Comments on: Grand Theft Auto IV & the ESRB Ratings

By: DeaconBlade

DeaconBlade — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:44:05 +0000

hey don’t blame me Gibson..blame the ESRB and Jack Thompson

By: GibsonsBoobie

GibsonsBoobie — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:12:32 +0000

“what’s to disagree with? Mature titles aren’t meant for anyone under 17. that’s a fact. i know there are those like you who understand the game but the fact remains though that Mature titles are meant for those 17 and older. just the facts ”

That is not a ‘fact.’ Games are developed for whatever audience is willing to buy them, regardless of their age. It’s the ESRB that suddenly steps in and decides who the games are meant for. Sorry, but your statement is just a non sequitur. Who games are ‘meant for’ shouldn’t be the determining factor on who should get to play them.

It’s a little off topic, but I’m fed up with the ESRB, MPAA, and censorship in general. Censorship only harms our children. They’re already exposed to most of these concepts daily. For the rest of these concepts, what good does hiding our children from them achieve? They’re only unprepared when they encounter these things in real life. Sixteen year olds can’t play a game like Grand Theft Auto, but in just one year they can be in the military fighting, experiencing it all and more first hand. Retailers should man up and distance themselves from the ESRB. The ESRB ratings are incredibly useful to educate parents, but that should be the extent of their use and power.

By: DeaconBlade

DeaconBlade — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:08:54 +0000

lol @ Ray Charles. that’s wrong.

By: DouggyD

DouggyD — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:26:24 +0000

saw a very cool photoshopped GTA IV cover here:
http://www.worth1000.com/contest.asp?contest_id=19203&display=photoshop&page=1#entries
if anyone is interested, check it out!

By: DeaconBlade

DeaconBlade — Wed, 07 May 2008 11:42:59 +0000

what’s to disagree with? Mature titles aren’t meant for anyone under 17. that’s a fact. i know there are those like you who understand the game but the fact remains though that Mature titles are meant for those 17 and older. just the facts

By: IrishGreenDeath

IrishGreenDeath — Wed, 07 May 2008 03:51:21 +0000

I have to disagree with your comment about 13 and 14 year olds. I am 14 and the majority of my games are Mature and I understand what is being presented to me.

By: No Hands 55

No Hands 55 — Wed, 07 May 2008 01:39:36 +0000

i think its all the parents fault with all the complaints of young kids playing these games, im not even gunna get myself started. it will just be !!!alien side boob all over again!!!!

By: kilaMOMjaro

kilaMOMjaro — Tue, 06 May 2008 23:05:29 +0000

I have the situation of having all different ages in my home. My 21 yr old and I play GTA. My 13 yr old can play with his older brother, who is ahead in the game. Older bro skips scenes and mutes it for younger bro. Mostly though he plays racing games with his friends. He plays where we all can see him with the volume at zero.
That said, Im sure I’ll still take heat for this, but I feel he is properly supervised.

All families are different as are all children. I respect any parents choice on gaming for their child when they are involved. It’s those who dont care and just throw games at their kids that upset me.

I actually had a mom ripping me about playing Halo3 when her college aged daughter said “Your 12 yr old son plays GTA mom” This mother had NO IDEA about the game. BE INVOLVED!

Nice job Deac…thank you!

By: JuggalordsZero

JuggalordsZero — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:58:42 +0000

I used to work at a video rental store from 2000-2003, and I helped many parents understand the rating system more. Around that time, the ESRB started putting descriptors, like “Mild Language, Blood”. Parents found this extremely helpful in deciding what games to get for their children.

Around that time the MPAA also started using descriptors similar to the ESRBs for movies that I find quite helpful and also showed many parents.

By: TXPaladin

TXPaladin — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:36:54 +0000

My knee jerk reaction at first, thinking I could yank someone out of car, cap them on the spot, run to a strip club and have a lap dance, pick up a hooker, and then get drunk and drive off was WTF! Crazy, but the fact is the more I’ve looked at this, the more I see its freedom of choice and you don’t have to do those things at all. The game doesn’t force you to go on a rampage. Yes this is a title, worthy of Adult, perhaps, but if not its really high on that limit. I feel that only 17+ should play the game, its my opinion and feeling. Rhyme’s doing what’s best for his family and being the parent. He knows what limits to set and is there to talk about stuff with his son. As for AO rated games, sounds like I’ll never see a title like that, but at least with GTA IV, I can very well see where the line is drawn now.

By: DeaconBlade

DeaconBlade — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:25:01 +0000

big titles get big attention. Saint’s Row and GTA are in some regard the same title but no one would argue against the fact that GTA is the king.

the media targets the higher profile games. tis a shame but that’s the way the cookie crumbles

By: Viper86

Viper86 — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:15:13 +0000

I don’t think Rockstar went too far or pushed the boundaries of what’s acceptable. It’s pretty pathetic how the main stream media keeps attacking the game and spreading misinformation about it. Is it a game that kids should be playing? Absolutely not. It’s a mature game that deserved the M rating it got. An AO rating would have been unnecessary. Saints Row didn’t really draw much hate or controversy and I think that game had more questionable material.