Somehow I don't think that's going to convince too many people...a lot of that video could've easily been cut and pasted into something JT would masturbate to.

It was strange to me to see them re-enact scenes from the game. While I believe that they can tell the difference between a game and reality, the joy they have in pretending to kill a cop was a bit strange to me. I don't know whether this is a comment on the video game culture, or just culture in general, cause I remember playing cowboys and indians (or some equivlant anyway) when I was younger. This seemed to be at another level, and it was just kind of sad to me. They should probably not be playing the game, but that doesn't mean that no one should. I feel very mixed in general after seeing this.

The real issue is that Regent Park would be a shit hole whether GTA San Andreas existed or not.

The general feeling I got from this video is that the parents either don't care to know about what their kids are doing or the parents are acting irresponsibly, laws aren't needed, real parents are needed. this all boils down to responsibility, and the fact that so few adults are willing to face it.

I'm not really sure what to make of it.

Is it just me or are most of these kids kind of dopey and most of the games they showed kind of crappy?

There's certainly a mixed message here, because it demonstrates poor judgment on the part of the parents, and then despite the kids saying that the game does not influence them, they speak about the game with a fondness. There is clearly an effect on them. Does it influence them to go pick up prostitutes and carjack? Probably not. But there's an attachment there that is troubling nonetheless. I don't really know who to try to indict any more.

And I'll also point out, as a note, that the kids were clearly instructed to say "The game does not influence me in any way," as you saw the last of the three boys (the one wearing the do-rag) stumble over his line. If you're going to script part of an interview in a documentary, you could at least cover it up well. Sheesh.

Odd... a fair bit of scaremongering followed up by a pretty strong lack of a message.
A couple of things worth mentioning:
The "concerned adult"... what was up with him? Did they specifically look for the adult with the least education about video games or did they just get lucky? I note that he's a concerned adult, not a concerned parent, for that matter. Anyway, in particular was his comment that games with guns, gangs, etc. should be in a higher classification. I know, how about we create a labeling system that would recommend these games only be played by people 17 and older? It's brilliant! I'm going to get started on it right away!
The other major problem I had was when the interviewer asked why the kids liked these games and they responded about being able to kill people and cops, join gangs, etc. First of all, I suspect they might have been coached a little bit. More importantly, kids often aren't very good at articulating exactly why they like something. "Because you can kill people" is only half of an answer. People enjoy violence. Every single form of media will tell you that. If the ability to kill people was the only reason they liked it, why did 50 Cents' game bomb. You can kill people in that. I think the real appeal in the Grand Theft Auto games is the control it gives you. You're not hindered by right and wrong, nor does it constrict tightly to linear gameplay. In particular in Vice City (and maybe San Andreas, haven't played that one) you reach the point where you're not working for mob bosses anymore. You're the one in charge.
From children who have little to no authority, to adults who feel the constraints of society, it's no real surprise why this would appeal to people of all ages.

Beacon, I think you hit the nail right on the head there. There is a lot more appeal to a game like GTA than just "killing people" it's how the game is presented and how the story is told, much like a movie and I don't see senators flipping out over kids watching Scarface but they pitch a fit if a kid plays the game based on the movie.

-Auto

Well Luckly for that, most of the younger generation forget that the PC is king in violence and gore and nudity in games. There is one thing that confused me in the video though, They were trying to act serious to this, but they never went to the catalyst of it all. The fact that them having the game, or games that are not rated for them, in thier possesion is the main reason why people are rising up about violent video games. Always blame someone else, instead of critizing your peers i always say.

For those of you worried about the kids' emotional attachment to the game and fondness for killing people, I recommend you read "Killing Monsters: Why Children Need Fantasy, Super-Heroes, and Make-Believe Violence" by Gerard Jones. He talks about how games that involve violent themes help kids feel powerful and important in a fantasy setting when that is often difficult and suppressed in real life.

um....this seems very scripted to me. HIGHLY scripted. Like something my mom would make me do in front of a camera even though i didn' t want to.

In my area, people hate cops? Y'know why? Because of stuff recently like the soon to be groom and friends that were shot at 50+ times. Oh yea, he's dead by the way, neighborhoods and stuff are harsh here. I can go into details about what crap the news put out about it and my own PERSONAL experience but thats a whole different thing.

Scoops
ah I thought CD had a mid way point and that GTA was 14-16 I know the EU kinda has that *L*

Somehow I don’t think that’s going to convince too many people…a lot of that video could’ve easily been cut and pasted into something JT would masturbate to.

...He's a Peter Phile? Ew.

As much as I would like more parents to abide by the ESRB ratings, these kids have a point even if they can't explain it in broader terms. Whether we like it or not, kids as young as 12 are going to get into shit that isn't suitable for them.

GTA and other M-based games are marketed towards the 18-25 demograph but alas, younger generations are still going to be drawn to it. In essence, GTA isn't marketed towards kids, the kids are marketing themselves toward GTA.

While I think some of you are entirely on point in saying that these kids are expressing fondness for these games, I do want to point out that fondness for a particular game does not *necessarily* mean said game has any long-term effect on the player or influences his behaviour in any (significant) way -- aside perhaps from the obvious (and temporary) emotional response that comes along with *any* activity.

I think the idea of fondness has more to do with what comes to mind when one remembers something. These kids own these games. They play them regularly. So it's understandable that when you ask them how they feel about the game, what comes to their mind is the idea of not having to deal with all the anxieties that come along with being outside in the inner-city (like where you're playing, who's around, etc) and a feeling of being in control (which is really the whole point to playing these "urban sandbox" games). And when everyday real-world anxieties do present themselves in the game, the player is able to overcome them (say, by confronting an authority figure as opposed to responding with a "yes sir" and going home feeling like nobody lets you do anything). These games are what kids do to get away from their problems. Some people like watching movies to get away from their problems; others might like to read a good book instead. Surely if you asked the movie-goer about a movie he likes, there would be a sense of fondness in his reaction and response. The same applies for the literary types.

This is different from the kind of stimulus it takes to alter/influence one's behaviour. I am a movie-goer, I am very fond of James Bond films, and I can always relax when watching any one of them. And yet I don't think I'll ever own a gun, set off any explosives, be in any car chases, or spend the night with any unbelievably-sexy women. (The first three are by choice; the fourth, sadly, is not.)

Now, I do acknowledge that kids are very impressionable, and I'm not saying that these kids *should* be playing these games (I doubt any one of their parents has spent so much as 20 minutes watching the game and making an actual decision as to whether or not the game's content is suitable for their kid). What I *am* saying is that you shouldn't associate a fondness for the game with a desire to act out the game in real life or behave like any one of the game's characters.

Disclaimer: No, I have not conducted any research, looked up any studies, conducted any surveys, taken any polls, or interviewed any of these children. I believe what I have said here is nothing more than common sense.

-- sakimori

This is the second time that gamers have been poorly represented, but this time it is the fault of other gamers. They meant well, but considering their education level (they haven't even hit high school yet) they don't quite know how to express themselves or address any real issues, and I guess they somehow decided that pretending to pick up a "hooker" on a bike would be a good way to show how they don't carry the game into real life. Once again I do not believe that these people represent the majority of gamers. However, these are also not insane psycho killers that got their skills and whatnot from video games.

I guess there is one plus side though. Considering the location this is being filmed from, you really have to admit that this is a very good means of expressing their views and that in and of itself is evidence that these kids are not being influenced by the game except in their other harmless play. Although personally, the only toy guns I condone are light guns which I think are immensely fun.

You can lead a parent to responsibility but you can't make them take it.

Here's something that will shock and touch you at the same time:

ME AND MY DAD FIND THE FAMILY GUY GAME MORE OFFENSIVE THAN GTA
(Keeping in mind, I'm 18, and am enjoy the Grand Theft Auto games)

Seriously. My brother is a huge fan of the show (I used to be, until it turned into "80's Reference Guy"), and loves the game despite all the review that said it sucked.

I was down from college this Thanksgiving weekend, and I watched him play it a bit. Seemed kind of average, more like something for fans rather than gamers. After he beat it, I got a chance to play it for myself. It SUCKED. My dad came in and started watching me during one of Peter's "Bad Street Brawler" (I refuse to associate Viewtiful Joe and Final Fight with this game) stages. For the uninitiated, the story behind it is that Peter Griffin is deluded into believing that Mr. Belvedere is out to get him, so he goes around beating the crap out of everyone.

However, as my Dad was weatching it, he became disgusted at the fact that you punt little children in order to advance, black guys are harder to beat, and the most damning thing of all: YOU PUNCH OLD PEOPLE AS THEY WALK OUT OF CHURCH.

We both forbade him to buy it. THIS IS PARENTING, PEOPLE: my dad forbids it because he's a parent, and I forbid it because I've played good videogames, and we both recognize that it's a piece of shit meant to sell based on name recognition (which my brother is a sucker for- "ZOMG! DBZ BUDOKI! I WATCHED DBZ! ZOMG DIZNEE N FINAL FANTASY CHAR IN KINDUMB HERTS!!! I TOTALLY PLAYED THE FIRST DISK OF FF7!! I DON'T CARE IF IT SUCKS!!!" goddamn idiot)

So, yeah, kids need parents.

[...] Inner City Kids Talk About Playing Grand Theft Auto [GamePolitics] [...]

DtotheG
I know I am not that hot for it either and most of US TV to boot tis all fake sex violence or stupidity I cant stand it,I ahve a lw tolerance for GTA but its the gameplay and theme combination that kill me,if it was magic and medevil I might pla yit more... *thinks about a medevil or sci fi GTA clone with cat girls has nose bleed and passes out * LOL