Could the UK Riots affect GTA V?

[visionist]

The whole affair plus the Olympics could be nicely parodied in a 2012 era GTA London.

 

Also, after seeing the riots, where have all the GTA London haters suddenly crawled off to? London still too "Peaceful & Boring" for you? Fu*k off.

[Adriaan]

 

No one here has said that gta is a reason for the riots, actually no journalist has.

 

Wrong. Please read the original post by MissCloud.

 

 

Oh and OchyGTA, I think you are downplaying things a little. Check this out: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6063502.stm

 

 

MissCloud raised a fair point though - about their current marketing plans. Who knows, maybe the announcement was planned around the same time, or close? I could see a scenario whereby a company would want to step back based on world events and media focus. I could easily see that, if, the game was announced close to recent events, a large portion of how it was received would have been tied to things in Britain.

 

Just look at computerandvideogames.com, they've got four GTA related articles featured on their home page - 3 of which is linked to the UK Riots. I don't think R* would want the announcement of this title to be received in such a way.

 

OchyGTA I think you too quickly jumped to conclusions without reading her first post, you automatically seemed to have assumed she meant the game might be banned or whatever... I don't think that was what she talked about, it was more around the marketing of their games and an announcement for this game.

 

 

 

 

Now, my opinion on the whole thing is quite simply this:

If the game was released a week before the riots, I would not be surprised if there would have been lesser chance of these riots taking place. I know that sounds ridiculous, but let's say these crazy claims of how GTA directly inspired people to riot is true.... if the game came out the week before these people would more likely be playing the game than being out on the streets.

 

GTA keeps people indoors, not outdoors.

 

[Original Light]

No one here has said that gta is a reason for the riots, actually no journalist has.

 

Wrong. Please read the original post by MissCloud.

 

 

Oh and OchyGTA, I think you are downplaying things a little. Check this out: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6063502.stm

 

 

MissCloud raised a fair point though - about their current marketing plans. Who knows, maybe the announcement was planned around the same time, or close? I could see a scenario whereby a company would want to step back based on world events and media focus. I could easily see that, if, the game was announced close to recent events, a large portion of how it was received would have been tied to things in Britain.

 

Just look at computerandvideogames.com, they've got four GTA related articles featured on their home page - 3 of which is linked to the UK Riots. I don't think R* would want the announcement of this title to be received in such a way.

 

OchyGTA I think you too quickly jumped to conclusions without reading her first post, you automatically seemed to have assumed she meant the game might be banned or whatever... I don't think that was what she talked about, it was more around the marketing of their games and an announcement for this game.

 

 

 

 

Now, my opinion on the whole thing is quite simply this:

If the game was released a week before the riots, I would not be surprised if there would have been lesser chance of these riots taking place. I know that sounds ridiculous, but let's say these crazy claims of how GTA directly inspired people to riot is true.... if the game came out the week before these people would more likely be playing the game than being out on the streets.

 

GTA keeps people indoors, not outdoors.

Its not GTA, it's the parents. Being bad at raising children. If everyone was more religous this may have not happened.

[OchyGTA]

No one here has said that gta is a reason for the riots, actually no journalist has.

 

Wrong. Please read the original post by MissCloud.

 

 

Oh and OchyGTA, I think you are downplaying things a little. Check this out: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6063502.stm

 

 

MissCloud raised a fair point though - about their current marketing plans. Who knows, maybe the announcement was planned around the same time, or close? I could see a scenario whereby a company would want to step back based on world events and media focus. I could easily see that, if, the game was announced close to recent events, a large portion of how it was received would have been tied to things in Britain.

 

Just look at computerandvideogames.com, they've got four GTA related articles featured on their home page - 3 of which is linked to the UK Riots. I don't think R* would want the announcement of this title to be received in such a way.

 

OchyGTA I think you too quickly jumped to conclusions without reading her first post, you automatically seemed to have assumed she meant the game might be banned or whatever... I don't think that was what she talked about, it was more around the marketing of their games and an announcement for this game.

 

 

 

 

Now, my opinion on the whole thing is quite simply this:

If the game was released a week before the riots, I would not be surprised if there would have been lesser chance of these riots taking place. I know that sounds ridiculous, but let's say these crazy claims of how GTA directly inspired people to riot is true.... if the game came out the week before these people would more likely be playing the game than being out on the streets.

 

GTA keeps people indoors, not outdoors.

Hmmm not sure you can compare Bully with this. Yes GTA has violence but it is aimed at adults and for an adult audience where as Bully was violence against kids and aimed at kids/teenagers. I garuntee you though that the riots wouldn't put Rockstar off anouncing a new GTA because of what a couple of morons think. GTA strives to be controversial, thats what makes it GTA, there not suddenly gonna back off because a few Journos think it caused riots.

[SchizNitz]

This is sh*t. People use violent games as defense to what they have done. To me games may only influence people a little bit but not much. If someone wants to go on a rampage anywhere in the world its there choice. They know that there is a risk of being caught and what not, but it's not like rockstar games want the world to go crazy. I think violent games like GTA help stop crime. Say that i am angry, really angry and i want to go on a rampage killing people, I may as well do it in GTA and not in the real NY city. Just because one teenage kid who is stupid enough to start killing people and then blames it on GTA, makes everyone go against the gaming industry. That is wrong really wrong.

 

 

(wow mabye i can become a lawyer for rockstar games!)

[hitrho5]

This is sh*t. People use violent games as defense to what they have done. To me games may only influence people a little bit but not much. If someone wants to go on a rampage anywhere in the world its there choice. They know that there is a risk of being caught and what not, but it's not like rockstar games want the world to go crazy. I think violent games like GTA help stop crime. Say that i am angry, really angry and i want to go on a rampage killing people, I may as well do it in GTA and not in the real NY city. Just because one teenage kid who is stupid enough to start killing people and then blames it on GTA, makes everyone go against the gaming industry. That is wrong really wrong.

 

 

(wow mabye i can become a lawyer for rockstar games!)

Dude, you are totally right, and you should be a lawyer for R* Games. And, you have just earned the FIRST spot on my respect list on this forum!

[Slamman]

There is a very outside chance, but since it's about America and not London, no, I suspect not. What I do think is that it will inspire Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, since Roger doesn't write songs on a whim, he gets the World news around him to push his muse.

 

WHEREAS, with Sam Houser any REAL WORLD connection to GTA is something he does not like, endorse, or want the games to have anything to do with that.

This he mentioned after Hot Coffee, a build up of protest most notably during Vice City's release.

That seemed upsetting to him, the accusations that their labor of love inspires violence, it's that aspect he's correct about as far as my feeling as well!

[CheesyJ]

This is absolutely pathetic. These people have went out and rioted because they are either mindless thugs who do not have a brain, or they have not received an appropiate upbringing.

 

I despise the way that the GTA series is constantly brought into these sort of situations. If you start to blame the game, then you are seriously clutching at thin straws and I ask the question, why blame GTA? There are plenty of violent games out there. Saints Row, COD, the list goes on. To deflect all of the attention to GTA is disgraceful.

[Ryan]

 

There is a very outside chance, but since it's about America and not London, no, I suspect not. What I do think is that it will inspire Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, since Roger doesn't write songs on a whim, he gets the World news around him to push his muse.

 

WHEREAS, with Sam Houser any REAL WORLD connection to GTA is something he does not like, endorse, or want the games to have anything to do with that.

This he mentioned after Hot Coffee, a build up of protest most notably during Vice City's release.

That seemed upsetting to him, the accusations that their labor of love inspires violence, it's that aspect he's correct about as far as my feeling as well!

Slamman, why is it so f*cking hard for you to make a post that is relevant? Roger Waters writing a new song for Pink Floyd has absolutly nothing to do with the topic at hand. You whine about of all the warnings and temp bans you get for spam, yet you continually post this crap. Either make posts that are relevant and on topic, or just don't post in here please.

[Slamman]

Roger Waters writes songs about those kinds of things, That's what I'm pointing out, not that that will relate to GTA, but I love PF, so that's an example I know of and can assert as truth.

You do know I don't live in Uk, London, overseas and I've never been, but about certain things, I do know enough to mention them

Edited August 14, 2011 by Slamman

[Ryan]

Roger Waters writes songs about those kinds of things, That's what I'm pointing out, not that that will relate to GTA, but I love PF, so that's an example I know of and can assert as truth

You love Pink Floyd , that's great. Truth be told, we could all care less. If you want to talk about Pink Floyd, I'm sure there's a topic about them in Music Chat, but this isn't Music Chat. This is the GTA V Forum and we're discussing GTA V, not Pink Floyd, so take it somewhere else please.

[Slamman]

Yeah, and Roger Waters only writes new songs when something pisses him off, that's the point of mentioning it. He's there, Pink Floyd is a LONDON band, so that's what equates to the Riots, and perhaps that GTA had a London supplement VERY early on, but again, I said Sam Houser wants no connection to real-world violence, that's ALSO WHAT I SAID, please read all I typed, thanks

[Xboxless]

Bill Gates is a human and because of that he is related to the riots. That's why microsoft will come out with Microsoft Riots 2012 to allow you to manage riots. They'll even write one for phones so you can do it on the go!

 

As to be on topic.

 

This will all blow over, it always has. Why do you think Jack Thompson has never made it anywhere. Because the general population understands that games are games and not mass mind control.

[Andrew]

Slamman I am vastly loosing patience with you, what the hell does Roger Waters and Pink Floyd have to do with the topic at hand, apart from the smallest of links to the City of London, and therefore the smallest of links again to the riots?

 

This topic is for the discussion of the effect the riots might have on an announcement of GTA, not Roger Waters, or Pink Floyd, they have NOTHING to do with the topic at hand.

[Slamman]

It makes people think, The point ...more to the point is that Sam Houser is the guy who is bothered by these things, Riots associated with GTA games, Any actual Re-enactment or impressionable act. The RW and PF mentions are not needed to go into more detail, they are there as observations, Everyone has observations, that's how I think.

[CubA_iLL_BrothA]

never changed up. Other game companies makes game "what is like" based on anything from the media. Media just mad because they make an varieties of different types of games, based on what "They" want to do.

 

Keep it real R*. Never sellout to Mr.Uncle Tom.

Edited August 14, 2011 by CubA_iLL_BrothA

[John Footpenis]

I don't believe it will affect an annoucement too much. The majority of people that believe video games cause violence probably never played them. People that have played GTA know what it's about and will buy it anyway. The way I see it, an announcement soon wouldn't hurt reputation with the peopler that are actually buying their games.

 

Also, Saints Row would probably be a better game for them to blame since you are basically a gang member and fighting other gangs.

 

I really don't see how anyone believes a 3 year old game will cause country wide riots all on its own without having a hint of rioting in it. I truly think R* doesn't have too much to worry about as far as announcing it within the next month as long as it doesn't take place in the UK

[The Killa]

Everytime there's an event like this video games get the finger pointed at it. It's just the scapegoat, really. If you consider the fact Rockstar has been dealing with this "violent videogames are blahblah!" bullsh*t for upwards of 10+ years, I highly doubt it affects them in any regard. I don't know how delaying an announcement or effecting the timing of it in any regard is necessary. It's a videogame. Simple.

[SchizNitz]

This is sh*t. People use violent games as defense to what they have done. To me games may only influence people a little bit but not much. If someone wants to go on a rampage anywhere in the world its there choice. They know that there is a risk of being caught and what not, but it's not like rockstar games want the world to go crazy. I think violent games like GTA help stop crime. Say that i am angry, really angry and i want to go on a rampage killing people, I may as well do it in GTA and not in the real NY city. Just because one teenage kid who is stupid enough to start killing people and then blames it on GTA, makes everyone go against the gaming industry. That is wrong really wrong.

 

 

(wow mabye i can become a lawyer for rockstar games!)

Dude, you are totally right, and you should be a lawyer for R* Games. And, you have just earned the FIRST spot on my respect list on this forum!

thanks!

[blow-job]

I'm actually surprised what I'm reading here, do you honestly think this would deter Rockstar from announcing GTA V?

This is a forum, it's for discussing different views.

 

I mentioned in my post that I don't agree with what is being said, it is indeed a stupid accusation. However, you obviously do not know the power of the media, especially in the UK recently with all the scandals. I do not think a controversy will stop Rockstar announcing or releasing a game, however with it's name being smeared in the press, they obviously have to consider it from a business point of view on what affect it could have on the game. It doesn't matter to us, we're fans that will still buy it, but it matters to shareholders, investors and even the markets that sell the game.

Look, first of all, this isn't even major news, it wasn't like the front page of every newspaper said GTA is evil and causes riots so your argument about the media being powerful is void in my opinion. Secondly, a story like this would have no effect on the share holders opinions becasue Rockstar is a company used to controversy and media attention for the wrong reasons. Whats more, an announcement now would do nothing but increase the value of the shares. Finally, I wasn't just refering to you but a couple of people said it might delay a possible announcement, that would only make sense because so much media coverage would be on the riots and not on the game. Also, no companies like Game or Play wpuld miss out on the cash cow that is GTA. It would be financially retarded not to sell a game that will break records just because it got blamed for something stupid in a right wing newspaper.

If a game is believed to be responsible for the deaths of many, it will be condemned as such.

As long as the announcement date isn't in the next three months, V should be fine.

Have there been multiple deaths as a DIRECT result of the riots? No there have not. The shooting in Croydon is thought to be gang related and the hit and run in Birmingham is probably race related unfortuantley. Fact of the matter is, this hasn't been picked up and used as a reason in any major news site e.g. I don't see BBC or Sky reporting this crap.

When you wrote this there had been five deaths as a direct result of the riots. 3 killed by hit and run, one guy beaten to death and I believe another was a fatal shooting actually during the riots themselves. It was all over the news and still is on the BBC News front page.

 

I don't think Rockstar will let the riots affect a GTA V announcement though, because it wouldn't have any impact on the sales either way.

[Jimbatron]

I don't see the riots as having to change R*'s marketing much. I think people who claim real life crimes are influenced by GTA are very ignorant to being with, but with Take2 saying F13 is meant to be the big year (April 2012 onwards), there is a lot of time before it will be released anyway. Our media will move on to something else by then as the riots are already dying out. If they were planning to run a TV advertsing campaign any time soon, they might have a problem, but I expect they will announce the game primarily through online media globally, which is much less likely to cause a political stir - and they will probably do this at least a year before the release date and any conventional advertising starts.

[Nah Tso Gud]

No mention of "any publicity is good publicity?" Hah, this will probably help sales more than it'll hurt them.

[TenEightyOne]

The 'countrywide' rioting as referred to by the OP was actually a series of very localised outbreaks of scally-ism.... there's no reason to suppose that they'll have any effect on the aims or operations of Rockstar North.

 

I'm not saying that what went on wasn't bad or that innocent people didn't suffer the losses of their homes, livelihoods, property and so forth - just that Britain didn't turn into the Mad Max wasteland that the 24 Hour Rolling News channels would have liked to have us believe it did.

 

Sky News = Weazel News

[OchyGTA]

The 'countrywide' rioting as referred to by the OP was actually a series of very localised outbreaks of scally-ism.... there's no reason to suppose that they'll have any effect on the aims or operations of Rockstar North.

 

I'm not saying that what went on wasn't bad or that innocent people didn't suffer the losses of their homes, livelihoods, property and so forth - just that Britain didn't turn into the Mad Max wasteland that the 24 Hour Rolling News channels would have liked to have us believe it did.

 

Sky News = Weazel News

Fox News = Weazel News

[CommonSeb]

These riots have nothing to do with politics!

 

When asked why they do this most people on the streets of london replies; "I don't know, I just wan't free stuff"

 

They are a bunch of f*cking apes!

 

GTA is not the REASON, In this case it's the SOLUTION!

 

 

 

Usually I would be more reasonable but I have just lost friends in a massacre here in Norway whom

didn't deserve any harm at all. And over there people are dying because someone want's a free TV!

 

 

[[-Vice-Andreas-]]

 

It is indeed a stupid accusation

You are indeed a stupid admin.

 

If GTAV is set in London (as it has been rumoured) then I bet it will kick a stink with the media for sure. They delayed GTA3 because of 9/11, did they not? They also removed planes from the game in light of this touchy subject, did they not? (they cut the wings of the 'Dodo'). Stupid americans, don't care about anything unless it concerns themselves. If they go on to release a GTAV: London in the near future it's almost certain to cause a controversy - not that I would have a problem with it personally, but I could understand how problematic it would be.

 

Once again, admins are stupid. They sit on their asses locking threads all day, and always have to have the last word in a locked topic. Go stroke your own ego somewhere else and let the OP discuss the topic he has raised, if you think it's stupid then go post in the Genesis thread or something and talk about the more intelligent theories (the irony...).

[[-Vice-Andreas-]]

The riots in London were a bunch of stupid teenagers, but at least it wasn't like America whose own government demolished buildings killing innocents and staged their own 'terrorist' attacks for an excuse to go to war. That's more stupid. Took them 10 years to "find bin laden" and what do they have to show for it.... quick, dump him in the ocean!.......

 

Oh no! Double post! I'm such a rebel, the admins will be creaming themselves right now.

 

Also, America blames video games for violence on the streets, yet they sell guns like candy (both sell pretty well there too judging by the amount of fatties). Let's take a hard long look at what the problem might be?

Edited August 14, 2011 by [-Vice-Andreas-]

[Grand Theft Autopsy]

parents use GTA as an excuse for their bad parenting. Whats even funnier is that parents still buy these games for their kids even though its 18+ (bad parenting).

[Adriaan]

 

,Sunday, Aug 14 2011, 15:40]

It is indeed a stupid accusation

if you think it's stupid then go post in the Genesis thread or something and talk about the more intelligent theories (the irony...).

 

 

Actually I think you misunderstood Andrew's post. He said the accusation by some in the British media and a certain member of parliament was stupid, not that MissCloud's point was stupid. In fact, he mostly sided with her.

 

 

However, I agree with you slightly on another point in that it's funny how the "Genesis" thread is left open to be something to the likes of a chat room in the GTA V section, whereas it's just a bunch of crazy lunacy and random off-topic chatting. Yet, I keep seeing poor Slamman bashed for every little thing. I've gotten the vibe that each of his posts are placed under extra scrutiny by some mods, whereas a lot of other wild things are left alone.

[Tomy1986]

If the main character is British or Irish it could affect him in his dialogues or his persona. Or if the game was to be set in London, definately.

San Andreas depicted the riots in 1992's Los Angeles.