberg,if given half a chance.

Sorry, misread what you wrote.

Not disparaging your opinion, just saying that part of the misnomers of GTA III is that in order to win you have to be a bad guy hoodlum.

No problem, I was unaware you could beat the game without harming innocents. So my bad.

None of my former co-workers ever mentioned that that was possible, they just got off on the violence they could engage in and the way they described the missions it was all about murder, theft arson and so on.

 

[LawBot5000]

Wow, I hadnt heard about this sequel. It will be awesome to explore my old neighborhood.

 

[SteveS]

The medium is just new, and thus easily attacked. Those over 30 don't play video games, but they do vote. 18-29 year olds play games, and don't vote.

Video games, though nothing like the ones of today, have been around since I was a kid, and I am in my late 30's. I also play video games fairly often. I am not a big fan of the GTA games, mostly because of the controls and the lame story. I also prefer to be the 'good guy' or the 'mostly good guy'.

That being said, I don't support any type of game censorship and I think Rockstar games is probably very happy with all the controversy.

 

[illspirit]

Seriously, I'm afraid they'll bring in censorship.

Afraid they will? They've already tried. Eleven States (or is it twelve now?) in the last two years have passed game bans/heavy restrictions which have all been ruled unconstitutional by the courts. And, surprise, the self-proclaimed "champions" of civil rights in the Democratic party wrote and signed each bill into law (except one signed by Schwarzenegger). Some Democrat in NY is trying to take this censorship one step further by submitting a bill which would ban religious games too.

No problem, I was unaware you could beat the game without harming innocents. So my bad.

None of my former co-workers ever mentioned that that was possible, they just got off on the violence they could engage in and the way they described the missions it was all about murder, theft arson and so on.

The thing about GTA is, you can make whatever you want of it, to an extent. If one were so inclined, they could literally play for days without touching the main missions or any weapons by delivering pizzas, being a paramedic or firefighter, driving a cab, taking jobs as a bike courier, etc.. It's just that most people tend to go on rampages because it's something they can't do in real life, and it's a good way to let off steam.

When one does decide to be naughty, there's a "moral system" built into the game. Kill some innocent bystanders, and cops, SWAT, FBI, and eventually the National Guard will come and destroy you. Even the story missions have a subtle, underlying positive side to them. In the last game, the main story arch revolved around shutting down a trio of corrupt police officers and driving the crack dealers out of the city. Yea, the protagonists are always something of an anti-hero, but all in all, the series has always been more of a dark satire than it is a glorification of crime.


Anyhow, I think what Bloomberg is worried about here is that the game will draw attention to the rotten core of the Big Apple which he tries to pretend doesn't exist. Or, the elephant in the room, if you will. At its heart, GTA is a social and political satire, and I don't think the guys and gals at Rockstar will go easy on Bloomberg either.

 

[Autolycus]

Originally posted by illspirit:
Afraid they will? They've already tried. Eleven States (or is it twelve now?) in the last two years have passed game bans/heavy restrictions which have all been ruled unconstitutional by the courts. And, surprise, the self-proclaimed "champions" of civil rights in the Democratic party wrote and signed each bill into law (except one signed by Schwarzenegger). Some Democrat in NY is trying to take this censorship one step further by submitting a bill which would ban religious games too.

Do you have any links to this Democrat in NY trying to ban religious games?

Does anyone remember the album Copkiller by Ice-T? I seem to remember hearing that it was banned.

Either way I doubt anything will happen other than a boycott of the game by some groups.

 

[Beagle-zebub]

Sure, we have an enumerated right to free speech, but who "needs" a game like GTA? And we all know that the 1st Amendment applies to communication, not game-design.

What difference does it make if the people being killed are cops or not? Are cops more equal than others? Did Mr. Bloomberg's social science class end with Hobbes' Leviathan?

 

[torpid]

Sure, we have an enumerated right to free speech, but who "needs" a game like GTA? And we all know that the 1st Amendment applies to communication, not game-design.

If this isn't "sporting purposes" comparison sarcasm, it is sure a perfect setup for it.

 

[illspirit]

Do you have any links to this Democrat in NY trying to ban religious games?

Text of bill. Brief article on Game Politics blog.

Among other things, it would ban the sale of games with "religious violence" to minors, which could theoretically include anything from a game based on the story of David and Goliath to the Battle of Jericho. The law was a response to a rather tame/bloodless Teen rated real-time strategy adaptation of the Left Behind books, so there's no doubt in my mind the legislator is aiming for any religious game with any action.

The bill would also require game retailers to hide them in a special adults only section like porn. But with most game shops not having the floor space for this (and with there not being enough games to really justify it if they did), it would be a de facto stealth ban.

 

[Fulcrum of Evil]

Nah, he'd prefer it be about unidentified cops shooting unarmed Black motorists ten or fifteen times...

nah, that's GTA: Windy city.

 

[doubleg]

But yet they ENCOURAGE movies that include extreme violence and murder to be filmed in New York? Idiots.

 

[Wes Janson]

Am I the only one who really wants a Scorpion tank level set on I-Drive?

 

[50caliber123]

anyone played The Punisher videogame? pokes comments at "the mayor" of NYC and takes place their too. great game IMO

 

[Sindawe]

But yet they ENCOURAGE movies that include extreme violence and murder to be filmed in New York? Idiots.

There its about the money. Movies filmed in New York brings money into the city coffers, since permits must be gotten, police hired for security on sets and the film crews spend money for day to day living. Games set in New York can be written Seattle, bringing NO money into the city.

 

[NC-Mike]

Scr*w Bloomberg and his Utopian views. He's a Ultra-liberal in republican clothes. The courts have ruled video-games are no different than movies. Video games actually make more money than movies, it's a huge industry.

BTW, I'm over 40 and I played all three GTA games on my PC. GTA-3, GTA-Vice City and GTA San Andreas. I also played GTA-2 but it was not nearly as fun. The entertainment value of these games are staggering, it may take me a month or more of occasional 1 hours sessions of playing the game to complete it and GTA San Andreas had some of the best produced "cut scenes" ever. They had some major stars doing voice-overs and it really dragged you into the story. Yes, there is a story... If you never played a GTA game, don't bad mouth it. The series was ground breaking for many reasons, one of which was the non-linear style of game-play. You can get in your car and just drive around the city. You don't have to kill "innocent" by-standers in the game and if one does, it serves no purpose in advancing the missions you perform in the game. You actually make your own choices in the game, just like real life...

Bottom line, they are great fun. It's kinda neat having your own jet, heli-copter, sports car, tank and jet-pack and then trying to decide what you will ride today. Or shoot today...

 

[G36-UK]

Games set in New York can be written Seattle, bringing NO money into the city.

Or in this case, in Scotland (Rockstar North's about three hours away by train). I see your point about the money, though.

The thing is, did Miami complain about Vice City (except for Jack Thompson)? I don't remember them doing that.

It's kinda neat having your own jet, heli-copter, sports car, tank and jet-pack and then trying to decide what you will ride today. Or shoot today...

You just summed up the whole GTA experience. Though you missed out the boats.

 

[NC-Mike]

Missed the trucks, boats, bicycles, scooters, prop-planes, pontoon planes and motorcycles you can ride too!

I'm sure I left something else out too. Oh yeah, the girlfriends!!!