Re: Grand Theft Auto IV
Is it just me who's a bit freaked out by it all? With next-gen graphics and everything, it could get really, really wrong.
I mean, look at Bumperman above. He's loving the idea of imprisoning people and beating them to death. He'd probably want to chop people in half as well, with a bit of rape thrown in, and God knows what else. Sorry, I know I'm going to sound really old-fashioned for a 22-year-old who plays anything and everything, but I think GTA is getting to the point now, with next-gen graphics being so realistic, where it has to stop. For so many reasons.
So many kids will get this (not Rockstar's fault - but there won't be anything done about it nonetheless). They will watch people dying in various different ways, in high-definition, full-detail and with the blood and guts flying from all angles. Prisoners turned into prostitutes turned into people with holes in their heads. They will become desensitised to it. There's enough of a gang-culture with our younger generation as it is - no matter where you live.
Plus you've got the people who (again, whether it's Rockstar's fault or not) find the line between the virtual and real world blurring. "If I can cope with chopping this guy's head off and pissing down his neck, then I can cope with it in real life - I'd love to do that to my brother".
Pause the video when the pedestrians go past on the pavement - they have as many polygons as the main characters from PS2 games, if not more. Meaning more detail when you run over them, hit them, shoot them, chop them, do whatever you want to do to them.
As nice as the graphics are, I can't imagine what else is inside the game and I feel a bit sick just thinking about it. I actually hope (contrary to popular feeling) that the game hasn't "moved on", in this sense.
...Am I getting too old for games?
I mean, I suppose you've got stuff like CSI which covers a lot of the above, but kids aren't going to eat up CSI like they'll eat up GTA...
