Suit Blames Video Game for N.M. Slayings

[xi Apocalypse ix]

(09-25) 16:58 PDT Albuquerque, N.M. (AP) --

Family members of three people slain by a 14-year-old on newsman Sam Donaldson's New Mexico ranch sued the makers of the video game "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" on Monday, claiming the crimes would not have occurred had the teenager never played the violent game. I cant post this in News & Announcements so I had to post it here. View the story right here http://www.netscape.com/viewstory/2006/09/25/suit-blames-video-game-for-nm-slayings/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sfgate.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Farticle.cgi%3Ff%3D%2Fn%2Fa%2F2006%2F09%2F25% 2Fnational%2Fa165849D10.DTL%26feed%3Drss.news&frame=true

[PMS Kahlo]

Wow. It's a tragic event, but when are people going to learn that video games aren't to blame in situations like these?

[xi Apocalypse ix]

I know its a tragic. And you know just as well as I do, people who is against video games is trying hard to put an end to the Gaming Industry, I've got bad news for them: "They Will Never Win". Thats my motto for people who hates video games.

[n i k i t a]

wow..yeah thats a tragic story. Although..I wonder what they blamed back in the days when indians were massacred and the west was won?
And hey we game here in europe aswell..but we dont make that equation to go out videogames=psycho violence..strange.
Actually they made a survey ,and gaming in Sweden is increasing strongly as a "mature" recreation hobby, the average age of a swedish gamer is 29..i guess we will have a psycho generation x with an additional 30 crisis running around killing people here pretty soon..if thats what videogames does?

[r33hash]

Keep your kids in check! Act like a parent for once! Take responsibilty for your lack of responsibility!

Wow. I hate people who refuse to claim the blame.

[RandomHero]

Rockstar can't be blamed for anything. If the kid was 14 and the game is an 18+ then whoever bought him the game/sold the game to him is to blame for exposing him to the content. Rockstar package the game appropriately with age ratings, so they can't be held responsible if his parents bought a game that he shouldn't have been playing.

A similar thing happened with the Hot Coffee mod in San Andreas. An old woman tried to sue Rockstar because her grandson, 13 at the time, had been caught using the mod. But because he was 5 years under the age restriction and the fact he had to actively find and switch on the mod she lost.

Why don't they blame crash bandicoot for something? Or frogger for hit and runs?

[kdawg15]

wow, thats a sad story but i dont see how they can blame a video game for it

[Athena Twin PMS]

Rockstar can't be blamed for anything. If the kid was 14 and the game is an 18+ then whoever bought him the game/sold the game to him is to blame for exposing him to the content. Rockstar package the game appropriately with age ratings, so they can't be held responsible if his parents bought a game that he shouldn't have been playing.

A similar thing happened with the Hot Coffee mod in San Andreas. An old woman tried to sue Rockstar because her grandson, 13 at the time, had been caught using the mod. But because he was 5 years under the age restriction and the fact he had to actively find and switch on the mod she lost.

Why don't they blame crash bandicoot for something? Or frogger for hit and runs?


Agreed. Jack Thompson needs to get real. Yes, parents need to monitor what thier kids play, but who is to blame a company for a parent letting thier kid play? What next, sue the Saving Private Ryan producers? How many millions of gamers are out there that are not freaks, and yet every few months Thompson picks up another random case. Violent people are drawn to violent images...they use videogames for outlets just like they do music, movies: as an outlet...but it is not the creator of the violence. If is where, then we would all be out blowing up buildings! I have said it before, and I will say it agian...look at the kids blowing up frogs with blackjacks in the yard, and you will stop the violence.

BTW, he lived on a ranch in NM...and have never shot a real gun?? Yeah, right. I grew up in rural Wisconsin, and everyone went hunting there. Pfff.

[Sargonas H2O]

I think what sums it up best was when i was a Gamestop manager a few years back.. I once told a lady that "I just want to make sure you are aware you are buying your son an M rated game"

she looked at me and smiled and said "Son, its just a game. If a child cant tell the differrence between a video game and real life, its not a game issue, its a parenting issue"

I wish others were as sensible as she was. And on that note, Jack Thompson needs to be locked in a room for 3 weeks with nothing but water, a PS2 and GTA:SA :)

Oh yeah, and twin + guns = nervous sarg

[RandomHero]

Agreed. Jack Thompson needs to get real. Yes, parents need to monitor what thier kids play, but who is to blame a company for a parent letting thier kid play? What next, sue the Saving Private Ryan producers? How many millions of gamers are out there that are not freaks, and yet every few months Thompson picks up another random case. Violent people are drawn to violent images...they use videogames for outlets just like they do music, movies: as an outlet...but it is not the creator of the violence. If is where, then we would all be out blowing up buildings! I have said it before, and I will say it agian...look at the kids blowing up frogs with blackjacks in the yard, and you will stop the violence.

BTW, he lived on a ranch in NM...and have never shot a real gun?? Yeah, right. I grew up in rural Wisconsin, and everyone went hunting there. Pfff.

Good point, films have been around a fair few years more than games have and they have alot more violence that we are told to believe is 'real', rather than in games where you smush zombies with lawnmowers.

Alot of people I know saw the Alien films when they were about 10, none of them decided to try and flamethrower each other.

I bet Jackie boy would love a game of Tetris sometime, the invitation will always be there for him.

[The Geeky Panda]

As parent's blame violent video games ruining their children's minds, who is to blame?

Parents bought the video games without even once thinking of reading the Ratings on it (Not alot of peeps like to read) then when their kids do play it, they just sit there, doing nothing, not even lifting 1 finger of taking away the game and returning it back.

[Masakuni]

I wish others were as sensible as she was. And on that note, Jack Thompson needs to be locked in a room for 3 weeks with nothing but water, a PS2 and GTA:SA :)




Am I the only one who would be thinking of gouging my eyes out after a day?

[x SexyPink x]

the kids ****ing retarded

[edx]

Hmmmm I am undecided this time around. So many different factors to think about. Although I dont believe violent gaming was the sole reason for his actions, I do believe it contributed. I dont believe it's Rockstar's fault though /shrug

[Kal-El]

Hmmmm I am undecided this time around. So many different factors to think about. Although I dont believe violent gaming was the sole reason for his actions, I do believe it contributed. I dont believe it's Rockstar's fault though /shrug

it might have contributed. But they said "the crime would not have happened had he not played the video game." The question they should be asking is "Who's fault is it that he played the game?" Certainly not Rockstar's fault. They don't have control over who plays the games once it's shipped out to the retailers, and even less control once it enters the consumer's home.

I'm thinking about starting a petition to send to this Jack fellow and this family. Someone needs to show John who he really should be pointing his grubby little finger at.

[x SexyPink x]

first of all, they claim that it taught him how to point and shoot a gun. wtf? thats complete bs. u learn that from ur every day life. any 14 yr old that doesnt know that now has no street smarts. u get that out of movies, out of everything. its on the news. besides, war games help me learn how to shoot a gun.

Seriously, why do these ppl try to make a lawsuit, they'll never win. they are wasting their time. the kids not even over the age limit. and if this lawsuit wins, imagine all the other lawsuits thats gonna be made.

I bet dex since he hates halo will sue bungie if some1 punches his family and then shoots them in the head. hey u learned that from halo. the bxr!!!!!

[edx]

Oh I agree Dex. I just think it's important that people think of the rammafications violent gaming could cause. From a personal standpoint, accountability should fall mainly to stores who sell to under age consumers. That in itself can only go so far. I do agree parents need to be more involved in their kids activities, but in some and many cases that's just not possible. Single parents are common nowadays whereas ten years ago your usual 2 parents, 2.5 kids were the "norm". I know we want to blame parents for bad parenting but how many times have we as kids done something and gotten away with it? Kids are resilient at hiding things from their parents.

[edx]

first of all, they claim that it taught him how to point and shoot a gun. wtf? thats complete bs. u learn that from ur every day life. any 14 yr old that doesnt know that now has no street smarts. u get that out of movies, out of everything. its on the news. besides, war games help me learn how to shoot a gun.

I dont understand that part Uber. Kids learning to shoot in video games is "bs" but war games help you "learn how to shoot a gun"? Just because someone falls under a certain requirement in "the eyes of the law" doesnt mean they're not immune from special case scenarios. take for example any time a minor was charged as an adult.

[x SexyPink x]

no i mean thats bs they can blame any video game for that. so many other games teach u how to "shoot a gun". gta isnt even first person. im just pointing out that blaming gta for teaching him how to use a gun is bs

[kdawg15]

Agreed. Jack Thompson needs to get real. Yes, parents need to monitor what thier kids play, but who is to blame a company for a parent letting thier kid play? What next, sue the Saving Private Ryan producers? How many millions of gamers are out there that are not freaks, and yet every few months Thompson picks up another random case. Violent people are drawn to violent images...they use videogames for outlets just like they do music, movies: as an outlet...but it is not the creator of the violence. If is where, then we would all be out blowing up buildings! I have said it before, and I will say it agian...look at the kids blowing up frogs with blackjacks in the yard, and you will stop the violence.

BTW, he lived on a ranch in NM...and have never shot a real gun?? Yeah, right. I grew up in rural Wisconsin, and everyone went hunting there. Pfff.

i agree 100%

[edx]

To me video game violence seems to be more detrimental to abnormal developments in the human psyche than movies or music, but I'm sure ALL violence plays its own role.

[Kal-El]

To me video game violence seems to be more detrimental to abnormal developments in the human psyche than movies or music, but I'm sure ALL violence plays its own role.

People are blaming the metal band Megadeth for the September 13th school shooting at Dawson college that claimed one life and injured many others.

The singer got on a local new channel last night (before performing in Montreal) and talked about how he has a special bond with Montreal (two of the band members are from Montreal he said), and that he's disgusted by the fact that someone would use one of their songs to do such a thing.

The song is in memory of the living, Mustaine explained. "It's for those who lost their lives, and it's a gift to those who are in the process of healing."

There was no question in Mustaine's mind that Megadeth would perform the song in Montreal during their show Wednesday night. "[Gill] is not going to control us from the grave."

Get the full story Here (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2006/09/28/qc-megadeath.html)

[edx]

Well if you look at music and movies and the violence contained within, it's much like learning in school. Some, all or none of the messages can be absorbed by someone's brain. In video games however, YOU control the carnage on the screen. There is more of a personal connection as violent outcomes are reached by the gamer causing them. I completely agree that blaming a video game creator, musician, or artist isnt the right way to do things, all I'm saying is there's responsibility on many different levels that needs to be acknowledged.