Rockstar's Dan Houser: GTA IV Controversy "Frustrating"
Rockstar's Dan Houser: GTA IV Controversy "Frustrating"
April 25, 2008
Grand Theft Auto IV, the most controversial game of the year, should not be so controversial, according to Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser (left). Houser also termed video game critics as Luddites.GameSpot reports on comments made by Houser to ShortList, including:
The 'controversy' story gets a bit frustrating... if this was a movie, a book, or a TV show, we wouldn't be having this conversation. We're an easy enemy to divert everyone's attention from the stuff that really matters.
There's an argument that video games have caused this massive upsurge in youth violence--they haven't, it's actually gone down. So it's got nothing to do with the content; it's to do with the medium. The problem is that video games aren't the medium [of politicians and tabloid journalists]. Well, that's just a social change, and you're a Luddite if you challenge that.
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Posted 11/07/09 at 10:58am
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:56am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:51am
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:48am
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:11am
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:07am
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:05am
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:03am
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:56am
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:45am
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:37am
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:36am
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:32am
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:30am
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:44am
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:40am
JDKJ: We can sit here all day and debate the relative merits. However, I think the events of recent days suggest that an FN Five-Seven ain't exactly the same as that Daisy BB gun you got for Christmas when you were a kid.
JDKJ: We can sit here all day and debate the relative merits. However, I think the events of recent days suggest that an FN Five-Seven ain't exactly the same as that Daisy BB gun you got for Christmas when you were a kid.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:38am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: tumbling can be quite dangerous. However, the rounds that commonly tumbled were variants of the SS90. Civilian ammo tends to tumble far less commonly.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: tumbling can be quite dangerous. However, the rounds that commonly tumbled were variants of the SS90. Civilian ammo tends to tumble far less commonly.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:33am
JDKJ: I understand that while they don't have much expansion effect, they tend to "yaw" on impact. Yaw can be almost just as damaging as mushrooming.
JDKJ: I understand that while they don't have much expansion effect, they tend to "yaw" on impact. Yaw can be almost just as damaging as mushrooming.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:30am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: Except when one considers the lack of expansion for the 5.7, it basically ends up leaving a far smaller hole.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: Except when one considers the lack of expansion for the 5.7, it basically ends up leaving a far smaller hole.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:29am
JDKJ: But if the latter's travelling at close to twice the speed of the former, there's a compensatory effect on the weight difference.
JDKJ: But if the latter's travelling at close to twice the speed of the former, there's a compensatory effect on the weight difference.
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Comments
I hate how GTA is called 'Hyper Violent' because it's not. Just look at the Saw series, Hostel, The Hills has Eyes, etc.
This brings up another point. The Hills has Eyes had a mutant rape scene. I was so outraged and disturbed that I stopped the movie there. Why isn't there an outcry to banned this movie from every country in the world? Why isn't there new laws to banned rated R movies from minors? Because the government can't due to several laws.
As for his tone in saying it, well, how else do you expect someone who's had their art medium threatened to act?
I agree wholeheartedly. If anything, he was restrained!
And I also agree with Houser, as a lot of these criticisms seem to be coming from technophobes. JT practically wears his Luddite colors on his sleeve, even though I once heard him say he denied it, his actions and other words say otherwise.
Exactly what my point was, after dealing with people like Thompson, how could you not be at least a bit hostile?
I've played all the violent games, and yet I'm still squeemish if my wife gets a paper cut.
Maybe they should do a study on the effects of actual art on people, stuff you can't ban. See how someone reacts to old paintings of nudes, see how someone reacts to the 1812 Overture, and even new media like measure someones brainwaves while watching Saw or Rambo or something. The current studies showing that games "illicet an emotions response" don't really show anything at all.
They are Luddites, in the very sense, they're hitting out at new technology which they don't understand and are in fear of. What's worse is that they do it mainly out of self-promotion rather than for any real belief in it doing good or being in the public interest.
The last movie I turned off was Naked Lunch, because it was boring. As long as Rockstar doesn't make GTA: Interzone, I've got no beef with 'em.
So far Bully is the only less-than-M-rated game Rockstar has ever released. And I don't think they would have if it weren't for the controversy. Bully proved you didn't need violence to make a great game like GTA.
So why haven't they made a sequel? Why continue with GTA when all they did for Bully was a rerelease?
Controversy sells. It's what Rockstar feeds on.
Maybe he's sick of being demonized and deemed a child molester by some know it all moral crusaders?
THIS.
Stupid politicians and lawyers playing right into Rockstar's hands.
The man is angry and pissed. Hes tired of having the media he loves singled out for stupid reasons by stupid cunts in suits who don't have a fucking clue.
Would you expect any other tone?
I think they made an E rated Ping Pong game also.
oh and btw his favorite movie is SAW, which I refues to watch, nothing more than toture porn
You sir, are an idiot and an asshole, console war trolls don't belong here. You are not contributing to the disscusion at all. You remind me of those PS fanboy assholes that started a petition to prevent DMC4 on the 360.
oh and about making the next one PSwhatever exclusive, keep on dreaming, once somethings multiplatform it doesn't go back.
btw I bet you were pissed when you found out that the 360 has the superior version.
I hope you're not talking about me
this guys has a right to be po'ed: people all over the country (possibly the wur-uld) are calling the series his company created a murder/sex/anger-simulatorn and trying to make them pay for other people's overall stupidity
On the other hand, Xbox360 owners get to experience 740p resolution along with the addition of several new missions not present in the PS3 version.
I don't think violent video games breed violent kids or people unless they're predisposed to such violence and warped thinking in the first place.
That being said, as a PS3 owner I will be avoiding anything made by Rockstar in the future.
He-he ;) Download games
great work and thanks for the share earth4energy
This is ridiculous. Like the article suggest, the GTA series has received so much crap from do-gooders about the violence in the game. In that case, they shoud boycott every entertainment industry in the world because they are to blame as well. If they're concerned about their kids playing such a violent gmae, then it's their responsibility to ensure their kids don't. It is rated M for a reason. If someone actually mimicks the violence they see in the game in reality, then perhaps they've got psychological issues. Sheesh, people...
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