Families Sue over GTA 3 inspired shootings...

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/grandtheftauto3/news_6077161.html


Families sue over GTA III-inspired shooting


News


The families of two people whose cars were shot at by teenage fans of Grand Theft Auto III have filed a lawsuit against SCEA, Take-Two, Rockstar Games, and Wal-Mart.

The families of two people whose cars were shot at by two teenage boys as they passed through the Great Smoky Mountains on June 25 have filed a $246 million lawsuit against Sony Computer Entertainment America, Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Games, and Wal-Mart. Aaron Hamel, 45, was killed and Kimberly Bede, 19, was seriously wounded when their cars were fired upon by stepbrothers William Buckner, 16, and Joshua Buckner, 14, of Newport.








The boys told investigators that they had got the rifles from a locked room in their home and then started shooting at vehicles on Interstate 40 just like in Grand Theft Auto III--which it's worth noting is an M-rated game that neither of them should have been playing. The stepbrothers are currently serving an indefinite term in state custody after pleading guilty to reckless homicide, endangerment, and assault in juvenile court in August.

The suit filed earlier this week alleges that Grand Theft Auto III inspires and trains players to shoot at vehicles and persons, and claims that the game's designers, marketers, and retailers are liable for $46 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages. We'll bring you more information on this story as it becomes available.

By Justin Calvert, GameSpot [POSTED: 10/22/03 02:10 AM]

So many brainless people in the States

Parents need to watch their damn kids. It's supposed to be what parents do.

pyrokilla said:

So many brainless people in the States

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it's not that, what it actually comes down to is 'greed'.

everyone's looking for an excuse to sue someone else in hopes to make their fortune the easy way.

Why am I not surprised, countless amount of parents letting their underaged teens/children buy whatever the hell they want. Without showing a care of what the game is about or what it does.
The number one response from parents while working in retail stores, I have seen is "Yes I know what the game contains, it's perfectly fine". Perfectly fine? Does it effect that 9 year old boy who will be shooting, murdering people, and picking up hookers? Maybe, maybe not.
Depends on the child's understanding of whats going on and if he can tell the difference between reality and whats in the game.

Heihachi-San said:

Why am I not surprised, countless amount of parents letting their underaged teens/children buy whatever the hell they want. Without showing a care of what the game is about or what it does.
The number one response from parents while working in retail stores, I have seen is "Yes I know what the game contains, it's perfectly fine". Perfectly fine? Does it effect that 9 year old boy who will be shooting, murdering people, and picking up hookers? Maybe, maybe not.
Depends on the child's understanding of whats going on and if he can tell the difference between reality and whats in the game.

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i'd say, in all honesty, even if a person meets the age requirements for a game, if they can't tell the difference between reality & 'the game world' they should be nowhere near a game and depending on age, should actually be in a psychiatric hospital getting some professional help.


personally, i've been playing 'mature' themed games since i was like 5-6 years old[even been watching R-rated movies since then].. but even all those years ago i still understood the difference between what's real and what's not..

for instance back when 'DOOM' first came out, i was like 12 years old or something and i'd play that game religiously.. but i never once got the idea to want to hurt/kill anyone in real life..

::sighs::
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.
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anyway.. there's no helping alot of people.. so let's just nuke the world and start over.

Every time this nonsense happens, parents blame video games instead of themselves for not teaching their kids morals and common sense. I'd like to see a parent get sued for once over a matter like this for being a flat-out stupid human being.

Earthquake said:

Every time this nonsense happens, parents blame video games instead of themselves for not teaching their kids morals and common sense. I'd like to see a parent get sued for once over a matter like this for being a flat-out stupid human being.

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unless that particular parent is rich/famous, then it's not going to happen. they sue the companies instead because they know the companies have all the $$$, and that's what it's all about. money.

Thats america for you. Home of the incredibly retarded

Personally I can't wait to read the headlines of stupid fucks who want to sue Rockstar over their upcoming game Manhunt, once some bored or misunderstood teens decide to pick up a claw hammer and roam the night looking to bash someone's head in... then blame it on the video game.



And just wait until you've got kids lip lining from a building over into another apartment complex to whack someone with a .9mm pistol and a home made suppressor, and they'll say: "I thought I was upholding the 5th Freedom... I'm a Splinter Cell".

Morons both the bastards playing the games and the ppl suing. But at least it's better than hearing about Queer Eye for the Straight guy and the Homo invasion that seems to be overtaking the nation. *Kind of glad South Park put that in prespective tonight on Comedy Central.

Now back to me killing Soviets.... OH SHIT I SEE PPL PARACHUTING INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD!