Australian Target Stores Pull GTA V Because it Depicts Sexual Violence

[Val the Moofia Boss]

http://www.pcgamer.com/australian-re...ence-petition/

"It's a game that encourages players to murder women for entertainment," the description reads. "The incentive is to commit sexual violence against women, then abuse or kill them to proceed or get 'health' points – and now Target are stocking it and promoting it for your Christmas stocking. - an excerpt from the petition.

“We are disappointed that an Australian retailer has chosen no longer to sell Grand Theft Auto V -- a title that has won extraordinary critical acclaim and has been enjoyed by tens of millions of consumers around the world," Zelnick (President of Take-Twon, which owns Rockstar) said.

Thoughts?

[Jtbrig7390]

http://www.pcgamer.com/australian-re...ence-petition/





Thoughts?

Anyone who bitchs about a M rated game even more so one they will never play or even more so if they don't play games at all are really stupid.

[Val the Moofia Boss]

Anyone who bitchs about a M rated game even more so one they will never play or even more so if they don't play games at all are really stupid.

So, utilizing your right of free speech makes you stupid?

I know this is all pretty silly (don't like it? Don't buy it), but some people really are convinced that the only way to keep their kids safe is to keep games like GTA off of the shelves.

[Tastyfish]

Is this the shit where they changed the rating law for this to be 18+ so it can't be sold to kids but people sent around bullshit to stir up drama so it got tossed anyhow?

[Jtbrig7390]

So, utilizing your right of free speech makes you stupid?

I know this is all pretty silly (don't like it? Don't buy it), but some people really are convinced that the only way to keep their kids safe is to keep games like GTA off of the shelves.

No utilizing ur right of free speech to ban something just because you don't like it is stupid.

Also there is far worse things out in the world then GTA and there kids are exposed to them everyday. Also studies even prove games don't make bad kids.

[unholytestament]

So, utilizing your right of free speech makes you stupid?

How the hell did you get that? Did you just stop reading three words into JT's post?

I know this is all pretty silly (don't like it? Don't buy it), but some people really are convinced that the only way to keep their kids safe is to keep games like GTA off of the shelves.

These people should not breed. Monitoring your childrens' media intake is very simple. I'm not talking about preventing them from playing games, I'm talking about sitting down and talking with the damn kids about what they are playing. You get a child to understand the difference between fantasy and reality early and you will save yourself a lot of headaches later.

[Jtbrig7390]

Is this the shit where they changed the rating law for this to be 18+ so it can't be sold to kids but people sent around bullshit to stir up drama so it got tossed anyhow?

In short yes.

Long answer is yessssssss.

- - - Updated - - -

How the hell did you get that? Did you just stop reading three words into JT's post?

These people should not breed. Monitoring your childrens' media intake is a very simple. I'm not talking about preventing them from playing games, I'm talking about sitting down and talking with the damn kids about what they are playing. You get a child to understand the difference between fantasy and reality early and you will save yourself a lot of headaches later.

Could not agree more. My 12 year old nephew plays COD and has played Gears of War. He understands that is a video game and not Real Life.

Parents blame everyone but themselves for there kids. There is only small moments where it is someone else's fault and none of those moments is because of games.

I see nothing wrong with a 10+ year old playing a M rated title as long as its explained to them. They will hear and see a lot worse in schools and hanging out with friends. You can't get rid of this kind of thing but u can control it and teach them the difference.

[Edge-]

TLDR: Jack Thompson was talking the wrong approach in trying to get rid of GTA.

[eem5]

It's an R18+ rated game. It should not be sold to children, or purchased for children.

That said, target has a right to decide what they do and do not sell. This comment on this article is interesting, however:

They had the option to have some debates with industry leaders in interactive entertainment in Australia. Yet they didn't.

Whilst I whole heartedly agree with preventing violence against women, the women saying the game "promotes" violence and/or sexual violence towards women have clearly never played it.

Given there is a scene in which you torture a man in the game, why is that considered ok? Is it that men can handle torture and women can't?? There are no female military or police officers in the game, also not discussed. There are sexist stand points all over GTA, most are deliberate because it's a very satirical game.

The fact that this game has been out for over a year now, and it's the ~12th game branded with a GTA title almost makes this argument redundant.

Some are saying Target has made an admirable move by addressing violence against women over profits, yet the bulk of money R* and Target made with GTA V would have come and gone already. This looks to me like a "we're the good guys here" PR stunt that achieves very little.

[Samurai]

Already a thread on this http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/...V-from-shelves

[zealo]

Same thing i said in the gen-OT thread, i find it strange they choose to focus on that as a reason in a game where you waterboard a guy strapped to a chair and pulls his tooths out with pliers.

[MyndZero]

The game is actually rated R18 here in australia, so it's even more stupid that they removed it.

[Korgoth]

They didnt remove it to keep it out of the hands of children, they were already doing it. They removed it to keep it out of the hands of adults. These wackjob leftists actually believe playing a game with violence towards a female will cause people to start being violent towards women in real life. It is the most idiotic bullshit, with 0 reputable research to back it up.

But that is the political climate today, you can get anything banned if you scream Women's rights loudly enough.

[Deleted]

They didnt remove it to keep it out of the hands of children, they were already doing it. They removed it to keep it out of the hands of adults. These wackjob leftists actually believe playing a game with violence towards a female will cause people to start being violent towards women in real life. It is the most idiotic bullshit, with 0 reputable research to back it up.

But that is the political climate today, you can get anything banned if you scream Women's rights loudly enough.

Can I get rid of the crazy feminists by screaming women's rights loudly enough?

[Moralgy]

The thinkprogress story on this is just sad, very very sad. What happened to "liberals"?

[barackopala]

TLDR: Jack Thompson was talking the wrong approach in trying to get rid of GTA.

Edge, if you really analyze what Jack thompson wanted is not something that far fetched, he only wants to prohibit selling this kind of games to minor aged ones, the reasons that he uses that games promote violence and that kind of behavior is stupid but he doesn't go against freedom of speech, in this case feminism is censoring a game due to them not liking it.

The thinkprogress story on this is just sad, very very sad. What happened to "liberals"?

They're only liberalists when you play their music, paint their art and play their game, anything outside that is a no-no, liberitarian authoritarism at its finest

[Tierbook]

Edge, if you really analyze what Jack thompson wanted is not something that far fetched, he only wants to prohibit selling this kind of games to minor aged ones, the reasons that he uses that games promote violence and that kind of behavior is stupid but he doesn't go against freedom of speech, in this case feminism is censoring a game due to them not liking it.

There is an age limit on the game, blame the parents.

[Dudemanguy]

According to IGN, now kmart australia is following target and pulling GTA V off of shelves...wow...

[Tierbook]

According to IGN, now kmart australia is following target and pulling GTA V off of shelves...wow...

Pity, it probably won't even make it to PC there.... guess you'll just have to get a someone to send it to you on steam.

[Dudemanguy]

Pity, it probably won't even make it to PC there.... guess you'll just have to get a someone to send it to you on steam.

GTA V isn't banned in Australia as far as I know. I doubt Valve would take it down from Australia unless the government decides to ban it. Unfortunately, retailers such as Target and Kmart of Australia are bending over to a petition of a vocal minority.