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GameSpot Video Games, PC, Wii, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PSP, DS, GBA, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Mothers against GTAIV's drunk driving

MADD asks ESRB to rerate Rockstar's game Adults Only over inebriation simulation.
By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpot
Posted Apr 30, 2008 2:46 pm PT

Much like its unfortunate series of protagonists, the Grand Theft Auto series seems to be continually under fire. The latest parental interest group to put the game in its crosshairs is Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which commemorated Grand Theft Auto IV's release yesterday with its own official statement decrying the game.

Noting that drunk driving claims nearly 13,500 lives each year, MADD said that it is "extremely disappointed" that the game lets users get virtually drunk and then get behind the wheel of an equally virtual automobile.

"Drunk driving is not a game and it is not a joke," MADD said. "Drunk driving is a choice, a violent crime, and it is also 100 percent preventable."

MADD is asking the Entertainment Software Rating Board to bump Grand Theft Auto IV's rating up to AO for Adults Only from M for Mature. The ESRB's content descriptors for the game currently include "use of drugs and alcohol." The parental group also said that it is asking the game's "manufacturer" (presumably Take-Two Interactive) to consider stopping distribution out of a sense of social responsibility, or out of respect for those who've been hurt or killed by drunk drivers.

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1586 Comments

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cookscranny

MADD needs to go **** them self they are stupid people and they give so many cool people bad names

Posted May 13, 2008 10:02 am PT
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WJCJ

UMMMMM.......THATS WHY YOU TAKE A CAB!!!!!!!. They need to stop worrying about a video game effecting kids. Its not rockstars fault that parents arent as responsible as they should be.

Posted May 11, 2008 7:43 pm PT
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Projekt_Zeer-O

It just makes me sad that the parents are complaining more than these underage players-like me. These 13,14,15 year olds that are playing bring up more good points and arguments than these parents. It's so pathetic, these people need to GROW up and GET over it.

Posted May 10, 2008 8:34 am PT
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Projekt_Zeer-O

Okay, if they say that it is 100 percent preventable, than it is also preventable in GTA IV. You DON'T HAVE TO DO IT! You idiotic parents that get all pissed off than you go out and BUY the damn game for your kids? Well, boohoo! I've said this once and I'll say it again, the responsibility lies with the parents, not with the government, not with these organizations, not with Rockstar or Take2. QUIT BLAMING ROCKSTAR AND TAKE2 AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN DAMN SELF! Your walking around crying the blues when you-yourself-buy this game for your kids. It clearly says on the back "Mature 17+". Also, there are many previews for you and your kid to see. GameSpot did a good preview on it, they said there'd be drunk driving, so quit complaining about it. I just wanna slap all these stupid people sometimes.

Posted May 10, 2008 8:30 am PT
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Nalo117

If these mothers know so much about GTA IV as to know about the drunk driving, why do they let their kids have it?

Posted May 9, 2008 11:37 pm PT
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bballplayer08

You would think that people would get a sense that virtually driving drunk can be a way to measure how hard and dangerous it is. I've taken a couple dates and friends to bars in the game already and it's sooo freakin' hard, plus you get a wanted level if the cops see you in the game driving drunk. People need to get off the gaming industry's butt and parents need to start being responsible for their children and not have the government crack down on the gaming industry when the RETAILERS are the people who are letting teenagers younger than 17 purchase the "Mature" or "Adults Only" games. Just thought I'd throw my two cents in.

Posted May 9, 2008 11:36 am PT
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Nalo117

Notice how they never mention the fact that you can take a cab when your drunk, rather then drive yourself.

Posted May 8, 2008 11:32 pm PT
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guddu15

Its just a video game.Rockstar are trying to make GTA just in a real breathing world.All the stunt,action,language are done in the real world,so it has been made.It's a video game,it can't influence anyone.If it is influrnceing all the video games should be banned for violence,language,stunts.etc.So now anyone who is commenting he\she is definitely drunk.Let them or their children not to get drunk ever.Its just for fun,Nothing real here....And to all the a**oles who are commenting back off from GTA or I gonna kick his\her a** and kill them

Posted May 7, 2008 8:34 pm PT
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darkdragonmage9

or teach them not to drink in the first place

Posted May 7, 2008 8:10 pm PT
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ChescoAddict

This is **** if they are so **** worried about the drunk driving they should teach there sons to take a freaking cab instead of driving the car them selfs

Posted May 7, 2008 7:34 pm PT
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TreCoolFan

Whoa, controversy over this I understand.....BUT A BUMP FROM M TO AO!?!?! Makes absolutley NO sense at all.

Posted May 7, 2008 4:25 pm PT
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Nasba_Ryder

ok heres the deal... my heart goes out to those whos lost loved ones due to drunk driving... but for MADD to get..... well mad.. about VIRTUAL drunk driving and asking Take-Two to stop distribution is much. its not a matter of social responsibility or respect... its a video game.... nothing more... nothing less

Posted May 7, 2008 1:22 pm PT
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Gloveman08

i love drunk driving

Posted May 7, 2008 5:58 am PT
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dogman7

... Is there even a logical point to an AO rating? It's like saying "Okay kids wait til' you're 18 THEN start drinking and driving." Either way I already have my copy and if I didn't I could buy it 5 times overif it was AO ssssoooooooo. I'm gonna go get hammered and start a high-speed chase down the streets of Miami.

Posted May 7, 2008 5:58 am PT
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deukalion-

And how many people dies by the hand of weapons each year, which is even the bigger theme of the game? Stop this pathethic whining. It's just a game, whoever can't tell the diffrence between reality and a game needs a headcheck - even those "mothers" who seem to care so much that they don't even trust their children.

Posted May 7, 2008 3:43 am PT
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DoubledToKe420

Like its said "VIRTUAL DRUNK" "VIRTUAL DRIVING" it's a game for Christ sake! get a fing life MADD!

Posted May 6, 2008 4:00 pm PT
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ctg867

Yea, cause ya know, it's not like after you get drunk, it's not impossible to to drive, and the cops to chase you down, and you can't get hurt or killed, and you know that. And it's not like they don't tell you, hey your ****ing drunk, take a cab. /sarcasm

Wow, these idiots give mothers a bad name. How about a MASM: Mothers Against Stupid Mothers. I like the sound of that. It just flows off the tongue well.

Posted May 6, 2008 2:54 pm PT
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Kenji_02

IF anything, GTA4 will PREVENT drunk drivers by showing how difficult it is to drive under the influence. MADD is truly "Mad" for not seeing the genius of having a video game that SIMULATES driving under the influence that will reach a mass populous.

Posted May 6, 2008 1:59 pm PT
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darkdragonmage9

I personaly think every last parental group should butt out.

Who are they to tell other adults what they can and cannot do. We are not children we don't need protecting from the real world.

Take all this time you spend trying to get things banned and use it to take care of your kids.

It is really that simple you want to protect your kids from the real world do it yourself don't expect the goverment to do it for you.

You really wanna protect your children from the real world ? Burn all your books throw away your tv radio and computer and lock them in the house because it's the only way your gonna keep them from knowing this stuff happens .

Posted May 6, 2008 1:43 pm PT
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AndreSCP

LOOOOOOOOOL rate GTA IV due to the drunk driving? I can't stop laughing x'DDDDD

Posted May 6, 2008 1:27 pm PT
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darkdragonmage9

i suggest these parents should do what all parents should do teach there own dam kids how not to do things they don't want them to do and not treat grown adults like we are children and they need to protect us

Posted May 6, 2008 1:14 pm PT
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rpgisforme

ok and next we will make no more games about any war out of respect for anyone who has ever died in one, and then no game that has vehicle accidents of any kind out of respect for anyone who has ever died in one, and then they can't make any Sims games anymore cause their little houses catch fire and we can't have that out of respect for anyone who has ever died in a house fire. It's no different than anything else, we shoot people in all sorts of games but we know we can't go do that in real life. Just because we get "vutually" drunk and drive a car doesn't mean we are any more likely to do it in real life. BTW, I am a 34 year old mother of 4 not some 17 year old fanboy and even I think this is just getting out of hand. GTA4 is fun, leave it alone.

Posted May 6, 2008 11:09 am PT
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krapsrocks

What are they talking about? Out of all the GTA games this actually holds you accountable to drinking and driving. The cops immediately get all over you when you drive drunk. I myself got a DUI and it is dumb as crap, and yes I am an idiot. That being said this game being for adults assumes that the adults have the brain power to decide what is ok in a video game and what is not ok in the real world. If you get your kids this game you are a BAD parent. (and a dumb one) If we could have people in this country to take some responsibility for their children it would be nice.

Posted May 6, 2008 10:34 am PT
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Isiro

Lol, I have skimmed through and read alot of the comments, and the ones proving points and/or the ones bashing the MADD and supporting the game have all got thumbs down. It's pretty damn funny to me. As for the game...thats just it... it's a game...if you can't get that through your head then your a **** moron.

Posted May 6, 2008 12:38 am PT
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TheSlanger

I'd much rather have my kid getting virtually drunk behind a virtual wheel of a virtual car than to have them ram a telephone pole with my car in a drunken state.

Posted May 5, 2008 11:17 pm PT
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UrNameInBlood

heres a suggestion for these artards, dont get your kids this game and be quiet nobody likes you!

Posted May 5, 2008 6:29 pm PT
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bjghani

MADD are NOOBS, this makes me wanna get the game now.

The founder of MADD was arrested for DUI herself; COSMIC KARMA!!!

Posted May 5, 2008 3:06 pm PT
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BenderOffender

The ignorant mother is the gamers natural enemy, like lion and tiger, nail and glue, mongoose and squid.

Posted May 5, 2008 2:26 pm PT
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Vermin14

   So there more conserd about being drunk in a video game than in real life wow ya this game makes me want to get a six pack of beer and drive because they did in gta so it fine so instead about me worrying if ill hit a virtual light post why dont you just stick to the real thing an stop real ppl from doing it

Posted May 5, 2008 1:19 pm PT
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askiker

Haha, silly mothers - they embarrass themselves with their ignorance. Sure DD is bad in real life but THATS WHY WE HAVE VIDEOGAMES - this game is just an outlet for people. Jesus, get over yourselves Jack Thompson, MADD, BAD, SAD, GLAD and whoever else condemns videogames. Im glad we have them - otherwise Im pretty sure there would be MORE crimes committed. If I have a crappy day where someone pissed me off, I go home and GTA it out of my system. Or I could just get a gun and take it to my work. I wonder which option society would prefer?

Posted May 5, 2008 12:07 pm PT
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writer4life

Drunk driving is, indeed, 100% preventable in real life. Drunk driving is also 100% preventable in the game. You have the choice. Like it matters though. You get into a car on GTA while drunk, and you hurt no one in reality. Maybe a kid would find it fun and want to actually try it, but this game is not for kids. The target audience of those 17 and up are generally more responsible to be influenced by anything in this game.

Posted May 5, 2008 11:54 am PT
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thenephariouson

They need to get out more!

Posted May 5, 2008 11:54 am PT
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GonzoGuy

What about MarioKart where the Italian guy pops magic mushrooms while driving. I know for a fact that shrooms can turn the road into chocolate ice cream.

I tried the drunk driving thing in the game once and it was so nauseating and frustrating (trying to get away from the cops) that I've been taking cabs ever since. MADD, SADD, and every other ADD (hmmm) should be praising this game for encouraging people to NOT drive while drunk.

Posted May 5, 2008 9:39 am PT
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Lonelynight

Why do people care about a 1 year difference? Do they really have that much time on their hands?

Posted May 5, 2008 8:51 am PT
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acsam12304

Come on people GTA is not only a go steal and just run people over and kill them for notthing. If i recall you get money for helping the cops stopping the bad guys. There are also missions where you have to go help people.

GTA is not that bad

Posted May 5, 2008 7:59 am PT
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ps3thabest

i guess men kissing on tv is no where close 2 dis they should worry about that P.S. these women need 2 get laid

Posted May 5, 2008 7:50 am PT
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Grandstream

Um...why the hell are mothers against drunk driving in an M-RATED video game? It's 17+...people need to realize that the game is recommended for ages 17 and up...if MADD is complaining like that, then that means that there are parents out there not doing their fricking jobs of being just that: parents. Set examples for your fricking kids by telling them to wait until they're 17 to buy M rated games, no matter how much they whine and cry with the old 'but so-and-so down the street got the game from his parents, wah'....

Posted May 5, 2008 7:09 am PT
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Myzz617

LMAO @The_ripster88 he shot offices. Drunk driving is fun and should only be allowed in videogames.

Posted May 5, 2008 5:55 am PT
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Soxguy09

Just another group that wants to get famous by putting down another game....

Posted May 5, 2008 5:37 am PT
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The_ripster88

I totally agree after playing this game I downed 12 beers n got right in my car! Hit an old lady and a cat thinking that I was still in the game reality and it was ok to do this. After getting pulled over by the cops some time latter I sped off in a high-speed police chase where I eventually stopped pulled out a gun n shot the offices. Then drove back home to bed under the impression I was gonna save my game and skip 6 hours. I woke up that morning with police in my house... oh how this game has ruined my life!!…

Posted May 5, 2008 4:31 am PT
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y2jon619

Your right MADD...drunk driving is a CHOICE, a choice of the person who does it...what proof do you have its caused by GTA?.and anyone who chooses to be dumb enough to drink and drives deserves whatever they get for putting themseleve and others in danger...and instead of blaming rockstar for the game, blame the irresponsible parents who allowed their underage children to get their hands on this game....IDEA!!! GTA V should have women running around(like prostitutes) wearing Mothers Against Drunk Rollin (MADR)shirtsand their saying "dont do that...dont do that" then theres a certain amount of them around the city that you have to pop off for an easter egg....much like the flying rats you can shoot now. PS-there was drunk driving way before GTA was even a thought

Posted May 5, 2008 1:35 am PT
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togemon171

Okay theres killing and more killing and theyre complaining about Drunk Driving? Thats not even a requirement in the game. Umm well unless its in a story mission that I havent reached.

Posted May 5, 2008 12:28 am PT
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King_Jeremy_77

Just another group complaining.

Posted May 4, 2008 10:57 pm PT
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brittoss

In a future story,,,,,,
Watch out for the AO rating for Mario Kart when they discover that some people play that game drunk.

Posted May 4, 2008 9:44 pm PT
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EugenioK

if anything GTA 4promotes taking a cab after drink cause and I agree with the other dude. again with game make people... the human race doesn't need games to get them to kill each other in a car or otherwise. it's simulation not stimulation. as a species we've always loved a good decapitation or hanging I would better to play games. why can't those groups never focus on those who can actually do something about it

Posted May 4, 2008 8:42 pm PT
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TheC0m1ssar

I wonder which one is more controversial: being able to drive drunk or being able to kill just about anyone you want, any way you want? I think the answer shows itself.

It's VIRTUAL. Be glad they're doing it in the GAME and not in LIFE.

Posted May 4, 2008 8:28 pm PT
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HookaX

"Drunk driving is not a game and it is not a joke," MADD said. "Drunk driving is a choice, a violent crime, and it is also 100 percent preventable."

They are right. However, this IS A GAME with a MATURE rating, thus the people playing it I would imagine know the **** difference.

MADD is a joke. T2 was floundering before GTA, no way would they EVER consider taking the product off the shelves. It's amazing the **** video games get for putting stuff like this in, but movies like SAW get absolutely no backlash and are rated R, which is the same as M in games.

**** people need to get a life.

Posted May 4, 2008 8:07 pm PT
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mistermagic

Guys... guys!
Listen, in a video game shooting people with a 12 gauge in the face is ALRIGHT, as long as the game doesn't contain drunk driving. Thats just offensive.

Posted May 4, 2008 6:04 pm PT
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-R3Vo

Rofl.

Posted May 4, 2008 5:52 pm PT
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creepster32000

OMG since when has drunk driving really been about violence if you really dont like the game take it an break it or make your fkin kid trade it in stop with the "goverment please raise my kid" crap, your adults you know what you don't want your kids to see or play in this matter YOU take responsibility an do things yourself you lazy fat whiny B******

Posted May 4, 2008 5:31 pm PT
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