The latest in the Grand Theft Auto series shook the entertainment industry last week with record shattering sales. The game sold over 6 million units, and it pulled in more money during its first week release than the highest box-office opening to date. It’s no surprise that the game’s release is controversial – every GTA release rubs someone the wrong way with its graphic, crude content. With this particular game there’s a feature giving you, the gamer, the choice to drive drunk. The game’s creators said, “. . . we believe the mature audience for ‘Grand Theft Auto IV’ is more than sophisticated enough to understand the game’s content.” MADD released a statement saying, “Drunk driving is not a game, and it is not a joke.”
Even if the game really were only played by adults aged 18 and over, is it sophisticated or disrespectful? Is it just a game that quenches an adult’s entertainment needs? Or do such games trivialize the consequences of poor decision making?
Having a feature to drive drunk does trivialize the issue. I wonder how many will want to see what it is like to drive drunk in a real situation. I wonder if they will try drug abuse in the next version?