$100m Grand Theft Auto lawsuit threatens to become class action

[Carrie]

source:The Register (http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/33029.html)

By gamesindustry.biz
Posted: 25/09/2003 at 08:31 GMT



Publisher Take-Two Interactive may face a class action from purported victims of the Grand Theft Auto games, as the family of a man killed by boys allegedly influenced by the game prepare to file a $100 million lawsuit.

As we reported earlier, the case arises from an incident where two boys, aged 16 and 14 years old, opened fire on vehicles on a highway with a .22 rifle, killing one man and injuring another person severely.

The family of the dead victim plans to sue Take-Two after the boys said that they were acting out something they had seen in their favourite videogame - Grand Theft Auto 3. Although specifics of the case have yet to be disclosed, reports suggest that the family will seek a massive $100 million in damages from the publisher.

Read More Here (http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/33029.html)

[Wobbel]

So, why aren't they sueing the compagny that made the gun ?
Or the store they bought the bullets at ?

Millions of people play/played this game without going on a killing spree, i think this is just another stupid i smell money US lawsuit thing.

Like when bands/musicians where taken to court by parents whose kids had committed suicide, after listening to certain songs/lyrics.

[FrYGuY]

I just have one question?

WHERE WERE THE FRIGGIN' PARENTS?

[Carrie]

I agree! As a parent I have taught my kids from day one not to EVER use a gun, play or not. Not to mention the fact that I dont have a gun in the house. I have never and will never condone buying a child a play gun. I reilze that a lot pf parent buy the toy guns for their boys to play with thinking its inosent, but then fail to tell their kids how dangerouse they are in real life.

I believe 200% that the way a child behaves is a direct reflection of how the parents raised them ( with few exceptions.

I find it very hard to believe that these kids who are doing these things DONT know the difference between right and wrong. If these kids cant tell the difference between reality and fantasy, then the parents are to blame. Its an excuse that should not be allowed to be used.The fact that people accually win these cases falls on the stupidity of the judges. instead of passing the blame of the incident onto the makers of video games it should be placed onto the parents of the child who commited the crime. If they can make the paret be responcable for the actions relating to the illegal downloading of music by God they should be able to do it in cases such as this.

[Shades Coolray]

Okay, here's my opinion on this: hold the teenagers responsible for the crime. Suing the gun-makers and the video game makers doesn't address the problem. Parents can only be held responsible to a certain point. Personally, I would light these guys up in the electric chair as an example to all other Columbine-kiddies out there that think they can get away with this stuff. Without addressing the main problem, these things will keep happening. I know that sounds harsh, but that's what I think.

[FrYGuY]

Originally posted by feenies-wife
I agree! As a parent I have taught my kids from day one not to EVER use a gun, play or not. Not to mention the fact that I dont have a gun in the house. I have never and will never condone buying a child a play gun. I reilze that a lot pf parent buy the toy guns for their boys to play with thinking its inosent, but then fail to tell their kids how dangerouse they are in real life.
I'm going to have to disagree on this part, FW...

Many people, including Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine guy), were taught to use guns safely at an early age (He has a marksman award from the NRA, as mentioned in the movie). It's not so much the gun, but the person who uses it. I remember a study put out by the Department of Justice a while back that concluded that children who were taught Gun Safety early had a lower incident of shootings and/or gun accidents.

I'm not saying go out and buy your kids guns (The idea of a 'toy gun' is pretty darn stupid, when you think about it...) but to not hold the gun accountable. It's the parents who don't teach their kids like you do: Guns are dangerous.

[taddzilla]

Fry,

I agree with you. If we didn't have guns, there would be another "tool" to committ crimes with. I was taught at the age of 8 about guns, and have been shooting since I was 10. I have already had several talks about guns with my 7 year old boy.

If the parents don't teach there kids the basics of what is right and what is wrong, then they should be the ones to carry the responsibility for this.

[ajtip]

I agree. Let a 10 yr old fire a weapon (in a controlled environment) and they will respect the power of the gun and be less likely to treat it like a toy. I've taken both my children shooting many times and taught them the rules of handling a firearm. Obviously this was not an accidental shooting, but that happens all the time too. God forbid my kids are ever in that kind of situation, but if they are, I want them to be the ones to take the gun from the child, safety it and ask them "What the **** were you thinking?" If kids are not taught even the basics about firearms, they will always view them as a toy or novelty because of some video game or movie. As always, education is the answer.

[thor19981955]

ok, I am in the u.s. army, and I can say fairly, that even having access to a damn m-16 does not make you just go out and go ape-sheet on people. Personally, I love when dim-witted "free thinkers" attempt to toy with the idea that something other than the child is responsible. Maybe it is too much trainin beat into my head, but PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY USED TO MEAN SOMETHING!!!!!!

[The Boinker]

man, i totally agree with everyone here. In my opinion, any kid that uses the excuse of video games should get his sentence doubled, because that is no ******* reason at all....and they should be suing the parents, etc as everyone said. GTA is a great game, I've played 1,2,3 and vice city on multiple platforms. I've also played Mortal Kombat 4 and the rest of the series. I have played the game Total Annihilation. My parents taught me what is right and what is wrong, what is real and what is fake. I will never go on a random shooting spree, I will never use a fatality ( :) ) and I wont try to take over the world using atomic power.

here endeth the lesson :hammered:

[fireydeviant]

its a good game, if your stupid enough too do whats in a game you shouldn't be playing them. Thats what the esrb is around for.
Although it gets in my way some times, more parents should look at it i think....

[tMoD]

Everyone in the media violence debate fails to ask why people enjoy violent media in the first place. Human beings are aggressive and violent media provides sublimation for that aggression. Those who believe that media causes violence seem to think human beings are namby-pamby until the media gets a hold of them. The truth is that if aggression didn't already exist in human beings we wouldn't create or enjoy violent media.

[maximus808]

Originally posted by feenies-wife
I agree! As a parent I have taught my kids from day one not to EVER use a gun, play or not. Not to mention the fact that I dont have a gun in the house. I have never and will never condone buying a child a play gun. I reilze that a lot pf parent buy the toy guns for their boys to play with thinking its inosent, but then fail to tell their kids how dangerouse they are in real life.


I have the same philosophy as far as toy guns and my kids are concerned ... on the other hand i did play that game and its sequel Vice City when i had a PS2 and i cant wait till they both come out for the XboX later this year.. My oldest daughter ( i have all daughters (3) loves video games as much as i do.. one of the first things i try to teach is that these are games and not real ..she has enough common sense to realize and understand that.