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I always find it amusing, and also somewhat irritating, how there are those that have nothing else to do with their time than complain about things… more often than not just to hear their own voice within the media. The Grand Theft Auto series has been a constant target by those individuals ever since GTA3, and perhaps even before that, although I don’t think GTA or GTA2 were on their radar back then.

Essentially, the GTA series give you the ability to do anything you want. There are set missions that you have to go through to progress and eventually complete the game, but outside of those missions, you are free to interact with the world you are in as you wish. You have the ability and the CHOICE to go on a rampage and murder as many people as you want, just like you have the CHOICE to be a lunatic in the real world and go on a murderous rampage. You have the CHOICE to go to a hooker for her services, just like in real life. You have the CHOICE to go to a store and buy clothes, just like in real life. You have the CHOICE of going to a diner, ordering some food, and then shooting everyone in the establishment, just like in real life.

…I’m going to stop this aspect of the rant as the word “choice” has been written so many times that the word is starting to lose meaning to me…

Anyway, with a “sandbox” game like GTA IV, you have the ability to interact with the environment any way you wish. The media, and other organisation, tend to focus on how you can do these things, and how THAT is wrong. Well, yes, they are right… it IS wrong to do them, but you don’t HAVE to do them, just like in real life. For example, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), is causing a stir because in one aspect of the game you can take friends out to go drinking, and if you choose to do so instead of hailing a cab (which Niko suggests), you can attempt to drive. You don’t HAVE to, but you can, just like in real life. MADD even goes so far as to try to shame Rockstar into pulling the game from store shelves:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ju16X_-nwrLKNTDz01XO2wzB_e3AD90CH47G0

That’s just bullshit. There is NOT a mission in the game that specifically encourages drunk driving, but because you can do it in the game they are offended? Get off your high horse, MADD. You are doing good things in the real world, but stick to the real world, and leave the virtual worlds alone… UNLESS you are going to go after ALL the movies and TV shows that have ever had drunk driving in them, and issue the same shaming tactics upon them.

As well, the whole big “issue” with hiring a hooker in the game, having sex with her, and then killing her afterwards for her money. I’m going to use the word again: that is a CHOICE that you have in the game, just like you would in real life. There isn’t a mission in the game that says you have to go to a hooker, or even kill her afterwards to get your money back, but you can if you are demented enough. The same thing happens in real life ALL THE TIME. Why do you think some prostitutes keep tabs on each other? It takes a certain level of person to use their services anyway.

The end result? If you don’t like the game, don’t play it, and shut the fuck up. If you don’t want your kids to play the game, then don’t let them, and shut the fuck up. If you only want to hear your opinion voiced within the media (Jack Thompson), or are using the controversy surrounding the game to gain votes (Hillary Clinton), get a fucking life, and shut the fuck up.

GTA IV is rated “M” for “Mature”. How about all of you act the same?

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