December 4, 2007 -
Detroit is the second most dangerous city in America, according to 2006 crime statistics.Top Prosecutor Kym Worthy (left) thinks violent video games may play a role. As reported by the Detroit News, Worthy has issued her 3rd annual list of the Top 10 Most Violent Games. Of the titles, she said:
It's no wonder we're seeing the crimes we're seeing lately... Please do not buy these video games and bring them into your home. It desensitizes [children] to violent acts.
From the Detroit News article:
Grand Theft Auto topped a list of the top 10 most violent video games... The video game "absolutely glorifies" carjacking, Worthy said, and encourages shooting, running over pedestrians and other violent acts.
Other video games on the list make a sport out of buying and selling drugs, show children witnessing the murder of their father and Rapper 50 Cent being involved in the drug underworld.
It won't be especially difficult for parents to avoid purchasing the games on Worthy's Top 10 List, since most of them are at least a year old; some are several years old:
1. Grand Theft Auto (last released on consoles 2004; PSP, 2006)
2. Manhunt (2004, we assume they mean 2007's Manhunt 2)
3. Scarface (2006)
4. 50 Cent Bulletproof (2005)
5. 300 (Feb, 2007)
6. The Godfather (PS3 - March, 2007; other versions, 2006)
7. Killer-7 (2005)
8. Resident Evil 4 (Wii, PC 2007; other versions 2005)
9. God of War (2005; we assume they mean 2007's GoW2)
10. Hitman Blood Money (2006)
GP: We understand that politicians are going to compile lists of this sort around the holiday shopping season. Is it too much to ask that they do their homework, figure out which games are actually in demand right now and offer parents guidance that is more relevant?
Comments
Re: Detroit Prosecutor Issues (outdated) List of 10 Violent
Kym "Un"Worthy
you talking about politicians. so yes. yes it is too much to ask them to do their homework
True true. But they aren't exactly on the top of many wish list.
Don't forget, Mario uses mushrooms.
@mgroves
A yearly list should contain games that are in demand that year, not a few years back. Plus, the list itself smacks of someone picking the highest profile violent games and sprinkling in some lesser known ones just to appear well informed.
Where is Postal 2 ?
It's old, i agree, but, if you want to become a crazyWTFBBQpsycho, you have to play this one, or this excuse is outpassed maybe now ?
Still, i would expect at least SOME recent games (or at least get the sequels right).
I don't think RE4 is that bad of a game, it's one of my favorites of all time. And shouldn't these games not be in the hands of minors anyways? Any parent with half a brain cell should know that M = Bad
Not to mention, just looking at the cover, they should think "Hm...a picture of someone's head in a vice...this is soooo apropriate for my 7-year-old"
You'd think that after the crap that happens in Detroit and the surrounding areas they'd have more important things to worry about.
and once again...to Ms Prosecutor...
Detroit's million(give or take) carjackings are not the games fault...
Come on kids sing-a-long.
This stuff is pretty outta date, isnt it? Most people who are gonna get GoW or RE4 already have it, so this list is kinda pointless on a number of angles.
"We understand that politicians are going to compile lists of this sort around the holiday shopping season. Is it too much to ask that they do their homework, figure out which games are actually in demand right now and offer parents guidance that is more relevant? "
Yes.
"It’s no wonder we’re seeing the crimes we’re seeing lately… Please do not buy these video games and bring them into your home. It desensitizes [children] to violent acts."
The crime's being seen "lately," by and large the same crimes that have been seen for decades, are not caused by games but some games are, however, caused by a culture that already glorifies those crimes. When you see people stealing cars and hear about people stealing cars and talk about people stealing cars then it isn't GTA III that "desensitizes" you to car theft.
It's like someone saying, "which came first, the chicken or the egg?" and some else answering, "omelette's!"
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
BTW, is 300 that bad? I've just seen some videos and read some reviews, but it didn't really strike me as a horrible game that will make people cut down their neighbor.
Seriously? Are there any politicians out there that actually cite their sources?
Grand Theft Auto "glorifies" carjacking? That's like saying Mario glorifies jumping, or Sonic glorifies speed. It's just a means to an end. Game mechanics are there so that you can complete some overall task.
Bulletproof was just a sorry excuse for a game...just like 50 Cent's rap is a sorry excuse for music (sorry, couldn't resist).
And they bring up the video games/aggression < smoking/cancer statistic debate again. Christ...it's illogical people like this that continue to further my misanthropy.
To quote the great one: "Good grief."
Oh, wait, those are MOVIES. Non-interactive. Yeah. After all, it's not people don't become emotional, aggressive, or even violent when they merely hear or see events that they didn't take active parts in to begin with. (Google: "riot" "detroit" "violence", etc.)
And, yeah, video games glorify drug dealing more than anything. Gee, it's not like the rolls of money long time dealers pull out don't make the act look lucrative.
It's not like seeing dealers surrounded by "popular" people in the community doesn't look lucrative.
It's not like the confidence pouring off the public persona of the dealer doesn't make them look lucrative.
It's not like the expensive materials (jewelry, cars, even weapons) don't look lucrative.
It's not like the fear so many in the community have of the dealers doesn't seem lucrative.
It's not like segments of the community don't actually GET BEHIND the dealers when, after having bitched that the police DON'T do anything about the dealers, the community turns around and bitches that the police HARASS and violate the Civil Rights of various dealers. Sure, that doesn't seem like a lucrative business venture.
Video games to blame? More like you're too bloody lazy to do a REAL job of cleaning up your city.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
(*Note: I said most!*)
A future full of sanitized childhoods and 'clean living' where things that are unpleasant are simply not talked about in the hope that they will go away.
I for one, welcome our new ant overlords.
1. GTA. Well, I want it, (any one) but my mom would kill me. Hey, my parents are parenting! What a thought!
2. Manhunt (1 or 2) I don't have a playstation, and even if I did, I wouldn't want that game. I have better ways to waste my time.
3. Scarface. I'd rather see the movie. Which I'm not allowed to see. Curse you, parental units!
4. 50 cent: bulletproof. I hate rap. Why would I by a game about a rapper?
5. 300. I liked the movie, but as everyone knows, 99% of licesend games are crap.
6. The godfather. I'd rather read the book. Or see the movie. or go play a good GTA knockoff.
7. Killer-7. What? I've never heard of that game.
8. RE4. Ok, this one I might want. I actually played the Demo at comic-con '04, and it was cool. I'd run into troube with my parents, though. They have me at every turn!
9. GOW: Yet again, I don't own one of Sony's devil machines. Bill Gates (and miyamoto, with a minority stake) own my soul.
10. Hitman. Not a bad game, but not one I'm particularly intrested in.
Hey, lady! why not stop blaming games I don't even give a crap about and go do our job? Just a thought.
P.S. Congrats, EZK. I've read a lot of your posts, and I know you'll probobly do O.K.
I also find something extremely ironic about the *MOVIE* game 300 is on that list. I find it dead hilarious that 50 Cent's garbage game is there too... After all, mainstream hip hop (Y'know the stuff which destroyed the whole genre...) is something our children should all enjoy.
...And it's been two years already since his terrible game came out? Wow, time flies!
I guess I should stay away from these outdated titles, even though I'm 17. Because age requirements doesn't matter to them. Who cares if I'm old enough? I'll just stay the hell away...
/Sarcasm
Where is her list of the top ten music CDs to avoid?
Me thinks those lists wouldn't garner as much attention as a gaming list. I assume Kym Worthy thinks this as well.
Honestly the XBox (or any game system or video game) itself has nothing to do with this. If Cheese-its were more 'street' in the eyes of the gang members, they'd call themselves that and use big orenge triangles for their tags.
Incidentally, the only reason Baltimore hasn't had a higher murder rate then Detroit for the past 30 years is because it has substantially better hospitals.
Also, I doubt she, or any of her advisers, have even played any of the games on the list. Therefore, how the hell does she know how violent each game is and what each game glorifies?
That fat bitch should stop eating so many doughnuts and start playing games so she at least knows what the fuck she is talking about before bashing games.
While we're at it let's go ahead and add a view other games. Mortal Kombat 2 for the Sega Genesis for showing blood and having fatalities. Aquaman for the Nintendo Gamecube just because, like the most of the games on her list, it sucks. And Deathtrap Dungeon for the Sony Playstation for its violence. Yeah, that’s perfectly outdated.
@ jds
Because then she'd have to admit that kids can watch movies and listen to music far easier than they can play games. Then she'd have to admit that those mediums could just as easily "desensitize you to violence". Then she'd have to work.
Seriously? Better watch you to see if you'll go on a killing spree. How's Killer-7?
@Acebuckeye13
sony dosent have devil machienes just buy a playstation and you will see what you are missing out on
fanboys suck
Tell Sony to get off their ass and put out some good games. There getting there, but there still isn't a reason to buy the console.
If you want to see how messed up Detroit is, look at the Pacers/Pistons brawl or their fans' reaction after the 2004 NBA Finals to name a short few.