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.
Comments
Re: Rockstar's Dan Houser: GTA IV Controversy "Frustrating"
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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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.
Fangamer
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.
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