Was Grand Theft Auto IV Inspired by Al-Qaida?

Spiegel Online ^ | 06/13/2008 | Yassin Musharbash

[forkinsocket]

Islamist forums are abuzz with a new theory: The designers of the video game Grand Theft Auto IV, they say, were inspired by killing methods developed by al-Qaida. But did the idea for the car bombs and suicide attacks in the game really come from Osama bin Laden?

For user "Abd al-Wahhab," it is obvious. It isn't just military men all over the world who are studying the murderous methods employed by the terror group al-Qaida. Rather, designers, developers and graphic artists in the video game world, he argues, have realized that "al-Qaida is a killing school."

His theory: The wildly successful video game Grand Theft Auto IV (more...) was inspired by the tactics used by Osama bin Laden's terror group. It is an idea "Abd al-Wahhab" first posted on a large discussion forum used by cyber-jihadists and al-Qaida sympathizers not long ago. He is convinced of his theory, arguing that the video game "shows the power and effectiveness of these tactics."

His proof is built directly into the posting: five links to YouTube videos showing scenes out of Grand Theft Auto IV

They show, "Abd al-Wahhab" is convinced, that programmers have been watching al-Qaida closely.

Absurd as the theory may sound -- is such a thing really possible? SPIEGEL ONLINE gaming expert Christian Stöcker isn't convinced. "To say that al-Qaida influenced Grand Theft Auto IV is just as absurd as claiming that al-Qaida invented violence," he said.

He also doubts that programmers were subliminally inspired by the amount of media attention devoted to terrorism in recent years. "No way," Stöcker says. "You can carry out a suicide attack in almost every video game that contains bombs and grenades, simply by not running away."

[forkinsocket]

Videos at link.

[wastedyears]

[Future Snake Eater]

Only jihadi morons could think they’re the only ones who ever thought of using car bombs.

[lesser_satan]

Exactly. They’re too goddamn stupid to figure it out on their own. The Soviets probably taught them how to do it at some point.

[DrGunsforHands]

Car bombs have been in existence for nearly as long as the car. Suicide bombers as well. Bath School Bombings of 1927 About a half hour after the explosion, Kehoe drove up to the school and saw Superintendent Huyck. Kehoe summoned the superintendent over to his vehicle. According to one eyewitness, when Huyck drew close, Kehoe pulled out his rifle and fired into the back seat. Whether by gunshot or otherwise, the dynamite in the vehicle ignited and the resulting explosion killed Kehoe, the superintendent, Postmaster Glenn O. Smith, and Smith's father-in-law Nelson McFarren, a retired farmer.[16] Cleo Claton, an eight-year-old second grader, had wandered out of the collapsed school building and was killed by the shrapnel from the exploding vehicle. Several others were injured as the shrapnel flew through the crowd.