Drunk-driving group cross with GTA IV
It is "not a game and it is not a joke".
US group Mothers Against Drunk Driving has voiced its disappointment with Grand Theft Auto IV for including a section where you can drive around while drunk.
MADD issued a statement on its website calling for the game to be re-evaluated by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board and for manufacturers to halt production "out of respect" for the millions that have been affected by drunk drivers.
"Each year nearly 13,500 people die in drunk driving crashes and another half a million are injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes. This is why MADD is extremely disappointed by the decision of the manufacturers of the game Grand Theft Auto IV to include a game module where players can drive drunk," read the statement.
"Drunk driving is not a game and it is not a joke. Drunk driving is a choice, a violent crime and it is also 100 percent preventable.
"MADD is calling on the Entertainment Software Ratings Board to reclassify Grand Theft Auto IV as an Adults Only game, a step up from the current rating of Mature and for the manufacturer to consider a stop in distribution - if not out of responsibility to society then out of respect for the millions of victims/survivors of drunk driving," concluded the statement.
Grand Theft Auto IV lets you go for a drink with some of your acquaintances and then drive home after if you can't be bothered to flag down a cab.
However, not only is driving around while inebriated extremely difficult, but it also sends the police after you if they happen to spot you on your journey. You could almost say there's a built-in deterrent.
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Comments (63) Latest comment 4 years ago
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Okay, probably not - but I'm definitely going to have Niko hail a cab each time, as on a big telly it really does make you feel sick!
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And yea true... the graphic effects are so vomit inducing you have to take a cab
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3 words.... 'Chill out babes'
/hides
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Er, I don't think anyone has said it doesn't.
The point is that this group is misrepresenting - consciously or unconsciously - what's actually present in the game, presumably for the publicity boost associated with a controversial game.
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Good day.
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Its a game for FFS, it does not make me want to drink drive!! Shoot people with an UZI maybe, but not drink drive...
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whats the story with the mothers bit anyways? If youre not a mother and youre against drink driving do they tell you to fuck off and start your own group or something?
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Clearly running around shooting people is worse than driving whilst pissed... but it's a FUCKING GAME! Moron.
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GTA FTW
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Sad, sad people.
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Plus it's a game that's giving you choices. To stop you driving a car because you were drunk would just be silly. Plus it shows you the effects of drinking which is surly going to act as a deterent more then anything else.
/edit to avoid double post
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You might have missed the instructions for doing this. Press L1 (on PS3, at least) to hail a cab, and then you need to HOLD down (not press) triangle to get into the taxi as a passenger. (This confused me the first time I tried it where I ended up stealing the taxi!)
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To be fair to the pressure group, though, they are on-topic. Including drink driving in a videogame does trivialise it. And it's something a lot more impressionable young drivers (over 18, of course, to allow them to play the game in the first place) are more likely to do than lean out of their window and spray some random pedestrians with Uzi fire.
They have the right to air their displeasure.
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Its a videogame FFS
I play videogames I don't drink drive I don't kill people, there was drink drivers before GTA4
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And it is only a game. I'm not going to say "Wow cool, Niko can drive drunk, so can I!" anymore than I'm going to shoot someone with a pistol because he dented my new car. And again, if anything the game shows how drunk driving is not a good idea, it shows you how dangerous and stupid it is and almost forces you to call a cab instead.
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This is laughable.
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http://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%2...
I'm happy for them to make the game adult only. Case closed. Doesn't affect me.
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WON'T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!!
As for the actual argument: Sigh ... Despite having been drunk and being tasked with taking someone home, I didn't even think about getting into a car, because the amount of falling over etc. that was happening on foot convinced me it would be a significantly bad idea.
So you could argue that it shows you the rather large negative effects of drink driving without real life consequences.
In your face, MADD.
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Good job they don't have a problem with me driving at high speed and casually mowing down pedestrians. I'd never get to work!
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Given that our own government spends hundreds of millions of pounds on advertising to discourage people from drink driving, I think hijacking the media juggernaut of GTA IV for this purpose for free is a good thing.
Although I don't agree that the game should be (effectively, in the US) banned, like they're asking for. If Rockstar argue back that GTA IV portrays drink driving as a bad thing, then so much the better.
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Absolutely 100% hit the nail on the head. Not only does Homer simpson drive around drunk in a prime time cartoon show, marketed to adults and children alike, but he ususally never faces any reprecussions that are proportionate to those actions. I think Marge Simpson got done for a DUI, but that was once.
Lame PR attempt. I hate people so bad I want to kill them. GTA made me this way.
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Where the hell have you been?
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What, anyone who bought a sprung-slider phone after watching the Matrix?
Anyone who started kickboxing classes after watching a Jean-Claude van Damme movie?
Any kid who started go-kart racing after playing F1 2007 on their Playstation?
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I have done it however in WoW - I don't see anyone complaining about that (admittedly its not quite the same, but being inebriated in charge of a flying dragon seems more dangerous to be honest
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So much for AI path finding.
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Think I'd get a cab next time though - was a bit too much effort
And for what it's worth anyone who plays the game and then decides that drink driving is cool or whatever must have bigger issues anyway, so can't see how it's the game's fault....
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Engine fucked.
I attempt to hightail it away from the jeep, which luckily blocks the polices path somewhat leaving me just enough time to steal a car and ghet the 20 metres to safety of the safe house.
Just the fact that the engine can breakdown from abuse was so funny, the only reason i escaped was because the police were blocked. Good times!
Having said all that, I would never ever drink drive in real life and as someone who lost a very close family member because some dickhead decided to drive with a bottle of vodka in hand I feel I can understand both perspectives but have to disagree with this group. Sensationalist garbage.
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Isn't shooting people with shotguns also dangerous?
??? Idiots.
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i was nearly sick in real life after playing last night. i had had a few beers (in real life) then got drunk in the game. i kept laughing when niko fell over people, bar stools, the brick wall outside, a beer barrel, then eventually got to the car.
i never want to play drunk driving on it again, it was horrible
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EVERYONE - 'The 40 year old Virgin' encourages you to drink drive! It even shows you how to bypass a breathalyser ignition system!
BAN THIS SICK FILTH!
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Where was the uproar then? Oh!!!! So Charley's OK to be off your head driving on?
MADD you are DANGEROUSLY IRRESPONSIBLE AND NEGLIGENT!!!
btw - I'm stuck on that level, since you're so outgunned, and there's no mission restarts to encourage repeat play. Any tips?
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Homer had to watch a scared straight style educational video showing real traffic accidents in one episode.
Here's an appealing fellow... etc.
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"Yellow car! Hey!"
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if people are so stupid that they cant tell the difference between life and a game/tv they shouldnt be driving anyway, as by the same logic they are going to be street racing, knocking people over, firing green shells at other drivers all because they saw it on tv.
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Now , I go that off my chest.....take Michelle to the Irish bar....after a brief cut scene you have to walk out of the bar totally hammered....very funny watching Nico fall onto people, collapse on the floor...................then driver her back home
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I'm not keen on this whole 'Mothers Against' thing either, it infers that they are the only one with the moral rectitude to speak out on these kinds of issues.
Well, I suppose they do have to do something with their time, other than wahing up and cooking dinner of course.