Should Manhunt/GTA/etc. be banned?

[MalaCloudy Black]

This stems from another forum I frequent. 75% of the people in this topic about a 14 year old boy being "murdered by video games" want Manhunt/GTA/etc. to be banned.

One of the reasons cited (and this was just by one poster, mind you) was that Manhunt's intent was to "turn people into raving lunatics."

Agree? Disagree?

I strong disagree, I think the idea that video games "turn" people into anything is ridiculously stupid, and banning GTA/Manhunt does nothing except create a market for smuggling the games into the states/UK/wherever it would be banned from.

[Clawson]

Okay I'm calling out a witchhunt. I get the plastic bag.

Fucking idiots, seriousily do they need realize that if parents shouldn't maybe a little responibilty then maybe the 14 year old would be alive but no, parents just have to twiddle their thumbs and do jack shit then bitch when something happens.

Fuck I hate society.

[apsham]

The Grand Theft Auto series is fine in my mind, nothing wrong with it. It's got enough of a line between what's real and what's fake to give you a good gameplay experience and not make you twisted or anything. There's no decapitating or anything, most violence doesn't draw much blood either.

Manhunt on the other hand is just wrong, a horrible idea for a game. Way too violent.

[tristy]

Manhunt on the other hand is just wrong, a horrible idea for a game. Way too violent.

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Obviously the majority of the gamers disagree with you.

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

They shouldn't ban them at all. Video Games are created to entertain people, not to turn people into mass murderers. If the games aren't aimed to turn people into lunatics, then they shouldn't be banned.

If there's actually many people who turn into psychos from playing a video game, then they are just simply already psychos. A video game surely cant turn you into an axe murderer, you'd have to already have a fucked up mind to be doing stuff like that.

I read that Manhunt was already banned in UK, maybe I read wrong though. If they ban the games then they will get huge stick for it. I mean its like saying lets ban a football game because you can do deliverbate fouls in it and it might turn people into nutcases when they step onto a football field

Also Manhunt isn't really that violent at all for christ sake. If your twelve then its understandable. Parents shouldn't let children play these games to be honest so its there problem.

Edited July 29, 2004 by JohnnyPerfect

[MalaCloudy Black]

Manhunt was banned in New Zealand, I know that much. IIRC, it's still selling in North America.

[Clawson]

The Grand Theft Auto series is fine in my mind, nothing wrong with it. It's got enough of a line between what's real and what's fake to give you a good gameplay experience and not make you twisted or anything. There's no decapitating or anything, most violence doesn't draw much blood either.

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...

Are we talking about the same Grand Theft Auto here? Try to snipe somebody in the head. :thumbsup:

[J.Vengeance]

SCHOOLBOY Stefan Pakeerah was battered to death by a friend playing out scenes from an X-rated video game, the victim’s parents said yesterday.

The 14-year-old was beaten with a claw hammer and stabbed repeatedly by his pal Warren LeBlanc, 17, who was “obsessed” with console game Manhunt.

Stefan’s civil servant dad Patrick, 41, said LeBlanc’s playing of it on his PlayStation 2 led directly to his son’s death.

He said: “You increase your score depending on how violent the killing is.

“That explains why Stefan’s murder was as horrific as it was.”

The game has an 18 certificate and the literature boasts: “Manhunt explores the depths of human depravity in a vicious, sadistic tale of urban horror. You must run, hide and fight to survive.”

It emerged last night that it was banned by censors in New Zealand six months ago.

And US lawyer Jack Thompson said he had written to Manhunt’s makers warning there would be copycat attacks.

He said: “We’ve had dozens of killings in the US by children who had played these types of games. They are basically murder simulators.”

Manhunt is made by software firm Rockstar, whose previous Grand Theft Auto games have been slammed for their violence and lawlessness.

Leicester Crown Court heard how LeBlanc lured Stefan to his death after telling him they were to meet two girls in a park.

Stefan’s mum Giselle, 36, a senior researcher, described how she had spoken to LeBlanc before her son’s death.

She said: “I have had friendly conversations with him and that’s what makes it so difficult, that degree of deception and evil.

“It just goes to show that he is inherently evil.

“Stefan would not have detected any antipathy between them or he would not have gone to the park with him.”

LeBlanc, of Leicester, admitted murder. He will be sentenced later and faces a life term.

# THE Dixons Group has today withdrawn Manhunt from all of its stores - which includes PC World and Currys.

A spokesman said: "We believe that immediate withdrawal of the game is the appropriate step in the circumstances. We are doing so in consultation with the manufacturer."

credit - thesun.co.uk

[Kaney]

I disagree as well. It's ridiculous to suggest that games can warp someones mind form one instance into provoking them to murder. Granted, there are some pretty disturbing games, but it's not going to take one instance to transform someone into a murderer. The only way a game can result in murder is if the player already has a warped mind, and the game sent them over the edge or something. I cannot understand how people can expect a singular entity like a game, be it Manhunt/GTA/whatever, could be the sole cause for it.

One of the reasons cited (and this was just by one poster, mind you) was that Manhunt's intent was to "turn people into raving lunatics."

Thats just being idiotically overdramatic. I think you'll find the developers intent was to turn a profit. I doubt they would/could benefit from murder.

Like Cloudy said, telling someone that the game is banned, for provoking murder is just gonna make gamers more interested in it. I myself was more interested in the original GTA because it was supposed to have been banned somewhere or other, and I'm not a raving mass murderer. Banning it would only give it status, which interests people further.

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Manhunt is an 18 game. The shop should NEVER have sold it to him in the first place, or his parents should have not allowed him to play it. The game is not to blame there, sorry but its true.

[tristy]

Manhunt is hardly an X-Rated game. :ohwell:

You see more violence in a Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie or something of the like.

[Clawson]

an X-rated video game, the victim’s parents said yesterday.

Nice research dumbass. It's M which equals R in movie language. An X rated video game would be give an Adults Only Ranking.

Stefan’s civil servant dad Patrick, 41, said LeBlanc’s playing of it on his PlayStation 2 led directly to his son’s death.

Oh and it's not the kid's parents fault? I mean they are responsible for him until hes 18, right? I mean if the parents were responsible they would have asked the kid what he was playing or not letting him play. My parents didn't let me get Manhunt because they figured it was too violent.

And US lawyer Jack Thompson said he had written to Manhunt’s makers warning there would be copycat attacks.

He said: “We’ve had dozens of killings in the US by children who had played these types of games. They are basically murder simulators.”

Gee, responsible parents couldn't have prevented this could they?

LeBlanc, of Leicester, admitted murder. He will be sentenced later and faces a life term.

# THE Dixons Group has today withdrawn Manhunt from all of its stores - which includes PC World and Currys.

A spokesman said: "We believe that immediate withdrawal of the game is the appropriate step in the circumstances. We are doing so in consultation with the manufacturer."

Or you could not, you know, sell it to under age kids. Now, wouldn't they be a smart idea?

Fuck, I want to rip open these people's heads and see if they really do have shits for brains. Maybe, if they grew up with video games the circumstances would be different.

[Yitzy]

If someone looks at Mortal Kombat, Or GTA, Or Manhunt and says one day "Oh, this is life, this is legal." Their parents should be responsible enough to not have their child play mature games, and make them get counseling. End Of Story.

Obiously this child does not have a grasp of the line reality and fantasy, they should not be playing games like that till they do.

I own GTA, I have played Doom, I've played Castle Wolfienstien. I've played many violent games. I don't go around killing people now do I? All the parents who go around saying "Video Games causes violence, Video Games cause murders. Video Games are the reason why my son killed that boy." are ignorant and can't accept that their son needed help. So they must make excuses.

If the parents know that their child doesn't get the difference between fantasy and reality, they for one should get their child some help. And 2nd, should monitor what games their child plays. Know what games they are playing. Understand the ESRB system. etc. etc. These killings that are thought to be caused by video games, are really caused by their parents ignorence.

[Summers]

Fuck, I want to rip open these people's heads and see if they really do have shits for brains.

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They'd blame Manhunt for your actions, and ban the game.

[Clawson]

Fuck, I want to rip open these people's heads and see if they really do have shits for brains.

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They'd blame Manhunt for your actions, and ban the game.

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Then I'd go on the stand and say: "You're honour, it wasn't the game that made me want to kill, it was this damn fuckers who say games make you want to kill".

[stokeriño]

People who commit violence based on, or linked to, computer gaming have mental issues for which the game is not directly responsible. The game may give them ideas, but then they could just as easily be obsessed with a violent novel they read and get their ideas from there. For example you've had people in the past being "inspired" by Jack the Ripper, or literary villains such as those from Sherlock Holmes, or other murder/detective novels.

And to use the argument from the old TV/violence debate - is it that violent programs create violence in viewers, or rather that they simply attract violent-minded people to watch them?

Unless you want to try and keep people isolated from all examples of violence and murder then there's nothing you can do about it that way. All that can be done is to spot these issues or tendencies in the individuals as early as possible, which is why bad parenting is often to blame.

It emerged last night that it was banned by censors in New Zealand six months ago.

That line just amuses me. They clearly have no idea on the whole subject, or at least they didn't until they went into a frenzied panic about it the night before.

Either that or news sure does travel slowly these days.

Edited July 30, 2004 by stokeriño

[VerbalPuke]

It's this simple, if you try and emulate a video games violent tactics, then you are completely deranged. If a video game can influence a person that much then they are sick, and need help. Some people definitely should not be playing video games with this kind of content. However, that shouldn't ruin it for the rest of us mature gamers. There is no reason for me to believe that a game should be blamed for a humans violent behavior.

[Docpepper]

My opinion si video game shouldn't be banned. I don't care if its a strip poker game or such. it shouldn't be banned. there should be stricter laws on purchasing games. especially the more mature ones. it should be that if a kid comes in a store and trys to buy a game like manhunt. they should be asked to have a parent come buy it for them. when the parent comes the parent should show his/her id and social security card along with the childs social security card. This will stop kids gettign their older friends buying game s for them and it will get adults more involved in what their kids play.

Just like the whole backyard debate , this is more the fault of the parents than it is the game developers.

[Guest Crimson Nightmare]

No, of course they shouldn't be banned. If that were the case then R rated movies, Pornography, and hell even portions of the local news might as well be banned. It is the choice of the consumer to purchase either the E rated game, or the M rated game, for their child. That game wasn't handed to that kid at gunpoint, nobody FORCED him to play it. It was a stupid move on the parental units to allow him to obtain such a title. So no, violent video games should not be banned, but idiot parents should be slapped. Hows that?

[TommyDemon316]

It shouldn't be banned.The parents shouldn't have let the kid buy the game and play it.He should have known games are fake.GTA shows you that its fake.Falling off a building and living is fake.Getting blown up in your helicopter and living is fake.I blame the parents.