Concerned parents rant on sex in GTAIV

[kirisute]

http://www.esrb.org/ratings/ratings_guide.jsp

 

your arguments are well written and i can see your viewpoint.

however, im sorry but your making a judgement about a game and its intended influence upon children that are not supposed to be playing it anyway. i truly doubt anybody in this forum didnt know that at some point sex or sexual content would be in this game. And with the scandal that Hot Coffee made previously i cannot understand how, as a parent, you failed to realise that sex would make it into this game.

Regardless of whether the rating system is not sufficient enough, regardless of whether R* could inform you more about the games content, it is YOUR job as parent to control what influences your children.

we seem to live in a society that is all to willing to let slip the blame of consequence...it wasnt me...its not his fault..society made me do it..a game gave me the idea...

NO! STOP! you have one person to blame in this situation...yourself. you bought a MATURE rated game that clearly states in the ESRB that it might contain sexual content. its is YOUR choice to allow your children to play it. The adult industry creates pornography every minute of the day..would you let your children watch it? Why have you made the the choice to consider GTA any different to a violent horror film? an adult movie?

 

i recall sitting in the cinema at the new King Kong. Lady comes and sits behind us with her 7 years old kids....we get chatting and i inform her that its a 12a...she says oh well im sure it will be fine! guess what? during the scene the guys are being eaten alive by giant worms the kids start to scream and cry! whose fault is that? the cinemas? the makers of the film? erm NO! its hers! she ignored a rating and gave her kids the scare of their young lives!..personally i hope they didnt sleep for a bloody month!

 

i grew up when videos first came out..renting cool films like Mad Max and the New Barbarians..my dad loved his bawdy sex comedies..Porky's and Coffesions films.....and yeah i sat and watched and laughed along with him....and hey..guess what? im not a derranged psycho killer..or a mad pervert.

 

Your children will grow up in YOUR enviroment...the one YOU make for them. they will gain moral and psychological standards from YOU and your partner...and if they become influenced then it is YOUR job to temper that influence with knowledge and morals.

 

stop laying the blame at others doors. If you dont feel you can justify the content of the game, dont let them play it. If you dont feel strong enough to moralise the content. dont let let them play it.

dont stick your hand in the fire and then run and tell somebody its too hot and should have had a warning!

 

i respect you for coming here and stating your case....and i respect you for trying to raise your kids right.....however im sorry..knowing what i know of GTA, i wouldnt be happy lettings kids play it.

[HenTz]

Im 14 yo and I say, good post. But im not gonna buy this for sex.. I just wanna make chaos and stuff and thats what im gonna do im not gonna go like 'cool u can has sex! lets bang all the hos !', just saying.

And to the violence, I can really not see what the people who are redoing things in real life what they have thought was cool in videogames think.. I mean, they're games, entertainment and you play it to get away from problems and real life and enjoy and have fun, its game not real life.

Edited April 28, 2008 by HenTz

[PicoDeath]

I'm not reading what you've said, this game is for OVER 18's for a REASON. You should be worried much more about kids at school, we're all f*cking around at 15 and drugs are around every corner and you're going to cry about a little animation in a game.

[Ex2I]

I have less sympathy for them because they were not forthright enough with the public to inform parents of the full nature of the content prior to the release date

The game has a huge label on it that states that the game is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18. How much more "forthright" could they be?

 

Secondly, I could comment on how you are the worst kind of parent, one that thinks he/she knows EVERYTHING about their kids and the world and that classes all "teens" under the same banner, but I don't know you personally and so it is not for me to judge.

 

Before you pipe up again, Im not one of the 13 year olds whom you so aptly mention, I am 18 years old and will be playing the game on the 29th.

 

P.S: Pavlovian Conditioning involved dogs being taught that there food was to be incorporated with certain sounds. Eventually, when the food was taken away from the equation, the dogs would still salivate at the sound that had previously signified their food however, over the course of time they learned that the sounds no longer led to food and disassociated them. Because of this, even if we are just as open to this type of conditioning, the link between violence and relationships will eventually be broken in our minds. Unless you're psychologically inferior to a dog.

[gamefreak1978]

there are far worse things happening outside your door. if someone cant tell the differences between whats real and whats fantasy any age they need to speak to someone like a shrink. thats not a put down btw.

[coretraxx]

one thing to say to this,

 

DONT LET YOUR 14 YEAR OLD BOY PLAY AN 18 RATED GAME

 

simple enough i think?

 

and if you do, know that it will have events of an adult nature.

[Hugef1]

How many f*cking times does the guy have to say it? HE'S IN AUSTRALIA WHERE THE RATING SYSTEM ENDS AT 15. Every SINGLE post that refers to him to the rating system is a f*cking MORON.

 

Sorry, had to get that off my chest.

 

OP. I see your point, but IMO you should play through the game yourself and see what you can do with the prozzies then decide for yourself.

[MTHH2]

As many other said if some parents are scared of sex, then why do you buy it or let your children buy/play it.

And then theres the fact that "you have to" be 17+ to buy/play GTA IV (and I know that most of the stores sell it to ppl under 17)

I dont see the problem.. and there is so much sex and porno on tv and on the internet so I dont think some sex-scenes in a game will make you/your kid adicted to sex.

(sorry if my spelling is f***ed I know it's not the best)

[coretraxx]

wow, calm down mate.

 

If thats the case then i missed it and i apologize

 

In that case they need to sort out their rating system coz its clearly an adult game and he should know that so expect events and scenes of that nature.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Personally I have no intention of helping the OP due to the tone of his post. The repeated insinuation that no one here has the maturity to reply to him in a level-headed way and the idea that we're all mentally warped perverts unable to see a woman as anything less than a sex object is hugely offensive. I can see why you'd think you'd get flamed, but automatically making that assumption isn't going to make you too many friends.

 

Get your son the game, don't get your son the game. If you'd phrased things a little better maybe I could have cared less.

[Hugef1]

Nah, you're right, it's just that I read the same sort of thing about 50 times, and it was clear people just didn't think or read what he had to say.

 

It IS an issue, about the ratings, which is why the UK has it's own system.

[Oblivion470]

If your kids can't take some butt sechs, then they shouldn't get GTA.

 

I'm 14. (Not saying IM MATURE ENOUGH LOLZ, but if you can't take it then leave it.)

 

Tbh, I think it's hilarious.

[Kiinted]

I guess I could be a little clearer again. the previous gta versions more or less had stylised sex, cars rocking etc. forget hot coffee which rockstar rightly got raked over the coals for (in future, take the content out altogether, dont just patch out the event sequence but leave the code in place). the bottom line is that the sex wasnt explicit, it was stylised in a way that was humorous even to an early teen, and many parents were comfortable with that.

 

Now however the sex is far more explicit and without any real warning ESRB isnt adequate inactually explaining the acts themselves in context of the game, censors may not find content unless explicitly shown (ala hot coffee) so they cant be held accountable for not being able to trigger the precise series of events that culminate in a blowjob for instance, unlike a movie where its laid out in clear sequence and there is no skill required and an accurate rating can be assigned.

 

Its the unknown content I am concerned about, its the easter eggs and poorly patched code that allows an otherwise unratable piece of content to be viewed. hot coffee is the precedent and in all honesty i believe it was planned more than being accidental, after all it was a mindblowing amount of free publicity with an illiicit overtone so appealing to a younger generation.

 

Ratings board cant be blamed if the content was unavailable to them, and who can say what other hot coffee related eggs are in gtaiv waiting to be found due to poor patching instead or complete removal of offending content. while unlikely its quite possible.

 

Again, i wont be letting the teen play the game until i am satisfied that all the exploits are found and the levels of sex when executed in context dont exceed my level of acceptance for him, its my choice as a parent to make, all I ask is for relevent details from rockstar to help me and other parent make an informed decision, unfortunately rockstar are avoiding the details on specifically what has been censored in the australian version, and its this specifically which is pissing me off about them.

[Ex2I]

I didnt know the rating system was different in Australia but even so, isnt the Australian version censored to some extent (not sure just how much)?

[natman_488]

Dude, you're a retarded parent.

 

If they're not 17, don' let them play it.

 

If they are 17, grow some f*cking balls because VIRTUAL SEX/VIOLENCE is no different from MOVIE SEX/VIOLENCE.

wow

you're a prick

 

they're obviously a great parent, THEY GIVE A sh*t ABOUT THEIR KIDS.

 

your mum probably hits you in the morning. you deserve it too.

 

 

 

anyway,

i actually read the whole thing. i have to say, well written. I'm 17 years old, and i've seen my fair share of odd stuff.

just throwin my opinion out there.

i personally have no interrest in the hookers bit, it may be comical at some bits but really, it isnt necessary. i played san andreas and went to the strip clubs once or twice just to see what they were like. i don't get the point in animated almost porn. sure gta isnt porn (jack thompson can die), but they do kinda try to make it porn. it isnt necessary. the game is great, who cares about being able to root a hooker? if that is one of your favourite bits in the game, then i gotta say, you're a sick F*ck.

 

anyway, for writing all that, well done.

and, dont worry, the content is edited here in aus, it will prob be the same as previous gta games. should you feel the need to root a hooker, it changes your view so you cant see the people, and they are really just sitting next to each other in the car (if you figure out how to see them)

[Damo004]

look bellow

[sinnerboy]

Everybody needs love(or man-love apparently)... Even Niko

[AngerOfTheNorth]

 

I guess I could be a little clearer again. the previous gta versions more or less had stylised sex, cars rocking etc. forget hot coffee which rockstar rightly got raked over the coals for (in future, take the content out altogether, dont just patch out the event sequence but leave the code in place). the bottom line is that the sex wasnt explicit, it was stylised in a way that was humorous even to an early teen, and many parents were comfortable with that.

 

Now however the sex is far more explicit and without any real warning ESRB isnt adequate inactually explaining the acts themselves in context of the game, censors may not find content unless explicitly shown (ala hot coffee) so they cant be held accountable for not being able to trigger the precise series of events that culminate in a blowjob for instance, unlike a movie where its laid out in clear sequence and there is no skill required and an accurate rating can be assigned.

 

Its the unknown content I am concerned about, its the easter eggs and poorly patched code that allows an otherwise unratable piece of content to be viewed. hot coffee is the precedent and in all honesty i believe it was planned more than being accidental, after all it was a mindblowing amount of free publicity with an illiicit overtone so appealing to a younger generation.

 

Ratings board cant be blamed if the content was unavailable to them, and who can say what other hot coffee related eggs are in gtaiv waiting to be found due to poor patching instead or complete removal of offending content. while unlikely its quite possible.

 

Again, i wont be letting the teen play the game until i am satisfied that all the exploits are found and the levels of sex when executed in context dont exceed my level of acceptance for him, its my choice as a parent to make, all I ask is for relevent details from rockstar to help me and other parent make an informed decision, unfortunately rockstar are avoiding the details on specifically what has been censored in the australian version, and its this specifically which is pissing me off about them.

I think you're over-reacting slightly here.

 

Rockstar got torn to shreds over the Hot Coffee incident. Plus it was appallingly poor quality. They never wanted it in the game. As a result I'm pretty certain they'll have combed the game repeatedly to ensure it wasn't in there again.

 

The censors will have seen everything the game has to offer. There won't be anything that they haven't seen.

 

I understand and sympathise with your point that the sex is a little more explicit and graphic. It's going to be, the graphics in general are hugely improved. I also totally see your main point, that although sex is fine and violence is acceptable (arguably) the mixture of the two can be worrying.

 

From what I can see, there are no more options to mix the two than there were before - essentially to have sex with a prostitute and then kill her, which is a very old trick to get your money back. You can't beat a girl during sex, you can't force yourself onto a girl etc. I honestly don't believe that this game could be released if there was any way of actively mixing sex and violence.

 

For what it's worth, I've played GTA all the way back to the original GTA. I'm 26 now and mentally balanced, and am in a very stable relationship. Only you know your son well enough to know if he can handle the game. However you must remember that as people have said, there's plenty of things available to him, that you really can't stop him seeing, that are much worse. Eventually you just have to trust that he'll be able to take it for what it is.

Edited April 28, 2008 by AngerOfTheNorth

[Kiinted]

I didnt know the rating system was different in Australia but even so, isnt the Australian version censored to some extent (not sure just how much)?

See, now this is precisely my point (in bold). Nobody knows because Rockstar hasn't released information on exactly what was censored, and its THIS that has made me pissed off at them. Australian parents arent being well informed enough of the censorship changes to the game to adequately decide on whether the censorship changes suit the new rating compared to the content in the unrated version.

 

Remember, I am trying to decide for a 14yo (near 15yo, the targeted level for the rating ... NOT 17, NOT 18 etc) the censorship is meant to ensure that its suitable for a 15yo and hence a mature 14yo which I consider my son to be. However, he isnt mature enough for the 18+ content which may still be accessible either through a poorly patched piece of code (ala Hot Coffee) or some other content which I consider to be too explicit.

 

All I want is for Rockstar to come clean on the censorship changes so that we Australian parents can make an INFORMED decision on whether the censorship changes make the game adequate for a 15yo (or at the parents discretion someone close enough to the age that has demonstrated through experience the ability to handle content of that rating - my particular case)

 

This is the last time I will mention Australia, MA15+ and my 14yo boy ... if people are too lazy to read, then let their uninformed opinion fall on deaf ears along with all the other 18+ and 17+ comments through this thread.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Fair enough.

 

My earlier posts still apply, although to add to it I would expect them to have consulted with the Australian censors to see what needed to be cut. I see what you mean about not knowing what has been cut, however if you trust the censors to judge well enough on a film, then I'd assume they will have made adequate cuts to the game.

 

Again, I would buy the game and see what's in there.

[fallen_Shooter]

Dont wprry. Ill be honest. 95% of teenage boys watch porn at least once a week and jack off to that.

 

We know how to get passed all the secruity and make it look like we never went on bad websites. Its just pixels, and if your really concerd, just ask him not to do sexua things or he cant play the game.

 

I can do the sexual things but i have no intrest as its just pixels, and watching a body fly 100 feet int he air by an exposion is much more fun that a pixalating striper.

[xer0er]

I didnt know the rating system was different in Australia but even so, isnt the Australian version censored to some extent (not sure just how much)?

See, now this is precisely my point (in bold). Nobody knows because Rockstar hasn't released information on exactly what was censored, and its THIS that has made me pissed off at them. Australian parents arent being well informed enough of the censorship changes to the game to adequately decide on whether the censorship changes suit the new rating compared to the content in the unrated version.

 

Remember, I am trying to decide for a 14yo (near 15yo, the targeted level for the rating ... NOT 17, NOT 18 etc) the censorship is meant to ensure that its suitable for a 15yo and hence a mature 14yo which I consider my son to be. However, he isnt mature enough for the 18+ content which may still be accessible either through a poorly patched piece of code (ala Hot Coffee) or some other content which I consider to be too explicit.

 

All I want is for Rockstar to come clean on the censorship changes so that we Australian parents can make an INFORMED decision on whether the censorship changes make the game adequate for a 15yo (or at the parents discretion someone close enough to the age that has demonstrated through experience the ability to handle content of that rating - my particular case)

 

This is the last time I will mention Australia, MA15+ and my 14yo boy ... if people are too lazy to read, then let their uninformed opinion fall on deaf ears along with all the other 18+ and 17+ comments through this thread.

It's only rated for 15+ because our ratings don't go higher, and the pressure was on them to not ban it, or cut it excessively.

Instead of raving on about how you shouldn't buy it, and it being no use, I'll try to be helpful;

 

Personally, I know how your son feels, as I'm assuming he owns the previous GTA games.

I'm more than certain that the games are his favourite, and loves them to death.

Hell, it wouldn't surprise me if he begged you to play/own the games.

 

I don't mean to sound rude in my posts, but I am just trying to convey the message that the makers of the game don't need to release such information to the minority that need to know what content the game has, so they can make a good decision for their kids.

 

The previous games, I've owned even when I was legally too young.

 

GTA IV seems to be far different.

 

I advise you play the game yourself, or have someone experienced with the game play it for you, and show you what you can get up to, before you make a decision.

 

If you want an easier way, and you do monitor your child's play, you could buy the game from EBGames, let your son play it, and watch him.

You have up to seven days to take it back if it is not what you want him playing, and you will get your money back. Just hold on to the receipt.

Might want to let your son in on the "deal", before he knows what is going to happen if it isn't what you like. Rather then letting him fall in love with it, and repossessing it.

 

I must say though, the things cut from the game are MINOR, and I don't see how it helps you make a better decision. I'd be more worried about what is actually still in the game.

[fishermanGTA]

OP, get over it!

If you dont want your child to see that stuff, dont let them!

Its your responsibility!

 

If your child is age 16-17, expect them to know more about sex than you do.

[cyclone1969]

Yes I can see your point on Deciding to let your 14 year old son play this (near 15)

But I think the best way to go about this is keep your ears to the forums like this and others regarding ala hot coffee style slips (though after hot coffee incedent |I highly doubt wether R* will leave stuff like that lurking once bitten twice shy)

 

And deliberatly go looking for sexual content yourself as you have said you are buying for your self go hire a hooker (multiple times see what happens what can be seen and such)

Go to the strip clubs run through as many varietions as you can.

 

After all that, then make a choice after all I cant see not being able to do this stuff early ish in the game

 

Im 29 lone Male parent with a 6 yr old daughter who will not be around when i play the game must definatly not

[Mrpopular]

As much as I'd like to side with you...

 

THE GAME IS RATED MATURE

 

Thats like going into a Rated R movie and saying.. "why are they swearing so much?" "Was the sex scene needed?"

 

Thats why R* made it MA. So they could do whatever the f*ck they want.

 

It's the parents fault for buying the kid the game.

 

And if you can't deal with a Mature game having sexual acts.... go hang out with Jack Thompson.

 

 

 

 

 

[1066ant]

I see what you mean, my parents won't let me the game because it has "mindless violence" but its a 18 cert and I'm 16 so its their choice.

 

Now if you don't mind I have some violent hentai porn movies to watch!

[RageOfTheJester]

the game is rated to be played by those 17+. the reason it is labeld that is because of its content which is clearlymarked on the box. there is no reason for it to list off every depraved sex act that can occur in the game, if youre really that concerned about it, the fact that it contatins partial nudity and strong sexual content coupled with strong violence should have clearly been enough to show you its not a game for your kids. you prattle on about violence and sex at the same time, well it is GTA... srsly.. the ESRB is doing a fine job and wouldnt have given it an M rating if they thought it should be played by 13 year old kids.

 

 

if the information on the box isnt enough for you to make a good choice as a parent then play the game before your kids to know the exact content. no one has to tell you up front what happens, they just have to inform you that the acts do happen. and an easy read through the internet will show you that those multiple sex acts were already known about long before the game leaked.

 

 

for you to call out R* as being irresponsible is to show youre own ineptitude as a parent. stop crying about game content and take responsibility for what you allow your kids access to. stop thinking of games as being always for kids.

 

 

 

[S4-Gore]

 

Cliffs: Get off the drugs, grown an attention span and READ it.

 

Now, I understand there is a very large number of kids on this forum, both those under 17, and those over 17. I am well aware that what I am about to post will be met largely with criticism from those kids, however I need to get this off my chest and hopefully in front of a Rockstar employee if they read these forums.

 

First and foremost, I DO NOT advocate the banning of GTAIV in any way shape or form. I love the game, the series and everything about it. Hell, I wrote one of the first video walkthroughs of GTAIII still hosted with gta3.com (unfortunately I lost all the videos in pictures about the same time as the website went down) ... I digress ...

 

I have a problem with Rockstar ... quite a big problem as of GTAIV. Its not the sex itself that I have a problem with so much as the fact that Rockstar wont "man up" and detail all the activities that a player can complete in the game, specifically in relation to said sex acts.

 

As a parent, I would like to know all the activities that can be completed by a player so I can determine if my teenage son can play the game. LOL IRONY WHAT ABOUT THE VIOLENCE DUH calm down children, let me explain as best I can for your obviously limited intelligence on the issue of sex and violence in video games.

 

Violence in and of itself is not disturbing, it begins in the playground and is sensationalised regularly in the news, music, movies and computer games. Children grow up with violence in the DAILY lives. However, children DO NOT grow up with sex in their daily lives (I mean sexual acts, not sexuality) - meaning there arent billboards of a man getting a headjob on every highway, nor are there advertisements on television for strip joints with the john getting a lap dance during the evening sitcoms.

 

Sex in a young teen male is like amphetamines, if you are 14 or so, hell even older will work as well, try not jerking off for a month ... let those people around you know to pay attention to your moods. I guarantee that within a week you will become moody, angry even violent (potentially) unless you are a little catholic boy who already doesnt spill his seed because it will piss god off ... thats beside the point. However, as soon as you jerk off, the "pressure" (mental) as it were will be released and your mood immediately will calm down. This is the "reward" effect of masturbation, the "reward" of sex as it were.

 

The problem is when you combine the sexual acts with either immediately preceeding or following violence that it becomes a serious issue ... in males during puberty there is a very real danger that the association of a violent act followed/preceeded by sexual act can glorify that violent act providing sex as the reward for violence ... this as you can imagine is very dangerous, and for the most part many here will say "I was looking at bondage on the internet when I was 9yo and I am now 18 and I am OK" ... well sure, but are you really? ... How many here are incapable of having an actual INTIMATE relationship? Most here get ballsy with "Ahh f*ck off bitch" and thats the actual realisation of the problem, you are incapable of intimacy with a partner because you werent taught intimacy, you were taught objectification (internet porn, etc). Its this objectification of sex, emasculated by violence that I have a problem with. Sexual respect and intimacy are in sharp decline in favour of short f*cks and casual relationships, its pretty clear in society today, and its a symptom of a much larger underlying problem. This can tentatively but with confidence be linked back to a violent nature, while not physically manifested, it is manifested by ambivelence and lack of intimacy in a relationship ... a lack of respect as it were.

 

It takes alot of balls to take a step back and see the reality, and I doubt many under 25s here will be able to without resorting to calling me names and carrying on like 13yo kids who have just had their internet porn taken off them.

 

I dont have a problem with the voilence and the sex in the game for someone who is mature enough to handle it (and the fact the 13yo kids here will say "I am mature enough" proves they arent) as long as you are capable of differentiating the sexual and violent behaviour, which unfortunately most teens arent able to do. Its a little thing called conditioning (see references to Pavlovs Dog on wikipedia for more info).

 

I am not a prude of a parent, I dont have a problem with my teenage kids seeing sex (both stylised and strong) as long as its contextualised correctly without violence present within a close approximate timeframe. In essence, I wouldnt have a problem letting my kids play GTAIV if it wasnt for the simulated sex present.

 

This isnt a case of supervision (there needs to be an element of trust in every parental relationship) this is more about the fact that kids just cannot be trusted to tell the truth when it really counts. Kids lie ... when a kid wants something they wont tell the truth, there wouldnt be any kid under 17 here who would honestly say to their parents "Hey, can you buy me GTAIV, it has handjobs and lapdances with strippers" ... yeah sure, record the event on video and post on youtube and you will be a legend.

 

Basically I am thankful that GTAIV was leaked on the internet, and *accidentally* released early by some shops, the handjob video was released as a result before the actual full release date, and as now I am an informed parent who can make the informed decision not to play the game when the kids are around/awake/whatever. I for one certainly hope other parents will learn of the content before falling to their childrens lies of "Its OK mom, its just a bit of shooting like the other one I play" or "But mom, Johns mom bought it for him so it must be OK".

 

Its unfortunate for Rockstar that the game was pirated and the street date was broken, however as a consumer I have less sympathy for them because they were not forthright enough with the public to inform parents of the full nature of the content prior to the release date, instead now parents will buy the game on their kids insitence, and when they discover the sexual content will freak out and there WILL be a much larger sh*tstorm than Hot Coffee ever produced.

 

The ESRB is wholely inadequate for describing the ACTUAL nature of the content ... the public has an individual approach to what is considered strong sexual content, some parents may consider themselves quite liberal and see the ESRB rating of strong sexual content thinking its fairly innocent as depicted in the previous GTA games, and therefore they see the warning and ignore it based on previous history. However these same parents will be the ones knocking R* door down when they discover what their kids can actually do in the game. So please, dont pull the ESRB card on me, it wont work and I am not interested in what 3 little words say in comparison to the actual content. I consider the actual content as "Graphic sexual content" not "Strong sexual content" and many parents will agree with the slight difference in distinction.

 

Rockstar can avoid all the negative publicity (although I firmly believe they revel in it) if they would be a little more forthright and public about the full length and breadth of the content so that those parents who they DONT want the game to get in the hands of their children ... wont let it get into their hands. Help inform the consumers before the purchase and you will avoid all the negativity associated with parents screaming at their children enjoying the hooker giving Niko a handjob.

 

ESRB only gos so far, its inneffective as is clearly indicated by the large number of children who love the fact their parents are too stupid to find out about the content in the game before they buy it for them, its unfortunate, however Rockstar can help by being a little more forthright and helping inform those parents before the sh*t hits the fan.

 

Thanks for your time, and I am already wearing the flame suit. If you reply with anything I have covered in my post that doesnt include an intelligent counter, then dont be surprised if I do not reply to you, especially WAHH ESRB etc.

Your teenage son is not meant to playing the game full stop, hence the adult ratings all over the world. By supplying your son with the game you are in fact breaking the law.

 

If you have ANY concerns about your son being exposed to indecent material in the game the DONT f*ckING GIVE IT TO HIM!!!!

 

Edited April 28, 2008 by S4-Gore

[Slamman]

I can't wrap my head around people thinking SEX is the worst thing in the game. The complaining parents used this method to conceive the damn kids in question. But murdering thousands of people and doing drugs.. nah no mention that.

 

Idiots.

Parents objecting to sex, but take that out (Hot Coffee) and all the meaningless VIOLENCE in the world is nuthin'!!! No cares, No worries

[Currychips]

The initial topic, whilst insightful is also unnecessarily condescending.

 

"calm down children, let me explain as best I can for your obviously limited intelligence on the issue of sex and violence in video games."

 

In several other occasions in your piece you dig out the reader as being of less intelligence than yourself - as if you're opinion has to be right, because it's yours. Anyway, my take for what it's worth is thus:

 

As a parent myself (of a much younger child) I have to agree with you to an extent. But parents buying or allowing children to play this game is not the fault of Rockstar. Why should they have to spell out the entire content to the public? Why should this medium be any different to say, film or books. I don't recall reading the synopsis on the reverse of a DVD box and having the in's and out's of the film spread out. And why should they be? The age ratings are there for a reason, and if you choose to play your game with children in attendance then that is your call, not Rockstars.

 

In my opinion ratings are the cause for most of the problems anyway. When I was much younger the thing to do and tell your friends about was to watch the latest horror film. The films that were deemed 'adult only' were taboo and 'must-see' for kids like myself at the time. Children will always try to do the opposite of what they are told, rebellion is part of human nature and part of growing up and finding your own 2 feet.

 

Just because it's a 'game' doesn't mean it's for kids. Parents that are clued up on the subject like yourself should do the monitoring not the company selling the product.