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'Grand Theft Auto' Makers Blamed For Triple Killing

Posted on 09/29/2006 9:14:45 AM PDT by steve-b

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Family members of three people slain by a 14-year-old on newsman Sam Donaldson's New Mexico ranch sued the makers of the video game "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" on Monday, claiming the crimes would not have occurred had the teenager never played the violent game.

The $600 million lawsuit names several companies and Cody Posey, who it alleges played the game "obsessively" for several months before he shot his father, stepmother and stepsister in July 2004....

The games and others in the "Grand Theft Auto" series depict police killings and other acts of violence. The lawsuit calls various editions of the game "virtual reality murder simulators."

"But for Posey's use of these products ... he would not have killed," the lawsuit claims.

The game trained him "how to point and shoot a gun in a fashion making him an extraordinarily effective killer without teaching him any of the constraints or responsibilities needed to inhibit such a killing capacity," according to the suit.

According to the suit, plaintiffs' lawyer Jack Thompson was told by a sheriff's deputy that the game and a Sony PlayStation 2 were found at the ranch....


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Technical; US: New Mexico
KEYWORDS: grandtheftauto; jackthompson; videogames
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To: pillut48

No the sound of millions of dollars pouring from the company!


41 posted on 09/29/2006 10:02:17 AM PDT by thebaron512
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To: MeanWestTexan

I would not consider GTA3, Vice city, or GTA SA a FPS, since it is more of a rear view and does not have the feel of let's say F.E.A.R. or Half-life even if you put the camera in FPV.


42 posted on 09/29/2006 10:05:35 AM PDT by thebaron512
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To: steve-b
How many deaths can be attributed to this guy?

...or "Jackass" episodes?

43 posted on 09/29/2006 10:06:56 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: Cicero

"Whatever became of Leisure Suit Larry?"

He came out with a college campus game a few years back. Speaking of which, i should play that one again now that I updated my video card. ;)


44 posted on 09/29/2006 10:08:16 AM PDT by tfecw (It's for the children)
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To: steve-b

And the parents who were shot and killed never saw anything wrong with thier child pretending to shoot and kill people everyday 'obsessively'?

What is up with parental responsibility?


45 posted on 09/29/2006 10:08:42 AM PDT by sandbar
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To: Centurion2000
So according to these people every person playing Half-Life, Battlefield 1942 or Unreal Tournament 2004 is a killer just waiting to happen?

Well, Half-Life will make some decent alien killers and BF1942 might make some talented Nazi/Imperial Japanese Army killers.

46 posted on 09/29/2006 10:09:01 AM PDT by EricT. (The Democrats have decided it will either be a Democrat led America, or no America at all.)
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To: antiRepublicrat

>>>I've been jumping on mushrooms and grabbing at stars a lot lately.

Too much Mario?>>>

Yeah, I walk around saying 'ooga booga' all day and will soon be fired for my unprofessional outbursts. Maybe I should sue the makers of Crash Bandicoot.


47 posted on 09/29/2006 10:09:54 AM PDT by sandbar
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To: MeanWestTexan

>>>In short, FPS DO remove that hesitation. >>>

I'd say it took more than 1 second (the hesitation speed) to kill three people.


48 posted on 09/29/2006 10:11:01 AM PDT by sandbar
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To: TexasDontPlay
I played hours and hours of Dungeons and Dragons, but I do not haunt the steam tunnels of major univerisities playing a grotesque simulation of real combat. Likewise, I have never gotten to time travel, I have never slain a Cylon, and I own no rubber Vulcan ears.

My condolences to the parents, but this kid was nuts because of physical brain deformity or outside mental pressure, and was not made crazy by a video game, although placing the blame for the horrible incident on a computer game rather than their own failure to notice the kids tendencies and get him counceling. If he was playing the game so much, that behavior should have been a trigger that they should at least explore any anger issues he might have had. The fact that he shot family and not random strangers (as you would in the game, incidentally) makes me think that there are more issues to this than just gaming.

Is the game violent, on the order of the horrible "Going Postal"? Yes. Would I allow the game in my house? For me, certainly not. Is it my job to be aware of what my teen is involved in, to the point of knowing if my kid is dangerous in any way? You bet!

Game over. Sad, but not the fault of the programmers, even if they should have higher values than to make such a game. I would be willing to wager that said perp had violent DVD's, enjoyed slasher movies, and other violent fare. The gaming was probably only part of the whole.

49 posted on 09/29/2006 10:11:12 AM PDT by 50sDad (ST3d: Real Star Trek 3d Chess: http://my.ohio.voyager.net/~abartmes/tactical.htm)
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To: antiRepublicrat

>>>The Devil made them do it. But then you can't sue the Devil.>>>

Well, you CAN, but it's hard to get a case in against the President of the United States. ;o)


50 posted on 09/29/2006 10:12:06 AM PDT by sandbar
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To: MeanWestTexan
BUT. First person shooters DO have an effect, known to any police officer or soldier that has done "siloutte" training. Studies in WWII found that most soldiers hesitated that crucial second before firing their weapon, and so never really hit anyone --- a natural hesitation about killing people. Silloutte trainng --- firing automoatically at human forms popping up --- removed this hesitation, to some degree. New Army studies have shown that new soldier that have played lots of First Person Shooter games COME INTO the Army WITHOUT the hesitation. In short, FPS DO remove that hesitation. ALL THAT said, nothing in FPS makes someone go shoot people. BUT they do make them better shooters, if they do make that decision.

Playing Counter-Strike certainly helped my paintball skills.

51 posted on 09/29/2006 10:12:20 AM PDT by EricT. (The Democrats have decided it will either be a Democrat led America, or no America at all.)
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To: Cicero

>>>Whatever became of Leisure Suit Larry?>>>

He got syphlis and decided to settle down with Bar Trash Annie.


52 posted on 09/29/2006 10:12:41 AM PDT by sandbar
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To: Ainast

"Call of Duty, Pacific Assault" for me. But I still want to jump off the jeep and warn everybody at Pearl Harbor that the bombers are coming!


53 posted on 09/29/2006 10:13:02 AM PDT by 50sDad (ST3d: Real Star Trek 3d Chess: http://my.ohio.voyager.net/~abartmes/tactical.htm)
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To: Cicero
So, would the ACLU sue gamemakers for spreading pornography or selfishness among our youth?

You must vastly mis-understand the ACLU. They want the freedom to put pornogragy in front of our kids. It's Constitutionally-protected "free speech"! Now, talking against abortion or speaking about your own personal faith in Jesus Christ, there it's "dangerous hate-speech that must be stopped!" See the difference?

54 posted on 09/29/2006 10:17:02 AM PDT by 50sDad (ST3d: Real Star Trek 3d Chess: http://my.ohio.voyager.net/~abartmes/tactical.htm)
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To: Cicero

He's still wandering around the land of the lounge lizards.


55 posted on 09/29/2006 10:18:15 AM PDT by BykrBayb (Be careful what you ask for, and even more careful what you demand. Þ)
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To: Lunatic Fringe
Find the deep pockets, I guess.

it was expected. since gun dealers/ manufacturers have been protected, they had to find different deep pockets to attack. that law should have applied to ALL manufacturers of ALL consumer items.
56 posted on 09/29/2006 10:18:48 AM PDT by absolootezer0 ("My God, why have you forsaken us.. no wait, its the liberals that have forsaken you... my bad")
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To: steve-b; All

"how to point and shoot a gun in a fashion making him an extraordinarily effective killer..."

pointing a mouse or control pad to shooe makes you an effective killer?

What are these people smoking?


57 posted on 09/29/2006 10:22:08 AM PDT by rwfromkansas (http://xanga.com/rwfromkansas)
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To: steve-b
Since I usually wander around with no clue as to what I should be doing, can I blame Myst?
58 posted on 09/29/2006 10:26:11 AM PDT by Famishus (I wish my grass was emo so it would cut itself.)
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To: 50sDad

According to those who knew the kid, his parents were evil incarnate. They pretty much got what they had coming, though that does not make it right.


59 posted on 09/29/2006 10:30:50 AM PDT by rwfromkansas (http://xanga.com/rwfromkansas)
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To: antiRepublicrat
The Devil made them do it. But then you can't sue the Devil.

I dunno. I'm sure he has deep pockets...

Probably couldn't get a single plaintiff's attorney to take the case, though, out of professional courtesy.

60 posted on 09/29/2006 10:37:44 AM PDT by gridlock (The 'Pubbies will pick up at least TWO seats in the Senate and FOUR seats in the House in 2006)
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