Irish group 'Parc' wants GTA IV banned

Jip

Just read this in todays Motoring supplement to my amusement. 'Parc', Public Against Road Carnage, have written to the Film Censors Office asking for it to be banned because it 'glorifies drink driving.' Now this I expect from a US based group but not one based in Ireland. Other gems include that drunk driving in the game 'diminishes its horrific consequences' and 'I know there are car chases in fillms and games, but you got to start somewhere and with all the focus on drink driving in Ireland at the moment allowing this game seems inappropriate. And I know from my experience that boys under 18 are able to rent this game'.

Creamy Goodness

it's too late now, 90% of the people who want to buy it have bought it already.

randomname

Cremo wrote: »

it's too late now, 90% of the people who want to buy it have bought it already.

They have probably just sobered up after a long weekend and realised the game was out.

DarkJager

Two words...tough sh1t!! People like this just need to shut the fcuk up and get some perspective. Its a game you fcuking idiots, running over pixelated men is not the same as running over someone in real life. It doesn't glorify drunk driving, its just something you can do in the game. So please, get off your high horse, play the game and see for yourself, or just shut the fcuk up talking sh1t about it.

FruitLover

Video games don't kill people, drunk drivers kill people.

Solution: ban driving.

Blisterman

Funny how everyone's so concerned about the fact, that you can drink drive.

Drink driving is about the least illegal thing you can do in the game.

Anyway, this group is just giving Rockstar free publicity.

Mr Moon

I'm sick of people like this! If I saw them I'd go over to them, pull them out of their car give them a beating to within an inch of their lives then run them over in their own car and zoom off to get rid of my wanted level!!!

bobbysands81

How does it glorify drink driving???

It shows how difficult it is.

RAIN

Hmmh how does it glorify drink driving? Its illegal in the game to cause an accident, just like killing is illegal. If you wanted to play gta without killing people or drink driving you could, you wouldnt get far in the story and you would basicly just be driving around stopping at lights and enjoying the view...but you could do it,the players choice. Plus it never tells you in the game to drink drive it tells you to bring the NPC home...you could just walk.Because of this no one will ever successfully sue rockstar.FACT

NotorietyH

RAIN wrote: »

Plus it never tells you in the game to drink drive it tells you to bring the NPC home...

And when you try to drink drive, either Niko or the game strongly advises against it. Niko will frequently reference that he should get a cab and shouldn't drive etc. etc.

Vegeta

I go out of my way not to drive while drunk in the game. Sure the first time was funny but now its taxi all the way. Clearly someone going nuts over something they haven't experienced or they don't understand. The best kind of ignorance, double edged.

mrpants

they are sad feckers, they are just pissed coz they couldnt get a copy. i would love to pull them outta their cars, and drive over them and hop out again and rob thier money:cool:. get a life parc

KoKane

Drink driving in the game is dangerous and has consequences which, like the drinking and the driving, are not real.

Why hasnt there been a surge in drink driving cases across the planet since this game was released? Why havent we seen so many underage drinkers driving while under the influence?
Because it doesnt ****ing happen.

Any cases in life where an act of violence has been committed and made to mimic that of a game, the fact that the culprit has played the game is the least important factor. The persons education, their background, where they live and their upbringing tend to outweigh the whole game relation in the end.



The difficulties encountered in the game when drinking and driving allow people to see first hand, the potential damage.
In the game, I dont bother driving after drinking. I just stumble around in the middle of the road.

tHE vAGGABOND

heh - Its the only time the police in the game are on the ball is when you drink drive! Ahhh the irony!

I went drinking, got into my car, and about 300 police cars appeared!

I actually got out of the car, and stood there, not moving, wondering if I get arrested and brought to jail or what...

..and they shot me :cool:

It does'nt glorify it as if your spotted by the cops you'll be pursued.

I tried it the first time and quit and got a cab!!. Getting to a cab is hard enough!!:D

danbhala

gilberto_eire wrote: »

I tried it the first time and quit and got a cab!!. Getting to a cab is hard enough!!:D

just like real life

robinph

I think you got the title of the post wrong:

Irish group 'Parc' wants free publicity

Sean Quagmire

This is mainly the reason why I snatched the game as early as I could – I had a feeling it would under serious ball busting from the media and don’t forget games have been edited down in Ireland in the past – ‘Manhunt’ and ‘Hitman’ to name a few.
Its possible yet unlikely that an edited down version will come out.

corcaigh07

they are going to talk about this soon on the last word, Today FM. no doubt itll be sad PARC fecker that never played the game VS a gamer you loves GTA and will use any excuse/fact under the sun! itll take more than some petty irish group to ban the biggest game in the world at the moment.

Helix

as posted on boards a while back, here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/archive/index.php/t-2055068745.html :

Contact details for PARC are as follows: susangrayparc@eircom.net

annfogarty@eircom.net

Susan Gray 086-3773784

Ann Fogarty 087-9800062

if anyone wishes to make sensible, educated, coherrent points to them, email away

do NOT under any circumstances mail them with abuse, poorly made points, or swear words or youre going to be about as helpful as a hole in the head

nealmac

Anyone notice anything about both email addresses? Yes, they're both women

bandit197

I think its brilliant how all the focus on this game seems to be related to the drink driving aspect of it. Another group, in the states, MADD(mothers against drink driving) are up in arms about it too. So i can move the character to the top of a crane with a sniper rifle taking headshots at other characters but thats ok ya
Do these people honestly believe that people will think drink driving is cool or acceptable because a pixelated character in a game falls around a bit on screen.
Im sure Parc do some good work but they are really barking up the wrong tree here. Its a GAME people, leave it be.

corcaigh07

women with small brains

Mr E

PARC are on the last word on Today FM now (5:20)

corcaigh07

she just admitted she hasnt seen the game in action at all. she hasnt a clue...

Mr E

She was told that you could drink drive in the game (therefore game bad - ban game)
But she knew nothing else about the game (including the fact that driving while drunk is very very difficult, and that you can get a taxi if you want).

Banning a game after it has sold half a billion copies is just retarted anyway.

Helix

you can drink drive in real life too

BAN REAL LIFE IN CASE ANYONE DRINK DRIVES!!!!!

degrassinoel

glory hunters seeking glory off the back of a giant.
never would have guessed an irish organisation would have to stoop to such parasitical activities to get recognised.. well done.

Dord

Helix wrote: »

as posted on boards a while back, here http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/archive/index.php/t-2055068745.html :



if anyone wishes to make sensible, educated, coherrent points to them, email away

do NOT under any circumstances mail them with abuse, poorly made points, or swear words or youre going to be about as helpful as a hole in the head

One thing I notice about this straight away is the fact that they both have Eircom email addresses. :rolleyes:

Surely if the game was not suitable then it wouldn't have made it past the IFCO, right?

As people have said before, you don't have to drive after drinking in the game. You can walk, or get a taxi. If anything, driving while drunk in the game is extremely difficult and although it's not real life it does kinda show how difficult it can be to concentrate. Which is why you shouldn't do it in real life.

nealmac

Joe Robot wrote: »

it does kinda show how difficult it can be to concentrate. Which is why you shouldn't do it in real life.

Ooh! Nicely twisted around, sir. Well played.

Sod'o swords

Helix wrote: »

you can drink drive in real life too

BAN REAL LIFE IN CASE ANYONE DRINK DRIVES!!!!!

He said drink drive, is he trying to glorify and promote drink driving????? Hm just to be on the safe side.
BAN HIM TOO!!!

masseyno9

A copy of the e-mail i just sent to the parc crowd. Maybe i got a bit rough at the end, but sure its how i feel.

Dear Ms. Gray,

I recently read about your organisations wishes to ban the new Grand Theft Auto game. This is apparently based on the fact that the player can control a character and instruct him to drive while drunk. Granted, this is not a message to be sent to impressionable youths, but the game has an 18s certificate attachedd to it, and is being sold only to people over 18 years old. Granted, certain under-18s are getting their hands on it, but that is always bound to happen (with games, films, cigarettes, whatever).

The fact of the matter is that the game is entirely fictitious, and everyone who plays it knows this. Its not broadcast on RTE at 3:00pm every tuesday to be seen by all, it is to be enjoyed by responsible people in the comfort of their own home. Other activities in the game include killing gang members and drug dealers, fleeing from police, riding motorbikes down railroad tracks whilst shooting at enemies, and recovering stolen drugs and money. Also, if you do kill the pixelated people in the game, you can drive off half a mile down the orad, and the police seemingly forget about it. If your character is arrested, he is immediately let out again. If he is killed, he re-appears outside a hospital, complete with every weapon he owned. Now, to me, if people are going to copy what is seen in this game, drink-driving is the least of our problems.

Another point that is relevant is that you do not have to drive drunk in the game, you can take a taxi or walk. I am a 21 year old male and I drive. I also drink, but never ever at the same time. I take a taxi or walk. Just because I enjoy this game I'm not going to go drink-driving. People know the difference between reality and fantasy. Similarly, I'm not going join a gang and hunt down rival members.

I can kind of see your point of view, as drink-driving is more tangible to Irish people than the gangland violence depicted in the game, but give people credit, they're not idiots.

As a conclusion, I believe your cause is a legitimate one, but this stinks of a publicity stunt. I know about the difficulties of getting recognition for organisations (being involved in minority sports) but there are much better ways to put your organisation in the public eye. Perhaps a statement about how pleased the prganisation at the drop in road death figures were over the recent bank holiday weekend, and a congratulations to the gardai that their increased presence contributed to this may have had better results. Having said this, I wish you and your orginsation the best of luck in your endeavours, but I fear your name may have already been tarnished with the very people I imagine you want to get your point across to. Assuming young people are your main target audience, a lot of them will now see your organisation as condascending (talking to them like they don't know the difference between a game and real life) and out of touch, and as such, may disregard any publications or pleas for assisrance. I look forward to seeing more positive and realistic publicity from your organisation in the future.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr E

Well said, and well argued. I think it will fall on deaf ears, though.....

A spell check wouldn't have hurt (but thats the picky side of me).

krudler

out of touch organisation in jump on the bandwagon pr stunt shocker!

corcaigh07

well done massey, itll probably fall on deaf ears though. she even said it herself that she has no intention of seeing or playing the game because she thinks its disgusting, horrific, etc etc. i think ill send her an e-mail too, she deserves to be told otherwise.

corcaigh07

and lads, if your sending any e-mails, send them all to Susan Gray, she was the blinkered idiot speaking on today fm today.

Nailz

She'll be hearing a word from Al Pacino & Arnold Schwarzenegger...

Y2J_MUFC

Waaa, waaa, waaa.

Somebody needs to tell that group that we're Irish, not American. We can distinguish games from reality, thank you very much. How does it glorify drunk driving? The cops nail you straight away. Pubilicity stunt.

corcaigh07

was i too hard? hopefully she'll at least read it.


Dear Susan,

Just writing to say how appalled I was to hear your uneducated ramblings on National Radio today. I was absolutely amazed to hear you criticising a game you have never played or seen in action. I was also highly disappointed to hear that you had no facts of any kind to back up any of your arguments i.e. the survey results to say a child behaves differently after experiencing a video game. You were very lucky Matt Cooper wasn’t in his usual caustic self.

This game does indeed feature drink drinking but it is not forced upon the person playing the game. Indeed, the player doesn’t have to drink at all. If the player decides to drink drive (But only after warnings by the game itself and the character, Niko, you play as), it’s not the least bit glorified. In fact, its very difficult and disorientating, much like real-life I imagine. Many people have commented to me that they have only ever tried drink-driving once in the game because it was so difficult and unnecessary. Hardly glorifying drink-driving now is it?

And as for your argument that young kids are playing this game doesn’t hold up at all. This game is rated for persons aged 18 and over by the IFCO just like any other game or movie. If there was any issues the IFCO thought were unsuitable, the game would have been banned and they have banned games and movies before. Yes, there will be a minority of underage people that will get their hands on this game but we have this problem for underage drinking, smoking, movies, driving etc and I’m finding that the game stores are very responsible when it comes to checking for ID when a person tries to purchase this game, more so than the cinemas and DVD stores in my humble opinion.

It may surprise you that this game has already sold 9 million copies and counting hence the calls for banning this game are ludicrous, not to mention that even if you were successful in your request, the game would still be easily obtainable through via the internet and other international sources. If you think your small petty limelight seeking campaign is going to overcome this game, you are deeply mistaken. If this game was as horrific as you suggest, then this world is not in good shape.

I’m an avid gamer, driver and indeed drinker! However, I have never drove a car under the influence, never shot a gun (however many I have shot in Games). Just because I see some horrible things in movies or to a lesser extent, games, doesn’t mean I’ll do them in real-life.

I dearly hope you change your methods of seeking positive PR as this is a Cul-De-Sac on your part. Your attitude against drink driving is an admirable one and it is unfortunately still a scourge on Irish roads. There are other ways of doing this. Commending the Gardai on an excellent job this May bank Holiday would be a start. Educating the drivers of the future in Secondary Schools would be another. I sincerely hope you find these better methods before you lose respect amongst the public. I admit I never heard of PARC before today but I really do hope you can make a difference.

Looking forward to your response,
Dominic Manning

Y2J_MUFC

corcaigh07 wrote: »

was i too hard? hopefully she'll at least read it.


Dear Susan,

Just writing to say how appalled I was to hear your uneducated ramblings on National Radio today. I was absolutely amazed to hear you criticising a game you have never played or seen in action. I was also highly disappointed to hear that you had no facts of any kind to back up any of your arguments i.e. the survey results to say a child behaves differently after experiencing a video game. You were very lucky Matt Cooper wasn’t in his usual caustic self.

This game does indeed feature drink drinking but it is not forced upon the person playing the game. Indeed, the player doesn’t have to drink at all. If the player decides to drink drive (But only after warnings by the game itself and the character, Niko, you play as), it’s not the least bit glorified. In fact, its very difficult and disorientating, much like real-life I imagine. Many people have commented to me that they have only ever tried drink-driving once in the game because it was so difficult and unnecessary. Hardly glorifying drink-driving now is it?

And as for your argument that young kids are playing this game doesn’t hold up at all. This game is rated for persons aged 18 and over by the IFCO just like any other game or movie. If there was any issues the IFCO thought were unsuitable, the game would have been banned and they have banned games and movies before. Yes, there will be a minority of underage people that will get their hands on this game but we have this problem for underage drinking, smoking, movies, driving etc and I’m finding that the game stores are very responsible when it comes to checking for ID when a person tries to purchase this game, more so than the cinemas and DVD stores in my humble opinion.

It may surprise you that this game has already sold 9 million copies and counting hence the calls for banning this game are ludicrous, not to mention that even if you were successful in your request, the game would still be easily obtainable through via the internet and other international sources. If you think your small petty limelight seeking campaign is going to overcome this game, you are deeply mistaken. If this game was as horrific as you suggest, then this world is not in good shape.

I’m an avid gamer, driver and indeed drinker! However, I have never drove a car under the influence, never shot a gun (however many I have shot in Games). Just because I see some horrible things in movies or to a lesser extent, games, doesn’t mean I’ll do them in real-life.

I dearly hope you change your methods of seeking positive PR as this is a Cul-De-Sac on your part. Your attitude against drink driving is an admirable one and it is unfortunately still a scourge on Irish roads. There are other ways of doing this. Commending the Gardai on an excellent job this May bank Holiday would be a start. Educating the drivers of the future in Secondary Schools would be another. I sincerely hope you find these better methods before you lose respect amongst the public. I admit I never heard of PARC before today but I really do hope you can make a difference.

Looking forward to your response,
Dominic Manning

Solid argument. Your points are well made...

Although admitting you never heard of them may make them think that their stunt has worked.

Mr E

Well said, Dominic.

Dord

Well said guys!

blaze1

well said on the emails folks, I was tempted but started slurring my words after booting it back from the pub in my stolen turismo,

Nailz

Apparently this Susan one "just cost me $6,000"!

mehfesto2

Y2J_MUFC wrote: »

Solid argument. Your points are well made...

Although admitting you never heard of them may make them think that their stunt has worked.

Yeah, but I think the fact that all of us within their imaginable target-audience think they're sensationalist, out-of-touch, attention-seeking time-wasters kind of ruins that stunt.

If anything they've only really found target with parents who too haven't experienced the game in any true sense and need further sensationalist "proof" to stop their children playing it. They should need only be deferred by the 18's rating, not what the general media is saying.

Y2J_MUFC

mehfesto2 wrote: »

Yeah, but I think the fact that all of us within their imaginable target-audience think they're sensationalist, out-of-touch, attention-seeking time-wasters kind of ruins that stunt.

If anything they've only really found target with parents who too haven't experienced the game in any true sense and need further sensationalist "proof" to stop their children playing it. They should need only be deferred by the 18's rating, not what the general media is saying.

This is true, but probably a lot of people might think... "OK, they are looking for headlines about GTA, but their overall cause is a good one"...and would probably work out better in the long run than people not knowing who they are at all...

DarkJager

Just sent one guys, felt I had to say something to this ill informed idiot. Harsh or not I hope she reads it:

Dear Susan,

Today is the first time I have heard of your organisation PARC, and hope it is also the last. It is obvious that for every message you preach about road safety, there is also a side which seeks publicity even in its lowest gutter form. Your appearance today on The Last Word, made me nearly want to throw my car stereo out the window. You are severely misguided if you possibly think you can comment on something it is blindingly obvious you know absolutely nothing about. I am of course talking about the new Grand Theft Auto game.

While I appreciate your main goal is to reduce the carnage on Irish Roads, it is obvious you feel the need to piggyback publicity from this game. Yes, it may be controversial, and yes it may include drink driving, but at the end of the day this is a VIDEO GAME. A video game with an 18's rating which means it is fit for adults only. Granted some people under that age may play it, but I can safely say the vast majority of us can distinguish reality from virtual reality. You on the other hand, obviously cannot.

The game itself does not encourage or glorify drink driving in anyway. There are no instructions in the manual, and even when the player attempts to drink drive, he is warned against it. In game, drink driving also warrants a swift and heavy response from the police. How could anybody possibly get the idea to drink drive from this, when it is one tiny insignificant part of the game?? There are no rewards for it, no cash given for doing it and nothing at all to gain from it.

When I heard you describe the game as "horrific", even though you have not even laid eyes on it or played it, that was the end of your arguement. You cannot possibly argue about something you have no knowledge about, and tugging at the heart strings of the nation just made you sound more desperate to get in the limelight. There are too many ill informed people in this world, who will just jump on the chance to slate something just because it dares to push boundaries. If its an informed and valid opinion, then it is worth listening to. Your arguement was neither. For people like that, I have absolutely no respect whatsoever, no matter what other messages they may try to preach.

In future, may I recommend PARC hire an actual PR representative if they want to comment on something like this. Publicly broadcasting your opinion is usually best left to professionals. If your intention was to alienate the youth of Ireland from your cause, then I must congratulate you because you have succeeded on so many levels. To summarise the situation Susan: EPIC FAIL.

Yours truly,

John X

corcaigh07

Y2J_MUFC wrote: »

Solid argument. Your points are well made...

Although admitting you never heard of them may make them think that their stunt has worked.

i fully agree, their stunt has taught me who they are but you can't change first impressions, shame on PARC, itll take a lot for me and many others to take them seriously on anything else.

Cunny-Funt

As I said in a similar thread:

God I really can't believe how stupid people can be. The usual take a line from the game and it gets taken totally out of context by non gamers.

The game lets you drive cars, and has an effect that makes things blurry and controls funny when you drink.

This kinda stuff as been around for years.

I remember it in Deus Ex. I also remember in that game if you wanted you could attack NPCs =

BAN THE GAME DEUS EX because it lets you get drunk and beat up women on the street!

Feckin eejits, thats all I have to say...

Nailz wrote: »

She'll be hearing a word from Al Pacino & Arnold Schwarzenegger...

Nailz wrote: »

Apparently this Susan one "just cost me $6,000"!

Recordings or it didn't happen.

corcaigh07

a bit on the harsh side alright but im not sure if i can comment after my attack. its hard to resist getting angry at such an opportunisic, blatant attack on something she never has even seen.

Y2J_MUFC

DarkJager wrote: »

To summarise the situation Susan: EPIC FAIL.

That last line gave me a good laugh!!! A bit on the harsh side overall though