People say GTA IV is bad for kids. I disagree.
There’s been less of a GTA uproar than I expected this time around, probably because the critical acclaim it’s received puts those who openly slate it in a far less comfortable position than that of the cushy high-horse many have been sitting on for years. Despite this there are still some that feel the content of the game is inappropriate, which seems quite reasonable to an extent even if you’re not a conservative Luddite. But when you boil down to it, what actually makes a game like GTA IV inappropriate?
The game’s protagonist Niko can be a rough character at times, but his actions are driven very much by his personal history and subsequent sense of character. He’s not a bad man, but he’s not a good man either. Some of the things Niko must do throughout the story are unpleasant, but they don’t seem out of context. The violence carried out on others throughout often feels unhinged and unnecessary, but that doesn’t make the sense of causality behind it all feel any less real.
All in all, if you’re playing GTA IV as if you are Niko then there’s no problem. It’s violent and crude at times, but in a considerably more intelligent manner than most action films manage to be. You might do some bad things playing as Niko, but if you’re a level minded individual then you’ll probably feel pretty guilty about it afterwards. In the hands of someone sensible GTA IV is gripping and thought-provoking. And this is where the problems begin…
In the context of the game there’s never any reason to go on a rampage. Sure, you can go cave that hooker’s head in, but what’s the point? You can go around beating up old ladies, but why would you want to? It’s not in Niko’s nature, and it’s not rewarded- so technically it’s really not fair to blame the game for the way that mindless idiots choose to use it. GTA IV gives you a vast amount of personal choice regarding how you behave, but makes it very clear in what context you’re supposed to be playing it. So if it’s not the motivation of the game’s character taking control, then who’s motivation is it? If you’re put within a brilliantly realistic version of New York and your first instinct is to cause harm to civilians… what kind of a person are you?
Just as Niko’s actions are dictated by context, so are ours when playing games. The mainstream media are obsessed with the idea that playing realistic games affects the way we behave in real life. There’s some truth to this, but it’s not a one-way door: The way we behave in real life also affects the way we play games.
The way in which people respond to the situations which GTA IV puts you in will depend on what kind of person you’ve become, a cumulative mish-mash of things you’ve seen, done, and experienced. One person might relish in the power of a brutal execution, another might feel slightly sickened by the situation they’ve been forced into. Very young children aside, I fail to see how age plays a part in this sense of judgment. If by the time you’re 16 you’re still not interested in doing anything other than running people over when playing games then chances are you’re a lost cause… GTA IV in the wrong hands could easily be a playground for murderers to rehearse in, but then again so could kitchens- and I can’t hear anyone talking about banning knives, can you?
Kids need to be exposed to bad things. It’s how you learn, it’s how you grow. Good videogames are perfect for learning; they put you in uncomfortable positions and force you to make decisions that you might not be comfortable with. They’ll help them develop their own sense of right and wrong, in a way that linear media like TV or film can’t quite manage. Parents are afraid of children becoming desensitized to violence and because of this avoid exposing their kids to it at all costs. But if you don’t introduce them to it, then who will? Little Jimmy from down the road, that’s who. Do you know what they’ll choose to play? Gears of War. Will they think about morality as they gun down swarms of chunky aliens in a haze of gore? Will they f**k.
GTA IV isn’t bad for kids, it’s bad for stupid people. How the hell are you going to fix that though, eh?
Alasdair
May 6th, 2008
Good points, and mostly I agree.
However there wouldn’t be the option in GTA IV to go on a rampage if Rockstar didn’t want it to be a part of the game. I think that GoW is not as bad as GTA IV in terms of the influence it could have as it is a sci-fi game, I doubt we’re going to be going to war with an alien race anytime soon. The desensitisation issue is the main problem that people see in underage kids playing adult material. While I never think ‘wow I just beat the hell outta someone in the game, better go do it in real life!’ is a likely situation (and when it does happen, its definately way more than an issue with a game), exposing kids to this level of violence generally introduces this idea that extreme violence isn’t as major.
You’re definately right that it all depends on how the player responds, unfortunately younger players are a lot more likely to be affected by it, as younger people don’t have as strong a sense of moral judgement.
Matt
May 7th, 2008
Personally I think kids have a brilliant sense of moral judgement, or at least if they don’t by the age of 10 then they probably never will…
Ben
May 7th, 2008
Good piece.
If anything, one could claim GTA IV is a suitable outlet for those with violent tendencies, lowering the temptation to commit violence in real life. In fact the video game version would be a lot more entertaining without the risks.
Those who are drawn into gangs typically will have little exposure to cultural media, their little clique is all they know. For these people exposure to games will only be a good thing, and at the very least give them something better to do than being a nuisance.
Evil Stev€
May 8th, 2008
I totally agree with you!
Children need to be exposed to violence to give them a fear of it and an understanding of what’s right and what’s wrong. If not they could learn from the worst of people and get the wrong understanding!
But of course parents need to shelter them from violence a majority of the time in case they get used to it and maybe get involved with it!
But yeah, the majority of what you have said is true!
Paul Govan
May 8th, 2008
This is right on track guys. As I outlined in an article of mine. GTA provides what could be considered a safe space in which to explore the dangerous and pressing issues of life.
This is actually some that religious text were used for in the past. The story of Jonah for example creates space to play with the idea of the consequences of our actions, and how we determine our destiny.
Although it may sound odd to some, GTA genuinely functions in this way for al ot of people. The challenge is how to take these experiences beyond the boundaries of the game - to discuss what we have discovered about ourselves honestly with friends and family.
Oh and it’s alot of fun to play as well - crucial.
Nice work Rockstar.
Paul Govan
May 8th, 2008
Sorry - here’s the article I was referring to: http://www.gamepeople.co.uk/familygamer0202.htm
Surrealist
May 8th, 2008
Alasdair definitely raises a good point, Rockstar wouldn’t have included the the option if you weren’t allowed to use it. As much punishment as losing your guns and money is if you get caught, it does not not help the more impressionable to think they can’t do it.
Now I have the game, and haven’t yet felt the urge to kill anyone, but it seems a little shortsighted to say that GTA is a nice way to release violent emotions. The fact is, GTA is IS a violent game, it does have unsavoury elements and it could make certain people more prone to violence. It isn’t an evil game, and it’s certainly an amazingly fun one to play, so I’m not saying it should be banned, I just don’t think it’s a particularly fair thing to say that it will help rather than hinder the more impressionable people who might play it.
steve
June 1st, 2008
why is GTA bad for kids?
Well basically when I was 5-8 years old or so me and my mates liked to pretend we were James bond and shoot each other. Had we being playing things like GTA im sure our innocent games would have been more violent.
Not to say we would be violent in later life, but kids shouldn’t play GTA. Anybody noticed how they market Playboy toys and accessories to little kids? its amazing how much of a none issue this is to most people who are terrified of video games.