Rockstar's Message: "terrible parents"

Alex_SE · **Posted:** May 22nd, 2010, 5:30 pm

Quote:

Rockstar: Parents who buy our games for their kids are terrible parents

Rockstar Games has become almost synonymous with violent games. In response to past, present, and future accusations that their products contribute to increased violence among kids, Rockstar's Lazlow hit back at the parents that buy Rockstar titles for their kids.

"Our games are not designed for young people," Lazlow told BBC. "If you're a parent and buy one of our games for your child you're a terrible parent."

"We design games for adults because we're adults. There's a lot of kids games out there that we're not interested in playing. Just like you enjoy watching movies and TV shows with adult themes and language and violence that's the kind of thing we seek to produce."

Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar's latest release, is again a rather bloody and violent game. And just like the studio's other high-profile releases, it's currently enjoying critical praise and humongous sales numbers.

-in QJ.net

Makes me feel a bit bad. My parents bought me GTA: Vice City when I was ~14 and San Andreas just 1 year later.
So, what did we learn? Guns don't kill people violent video games do (in b4 omfg stfu with sarcasm).
Now seriously, I understand some kids are highly influenced by violent games, but that doesn't mean everyone is that sensible.

Adbot · **Posted:** May 22nd, 2010, 5:30 pm

dafin0 · **Posted:** May 22nd, 2010, 7:08 pm

Obviously, I totally disagree with rockstar. And how old is "too young". When i got a PlayStation for my 12th birthday (yes, it is ancient) i got the original "Thrasher- Skate And destry", which was made by rockstar games. came with a free beanies, as well as having violence in it. There was a section in it where you had to skate around prohibited area(s) and not get caught before the time allowed was up. You got bonus points for going the whole time without getting caught. And when u did, the cop would either hit you over the head, or pull out a taser. And then, say a not so nice qutoe.

Heres a link to the review of the game http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=26262

Cheers, dafin0 :lol:

CreepyPirate · **Posted:** May 22nd, 2010, 10:08 pm

It's more a case of the parents who buy these games and then turn around and blame the studio behind it when there kid does something retarded rather than accepting the blame themselves.

But he is correct there games are for adults. He can hardly say anything else because it would look like hes encouraging children to play there games then.

trekkie · **Posted:** May 22nd, 2010, 11:02 pm

hey, shouldn't this be, KNOW what you are buying?

i mean how many people bought their kids mw2 but never knew what it was about.

most of us remember when people hacked the gta where you could have naked people running around.
but honestly, it's okay to smash somebody in the head with a lead pipe, but i can't see a girl's chest?

Iron Maiden · **Posted:** May 23rd, 2010, 10:01 am

This doesn't concern me anymore since I can buy mature games by myself ;D I'm awesome

But I believe parents KNOW what they're buying for their children. I mean if I had children and I wanted to give them a non-violent game, I'd rather buy them Super Mario Bros than GTA or Assassins Creed... That's pretty obvious.

But people who says that violents games make violent people are just retards.
Yeah with the 1 000 000 000 of people who buy video games, maybe about 10 will go to school and kill every body. But what about the 999 999 990 who doesnt? That's a good percentage? Eh

My point is, apparently, 90% of people who were doing school shooting were wearing socks. Should we ban socks?
That's just lame.

Pennstate315 · Runite Member 5-25-10

All the parents have to do is read the back of the game, were the clearly visible "M" Rating is there. And then decide if they should get it for their kid

Adbot · **Posted:** May 23rd, 2010, 10:06 am

Brad · **Posted:** May 23rd, 2010, 11:58 am

He has to say that though doesn't he? If he was honest he probably doesn't really care who buys his game as long they buy it.

It is a nice sideswipe to the overtly moralistic viewpoint many have against violent video games though.

ryan1 · **Posted:** May 23rd, 2010, 5:36 pm

No average person plays a video game and then thinks, "Hey, I should go do what I did in the game. It seemed to work out for the main character." Anyone who has a **** up thought process like that is already bound to end up a mass murderer. As stated before, no one notices that it's 1 in a million (or likely much lower) people who are driven to violence through videogames. It's absurd.

Anyway, The guy from Rockstar of course has to say things like this to cover themselves. Not to mention parents shouldn't buy those games for their young kids. Or if they do, then they have no right to complain about the results because that's just bad parenting.

Earth · **Posted:** May 25th, 2010, 1:48 pm

I know a guy whose mom let him watch South Park and play GTA in 2nd grade. He's...messed up now >.>
Parents need to take responsibility for stuff like this...

CreepyPirate · **Posted:** May 25th, 2010, 1:59 pm

Earth wrote:

I know a guy whose mom let him watch South Park and play GTA in 2nd grade. He's...messed up now >.>
Parents need to take responsibility for stuff like this...

Yes but hes probably messed up because his parents are *****. Not because the show/game warped his mind.

Earth · **Posted:** May 25th, 2010, 2:03 pm

CreepyPirate wrote:

Earth wrote:

I know a guy whose mom let him watch South Park and play GTA in 2nd grade. He's...messed up now >.>
Parents need to take responsibility for stuff like this...

Yes but hes probably messed up because his parents are *****. Not because the show/game warped his mind.

...yea, good point :oops:

Duke Juker · RSBandB Donor since 07/01/2010

1) I think this is only true for some people and 2) it's good honesty by a company.

I believe it is true that the parent's are responsible for their kids and as such, should try to do what is best for their kids. Video games aren't the best thing for young kids and I wouldn't say it's out of place for Rockstar to say so. That being said, Rockstar can't do anything about parents getting games for their children and so nothing is resolved in the end. I think what parents should realize is that starting your kids with games early in life isn't the best idea in the world. And parents have no room to blame Rockstar as they actually went and bought the game. Rockstar just makes the games, they don't give it to your kids.

Directxfire · Retired Informer Writer - 9/29/10

Duke Juker wrote:

2) it's good honesty by a company.

Not really. As Brad stated, for PR's sake Rockstar basically has to say that they strongly oppose parent's buying their kids these games. In reality, it's always going to be about the money, and children under 17 are a huge block of their demographic. That being said, I think this Lazlow guy went a little far by calling any parent who buys their kids these games "terrible." That's simply not the case and rather than bolster their image, I think he kind of hurt it.

CreepyPirate · **Posted:** May 27th, 2010, 9:55 am

Directxfire wrote:

Duke Juker wrote:

2) it's good honesty by a company.

Not really. As Brad stated, for PR's sake Rockstar basically has to say that they strongly oppose parent's buying their kids these games. In reality, it's always going to be about the money, and children under 17 are a huge block of their demographic. That being said, I think this Lazlow guy went a little far by calling any parent who buys their kids these games "terrible." That's simply not the case and rather than bolster their image, I think he kind of hurt it.

Ah i don't think it's fair to judge what he said unless we hear him saying it. To easy to take out of context. He could of been laughing and joking about when he said it..meaning it to be light hearted. Or he could of been deadly serious.

Or somewhere in the middle!

Duke Juker · RSBandB Donor since 07/01/2010

That's probably closer to it, Creepy. Context is key when something like this is said. It can really go either way. Still, if you say something that is more likely to hurt than help, then it would seem more serious than a PR stunt. It could have been both or either by itself. The way I see it, calling parents on the carpet seems more serious to me since many parents don't really pay attention to what game they are getting for their kids. I tend to think this is one of those shifting the blame moves so that if Rockstar came under attack, all they'd have to say is "We don't by the game for your kids...you do." This takes any blame off their shoulders and puts it back on the parents. I don't think this would hurt them in any way. People need to hear the truth that it isn't a game developers fault for making the games. Business is business. No one is holding a gun to your head to buy the game for your kid. Doesn't really matter to me in the end. I'm 20 and don't have to worry about this kind of issue yet.