My thoughts on…the GTA "Hot Coffee" controversy
Looks like Rockstar Games is in hot water again, concerning, what else, the ultra violent GTA series. The latest installment in the franchise, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, is in for more than the usual gameplay that allows gamers to get in touch with their inner Tony Montana. Turns out there’s a “Hot Coffee” mod in the game, a sex mini game in which you mash buttons to pleasure your digital conquest, the closest those pasty, socially inept fanboys will ever get to pleasing a woman.
It’s no surprise that anti-violent video game lobbyists have jumped down Rockstar’s throat on this. Jack Thompson, the video game devil, has already predicted the demise of Rockstar, saying they won’t be around in three years. Hilary Clinton, apparently still desperate to champion a cause that will land her in the White House, is asking the U.S government to join the war on video games, and has presented a law that would charge US$5000 for selling mature games to minors. Australia’s Office of Film and Literature Classification is also investigating the mod.
Personally, I don’t see what all the fuss is about. Firstly, it takes a great deal of effort to hack into the game, far too much for the average snot-nosed brat. Secondly, the characters are partially clothed and no genitalia is exposed. And thirdly, parents should educate themselves on the ESRB’s rating system. Don’t just buy the game because your kid wants it and then express shock and disbelief when your baby boy mows over pedestrians with his stolen Caddy to the tune of maniacal laughter. What do you think the M on the box means? Mild? Rockstar, apparently in an effort to bring some respectability to its name, has released Rockstar Table Tennis. It’s a good game, but it won’t do much to change Rockstar’s image.
You are well spoken and have interesting thoughts. Keep up the good work!
As for my opinion on GTA… I LOVE IT! I think it is a fun fun fun game that I very much enjoy watching Manuel play. As for all the controversy surrounding it, the violence and sex, I agree with you - it’s up the the parents to monitor what games their kids play. I do not believe that playing violent video games, nor watching violent movies makes a person do violent acts.
Yeah, I remember when this became a big story a while back and I could only laugh. Like you said, it is really the repsonsibility of the parents to monitor this. I taught 9 year olds for 3 years before I quit from being tired of parents. It is AMAZING how many of the kids that age had played it before. I love the game, but at 9 years old? Just not right…
And why exactly does the world need shit like this? What’s the purpose? For fun? If we all focused a little more on being productive instead of reproductive, we might actually get something accomplished in this world. Dirty, foul, and poor taste. Waste your brain on that crap and don’t expect to get far in life.
Didn’t they say the same about Leisure Suit Larry back on DOS? I guess there’s more trash coming out of MTV and the likes these days than is hidden somewhere in daft little games. 12 year olds watering at the mouth over pimped Mercs and oiled-up beach bimbos all day long? Perhaps that will mess up the little minds more than this.
It’s all hype to promote a game that is past is prime and gaming sales, generally, are lower than ever. Most kids don’t want these games with all the sex and violence, if they did, Mario Bros wouldn’t be the big sellers. What sells are fun, engaging challenging games - not something you need a PhD to hack to get to the “good” parts. I haven’t played a really great game since ICO.
May I respond to Anonymous, who said, “Waste your brain on that crap and don’t expect to get far in life.” I am a nurse with 3 college degrees. I make a good amount of money each year and have a house, 2 cars and enough money to spend on things I want. As far as I’m concerned, that’s getting pretty far in life, and I enjoy playing GTA. That was an awful narrow-minded comment, Anonymous. Games like GTA aren’t meant to be taken seriously. They’re exactly that - GAMES.
And personally, I do agree with you Leon!
I agree with Anonymous. I don’t completely agree with him/her because some people, fill their brain with crap and they get far in life.
…but this is the exception and exception confirms the rule anyway.
Also, I believe that video games makes people lazy because it conditions the brain to have a maximum of stimulation with minimum effort.
And to Miss Manuel, you are a really strong person of accomplishing all of this and still play video games. But life is short, go to http://www.deathclock.com and see the number of seconds you have left to live.
Seeing this, you might have a second thaught about spending the number of seconds you have left, by doing some button-mashing and stare at a silver screen.
And parents with their usual 80 hours of work per week, barely have some strenght left to monitor what their kid play. And even if they do, the kids will play at their neighbors.
Anyway, trying to have a clean conscience by releasing hyper-violent games and then rely on the parents responsibility is as pathetic as a plaster on skin cancer.
Some kids knew how to headshoot people perfectly by playing videogames.
But I know most of you gamers want to protect your daily-heroïn and say that it’s the parents fault again…