Thailand bans Grand Theft Auto IV

[The understudy]

[quote="BaaBaa."]In fact GTA Thailand would be superb.

Think of the fun you could have Tuk Tuk jacking. [/quote]

I think it is already in the works for the VideO & PC Game adoption of the fourthcomming Movie "Bangkok Dangerous" Starring Nicolas Cage and Thai Actor Chakrit Yarmnarn

Yours The understudy!!!

[Jockey]

First off - . Please don't insult our intelligence by telling us kids don't get a hold of games like this cos' its not true.

One of the things I love about this country is the innocence of the kids and the respect they give to their elders. I was a schoolteacher here for about 3 months and couldn't help making comparisons to the general outlook and behaviour of kids over here compared to the kids back home Thankfully most parents are still in control of their kids over here. In the UK and America we've lost the kids, or may be they've lost us. The kids get no moral guidance from their elders in the west. Western society has broken down based on greed and a culture of everyman from themselves, survival of the fittest. Is games like this part of the reason for that breakdown? I don't know to be honest.

For the record, based on what I've seen and heard of the game which I admit is little, I'm glad they've banned it over here even although normally I'm against banning anything and banning it may have the opposite effect and make kids want it more, but at least the message is clear that this country disapproves of games which glorify depravity. What message do we teach western kids?

A question for Baa Baa - you said killing prostitutes is not what the game is about, it's just something you are allowed to do. Could you tell us what the game is about?

[kendo]

In fact GTA Thailand would be superb.

Think of the fun you could have Tuk Tuk jacking.

You could have an elephant as your songkran high power water gun, and wipe out half the Bintabaht in one big squirt, then do a drive by squirting on the property shops and the manager of the cinema....

[redzonerocker]

I admit my only experience of the game is through the link I gave you. I asked you to watch it then make an opinion. If you think a game that allows you to behave like a phsyco murderer of prostitutes, watching the prostitute scream in agony as she burns to death then fine, thats your call. Did you watch the clip? The narration is quite entertaining actually!

I have to say this is a good example of the way our society is going, devoid of any moral fabric, getting kicks out of depravity. It seems also that these games need to become more extreme with each new version. So where do we go from here? Watching a pile of babies burn on a bone fire? Become a pedophile for the night and stalk school playgrounds? Would that be harmless fun or would that cross the line? Is there a line to cross? From the clip I've seen I still think its sick and if there is 'a line' then I suggest its already been crossed. I'm not into banning most things but I can't understand why stuff like this is allowed to go on sale in the first place. More alarming is the obvious popularity of the game.

great post jockey & i have to agree

now before all the gamers jump on my case
i accept that most normal intelligent people can easily define between the fantasy world that they indulge in & the real world.
i'm not a gamer but having watched the clip, i do find it difficult to understand how it can be described as entertainment? (am i missing something?? ) & i do find it extremely sad that this guy finds it neccessary to display his 'tactics' & 'method' to the waiting world!!

i'm no pc brigader, i don't agree with over censorship & i am open to debate as to whether there is a link between video games & real crime

[BaaBaa.]

A question for Baa Baa - you said killing prostitutes is not what the game is about, it's just something you are allowed to do. Could you tell us what the game is about?

Its about an Eastern European arriving in America and working his way from a small time criminal to running the city.

Think Scarface. The film many consider to be a classic.

i'm not a gamer but having watched the clip, i do find it difficult to understand how it can be described as entertainment? (am i missing something?? )

Yes, the story, witty dialogue and excellent gameplay.
If you dont know, certain games have hours of video at certain points to progress the story, some of which rival major films.

Thats like watching one clip of a shooting in Pulp Fiction and wondering why people enjoy the film.

[PeteC]

Isn't the whole problem once again education?...which starts in the home. The Thai government has always acted like mom, dad and auntie when it comes to what they think their duties are. They are elected to represent, not dictate morals or anything else. Good example are the sensors who blot out a cigarette in a man's mouth, then show him blowing away someone with blood all over the place. Idiots!

Somehow and in some lifetime the elite in this country need to be beaten senseless until they accept (AND HELP) the lower classes gain equality in all aspects of life, starting with education! Pete

[lomuamart]

This will probably be my only contribution to this thread. I'm not a gamer, I havn't watched Jockey's clip (should do), I don't believe in censorship.
It seems that a lot of the thread is directed around youngsters seeing stuff like this and the effect it has on them.
But wasn't the offender 18? By some accounts 19? (Mind you, I think articles I've read in the UK press say that he'd been playing the game for a few years, so that would have put him at below the legal/recommended age).
Have to say that generally I'm in agreement with the "parental control/internet cafe regulation" brigade.
Thailand consistently waxes lyrical about the internet and computers in general. They've tried to censor what we all see on numerous occasions, but have never really followed it all through.
This unfortunate incident will almost definitely result in another muppet minister announcing a crackdown on internet cafes. It won't do any good at all.
A few years ago, I was back in London for a few months and had to keep in touch using internet cafes regularly. The rules were clearly posted all over the establishments - no porn, no games like we're talking about, etc. Police would be called immediately if these rules were broken - never did see anyone breaking them, so I assume it wasn't an idle threat.
Could this happen in Thailand? I doubt it. The only way would seem to be by parental control, kicking the under 16/18s out of internet cafes by whatever time and stricter enforcement of what can be viewed in the cafes. However, wherever there's a Baht to be made......

[Norseman]

Western society has broken down based on greed and a culture of everyman from themselves, survival of the fittest.

How do you know that Jockey?
By reading English news or concentrating everything about the western world to only include the US and UK?

Maybe it has broken down in your country but certainly not in my country!!

We still know the difference between right or wrong and Darwin wasn't talking about upbringing, manners or education, but about the evolution.
Individuals will always behave different, not only because of the society, but because of their parents.
Some parents care about their children, some don't.
It's a matter of individually thinking, upbringing and the care about your child.

[kendo]

Play games in doors, no not for me, you could get the kids outside trying some of this......

[Guess]

I was weaned on a C64 and then moved over to Nintendo. I played GTA 1 and 2 on a PS but never found it as absorbing as Mario, Zelda and later Turok. They are all different. Mario is harmless fun that requires dexterity, Zelda is a sort of romantic fantasy quest and Turok was just the best shoot em up around on any platform. A good James Bond game and Perfect Dark followed.

The only thing they all had in common was violence. From Mario's bopping enemies on the head to Turok's Nuclear detonators. However none of them could be described as sick.

My son played Mario 64 when he was 5 years old despite all efforts to restrict the consoles use.

My daughter had no interest whatsoever in computer games.

Now my son is a fairly timid quiet animal lover (and always has been) and my daughter can be quite aggressive.

I am no psychiatrist so cannot read much into it but maybe some kids can get rid of their aggression on simulations rather than the other way around.

Anyway I know a little of Grand Theft Auto but there are many worse around IMO.

Only yesterday I got Planesape. It has had very good reviews and has topped at least two lists as the best RPG ever made. I have not got out of the first room yet. The room is a dungeon complete with putrefying corpses and bodies that have undergone experiments. I will eat first before playing it again. The first weapon is a scalpel.

I think we need a Gamer thread.

[buksida]

Isn't the whole problem once again education?...which starts in the home. The Thai government has always acted like mom, dad and auntie when it comes to what they think their duties are. They are elected to represent, not dictate morals or anything else. Good example are the sensors who blot out a cigarette in a man's mouth, then show him blowing away someone with blood all over the place. Idiots!

Any government that treats their population like children deserves streets full of lunatics and maniacs.

Banning anything will just heighten the desire for it.

[BaaBaa.]

Manhunt 2 had to be censored.

[Jockey]

If your concerned about Thailands censorship this should worry you more. Amazing revelations have emerged concerning already existing government plans to overhaul the way the internet functions in order to apply much greater restrictions and control over the web. http://www.prisonplanet.com/law-profess ... t-act.html

[The understudy]

[quote="buksida"][quote="prcscct"]Isn't the whole problem once again education?...which starts in the home. The Thai government has always acted like mom, dad and auntie when it comes to what they think their duties are. They are elected to represent, not dictate morals or anything else. Good example are the sensors who blot out a cigarette in a man's mouth, then show him blowing away someone with blood all over the place. Idiots!
[/quote]



Any government that treats their population like children deserves streets full of lunatics and maniacs.

Banning anything will just heighten the desire for it.[/quote]

The understudy does with both of your Statements!
The Prime Minister of this Thai Governemtn is old and thought his old style of caretaking aspects of Rule is the best way of moving Thailand for ward but in my Opinion it is on the comtraary. I wonder why it is it so easy to pass an Act to ban this Game.does The Parliarment not have to get involved with this?

Pete you had said also: "Somehow and in some lifetime the elite in this country need to be beaten senseless until they accept (AND HELP) the lower classes gain equality in all aspects of life, starting with education! Pete" Great phrase right there Pete. Change will eventually come. and until that day I will be waiting to open a Can of Whop Arse!!!

Your's The understudy!!!

[Randy Cornhole]

Police claim the 18-year-old confessed to stealing the taxi and said he killed the 54-year-old driver after he fought back. The teenager could face the death penalty if he is found guilty.

How could he not be found guilty, he confessed...