Due to the discussion in class, I wanted to take a look at a game we all know and really evaluate its impact on the different levels of society that make the United States. The game I decided to use as my subject it Grand Theft Auto III. Although Grand Theft Auto III was not the first one to use the crime ridden sandbox environment, it was the first game that brought popularity to this theme. Rock Stars’ game GTA3 has brought more concern to the leaders of this “free world” then most could imagine, given rise to multiple Jack Thompsons to anti-violence activist saying how video game are wrong and ruining the youth.
From a games stand point Grand Theft Auto III was very impressive. Rock Star created an experience allowing player to control character in a completely immersive city. This allowed to player to explore this imaginary world freely, becoming the father of the sandbox style of game play. Following GTA3’s success, game like True Crime, Driver 2, Saints Row, and many more have been produced, yet the GTA series as remained in the spot light as the poster child of this style of game play. Not only did the game have a mechanic that allowed players to do what they wanted in this world, the game also has an immersive story that tied the game and the world together, allowing the player to continue playing and discovering new things for hours on end. This ability allowed for a game with a nonlinear storyline, causing a trend that has been implemented in many new game since Grand Theft Auto 3 was release. This was made possible by the creation of the Play Station 2 entertainment system. Before the PS2 there was a game that created this genre named Driver for the Play Station but due to the limitation of the hardware the game was nowhere near as successful as Grand Theft Auto 3. The impact this game had on society was one of enjoyment and outrage, depending on who you are. Grand Theft Auto was a video game idol for many and for others a new target to blame for the problems with that have always plagued their sweet peaceful society.
With the release of game violent game parent congressmen and many others have targeted game with violent theme as the case of violent crimes amongst teens. Activists are claiming that these games are causing children to become criminals. This would mean that the crime rate for minors has grown. According to the www.gamepolitics.com there article “Comparing Violent Crime Rates to Violent Game Releases,” this is not the case; the crime rate among kids has dropped significantly since the release of doom. Although this does not say that violent video game prevent violent action because there is not study this. At the same time it is hard to say that violent crimes are increasing because of game, when the overall crime rate is decreasing. So what is it about game GTA that has cause parent to be up in arms, is there a reason and has GTA effected society as much as many claims it has or has their claims effected society while using GTA as a tool for their own means.
Grand Theft Auto is a violent game and is destroying our society. Grand Theft Auto caused my child to get into trouble for fighting. Crimes are being commented my teens because of game like Grand Theft Auto. These are the effect that Grand Theft Auto has created on society. Although this effect are not true many concerned parent have become believers in this propaganda from activist like Thompson. The action for the activist has had a chain reaction thought society, causing increase in concerns and ratings of games. These concerns have created a division among many adults who believe that the games are not to blame for the action that their children have taken, but rather then lack of parenting that many adult provide for their children. Stating how these parents would neglect raising their children and leave television and games to raise them. These concerns have caused the ESRB to become more active in the rating of games as well as retailers such as Wal-Mart and Best Buy. With new standers to game and well rating system retail stores have stated to take notice to the customers that buy the game similar to ticket sellers at cinemas. Many game enthusiasts as well as other have posted then disagreement for accusation on game as being the cause of violence and view the regulation as an unneeded use of tax payers’ money. Michael Koby, a consultant as well as a well as a radio co-host state “I blame the parents…Video game are not the reason these children commit violent crimes, if this was the case more children would be committing these kind of crimes” he continues to say “if playing violent games does not cause these kid to commit,… someone should look into the parents. The parents are responsible for raising their children to know right and wrong.” (www.mkoby.com/2006/10/30/i-blame-the-parents/) He continues to state how parent are too busy with other thing to take raise their children, and it is known without supervision children will run amok. Furthermore when children do something wrong many go on without receiving any punishment, this causing them to believe there is not repercussion for their actions. To illustrate the problems with parenting and video games, “Gaming Today” releases an article showing and discussing a recent poll stating “Parents Worry More about GTA than Beer and Porn” the Poll was conducted via website www.whattheyplay.com. This poll “queried parent on what they’d be most concerned about their 17 year old child indulging in while at a sleep over. More than 1,600… children smoking marijuana (49 percent) and playing the video game Grand Theft Auto(19 percent) than watching pornography (16 percent) and drinking beer (14 percent).”
This shows that the impact the game created on society is one similar to what comic and rock and roll created then they were first introduce into society. Creating a trend and unmerited paranoia, to the point that it is less moral to play game with violence then it is to secretly indulge in activates that are actually illegal such as underage drinking, and smoking.
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