16-Year Old GTA IV Gamer Charged with Grisly S&M Murder of NYC Newsman

March 25, 2009

A 16-year old New York youth has confessed to the stabbing murder of a veteran New York City radio newscaster, according to a report in the New York Daily News.

The suspect is an avid video gamer who lists Rockstar's controversial Grand Theft Auto IV as his favorite title.

The NYPD has charged John Katehis (left) with repeatedly stabbing George Weber, 47, last Friday. The pair met after Weber posted a Craigslist ad offering to pay for violent sex. Katehis was to earn $60 for the sleazy encounter at which alcohol and cocaine were reportedly used. Weber, apparently as part of his sado-masochistic fantasy, supplied the knife with which Katehis eventually killed him.

That's not to say that Katehis was a stranger to edged weapons. The New York Daily News, which refers to Katehis as "emotionally disturbed," displays a picture of the teen posing with his exotic knife and sword collection.

Gawker has posted Katehis's MySpace profile, in which says the suspect wrotes:

I enjoy long conversations, drinking, bike riding, hanging out, roof hopping, hanging off trains, any type of Parkour exercise. Extreme violence (chaos, anarchy, etc.) Video Games, Violent Movies and listening to my ipod...

I like to do crazy and wild things. I am like an adrenaline junkie. I'm a big risk taker and like to live life on the edge...

The MySpace profile references an account on ibeatyou.com. At that site, Katehis lists Grand Theft Auto IV as the "Hottest PS3 or Xbox 360 Game You've Ever Played" and includes a picture of himself holding a copy of the PlayStation 3 version. Katehis holds up Far Cry 2 in a separate photo.

Additional coverage: Gawker

GP: There are just so many dysfunctional pieces to this story, but video games will certainly be blamed in some quarters.

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German Game Developers Blast Retailer's Decision to Drop 18+ Games

March 20, 2009

As GamePolitics reported yesterday, German retailer Galeria Kaufhof is dropping 18+ video games and movies from its inventory in the wake of last week's horrific school shooting.

Reuters has reaction to the move from Stephan Reichart, who heads G.A.M.E., a trade association which represents German game developers:

I think (Kaufhof's decision) is a complete overreaction... it borders on impulsive hysteria. It would be sufficient if retailers made sure their cashiers don't sell this material to young people.

Since 17-year-old Tim Kretschmer's rampage, reports have emerged indicating that he played the first-person shooters Counter-strike and Far Cry 2.

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Shout box

MaskedPixelante: I'm thinking that in two weeks or so, Microsoft will announce a $300-$350 subsidized Xbox One, depending on the monthly price of Gold next gen.06/17/2013 - 7:04pm

Andrew Eisen: And what, super-over-deliver the value?06/17/2013 - 5:44pm

ZippyDSMlee: Then price it at 299. >>06/17/2013 - 5:32pm

Andrew Eisen: Microsoft says it's "over-delivering value" with it's $499 price point for Xbox One. http://www.destructoid.com/microsoft-xbox-one-overdelivers-value--256472.phtml06/17/2013 - 3:59pm

Conster: My phone may have the possibility of an internet connection, but I consider that inferior to it having a radio functionality, allowing me to listen to songs, and record them, for free. Internet is overrated sometimes.06/17/2013 - 1:48pm

Andrew Eisen: Probably should have said Mattrick STILL doesn't seem to realize...06/17/2013 - 12:23pm

E. Zachary Knight: Didn't he say the same stuff before E3?06/17/2013 - 12:18pm

Andrew Eisen: Don Mattrick doesn't seem to realize that smartphones, tablets and PCs still work when they're not online. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/125083-Xbox-President-Says-World-Has-Changed-From-Offline-to-Online06/17/2013 - 12:18pm

E. Zachary Knight: Nolan Bushnell talks about learning through games. Great interview with Reason TV.06/17/2013 - 12:04pm

E. Zachary Knight: That would be neat, but I am thinking more of case mods that still show off the real size of the Ouya. I will have to see what else is out there. The 2600 Joystick may work, but I don't have one to check.06/17/2013 - 12:03pm

Imautobot: Or how about an old Atari 2600 casing?06/17/2013 - 11:57am

Imautobot: Why not just put the thing in a old SNES/N64 console housing? I know it would be much bigger, but it's still Nostalgic.06/17/2013 - 11:55am

E. Zachary Knight: But if it is going to run too hot and fry, it wouldn't be worth it. I guess I will have to think of something else.06/17/2013 - 11:23am

E. Zachary Knight: That is why I wanted to check before attemping it. I had hoped that I could fit it inside a cartidge for an old school system like the SNES or N64.06/17/2013 - 11:22am

Imautobot: EZK, I noticed that thing puts out some serious heat, without the fan I doubt it would run long.06/17/2013 - 11:09am

E. Zachary Knight: According to Ouya Support, it is not recommended to remove the fan. I want to do a case mod, but if I can't remove the fan, that puts a wrinkle in it.06/17/2013 - 10:29am

Conster: Still happily rowing my 3DS+PC canoe - ships are overrated.06/17/2013 - 10:01am

Imautobot: I'll be keeping my 360, but I don't play online enough to justify keeping XBL. Besides, I'll likely direct those funds to the Playstation Plus Service.06/17/2013 - 9:39am

PHX Corp: @Imautobot, I'll still support the xbox 360, just not the xbox one. but I'll be thinking about preordering the PS4 for myself06/17/2013 - 7:57am

Imautobot: I pre-ordered my PS4 over the weekend. Oh, and I canceled the auto-renew on my XBL account. That means I've officially jumped the Xbox ship.06/17/2013 - 7:28am

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