AUBURN - As the young guest in her home played a video game, Cynthia Baney couldn't believe her eyes. In the first moments of "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City," the central figure controlled by the player deals cocaine, picks up and murders a prostitute and kills a police officer.
Cynthia Baney of Auburn learned about the violence in the video game "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" and warned parents to be more vigilant. She's seen here reflected in her television screen as she watches a "Good Morning America" report on the game. Among its challenges: A drug dealer must kill a police officer to advance. Trevor Kapralos / Staff Photographer
If the player wishes, the character can hijack a car and kill the owner, run over pedestrians in the ensuing high-speed chase, and rush into a gun shop to rob it of more powerful weaponry for a blood-spurting shoot-out with the cops.
The game appeals, in record numbers, to the all-American adolescent male.
"This is not how we want our young men forming their opinions about girls," said Baney, the wife of retired state Trooper Dennis Baney. She took the game away from the child and visited the West Middle School's Parent-Teacher Organization Monday to send out an alarm: Keep an eye on the video games your children play.
"I'm so tired of people that blame other people for what is wrong for their kids," said Baney. "This is the school of thought that thinks it is never the parent's fault."
She says the amount of violence in video games desensitizes children; they're rewarded for letting their video character commit heinous crimes. The PTO thanked her, but the children at West Middle didn't. Dozens sent her a petition insisting she return the game to their friend, telling her they could get "Grand Theft Auto" again even if their parents took it away.
Parents need to get involved
Does the use of a violent video game mean children are more prone to violence? Countless numbers of children have probably played "Grand Theft Auto" and other games like it. "I think I am mature enough," said one local 13-year-old who plays it, "to be able to tell the difference between a game and really going out and shooting people."
So young people can differentiate fantasy from reality, can't they?
Alice Sterling Honig, a professor emeritus in child development from Syracuse University and one of the area's most visible experts in children's behavior, says there is a link between the violence children see and the way they behave. She seems to agree with Baney. Parents need to be gate-keepers of their child's entertainment.
"We can't keep horrible things from happening like terrorist attacks, but parents can keep the horror out of their homes," said Honig.
She said parents needed to establish rules to protect children from sexual and violent content in media, including video games, and discuss why some material is not appropriate for their family.
"Parents are the gatekeepers of their children's safety," said Honig. "They need to talk to and monitor their children."
One technique: "empathic role playing" in which parents ask questions of their children to place them in the role of the victims of violence and sexual aggression and bring out how they or a loved one would feel in the situation.
Even parents pressed for time can find ways to talk to children. She said parents can include children in activities such as shopping to discuss concerns them about sex, money and violence.
"People will keep putting this poison and evil out if we keep consuming it," she said.
National media reviews vary
"Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" has attracted a media spotlight for its content and for sales records. The game reportedly sold 4 million copies even before it even hit the shelves, and some industry experts project sales to top $400 million.
ABC-TV's "Good Morning America" looked at the game in an Oct. 31 broadcast. Correspondent Chris Cuomo described it as "violence on a scale never seen before" and said cutting-edge graphics and technology were obscuring its violent content.
A review of the game in the current edition of the magazine Entertainment praised the game's "robust selection of weaponry" and "superb collection of motorcycles." The review said the detail and the cast of actors who lend their voices to the game, including Ray Liotta, Dennis Hopper and Burt Reynolds, makes the game a joyride.
The only comment on the game's violent themes was that it was likely to cause "a ruckus."
Canned response
Bill Linn, a spokesman for Rockstar Games, said the company is not granting interviews. He issued a statement saying Rockstar is a leading manufacturer of entertainment geared toward mature audiences. The statement said the company makes every effort to market its products for mature audiences only and only targets an audience over age 17.
All of Rockstar's games and advertising are submitted to the Entertainment Software Rating Board, and ESRB ratings are clearly displayed on the front of every game cover, according to the statement.
ESRB is a guide for parents
The ESRB is an independent, self-regulatory body established in 1994 to rate software titles, Web sites, online games, online privacy protection and reviewing advertising.
The non-profit organization's Web site says that has rated more than 7,000 video game titles in the past eight years.
The organization's site features a parents guide to the content of video games and Web sites to help parents determine what material their children should be able to see.
"Vice City" has an ESRB rating of "Mature" that is clearly marked in the lower left-hand corner of the cover. The mature rating means the content may be suitable for ages 17 and older and contain intense violence, adult language and sexual themes.
Parents and retailers are encouraged to be responsible where game ratings are concerned by the ratings board.
More information on the ESRB and information on specific games' ratings are available online at www.esrb.org.
To reach Staff Writer Robert Taylor call 253-5311, Ext. 267.
The game appeals, in record numbers, to the all-American adolescent male.
"This is not how we want our young men forming their opinions about girls," said Baney, the wife of retired state Trooper Dennis Baney. She took the game away from the child and visited the West Middle School's Parent-Teacher Organization Monday to send out an alarm: Keep an eye on the video games your children play.
"I'm so tired of people that blame other people for what is wrong for their kids," said Baney. "This is the school of thought that thinks it is never the parent's fault."
She says the amount of violence in video games desensitizes children; they're rewarded for letting their video character commit heinous crimes. The PTO thanked her, but the children at West Middle didn't. Dozens sent her a petition insisting she return the game to their friend, telling her they could get "Grand Theft Auto" again even if their parents took it away.
Parents need to get involved
Does the use of a violent video game mean children are more prone to violence? Countless numbers of children have probably played "Grand Theft Auto" and other games like it. "I think I am mature enough," said one local 13-year-old who plays it, "to be able to tell the difference between a game and really going out and shooting people."
So young people can differentiate fantasy from reality, can't they?
Alice Sterling Honig, a professor emeritus in child development from Syracuse University and one of the area's most visible experts in children's behavior, says there is a link between the violence children see and the way they behave. She seems to agree with Baney. Parents need to be gate-keepers of their child's entertainment.
"We can't keep horrible things from happening like terrorist attacks, but parents can keep the horror out of their homes," said Honig.
She said parents needed to establish rules to protect children from sexual and violent content in media, including video games, and discuss why some material is not appropriate for their family.
"Parents are the gatekeepers of their children's safety," said Honig. "They need to talk to and monitor their children."
One technique: "empathic role playing" in which parents ask questions of their children to place them in the role of the victims of violence and sexual aggression and bring out how they or a loved one would feel in the situation.
Even parents pressed for time can find ways to talk to children. She said parents can include children in activities such as shopping to discuss concerns them about sex, money and violence.
"People will keep putting this poison and evil out if we keep consuming it," she said.
National media reviews vary
"Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" has attracted a media spotlight for its content and for sales records. The game reportedly sold 4 million copies even before it even hit the shelves, and some industry experts project sales to top $400 million.
ABC-TV's "Good Morning America" looked at the game in an Oct. 31 broadcast. Correspondent Chris Cuomo described it as "violence on a scale never seen before" and said cutting-edge graphics and technology were obscuring its violent content.
A review of the game in the current edition of the magazine Entertainment praised the game's "robust selection of weaponry" and "superb collection of motorcycles." The review said the detail and the cast of actors who lend their voices to the game, including Ray Liotta, Dennis Hopper and Burt Reynolds, makes the game a joyride.
The only comment on the game's violent themes was that it was likely to cause "a ruckus."
Canned response
Bill Linn, a spokesman for Rockstar Games, said the company is not granting interviews. He issued a statement saying Rockstar is a leading manufacturer of entertainment geared toward mature audiences. The statement said the company makes every effort to market its products for mature audiences only and only targets an audience over age 17.
All of Rockstar's games and advertising are submitted to the Entertainment Software Rating Board, and ESRB ratings are clearly displayed on the front of every game cover, according to the statement.
ESRB is a guide for parents
The ESRB is an independent, self-regulatory body established in 1994 to rate software titles, Web sites, online games, online privacy protection and reviewing advertising.
The non-profit organization's Web site says that has rated more than 7,000 video game titles in the past eight years.
The organization's site features a parents guide to the content of video games and Web sites to help parents determine what material their children should be able to see.
"Vice City" has an ESRB rating of "Mature" that is clearly marked in the lower left-hand corner of the cover. The mature rating means the content may be suitable for ages 17 and older and contain intense violence, adult language and sexual themes.
Parents and retailers are encouraged to be responsible where game ratings are concerned by the ratings board.
More information on the ESRB and information on specific games' ratings are available online at www.esrb.org.
To reach Staff Writer Robert Taylor call 253-5311, Ext. 267.
Citizen
Hot Jobs
Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.