Video Game Corrupts Youth?

Dan Hawryluk, The Projector (Red River

College)

WINNIPEG (CUP)—Grand Theft Auto:
San Andreas, the newest release by
Rockstar Games, has been turning heads
across the world. Not even on shelves
more than a week, it has sold more than
100,000 copies worldwide. Released Oct.
26, the garfie has already come under
heavy fire, criticized for its extreme vio-
lence, coarse language and virtually every
other aspect it has to offer.

San Andreas is set in the early "90s,
when organized gang warfare dominated
much of America. In it, players are
expected to carry out such missions as
taking a group of fellow thugs to “rub
out” some rival gang members, or sneak
quietly into someone’s home and steal all
of their worldly possessions, easily earn-
ing the game’s mature rating.

American lawyer Jack Thompson has
long been against the Grand Theft Auto
(GTA) series. Since the first GTA was
released in 1997, Thompson has been
very vocal with his opinion that the game
is nothing more than a program that
shows young teenagers how to commit
crimes and kill people.

His most recent evidence is a young
Massachusetts boy, who was recently

arrested for plotting to “mow down” a
number of his fellow students and teach-
ers. The student had been quoted saying
Grand Theft Auto was his “favourite game.”

“The technique of killing civilians and
then first-responders when they get there

is the primary scenario to win in all the
Grand Theft Auto games,” said Thompson
to several newspapers.

He said gangs and terrorist groups use
these types of games as simulators to train
their members to be more effective killers.

 

ENbErboinMent

 

Thompson has also been trying to bring
Rockstar Games to court over the death
of 14-year-old Stefan Pakeerah last year,
which he claims was linked to the video
game Manhunt, where the player must
murder as many people as possible in bru-
tal fashions.

Video game retailers across the coun-
try have been trying to cut down on the
number of minors gaining access to this
type of game.

“We've been really trying to crack
down on this,” said Chris, a Winnipeg
Blockbuster employee. “Children should-
n't be able to view this kind of material
without explicit parental consent. It’s our
job to make sure that the rules are carried
out.”

Teens, however, are taking a much
more relaxed approach towards the situa-
tion.

“T love the game. It’s just a shame that
my folks don’t like the idea of having it in
the house,” said Katie Moffat, a 17-year-
old student.
they’re coming from though, since it’s so

“T can understand where

violent. I guess they don’t want me cor-
rupting my young and fragile mind.”

 

 

 

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november § 17/2000

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