Real-life Grand Theft Auto

[Ancient Goddess]

So there's yet another suit against the ever popular Grand Theft Auto series...

As this article goes into detail, a male was accused of three accounts of 1st degree murder in 2003. He then blames the video game series, saying when he was accused: "Life is a video game. You've got to die sometime."

Now Thompson (the accused) is suing Grand Theft Auto, Wal-mart, GameStop, and a variety of other retailers who sell these games in a $600 million lawsuit...where Thompson is said to have purchased the games with the M-Rating (Mature) when he was 17 years old, technically underage of buying games with that label.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on the issue? Who do you think should win, Thompson or the retailers?

I can see it in both ways...but ultimately, I'd say the retailers should win. Even though the ratings on games nowadays don't really mean anything (since people under 18 can get a hold of things pretty easily), I think that the reason for the M-Rating was to point out that generally (there are a lot of people who are an exception) people under 17 aren't emotionally prepared for the contents in the game...and if this act was inspired by the game, Thompson proved that fact. He said 'life is like a game', proving that he didn't exactly have enough grasp on reality, in my opinion.

Thoughts? Opinions?

[Sephiroth Kaizen]

I think the kid is an idiot and he can't blame anyone but himself. At the age of 17 you better know what's excusable in a video game and what isn't excusable in real life. To pass off your stupid decisions off on a game and the place you bought it at is simply an easy way out. My question is, "Where were the parents?" If this kid is out obviously unable to differentiate a video game from real life... how did his parents even let him get his hands on the game?
I am so tired of seeing people blame their wrongdoing on someone or something else. "Sorry, I killed my teacher because I didn't want to do my homework. That's what Johnny did in the game!" Keyword: Game, you jerk.

I don't like to wish death on people... but.... maybe he needs to be committed.

[Ancient Goddess]

I agree. But legally, the rating on the game was meant to point out that the stability of a general 17 year old's mind most likely wouldn't be able to handle the game's calibur and content. I'd say the retailers have this case in the bag. But of course, there will be the parents and such who will whine about gaming violence and such who will support this kid...

[Pimpmaster McSlap-Bitch]

Blaming the game is interesting. Looking at this thread it seems to me that everybody has forgotten about who the people he killed are and his motive for killing them. I seriously doubt he decided to kill them because he saw it on a game, because everybody is aware of the consequences of murder in real life (AND in the game somewhat).

Sueing everybody is in my opinion a typically American thing to do. It`s like in every situation one gets themselves into they try to profit from it. Pathetic if you ask me. Pathetic and greedy.

Anyway, I also don`t believe in the death sentance (I`m on the fence about it), but this guy should be given it, as the ultimate irony. While he`s on death row he can think about if he or his victims get any continues.

[Dio]

Its called not takeing responsibility for ones actions. ITS NOT MY FAULT.....WALLMARTZ MAED ME DO IT AND GTA. Shure you would have to be unstable to kill poeple but some game didnt make you do it.

[Makku]

I really think people like this should be thrown into an incinerator. (sp?)

Sure, we may lose a good chunk of our population-- but it'd act like a chlorine for the gene pool, and the human race would be a little better off for it.

[Sephiroth Kaizen]

I definitely have no complaints or disagree with any of you. That kid is just a moron and blaming it on some video game is going to ruin it for the rest of us who aren't going to do something stupid like that. I may be a little wrong for saying this, but I think Mature Content video games shouldn't be sold to anyone under 18 years old. And I mean card them hardcore if they even touch the game. Keeping the games locked behind pretty glass cases with keys needed to unlock it. I have plenty of violent games and maybe one that isn't violent. I've had them since around 15 or 16 years old, and I know if someone said this when I was 15 or 16 I'd be pissed, but whatever. It's needed. Kids are stupid and unstable.

[auraki]

Well actually, I think that's the rule. They aren't *supposed* to anyway, but of course it happens often because cashiers don't have the time to check the back of every videogame they sell.