WASHINGTON -- The maker of the controversial videogame Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas agreed to settle a Federal Trade Commission complaint alleging that players could view sexual content hidden in the game.
Carrying no fines or admission of wrongdoing, the agreement was seen as a warning to videogame companies that future incidents would meet a harsher response from regulators. Richard F. Kelly, an FTC attorney, said the agreement "looks to the future to make sure this doesn't happen again."
Under the agreement, Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. and its subsidiary, Rockstar Games, pledge increased vigilance in reviewing and marketing future releases. The companies could face fines up to $11,000 for each game sold that violates the agreement, the FTC said.
The commission will vote whether to finalize the agreement following a 30-day period of public comment ending July 10.
This has always seemed so silly to me, and a commentary on American culture and the way we view violence and sex.
If you're not familiar with the Grand Theft Auto games, here's the gist: You are a criminal. You run around a city stealing cars and killing people (including police officers). The point of the game is to complete missions (robbery, kidnapping, murder, etc.) for mob bosses and other underworld luminaries during the course of your streak of mayhem.
It is chock-full of graphic violence.
So what has seemed stupid to me is the fact that parents got upset about the sexual content portion of the game. I mean, if you get your kids a game that allows them to shoot cops in the face and bludgeon people to death with bats why would you be upset about that same game allowing their character to bang a hooker? What's worse, murder or prostitution?
I think there is a problem with the content of these video games, but the problem doesn't start with the video game makers. It starts with the parents who are buying these games for their kids.