As most of you have probably heard there's been a lot of controversy over Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas over the last week or so. The media finally got wind of a mod (called Hot Coffee) that was made to the PC version of the game that allows you to engage in a sex mini-game. There seems to be some question over whether the code unlocks some previously inaccessible code that was inadvertenly left in the game (ala the images of the other James Bond actors in Goldeneye) or whether the mod was created entirely by some fan. Regardless as to whether the content is inherent to the game or not we are once more we're being subjected to the "video games are destroying our youth" cries (for those of you following the industry we usually get one of these about every year or so. Often times the games that are getting all this free publicity are rather bad though so things ususally get quiet fairly quickly). Interestingly enough about 75% of the time the only tangible effect of the controversy is that the game gets far higher sales than it would have gotten on its own merits.

In this case we aren't just getting complaints from the standard sources (the extremely right-wing Parent's Television Council, Leiberman, etc). Most notable of the complainers this time around is possible Democratic nominee in 2008, Hillary Clinton. She claimed in a letter to the FCC that "The disturbing material in 'Grand Theft Auto' and other games like it is stealing the innocence of our children," (click here to see the article yourself).

I love how a game clearly labelled and designated as mature can destroy the innocence of youth. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, like all video games, has a clearly marked rating on the front of the case. The game is rated 'Mature' which according to the ESRB website means, "Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, and/or strong language." And if you turn to the back of the game you can get even more information on the game. In this case it will tell you will see the following labels "Blood and Gore,Intense Violence,Strong Language,Strong Sexual Content,Use of Drugs". Only a moron would think this is a game for kids.

The problem seems to be that despite all evidence to the contrary some people seem to think that games are still just for kids. To complain about San Andreas being inappropriate for kids is like getting upset that Pulp Fiction or 1984 weren't suitable for your children.

If a company designates something as being 'Mature' and you let little Billy play it without even taking a look at why it is rated mature or what seeing what elements the game contains yourself then it's your own fucking fault. Videogames are not a substitute for parenting so stop treating like they are.

To take the most recent example, given how much negative publicity the Grand Theft Auto series has received since its inception, if you are a parent and you allowed your child to purchase and play the latest installation then either A) you feel your child is mature enough to handle the content contained within the game or B) you just didn't care what games your kids played, in which case you have no right to get all pissy now, esp seeing as this new mod is something that has to be intentionally put there by the home user. If your child is able to mod a game on his own he or she is damn well smart enough to find and play/watch far more explicit things online.

It particularly annoys me when that at a time when the Bush administration has been caught doing so much bad shit (ranging from manipulation of facts to war crimes) that there are democrats that are focusing on shit like this. Argh.