@Tym Synk: So do you believe the rest of us should have to suffer (by banning GTA and similar games, for example) for the mental problems of this small minority who can't tell the difference between what is real and what isn't? Because I certainly don't.

Did I say anything about banning the game? No.

My response was to those who suggested that these types of games have no effect on the behavior of those who play them.

I love people who read an opinion and argue something different.

Person A: I love cucumbers!
Person B: That's ridiculous that you don't like tomatoes.

But they don't, that's his point.

These games in no way affect, a normal, emotionally stable adult. Any person that these game affect, had an underlying mental problem to begin with. I personally know no adults that have been affected, or in anyway thought of acting on anything they've seen in a movie, or played in a video game.

Facts are these: Life is ****** up, people are ****** up, and worrying about what/who some wackjob is going to falsely blame his problems on, doesn't fix or help anyone.

Games definitely have bad influences on kids. Ever since my ruined childhood I've been sent to jail numerous times for jumping on turtles, eating mushrooms, and slaying dragons without a license.

/sarcasm

Wow, lots of assumptions in your post. And quite honestly, your "in no way affect" statement is pretty ignorant, seeing you then follow it up with admitting that someone with an "underlying mental problem" (whatever that means) could be affected.

Again, I'm not saying games with violence shouldn't be produced and played. I, like many of you, have purchased these vary games and I "turned out just fine." What I am saying is we -- either as gamers or as parents -- have to be aware what we (or our children) play, and make sure the distinction between real life and a virtual is understood. That's all I'm saying.

Ah, quoting half my sentence, and taking it out of context - very nice.

The whole sentence is this, "These games in no way affect, a normal, emotionally stable adult." How is this statement ignorant? What knowledge am I lacking? It's one thought, one sentence, not two contradicting statement. <- First time using this smiley, but I think it's appropriate.

You are in fact the ignorant one on this subject. Where are your studies? Where's all your evidence? I just want to see where you're getting all of this from.

I think you really need to just stop talking on this subject, as it's apparent you're just parroting what you've heard some other, misinformed individual spewing, and decided it was something to latch on to... for one reason or another.

EDIT: Almost forgot about this gem: "Wow, lots of assumptions in your post."

Um... what assumptions? What exactly did I assume? That normal people won't think GTA or some bloody FPS is a good thing to try in real life? Again, it falls on your shoulders to prove your point, not for me to disprove it.

Or the "assumption" that none of my friends have beaten a hooker to death? That's not assuming. You could call me a liar if you in fact think that some people I know have done these things, but I'm just not admitting it.

WTF...We...do you work for Nintendo??

anyway, Fanboys annoy me. GTA IV is an awesome game. I personally don't think the GTA buzz will die down anytime soon. It is one of the most popular game franchises all-time.

But for right now the Wii is going to do fine.

You make very good points. I apologize for saying some of the things I did, and how I said them.

Essentially, we're saying the same thing, we just have a different opinion of it. We both agree that "any person that these game affect, had an underlying mental problem to begin with" (to quote you directly).

My view is we need to do as much as we can to help identify those with any mental issues (a big parental responsibility). To help do that, it requires looking at what those persons enjoy doing.

If a kid is anti-social, has parents who don't spend time with them, and enjoys playing video games (graphic ones), I think there's a pretty obvious issue -- which starts with the parents, but that could be worsened by the video games he plays. And quite honestly, even though most (if not all) of us are "OK" and know no one that has these problems, it's probably more common than we think.

Again, I think it's great we have a wide variety of music, movies, TV, and video game options for everyone's liking, but at the same time I enjoy these freedoms, I realize there's a group in our society that could be negatively affected by it. I guess that's America for you.

Ugh, do I have to explain everything I say?

I never said you said it should be banned, I was asking you if you thought it should be banned.

WOW this one was funny. If you are hardcore and you did not even try to finish the last 2 GTAs raise your hand? Is the GTA amazing! Yes for rock star it is. It's like those guys figuring out how to go to the moon. Is it fun for me? Nope... played the death match used the cell phone menu, saw the city and watched some local programming on his set in his flat. It GTA and it's slow just like GTA. The cars control like they are full of lead and have bad suspension. About the funniest thing is listening to the other players hype it up while playing. I mean the damage model for the cars are also impressive. Yet I had not problem going back to COD4 or mario kart and some brawl that day. It's just like the old GTA yet with more details. It's like watching a boring movie in hi def with interactivity. I'm sure people find these games fun but also too these guys already bought the system they needed for this.

I thought it was a sarcastic rhetorical question. Sorry.

Seriously a bad video game or a violent video game teaches a person what? Really I knew what driving a car over people would do with out even seeing it at a very young age. Guns, yep I knew what they did also hell now when I see a kid learn kun-fu from gaming or learn how to shoot like a real sniper from a video game then I'll be worried. But if you just look at the skill that would take you would quickly realize video games are not the problem. Most people have it in them to do bad things when pushed. The games do not push any one and actually they are a release a lot of times. Violence is not taught we come with that stuff already there. Even in some of the craziest gun games you realize that you will get hit and even with all that armor you still died.

Go and meet more crazy people and you'll see that hey this is not the cause of video games or any thing from the out side, this is a function of their mind. You could have had them grow up the same way with no TV, games, music and they still would have messed up plenty of people. Really man people are not sheep and they are not innocent even though we all try to be that way for the sake of keeping the peace.Yet Some people don't really care for stuff like that.

I agree with you totally.

No need to apologize, re-reading my post, I came off harsher than I wanted.

Even though I wasn't alive when people were blaming rock music, or movies for societies woes, I see this as the same thing. It's an obvious cycle of blaming the easiest or most recent "thing" that people don't understand as the cause of whatever problems there are. But you weren't saying that, so I apologize.

Parents definitely need to know that all video games aren't equal, and that there are a ton of varying genres of games. It's not just Donkey Kong, and Mario anymore (not bagging on DK or Mario). Just because Disney's the Lion King is a movie, and The Godfather is a movie, doesn't mean little six year old Johny should be able to watch both.