GTA V producer tells it like it is

[TheMac]

Rockstar (Makers of GTA V) producer, writer, and GTA DJ Lazlow said in an interview with the BBC: “Our games are not designed for young people. If you’re a parent and buy one of our games for your child you’re a terrible parent. We design games for adults because we’re adults.”

It needed to be said. Rockstar has long been a target for people who like to link violent video games to violent behavior. But, the thing is, just because I pick up a PS controller doesn't mean that I'm going to pick up an actual weapon. Just because I play Madden NFL that doesn't mean I'm going to be a Pro ball player. I know the difference between fantasy and reality and I would argue that the vast majority of people do too.

 

[crazyduck]

That did need saying. You are quite right as well. Just because I play Call Of Duty games, doesn't mean that I am going to pick up a gun and start thinking I am a marine. It is stupid really that some people think it is real and start taking it to heart. It is up to the parents if they decide to buy the game for the child though. It doesn't mean that they are bad parents, it just means they think their child can handle playing the game. It really is sad to see that some people don't understand the difference between fantasy and reality. I did hear of a couple of young adults (over 18) who started shooting at police officers in the US. Allegedly, they was playing GTA, up until the time they went out.

 

[NatureSun]

Oh wow! What a quote! Really hit it on the head producer person!

I'm so tired of these baseless accusations on games like GTA saying that they're responsible for all that is bad in this world. Yeah, right hate on easy targets. Good to see Rockstar taking a stand on this.

 

[BlackSolaris]

...and adults will still keep buying those games for their kids, because that is how most parents work, they simply don't care until it hits them that something is wrong. But oh well, more free publicity i guess.

 

[Haze]

I applaud Rockstar for this statement. Even though like BlackSolaris said about parents still buying the games for their kids, I'm glad they came out with this statement. May of seemed harsh, but needed to be said. If only some parents would take this on board.

On sort of a related note, I was in EB Games the other day and some kid who couldn't of been any older then 2-3 years old was yelling at his parents to buy him a "shoot me up" games.

 

[Oberon]

Yet we all know so many kids will play this.
And even CoD games,here in AUS its 15+ and 15 or 17+ in other countries,yet how many 'squeakers' to hear in lobbies? Quite a few.
They should'nt be playing that either.

 

[LuckyPupil]

That's fantastic. This is the way it should be and every developer should be man enough to say it to parents' faces. Video games receive all these studies and bad media whenever a young person has a violent outburst (fighting, school shootings, etc) but let's point the finger at the right people here. It's kind of ridiculous. I wish someone can tell the media this. Whenever I see "video game" representatives speak about games they say people should know when to play and when not to and that gaming is healthy and fun... but what about keeping it real and saying that parents are being irresponsible for buy their kids Mafia 2 or Mortal Kombat.

 

[TheMac]

I think, ultimately, it's not going to do much good. Parents are still going to buy these violent games for their kids and then turn around and tell the government to step in so that they won't be on the shelves anymore. It's a shirking of parental responsibility. People need to realize that the government is not our nanny. A little responsible parenting goes a long way.

 

[The Unlosing Ranger]

That's great and all, but I have a feeling that the dumb parents that need to actually get this message won't see it, while those of us gamers that already know this kind of stuff are the only ones seeing it. It's kind of sad, but I think that's the situation. If only the news and crap would report such things instead of trying to link videogames to violence at any given opportunity...

 

[Mudgee]

I couldn't agree more with that quote, if a parent buys the game for their 8 year old kid they're just moronic.

 

[wowtgp]

I played GTA Vice City when I was only 13. Were my parents terrible? NO.

 

[Oberon]

So you then its OK for underage's to play GTA V then too?

 

[Mudgee]

I played GTA Vice City when I was only 13. Were my parents terrible? NO.

There's a huge development of maturity that occurs in children in the 5 years between 8 and 13 years old. That being said, even 13 is still slightly too young, yes.

 

[Soku47]

Another reason why they are one of my favorite developers. Rockstar dosen't attempt to shy away from publicity (good or bad) and straight up tells it like it is. Though I'm sure most of us knew that just from playing the Grand Theft Auto series ha.