san andreas gets its AO rating

[dracula]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050720/ap_on_hi_te/video_game_sex

"The sex scenes had prompted outrage from parent's groups and politicians, who are demanding federal oversight of video game ratings
"
They object to sex in a video game, but all of the over the top violence, and harsh language pretty much make sure this game is not for children

i predict this makes the game outsell even halo 2. people will want it just for the adult content

[Topic Archive]

Lol, crazy!!!

[XerdoPwerko]

Oh, the Outrage! They were okay with there being crime and violence. But sex, that makes the game an AO. Man, does society need to put its priorities together or what? Most of us will never kill another human being, but sex and sexual situations are part of our everyday lives. What is wrong with people...?

And... well, Blah. Really, other than image, what's the difference between the AO and M rating? They're just separated so some stores can pretend to be outraged and not carry AO games, but still sell M games even to minors, and get profit.

Let's hope this doesn't bring more cries demanding censorship from the usual suspects who shall remain nameless... and it finally shuts them up. Really, man.

GTA sucks either way...

[Mark30001]

Since when was that content AO? Children's minds are already corrupted...

[WolverineDK]

nothing is new in good old USA :-) :)

i just hope the members on the forum on that continent (i am talking both about north middle and south america) are safe, untill the hurricane season is over.

[Putzi]

I think its stupid for them to rate it ao its only available currently in the computer version maybe some one with a ps2 dev can unlock it for ps2 but the point is that it is really only unlockable in the pc version so they should only rate the pc version Ao.

[macwest]

So what is the code or hack that unlocks this AO that everyone is outraged about anyway

[XerdoPwerko]

It's some patch called Hot Coffee that can be downloaded for the PC...But for the PS2, I think there might be a need to either patch the disc somehow, or get a Gameshark or similar device.

But since it's there... well, it could simply radiate out of the disc and somehow corrupt children's minds by osmosis or something.

Oh, and Wolvie, at least down here. everything is fine. It actually hasn't rained in a couple of days - but there were a couple of big storms. Nothing out of the ordinary in this part of North/Central America. Thanks for the concern. Guadalajara is Hurricane proof, Earthquake proof, Tornado Proof, and we have like only two volcanoes nearby, so it's okay.

I hope everyone in the affected areas is okay as well.

[cahaz]

you can cut heads off, burn the first person you came across on the street, beat the crap out of someone to take is car and cash and kill for drugs. but you can't be in a bed with a girl. Yeah baby.

what's so bad about this hidden sex scene anyway? haven't we seen sex scenes already in video games?

[Jasonkhowell]

you can cut heads off, burn the first person you came across on the street, beat the crap out of someone to take is car and cash and kill for drugs. but you can't be in a bed with a girl. Yeah baby.

what's so bad about this hidden sex scene anyway? haven't we seen sex scenes already in video games?

Well, we don't know the whole reason behind it. We do know Rockstar lied about the Hot Coffee mod, which may be the big reason behind it getting slapped with a AO rating (Plus, to avoid bad press by the media and politicians). However, sex in videogames have been done before. Gothic II, GoW, etc.

Yeah, we have horrible priorities. You can kill a guy with a chainsaw, blow their head off with a sniper rifle, run them over with a ambulance that you just stole, but you can't show any sex.

[madhatter256]

The thing that outraged the parents and the politicians is not the hack, but the fact that the textures, etc. that depict full frontal nudity was PROGRAMMED into the game since development. Rockstar is to blame for fucking it up for the other legit developers out there, not the crazed parents or the politicians. The politicians and parents (mainly the politicians to keep loyal voters) blow it out of proportion and the good developers end up getting hurt by this too.

[macwest]

you can cut heads off, burn the first person you came across on the street, beat the crap out of someone to take is car and cash and kill for drugs. but you can't be in a bed with a girl. Yeah baby.

what's so bad about this hidden sex scene anyway? haven't we seen sex scenes already in video games?

What do you expect from America. the conservatives think if you do not talk about it the kids will never know. Isn't that how inbreeding and 6 finger mo came about? :)

[cahaz]

The thing that outraged the parents and the politicians is not the hack, but the fact that the textures, etc. that depict full frontal nudity was PROGRAMMED into the game since development. Rockstar is to blame for fucking it up for the other legit developers out there, not the crazed parents or the politicians. The politicians and parents (mainly the politicians to keep loyal voters) blow it out of proportion and the good developers end up getting hurt by this too.

please, soccer moms and politicians don't even know what a texture in the video game world is. they're just ashamed because the medias tell you to do so. hell, it wasn't used in the game! how could little soccer kid who likes to cut heads in his game could ever see this? ''yeah, but if he have a pc, the pc game and internet, he could see it!'' still more difficult than taping full frontal nudity in google.

[einbebop44]

Because we all know that seeing pictures of a girl getting reamed is the goddamn bane of society. But peeing on people (Conker), beating people with their comrade's charred skull (State of Emergency), swear words (too many games to count), racism (Grand Theft Auto...all of 'em) and super realistic killing (Rainbow Six, Socom, and even fucking, America's Army)? That's just an M rating kids. Have fun.

[sayin999]

well action replay and code breaker codes have been aval, they do in fact work, still whats funny is that a game like god of war had a sex game in it and it was aval without even any code blocking but then again the game is not as popular as grand theft auto. Plus they are fully clothed when doing it, still its rockstars fault for not bothering to just fully take it out of the game instead of just leaving it in there and being lazy by not taking out the data, though i can imagine it was a rush descision and that they probably didnt have enough time to take it out due to debugging and all, still whats funny is they are considering sueing the makers of action replay and code breaker for damages. I can see it now, cheat devices being banned, nintendos wish might be finally granted. As well, im curious if the the psp release is going to be theroughly checked.

[madhatter256]

well action replay and code breaker codes have been aval, they do in fact work, still whats funny is that a game like god of war had a sex game in it and it was aval without even any code blocking but then again the game is not as popular as grand theft auto. Plus they are fully clothed when doing it, still its rockstars fault for not bothering to just fully take it out of the game instead of just leaving it in there and being lazy by not taking out the data, though i can imagine it was a rush descision and that they probably didnt have enough time to take it out due to debugging and all, still whats funny is they are considering sueing the makers of action replay and code breaker for damages. I can see it now, cheat devices being banned, nintendos wish might be finally granted. As well, im curious if the the psp release is going to be theroughly checked.

Thats another thing, the more popular the game is, the more scrutiny it gets from the public eye. I remember when Black and White was being protested by the conservative families because in a nutshell you play as God in that game and those families don't want their children to think they have power over their lives I guess.

Too much of this stuff going on and the government, here in US, will have to do something to shut them up.

[cahaz]

this world is so wrong.

[XerdoPwerko]

this world is so wrong.

Truer words were never spoken.

The world is thouroughly fucked indeed.

[dj898]

it's always interesting what else those groups will come out with next in US.. :p
though US isn't the only country that deals with such thing...

over hear we got Leisure Suit Larry got banned 'coz our censoring body thought seeing cartoon titties is too much for our weak and naive(?) mind... :p
though you can get the same title from NZ without much hassle...

and then there's a talk of trying to ban another art film that deals with the controversial topic thanks(?) to one of christian group using the tax payers money...


so the question is it'll be alight to have movies where "real" actors doing it as long as it's x-rated but not so where "virtual" characters doing it in games regardless whether it has AO/X-rating...

game industry is money driven just as much as any other industry...
if sex sells they will create games catering that audiences...

by the way this is nothing new...
game titles exclusively deal with sexual content have been around since personal computer was introduced in 80s...
anyone in Japan will know what I mean... :p

[The VGM]

Apprently they are either marking the ones out now AO and selling them or not selling them at all. Another M version will be released with the hot coffee stuff taken out.

[Greatsaintlouis]

Yeah, what the hell is wrong with those people? I mean, how DARE they be outraged that there's sexual content in games that further exacerbates a culture in which women are objectified and sex sells anything. Christ, what a bunch of tightasses they are.

[ddp72984]

is it just me or are these assholes going about it the wrong way?

A smart thing to do, instead of hiding this thing would be to promote the hell out of it. Since the game has been on the market for a while, it should be made a greatest hit, but heres the thing.

re-release 2 versions of the game: one M17 version with the Hot Coffee code completely written out, and one AO version with the Hot Coffee code enabled without aid of GS or AR. And since the game is only 20 bucks, it'd wouldn't be such a big deal to buy another copy.

To be honest, I believe it is very stupid to release an edited version and the unedited (AO) one especially when you are gonna need a game enhancer for the part everyone (well, maybe not everyone) wants to see.

Makes sense huh?

[Taemos]

Hah, my dad walked into my room the other night...

"Do you play that Grand Theft Auto: Las Vegas City?"

"I have 'Vice City', but I never play it"

"Did you know there was a sex scene in that game?"

"Oh, you're thinking of San Andreas..."

"Yeah, whatever. There's SEX in there!"

"...So?"

As everyone else said, the mindless violence is completely ignored once the sex scene was discovered. This country can be retarded sometimes...

[XerdoPwerko]

Yeah, what the hell is wrong with those people? I mean, how DARE they be outraged that there's sexual content in games that further exacerbates a culture in which women are objectified and sex sells anything. Christ, what a bunch of tightasses they are.

I think the objectification of women was clearly noted once there were prostitutes in the game that could refill your health through sex and then be killed to get your money back. There already was sex in the game - not graphically, though. There were graphic killings, which I think, make objectification of the female gender, the lesser of two great evils.

Sex wouldn't sell that much if these people would stop making it out to be something more obscene than graphic and senseless violence.
They're not tightasses as much as they are hypocrites, and panderers.

[JTI2K]

Most of us will never kill another human being, but sex and sexual situations are part of our everyday lives. What is wrong with people...?

Xerdo you dont understand: if they let just a tit (or something like) in a game, this yank kids are goin to marturbate to the death :death :smt043

I didnt install the hotcoffe, cuz is a lot of job for some crappy erotic scenes that arent worse than the sex you can see in Niptuck (fox) or the Sopranos (HBO).

I`ll just type "tits" on google and presto! too bad the internet didnt exist when we were kids :smt009


Black and White was being protested by the conservative families because in a nutshell you play as God in that game and those families don't want their children to think they have power over their lives I guess.

Now i know I`ll never go to the midwest :smt042

[Mr. Casual]

Whats going to happen to the copies that already have "M" on them? Is this game getting rereleased or what?!

[PhantasyStar]

Whats going to happen to the copies that already have "M" on them? Is this game getting rereleased or what?!

Stores are going to pull all the M-rated versions off the shelf. Yeah, Rockstar is going to take out the AO-rated material to make it suitable for M-rated.

[Mr. Casual]

One of my friends wants to get it, again. It'll be funny if he gets the watered down version. :D

[cahaz]

Yeah, what the hell is wrong with those people? I mean, how DARE they be outraged that there's sexual content in games that further exacerbates a culture in which women are objectified and sex sells anything. Christ, what a bunch of tightasses they are.

because it's a video game, and bashing video games is the way to go in heaven, remember?


Hah, my dad walked into my room the other night...

"Do you play that Grand Theft Auto: Las Vegas City?"

"I have 'Vice City', but I never play it"

"Did you know there was a sex scene in that game?"

"Oh, you're thinking of San Andreas..."

"Yeah, whatever. There's SEX in there!"

"...So?"

you should have told him he already had sex at least once to talk with you a this moment, and then explained how it worked and that sex is natural and that god wouldn't have created sexual organs if he thought it was so distugting and evilish. :smt043
more seriously, i wonder what he responded after...


bomb the irakians, and reveal pictures of sadam after his capture (wich break the geneve convention rule) but don't show a tit covered by a star on tv though!

[Greatsaintlouis]

because it's a video game, and bashing video games is the way to go in heaven, remember?
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by that, but I sure hope it wasn't some sort of veiled stab at both organized religions and people who just plain have some dignity in what they consider entertainment - both of which, I might add, are allowed opinions JUST as valid as the one that sex and violence in games are no big deal.

RIGHT? Or is hypocrisy rearing its ugly head again?

[The VGM]

Whats going to happen to the copies that already have "M" on them? Is this game getting rereleased or what?!

Read my post......



Apprently they are either marking the ones out now AO and selling them or not selling them at all. Another M version will be released with the hot coffee stuff taken out.

[cahaz]

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by that, but I sure hope it wasn't some sort of veiled stab at both organized religions and people who just plain have some dignity in what they consider entertainment - both of which, I might add, are allowed opinions JUST as valid as the one that sex and violence in games are no big deal.

RIGHT? Or is hypocrisy rearing its ugly head again?
that was sarcam, relax.

[Mark30001]

Just to change topics a little, anyone know a site with the Jay Leno clip where they were saying Mrs. Clinton banned San Andreas, & in the clip, you see Bill Clinton's face instead of the character in the game.

Hehehe

[XerdoPwerko]

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by that, but I sure hope it wasn't some sort of veiled stab at both organized religions and people who just plain have some dignity in what they consider entertainment - both of which, I might add, are allowed opinions JUST as valid as the one that sex and violence in games are no big deal.

RIGHT? Or is hypocrisy rearing its ugly head again?

Now, man, let's keep this peaceful. Sex and violence in games are a big deal. I'm with you on that one. That's why there's the ESRB ratings. These ratings become worthless when vendors refuse to carry AO but still sell M to minors. AO and M are there precisely to keep it within an adult's responsibility to explain this and keep kids aware before they're directly exposed to material inappropiate for them without a parent's guidance. Or a trustworthy adult.

So what should happen is - if you don't like the stuff, you don't buy it. I fucking hate GTA, so I didn't get it. I'm not very keen on senseless violence and sex just to sell a crappy game. If the violence is necessary (Think Devil May Cry, Ace Combat, Metal Gear Solid 2), I'm all for a ratings system that doesn't let my 13 year old nephew get this game without being an adult or having one to explain the contents to him and guide him.

I am not for an all-out politicalization of ratings and outrage for political rate of some pundits at the cost of developers' freedom of expression - just because vendors refuse to enforce ratings and shun the AO rating for their own public image.
You as an adult have a right to buy whatever you want - because you have the knowledge and common sense to understand. That's why there's ratings, and that's why kids should not be able to get M or AO rated games, but adults should if they choose to.

What outraged me here is the weird priority. I don't know, but I think sex is really something that every human being experiences and witnesses in many ways throughout his/her life - but graphical killings are not.
So then why do these people get SO worked up over sex in a game if they didn't immediately give the game the AO over senseless violence and gore?

I mean, yeah, Sex is a delicate theme, and I think it's up for responsible adults to explain it to their kids before they learn a horribly askew and commercialised half-truth from the media - but this same half-truth applies to violence even more.
Violence is much more delicate than sex in my opinion, because sex is about loving one another and violence is not (unless they're somehow combined in someone's very private life).

You as a responsible adult have your tastes and your dignity. You have decided. Great for you. I think every other responsible adult should exercise this right. Everyone's dignity and tastes will differ, but we will not let the government, interest groups (that might or might not be religious), or anyone else decide them for us.
Who knows our dignity and taste more than us? Nobody.
That's, at least, what keeps alarming me about this - the scapegoating of one exaggerated example of a particular media, to try to regulate every other one of the examples to the narrow views of an individual or organisation, for the political gain of itself, disguised as the caring for the children's wellbeing.
It's up to parents to care for that. It's up to vendors AND parents to enforce ESRB ratings and really care for kid's media consumption habits, and guide them in reality, instead of simply going after those who write the media.

People, like you do, should take an active interest in their own life, consumption habits, and care for those in their direct responsibility - considering differences of thought. You know what you like, you excercise your freedom. I respect that like you have no idea.

So, In that, we agree, sir.

[Alien Workshop]

because it's a video game, and bashing video games is the way to go in heaven, remember?

I sure hope you weren't serious with that remark, because if you were that has to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

[Mark30001]

So how much do you all think the original NTSC-U/C GTA: San Andreas for PS2, XBOX, & PC cost now that it's no more?

[cahaz]

I sure hope you weren't serious with that remark, because if you were that has to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

Couldn't people start looking at the whole thread before posting anything?! Look, i already said to GSL to calm down because it was a sarcasm. Is anything bad with this? can't people say things in those thread without getting bashed to death?do i need to explain my sarcasm? now politicians don't fight ''heatens'' to gain ''power'' anymore, they fight video games, and brainwash people that video games are ''heatens'', something from another belief, or something'' coming right from satan'' if you like. And yeah, talking about a religion here, about heaven, satan, god, or heatens is symbolical AND at first sarcastic, bash me on this if you need to.

people bash on everything for nothing these days, and this also include politicians.

Chilling out.

[Alien Workshop]

Couldn't people start looking at the whole thread before posting anything?! Look, i already said to GSL to calm down because it was a sarcasm. Is anything bad with this? can't people say things in those thread without getting bashed to death?do i need to explain my sarcasm? now politicians don't fight ''heatens'' to gain ''power'' anymore, they fight video games, and brainwash people that video games are ''heatens'', something from another belief, or something'' coming right from satan'' if you like. And yeah, talking about a religion here, about heaven, satan, god, or heatens is symbolical AND at first sarcastic, bash me on this if you need to.

people bash on everything for nothing these days, and this also include politicians.

Chilling out.

Ok

Most politicians don't know jack about religion anyway.

[Greatsaintlouis]

Xerdo Pwerko, you make a good point, but you also raise the question: Why is everyone getting so upset over the change from a M to an AO rating of GTA:SA? Everyone is nearly in agreeance that the game doesn't belong in the hands of minors, so what's the problem with a change in rating to even further emphasize the graphic nature of the games? Most people that are able to purchase the games with the suggested age of the M rating will still have no problems purchasing them if they are switched to AO. What's more, something as serious as an AO rating might actually give stupid parents a reason to pause when buying the game, instead of dismissing it as just another M-rated title.

And I really don't see why everyone is getting so upset about all the politicians and whatnot pushing for an AO rating - it's not like they're trying to ban the game. Don't worry, your right to play shitty games is not being trampled on. They're just changing the damned rating. Maybe, instead of being so up in arms about the rating switch, people could think, "Hey, these politicans are holding this company accountable for its content and changing the rating in a way that will completely guarantee this doesn't get into the hands of kids who should see it. Now shitty parents will only have themselves to blame if their kids end up with this!"

[XerdoPwerko]

Why is everyone getting so upset over the change from a M to an AO rating of GTA:SA?

And I really don't see why everyone is getting so upset about all the politicians and whatnot pushing for an AO rating

Now shitty parents will only have themselves to blame if their kids end up with this!"


While I agree with you on the "keeping the games out of children's hands" part, the thing about AO is that it's just a scandalous way for politicians to get to "solve" problems that are not a pressing issue, while making a name for themselves and getting voters by generalizing videogames as a whole, obscene medium.
This endangers the freedom of speech in the industry, just because of the combination between shitty companies wanting to sell, and shitty politicians trying to garner publicity.

I would not give a crap about the rating shift itself, had it proven to be because it is really necessary (which it is) - but the kind of ultra-moralistic outrage these politicians push is almost textbook Machiavelli. These politicians don't really give a fuck about the rating systems, and neither do vendors. Politicians just push for the AO rating for publicity and it shows. It's the sort of thing that makes you exclaim "come on!" in an annoyed manner.

And, come on, parents should show some personal responsibility even with M titles... And so should vendors.

I'm upset about the skewed priorities (sex gets a scandalous AO, murder gets an M - let's cry outrage to get publicity while not solving our nation's true social and political problems!), the hypocritical hunger for publicity, and the scapegoating and backlash this will cause to my favourite medium, even if I truly hate the GTA franchise.

I also hold rockstar accountable for its irresponsibility, but I think the code is inaccessible without cheat devices on Consoles, right?

The game has serious violence. It should have been AO from the beginning, and it would have if the ratings board had a little common sense and vendors could still profit from the (legitimate) sale of AO titles, meaning screening from ID instead of mindlessly selling for everyone. Since politicians and corporations could endanger free speech and start a witchhunt in our favourite medium, maybe this is a little bit worrying - after all, nothing will stop them in the search for publicity.

And finally, the politicians are just giving Rockstar themselves more publicity to make crappy games, and also wannabe rockstar companies to make gangsta games and whatnot. This might create a generalization of the industry that I might not be too comfortable dealing with.

[Survival Tobita]

So how much do you all think the original NTSC-U/C GTA: San Andreas for PS2, XBOX, & PC cost now that it's no more?

I really don't think we'll see much difference (long-term, though it may go for an inflated price RIGHT NOW) in the PS2 version since it's already sold like a hundred kajillion bajillion shabadoo copies by this point, but the PC and Xbox versions were only out for about a month...

[JTI2K]

I say, Rockstar could do an Uncut version, like movies that have the naughty parts taken out in the theatre but not in the DVD.

If the stores dont want to sell AO, fuck em, sell it online. With all the hype around this game ppl wont`ve any problem to find it. :smt043

[AnalogWinter]

I think the issue of a young child playing this game together with the fact that Take Two/Rockstar lied does matter. I can't agree that just PLAYING violent video games can harm a child, but it can give them a false sense of reality. Also having a major studio not come out right away about questionable content in a game doesn't help the situation. They are going to get burned big time and they have no one to blame but themselves.

As mentioned, this game has sold millions of copies, so I can't see the rating going from an 'M' to 'AO' hurting sales.

The underlying issue here is that many parents aren't taking time, or even care what their children do as a hobby anymore. They buy their kids anything and everything to make them happy, not really seeing the implications of these vices. On the few times a year I go to a mall, I can't believe how children today are dressing and acting. It tells me parents are more concerned about making there child happy, or should I say making them 'artificially happy' then raising a child to respect themselves.

I think the government/politicians do want to stop these games from being made period. Many people still consider the gaming industry ‘for kids’, even though it is now eclipsing the movie industry as a major entertainment cash cow.

Btw, I think the ESRB is a waste of time, and really needs some revamping.


^_^_^

[XerdoPwerko]

Analog Winter and JTI2K have pretty much explained it completely.

The other underlying issue is the eskewed priorities in the public morality - which are as easier to pander to as parents wanting the government to take responsibiliti for their responsibilities.

Mark30001 and Survival Tobita - the game would become rare if there were a Recall or if the original M version wouldn't have sold trillions of copies and then was changed.
Having an original uncensored M version, though, might be a funny joke in some years, even if it's still worthless.

I myself am not getting one.

[JTI2K]

I personally think that this is a great oportunity to start a line of Uncensored and Uncut games.

For example, i read once that Jak2 had a lot of stuff cut from the final to get into "T", things like some blood, more dirty jokes and (just a rumor, not confirmed) some spicy scenes. Enough to make it into M

Almost 80 percent of the market is well above 20, so uncut M and AO versions of different games, even when not for sale at stores ¿only online? could be a great oportunity to increase revenues.

Im goin to start charging for this comments :-D

[cahaz]

Xerdo Pwerko, you make a good point, but you also raise the question: Why is everyone getting so upset over the change from a M to an AO rating of GTA:SA? Everyone is nearly in agreeance that the game doesn't belong in the hands of minors, so what's the problem with a change in rating to even further emphasize the graphic nature of the games? Most people that are able to purchase the games with the suggested age of the M rating will still have no problems purchasing them if they are switched to AO. What's more, something as serious as an AO rating might actually give stupid parents a reason to pause when buying the game, instead of dismissing it as just another M-rated title.

And I really don't see why everyone is getting so upset about all the politicians and whatnot pushing for an AO rating - it's not like they're trying to ban the game. Don't worry, your right to play shitty games is not being trampled on. They're just changing the damned rating. Maybe, instead of being so up in arms about the rating switch, people could think, "Hey, these politicans are holding this company accountable for its content and changing the rating in a way that will completely guarantee this doesn't get into the hands of kids who should see it. Now shitty parents will only have themselves to blame if their kids end up with this!"

what i hate the most about this rating is the media part. They talk about how violent and bad this game is, and that it now features sex scenes that every kid could see, some goes to the point the film kids playing the game and all, to make ''sensationalism'', they talk about the fact that kids could own this game and all. What they're not speeking about though is that the game is RATED as it must be, and that parents can see this rating with a very quick look at the front and the back of the game (for a more detailed rating). Heck, this game is rated, why could the compagny that published it be bashed? it's not their fault if a parent buys this game without even looking at its rating, they can't be blamed because of this. Yes,
some parents doesn't even know there's ratings on video games, and buys everything their kids want, but that's what upset me the most: Media doesn't even tell people games are rated! they don't tell you what's the meaning of the rating and where you can find it. Why? because they couldn't talk in bad about video games anymore? parents seems to like it when they're bashing video games without telling the whole story (ie: there's RATINGs on games!) (wich is, in fact, sensationalism). And at the end, they say your kids could have this game very easly, wich shock the public in general, but they don't say how you could easly stop this.

[Taemos]

A lot of it really does come back to the "responsible parenting" issue. Look at what your kids are playing. If you don't like it, don't let them play it. These people shouldn't depend on the media to tell them what is right and wrong for their children.

Obviously, if a game says "Mature 17+" on it, it probably isn't suitable for little 11 year old Timmy. I fail to see how an unused sex scene can bump the game up to an Adults Only rating, but then again, I don't really care, anyway :).

[JTI2K]

The whole sensationalism, well, thats what press is: uninformation. They never tell you about how the stock market was full of opportunists bastards that whos work was creating ghost corporations to sell the shares until the market crashes.

Neither the fact that a lot of the DrugWars laws were made by a series of lobbists so the RealState companies could get their hands in cheap (although pretty expensive) terrains in bad neiborhoods but closer to expensive areas, thus getting gains from the inflated real state market.

Videogames are the "new thing" to blame for this fuck up, violent generation. In order, the scapegoats have been:

*70: Violent movies (funny, becos thats was during vietnam :smt083 )
*80: Violent lyrics
*90: pornography and the teachers
*Now: violent games

I would like to quote michael moore in BfC when he says: "its funny that after columbine nobody banned bowling, after all, thats what the [kids] were doing before goin to school and killing everyone in sight"

Yet nobody sees the reality: what makes a kid a stone cold killer is no other thing that mediocre parents and other kids. Obviously, timmys dad isnt goin to accept his guilt in the suicide of his son, neither the jocks that molested him.

Yep, maybe machines are (almost) never wrong, but humans are much more advanced: theyll never accept they were wrong :smt082

[cahaz]

what i hate is that everything needs a reason now. a general reason. something you can blame everything on. not something specific to someone or something.

[Zilog Jones]

It's kinda funny to me reading about all this "controversy" and whatnot. In Europe, San Andreas is rated 18+ - that's already the highest rating there is for games here! All game retailers stock 18 rated games no probs (except maybe some toy shops who are more toy shops than videogame shops), though they will not sell these games to under 18s.

[JTI2K]

what i hate is that everything needs a reason now. a general reason. something you can blame everything on

Thats how humans work: their brains are designed to blame all their problems to any external thing thats not realted to them

And as stupid the human is, the more absolutist it becomes.

But dont worry, Im working on that :smt045

[macwest]

It's kinda funny to me reading about all this "controversy" and whatnot. In Europe, San Andreas is rated 18+ - that's already the highest rating there is for games here! All game retailers stock 18 rated games no probs (except maybe some toy shops who are more toy shops than videogame shops), though they will not sell these games to under 18s.


Good luck over here in the states. I had san andreas for the PS2 but wasn't sure on the mod so I wanted an xbox version took some hunting but I found 1 game shop that was not afraid to sale it. During my search I think Target had the funniest response the older guy in there said he could not sale it to me or he would be arrested. That was real funny since I am way over 18. But to make it funnier a lady customer at the counter was horrified that I would want such a game. So after her horrified look I told her "Yes I want to see some tits in my game" her jaw hit the floor and when I walked out of target I just about busted a gut laughing. What can I say otherwise than you have to enjoy life.

[XerdoPwerko]

Damn, JTI2K, the BFC comment was one of the things I was going to say, and you are once again right on the sensationalism issue - and about kids' and adults' mentality, as well.

And yeah, blaming scapegoats has always been the political way to connect with some voters that might not want to accept their irresponsibilities. A "common enemy" makes political support easier.

There's that Penny Arcade sticker that says "Guns don't kill people, Kids who play videogames kill people" - making fun of similar situations.

[Mark30001]

Thats how humans work: their brains are designed to blame all their problems to any external thing thats not realted to them

And as stupid the human is, the more absolutist it becomes.

But dont worry, Im working on that :smt045


Hehehe, you sound like you're not a human yourself...
Just Kidding! :D

[JTI2K]

Hehehe, you sound like you're not a human yourself...

Im nothttp://www.elotrolado.net/images/smilies/nuevos2/alien.gif








Just kidding, dont call the NSA! Im low in plasma ammo :no