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The first instalment of the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series released in 1997 gained success due to its alleged controversial gameplay. Throughout the series, players take on the role as a criminal and are free to roam through a large city committing illicit acts including: stealing cars; shooting and running over pedestrians; taking drugs; and having sex with prostitutes (Thomas, 2002). The game series considered encouraging violence and being degrading to women (IGDA, 2002) has received considerable commercial success selling 35 million copies (CBS News, 2005) and was ranked the number 1 selling game in the United States in 2001 (Wikipedia, 2005).
The key issue surrounding the Grand Theft Auto series is its hyper-violence (Institute for Global Ethics, 2005). Computer and video games have been scrutinised by the mass media for encouraging violent and aggressive behaviour particularly with children and teenagers (Mediascope, 2000) and the Grand Theft Auto series has been considered to greatly contribute to this facet and moral panic upon its release (Wikipedia, 2005). Violence against police officers and women are central themes in the series and has been considered to promote such actions in real life. One such claim in the United States seemingly supports the effects of Grand Theft Auto and violent behaviour. After stealing a car, Devin Moore shot three people, two of which were police officers. These actions are thought to have been inspired by playing hundreds of hours of Grand Theft Auto and apparently resembles a scene from one of the games (CBS News, 2005).
Johnson (2005) argues that the complexity of a video game such as Grand Theft Auto is actually beneficial for our brains as it is challenging. Reynolds (2002) also suggests, from a consequential approach that playing a video game means you are directly not doing something else. He also reasons that violence in a video or computer game, in particular Grand Theft Auto contextualises the actions within the game space and the options given in the game are restricted (2002).
Scenarios relating to sexual activities are prominent in the Grand Theft Auto series, in particular Grand Theft Auto 3 and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. In the game, it is possible for a player to pick up a female prostitute, have sex with her and then kill her to take back the paid money. However, actions of this nature are done by the player’s choice and the consequences of these activities are punishable by the police within the game (Answers.com, 2005).
Another issue regarding sexual content is the “Hot Coffee�? modification (mod) that, “…when installed on a PC with [Grand Theft Auto:] San Andreas on it, unlocks several minigames that prompt players to have the game's hero engage in X-rated acts�? (C/Net, 2005). Rockstar Games, the company behind the Grand Theft Auto series, has been scrutinised by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) as they have been accussed of apparently leaving the code for this content in the game without reporting it to the ESRB upon release. Players of the game have argued that the material attainable to view is not such a controversial matter as “The sexual content is so overtly ridiculous… that it should play as funny in context�? (McDonald, 2005).
The following is a list of the classifications of each game in the Grand Theft Auto series by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). Initially Grand Theft Auto III was banned in Australia, however a modified version was later released.
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Institute for Global Ethics (2005) “'Grand Theft Auto' Maker Denies Hiding Sex Scenes in Video Game,�? Ethics Online, vol. 8, no. 27, retrieved October 18, 2005, from http://www.globalethics.org/newsline/members/issue.tmpl?articleid=0718051807048
Johnson, S. (2005) “Grand Theft Auto Is Good for You,�? National Public Radio (NPR), retrieved October 17, 2005, from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4762320
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Mediascope (2000) Video Game Violence, retrieved October 17, 2005, from http://www.mediascope.org/pubs/ibriefs/vgv.htm
Reynolds, R. (2002) “Playing a "Good" Game: A Philosophical Approach to Understanding the Morality of Games,�? International Game Developers Association (IGDA), retrieved October 18, 2005, from http://www.igda.org/articles/rreynolds_ethics.php
Tadros, E (2005, July 22) “Computer Game Faces Ban for Sex Scenes,�? Sydney Morning Herald: Technology, retrieved October 25, 2005, from http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/computer-game-faces-ban-for-sex-scenes/2005/07/21/1121539094229.html
Thomas, D. (2002) “Do Game Developers Have an Ethical Responsibility?,�? Buzzcut: Critical Videogame Theory, retrieved October 18, 2005, from http://www.buzzcut.com/article.php?story=20021105055915116
Wikipedia (2005) “Grand Theft Auto III,�? retrieved October 17, 2005, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto_3
Terence Otto 15:49, 27 Oct 2005 (EST)
