'Grand Theft Auto' still driving critics nuts

From the rocket-propelled grenade that shoots down a police helicopter to the punch in the face delivered to a former friend, the depictions of realistic violence in the newest "Grand Theft Auto" video game are ...

[anon]

GTA is a pretty fun game but it's hard. Most of the time I just hijack a fire truck and put out fires or an ambulance. You usually run over more people than you save but it's funny hearing them crunch under your tires. People need to get a sense of humor and lighten up. These games certainly are not for kids though.

[Truth]

CTA, did not remove posters from there buses stops because I saw the same GTA advertisement in a bus stop shelter-window several times today. This poster was on 95th street and around racine. Maybe they took there advertisements from the north side and downtown, but not the south side. Missed one cta!!!!

[matty]

The NY Times is giving this game rave reviews. It's based in New York why is the Trib investigating the morality of this game? There's been two others before it, neither based in this city, and I didn't hear the uproar back then.

However I'm sure manufacturing controversy with a piece like this will sell well to the 75 and older bracket the Trib seems to be courting here.

[the Watcher]

Liberal Fascism.
Creeping into every aspect of our lives.

[Robert A Brown Jr]

This is definitely the place Not to have violence provoking advertisements. There is by far too many crimes on buses and trains. This is very irresponsible.

What happened to movies and events... They really help the weary traveler. The weary traveler would be appalled by those advertisements... Parents bring their children... There is by far too much violence and foul language. There are those whom smoke and could care less if someone is on oxygen or disabled...

Important issues since there is but one manned person on each train... Security is lax. Cameras are a joke as most of them don't work... People need safe passage to work, for people visiting Chicago. I read the news from Ft. Lauderdale online and see the violence outbreak in the Chicago area...

Tourist like myself whom transplanted to other cities avoid the downtown area because of the violence we read about. It is a major concern. It was bad when I left and now it is way out of control.

[matty]

They need the money yet they won't use the billboards.

NYC is plastered with these ads and it takes place in their city - not Chicago.

What an ass-backwards city I live in.

[Wilma]

This makes no sense. There are billboards for "R" rated films, and there are billboards for liquor, neither of which are for children. Since when do we have a rule that only products that are for children can be advertised?

As for parents not understanding the ratings for games, that's their failure as parents, not a failure of the company that makes the games.

I'm sure Rockstar Games doesn't care in any case, they get publicity one way or another.

[sarcastic guy]

the Watcher wrote:

Liberal Fascism.
Creeping into every aspect of our lives.

yeah, there's nothing even remotely conservative about this.

[Wilma]

And on other thing, for the Robert the snowbird in Florida-- the billboards just have a picture of one of the characters in the game and the title of the game. They don't "provoke violence" in any way.

[Drew]

Judged:

1

Charge: Parents don't understand ratings

Response: How can you not understand what the ratings mean? The label says what ages are recommended for the game, as well as provides bullet points for the rationale of the rating. If a game says intense violence, language, and sexual content, CLEARLY it is not for a kid. Parents need to use good judgement in deciding what their children can play and not play. Set the parental controls on your game systems so that only certain rated games can be played. NOT A HUGE DEAL

[Drew]

Judged:

1

The law should not take place of proper parenting and responsibility.

[chicagomom]

Thank god! Forget provoking violence--the characters portrayed are evil lurking creatures. The games are for idiots with nothing better to do. Go outside and learn how to be a better citizen.

[Obama Nanny State]

This must have come from Daley.

Perhaps if kids were stuck inside, addicted to videogames, they would not be out on the real streets killing eachother.

[Obama Nanny State]

sarcastic guy wrote:

<quoted text>
yeah, there's nothing even remotely conservative about this.

One question.

Who runs Chicago?

[Professional Engineer]

The CTA is dangerous, in many ways. The citizens of Chicago deserve experiened, professional leadership for the CTA, like the late transportation expert Milton Pikarsky, who was appointed by Mayor Daley's father; not the former patronage chief of the current mayor.

Notice how a former senior FBI agent (from out-of-town) is reforming the Police Department. The CTA needs the same kind of expert leadership, not excuses for doing little over the past several months.

[Yep]

Lower the drinking age to 18, amybe younbg adults will leave their homes and find somewhere to go for fun instead of the streets.

[KLF]

Daley should call an emergency "Ad Summit." That will fix it.

[SorryGrateful]

I despise the ads, not because they advertise for a violent video game, but because the two I've seen insult me as a woman. Both of them have women looking like cheap tricks and the one I saw yesterday has a woman with her tongue sticking out licking a red sucker with her eyes kind of glazed over. The ads are creepy and the game is disgusting.

[Quimby]

You've got to love the Media! One line says "Kids living in a war zone".....then right next to it, GRADE THEFT AUTO expected to make millions! In this irony, or just the way of the world? Video games can kill cops, steal cars, whack someone.....and we wonder why the streets are full of crime.....you sell them games that glamorize it !! Wake up....

[alex]

someone already said it, but its worth pointing out again.
we have ads for Saw 4, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre part 42, but GTA ads are over the top?

why can't a store refuse sale to a minor? its unconstitutional? they can't buy porn, or get into R rated movies (technically). what's the difference?

no law is a replacement for parenting. put an age limit on it and let it be. if the parent wants to buy it for junior, that's their own business.