GTA IV fever is far from over, and the controversies are still pouring in. But for one organization, it’s not the sexual content or graphic violence of the game that they find objectionable, it’s the in-game drunk driving.
MADD, or Mothers Against an Average Weekend, released this statement today:
Each year nearly 13,500 people die in drunk driving crashes and another half a million are injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes. This is why MADD is extremely disappointed by the decision of the manufacturers of the game Grand Theft Auto IV to include a game module where players have to drive drunk. Drunk driving is not a game and it is not a joke. Drunk driving is a choice, a violent crime and it is also 100 percent preventable. MADD is calling on the Entertainment Software Ratings Board to reclassify Grand Theft Auto IV as an Adults Only game, a step up from the current rating of Mature and for the manufacturer to consider a stop in distribution – if not out of responsibility to society then out of respect for the millions of victims/survivors of drunk driving.
True enough, but does it really qualify — over the other, more obvious questionable material in the game — as something that should have a dreaded AO rating?
Umm, yeah, murder isn’t a joke either.
Yeah, drunk driving is definitely the worst thing you can do in GTAIV…
Sounds to me like MADD just trying to get in on the PR action.
“Drunk driving is not a game and it is not a joke. Drunk driving is a choice, a violent crime”
Yeah…it’s a choice in the game too, as well as a crime. You also have the choice of getting a cab.
But I must admit, the euphoria engine is so kick ass and makes walking/standing/running/driving drunk in GTA so much fun! and the camera wobble! Oh man, I really do get woozy
well, dunk driving is a serious crime. you can kill while intoxocated and this video game is just showing that its okay. last year two of my friends died bc of drunk driving so im way agains it. well if u wanna drink. drink but dont drive or you will get what you deserve. drunk driving isnt right so the videogame shouldnt show that its okay to do.
The drink driving in GTA IV is something of a grey topic to me. I was a bit taken aback by it myself, which is surprising when there are so many other crimes you can commit in the game.
I think it’s the fact that nobody has any qualms about labelling assualt, theft, killing etc as serious crimes. Society as a whole has never fully categorised drink driving in the same terms. People convince themselves it’s okay with thoughts like “I’ll drive home on the back streets, I won’t even see anyone” or “Well I might be over the limit, but I’m a better driver than those idiots in the paper” or they just plain don’t care. Nobody sane thinks to themselves “I’ll shoot this guy and steal his car and money. There’s nobody here to see me do it”.
The more obvious criminal behaviour in GTA is so clearly immoral that it can easily be dismissed as fantasy, not so much the drink driving.
In Rockstar’s defence, the game not only enables you to get a cab homoe instead, but encourages you to do so (“You’re pretty drunk. Maybe you should get a cab home”). Niko hails from a part of the world where drink driving simply isn’t taken as seriously as it is in Western Europe and the States. Conviction rates amongst migrant workers are startlingly high and perhaps Rockstar are reflecting this.
They do give you the option of calling a cab. As always, is all about responsibility.
100% Preventable..Exactly Why You Can Take A CAb There Is A Choice..Besides This Is Just A Game…