Grand Theft Auto: The Controversies and Negative Effects

1
Grand Theft Auto The Controversies and Negative
Effects

• Jerome Johnson
• English 338
• Dr. Lana Whited
• December 3, 2004

2
What is Grand Theft Auto?

• Grand Theft Auto is a popular video game that was
  first created in 1997.
• The creator of the game is a company called
  Rockstar Games.
• Despite being a popular video game, its a game
  that has content that isnt suitable for anyone
  under the age of 17.

3
What is Grand Theft Auto? (cont.)

• The Grand Theft Auto series has produced six
  games thus far.
• Some of the games have them going on location to
  places around the world.
• These places include London and three fictional
  cities Liberty City, Vice City, and most
  recently San Andreas.
• San Andreas and Vice City is the games
  equivalent to modern day Los Angeles and Miami.
  While Liberty City was just a creation of the
  game.

4
The Storyline of GTA San Andreas

• This recent edition of GTA focuses on a man named
  Carl Johnson. Five years before the murder of his
  mother, he left San Andreas because of the
  pressures it gave him. Upon his return home, he
  learns that other than his mother being murdered,
  his family is falling apart and his friends are
  headed down the wrong path. In addition to this,
  two corrupt cops have framed Johnson for murder.

5
Objectives of the Game

• During gameplay, the main character has a set
  number of tasks to complete throughout the game.
  Like past editions of GTA, they will consist of
  stealing cars, committing murders, or any other
  activity that promotes crime. Also while you
  play, you can do things to increase your lifespan
  if it happens to run low. One major thing that
  causes distress is that you can have intercourse
  with a prostitute to regain full strength. Once
  you have completed all of the tasks the game has
  to offer, you have beaten the GTA video game.

6
Negative Effects

• Studies that have been conducted prove that long
  term exposure to video games with content such as
  GTA will promote aggressive behavior and
  delinquency. This was related to people who are
  naturally aggressive or men. Another study showed
  that laboratory exposure to games like this will
  instigate aggressive thoughts and behavior.
  These two studies showed that men had a more
  hostile view of the world than women did.

7
Negative Effects (cont.)

• Outside of studies conducted to evaluate the
  damage violent video games can cause, games like
  GTA can give a younger game player a distorted
  view of reality. Also, younger game players can
  devote all of their time and attention to only
  the video game which will cause them to not
  execute other things they have to do (i.e.
  schoolwork).

8
Controversies

• One of the main things that has sparked
  controversy is the gratuitous use of violence,
  sexuality, and crime. Also, if you were to ever
  play the game you would be able to pick up on the
  fact that some of the things that take place
  during this game is totally unrealistic. A main
  example, the character in the game would steal a
  car in broad daylight with all of the people just
  walking by as if nothing is happening.

9
Controversies (cont.)

• Another thing that has sparked debate on this
  video game is how easily accessible the game
  really is. Despite the fact that the game carries
  an M (Mature) rating, several people under the
  age of 17 has been documented of purchasing this
  game.

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What Could Be Done To Stop the Influence??

• A main thing that can be done to stop the
  influence of a game such as GTA is that the
  parents can discuss with the young children
  playing this game that there is a distinct
  difference between the real world and the world
  that exists in the game. Another action that can
  be taken is that stores that carry the game can
  enforce policies that are more strict towards the
  prevention of younger children buying these
  games.

11
Taking Action

• In an article published in March 2000 on
  CNSNews.com, it talked about a 12 year old girl
  from North Bend, Oregon who started a petition.
  The petitions intent was to get merchants to
  follow the age restrictions placed on video
  games. Although the petition had little success,
  I think that is a key step to take into the
  control of these violent video games.

12
Miscellaneous Information

• In an essay written by a student at Oakland
  University in 2002, she found that 59 of 4th
  grade girls and 73 of 4th grade boys say that
  their favorite game is a violent one. In a recent
  release of the MediaWise Video Game Report Card,
  Grand Theft Auto San Andreas ranked 2 in the
  top 10 list of games to avoid for children and
  teens.

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Summary

• Video games are a good thing to use to pass time,
  but you should be more aware of the type of games
  that you play. If you are a parent, you should
  also be aware of the type of games that your
  children are playing. If young kids are playing
  violent video games, be sure they have the
  ability to know whats real and whats fiction.

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Grand Theft Auto Homepage and Other Links

• http//www.rockstargames.com/grandtheftauto/
• http//www.absolute-playstation.com/gp2a/grand_the
  ft_auto_3_lr_13.jpg
• http//games.i2r.ru/static/487/imgs/games/grand_th
  eft_auto.jpg
• http//www.absolute-playstation.com/gp2a/grand_the
  ft_auto_vice_city_lr_15.jpg