Confusing politicians about video games is like shooting fish in a barrel it seems. State Senator Andrew Lanza (R) of Staten Island, has publicly come out against a flash game called V-Tech Rampage, in which players reenact the recent massacre at Virginia Tech. Concerning the game Lanza stated, "There are certain things in life you don't make light of and should not be turning into a game ... It's not a game, it's a tremendous loss of life."Unfortunately, Lanza revealed his lack of understanding about the game when he called on "retailers, manufacturers and Web site hosts" to distance themselves from the game. V-Tech Rampage is an independent game created by an Australian man named Ryan Lambourn. Clearly, Lanza doesn't understand the distinction between industry product and that which is independently produced.
Still, Lanza finds a way to lump GTAIV into his statements, saying, "You've got Grand Theft Auto where you murder police officers ... To me, I can't imagine people marketing and distributing it, and putting it in the hands of kids, but it's happening." If we're going to continue the fight against violent games, can we at least get a new scapegoat? GTA is getting old.
[Via Joystiq]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-17-2007 @ 3:16PM
Stewpot said...
he's just jealous Staten Island isn't in GTAIV
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5-17-2007 @ 3:18PM
ANt said...
What a tool...
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5-17-2007 @ 3:56PM
Mark said...
"and putting it in the hands of kids"
Who's doing that? The parents? It's rated M so that means 17 and up. So adults are buying it for the kids and they don't care about the content. There's a war going on people. Let's stop talking about video games you stupid stupid politicians.
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5-17-2007 @ 4:09PM
jimhuf said...
Why does some morally retarded fuck think there is a need to make a game about this. The maker of this Vtech game should be made to go on live tv and justify his actions and let the little fucker squirm infront of the world. If he thinks hes so right to make this vulgar shite he wont mind people knowing who he is so he can walk down the street with his head held high.
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5-17-2007 @ 4:28PM
BTex said...
kooky republicans
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5-17-2007 @ 4:39PM
Larry H said...
Everybody needs a stepping stone to a higher post... this is the one that he's chosen. In real life, politicians don't actually care about the issues. Politicians just want you to think they do, for your vote. Publicity is the name of the game.
Speaking of games, I played this one, through and through. Excluding the fact that its insensitive and very bad taste, it's actually kind of a funny look at the situation. Plus, switch name of the place, make the characters police officers or just random civilians and you have a pretty normal little flash game.
Any chance we'll be able to pick this up on XBLA anytime soon?! How many MS points! I'll pay up to 800, but that's it!
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5-17-2007 @ 5:28PM
Stranger said...
You'd think a guy from a town called Great Kills would show a little support.
""There are certain things in life you don't make light of and should not be turning into a game ..."
Funny how nobody seems to mind when Ubisoft or Infinity Ward does it.
Guess as long as it isn't American citizen's being murdered it's all good, huh?
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5-17-2007 @ 5:37PM
Mark said...
BTex wrote: "kooky republicans"
Right, because Lieberman and Hillary Clinton never did anything like this.
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5-17-2007 @ 5:37PM
jimhuf said...
Theres a slight difference from some prick walking into a school and shooting unarmed people to a war which is fought by two sides.
Its shit like this that makes your stupid American offspring take a gun to their peers. By giving this little prick this extended media coverage and fame its already giving some other little punk the motivation to go shoot up a school.
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5-17-2007 @ 5:39PM
Stranger said...
@jimhuf:
"Why does some morally retarded fuck think there is a need to make a game about this. The maker of this Vtech game should be made to go on live tv and justify his actions and let the little fucker squirm infront of the world."
Don't you think he was perhaps trying to be ironic?
The context is really the only thing that separates SCRPG and the V-tech game from a lot of what videogames are really about. There's a reason the Army has a videogame out, you know. Isn't there an equally strong argument from our POV for bringing the sick minds behind every Tom Clancy game to public scorn for glorifying violence?
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5-17-2007 @ 5:43PM
jimhuf said...
"Don't you think he was perhaps trying to be ironic?" no, if he was been ironic he would be asking for $1000 would he.
Computer games dont train killers,they dont put guns in their hands. you dont become a killer you have to be mentally unstable to start with. Iv played violent games all my life and iv never once thought, emm i think ill go shoot up a school today because my girlfriends dumped me.
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5-17-2007 @ 5:44PM
Stranger said...
@jimhuf:
"Theres a slight difference from some prick walking into a school and shooting unarmed people to a war which is fought by two sides.
Its shit like this that makes your stupid American offspring take a gun to their peers. By giving this little prick this extended media coverage and fame its already giving some other little punk the motivation to go shoot up a school."
In what war is America fighting right now in which there are actually two sides?
In Iraq there's like six sides, all of them fighting against us for their own reasons, and in Afghanistan we're at "war" with a terrorist group. War is supposed to be waged between nations.
And if some idiot kid thinks that killing people in school is a worthwhile thing to do I'd wager some much deeper problems than having played SCRPG or the V-tech game and last time I checked.
The media glorifies whatever will garner them the most ratings, so is it the system or the people that drive it who are to blame?
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5-17-2007 @ 5:46PM
Stranger said...
How would asking for money make the act ironic?
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5-17-2007 @ 5:47PM
jimhuf said...
"In what war is America fighting right now in which there are actually two sides?"
well you answered your own question there then, in a war your either with someone or against them, although the Americans dont really give a fuck and just shoot anyone.
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5-17-2007 @ 5:49PM
jimhuf said...
"13. How would asking for money make the act ironic?" typo, he is asking for money
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5-18-2007 @ 3:06AM
Zeus the God said...
Hey, I played "V-Tech Rampage"!
That game was fun!
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5-18-2007 @ 5:04AM
mec11 said...
So I'm on the fence of how things should be for the gen pop (no not prison ;) but for me there are a few decisions I make with things like this... I read about the V Tech killings but did not watch the released video's. Likewise I would not play this flash version but that is my choice to ignore these peoples free speech. The problem I have is how fantastical these people are making the event that some may look up to the method taken as a way to "make their mark".
Now the fictional GTA 4 (roman numra-what?) to be compared to an actual event? How about comparing GTA 4 to movies that have cops killed in them and show more realistic deaths...
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5-18-2007 @ 5:27PM
mike said...
LOL this guy is my neighbor haha maybe ill try explaining to him what the diff between industry and independent product and then tell him that gta ownz
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