Video games don't kill people...

Grand Theft Auto 4 was released on April 29, and already it’s causing serious debate about it’s violent criminal kitten-eating material in the video game about rising to the top of the crime world.

One of the major things that GTA 4 has come under fire for is the depiction of women and violence against women in the game.         

You can do anything in this game, including pay for sex with a prostitute and then kill her afterwards to get her money. You can do that, but you by no means have to, it’s not part of the story development and there’s no reward for doing so. It’s just a sick little diversion gamers can participate in, if they get the urge. 

The more I learn about Grand Theft Auto the more I think the game could be used for physiological testing. In a game where the character can do just about anything, what gamers chose to do says a lot about them.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean the game is evil any more than free will can be seen as evil.

Still I’m torn about defending a game a young man with a thinly veiled hate on for women can use to get his rage out.

However, I don’t like censorship or the idea of banning a game for how some people misuse it.

Instead of calling for a ban of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, I think those worried about the misogynistic content should be pressuring the creators at Rockstar Games to create an option to play through the game as a woman.

After all, maybe I want to be able to run a virtual gigolo over to get my money back.

Comments

[Jason Chamberlain]

The GTA's are a little too violent for my tastes, but I agree with your theory. Whenever I play an RPG, I always take the noble, good guy road. Cause I'm a noble, good guy :)

[Dwight]

Or Jason, because the hookers say "Thanks, but no thanks" and ask you to move on ...

Snap!

[RamonGustav]

I think you have a thorough understanding in this matter. You describe in detail all here.

[Antivirus_man]

Merry Christmas! I wish you a lot of gifts and luck in the new year.