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U.S. Senator targets '25 to Life' video game

Written by James Delahunty @ 21 Jun 2005 10:12 User comments (63)

U.S. Senator targets '25 to Life' video game Once again the heat is on developers of violent video games as Sen. Charles Schumer, a Democrat from New York has targeted 25 to Life; an upcoming game which the Senator claims makes the Grand Theft Auto games look like "Romper Room" (a popular Children's TV Show in the U.S.). The video game is due out this summer. In the game you can either choose the side of gangs or the side of the law. The Senator wants this "cop killer" game boycotted by retailers and even calls on Microsoft and Sony to end their licensing agreements with Eidos.
Most gamers are familiar with the controversy that has surrounded Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for the past months. The violent game was used as an example by lawmakers who are worried about the influence these games may have on children. "The last thing we need here in New York is to reinforce a destructive culture of violence and disrespect for the law. Little Johnny should be learning how to read, not how to kill cops," Schumer said. However game makers would argue that these games are not intended for children.



The sale of these "violent" games makes up a huge part of the industries $10 billion in annual U.S. sales. GTA: San Andreas was released in October 2004 and quickly became a best seller. Retailers and console manufacturers try to avoid the controversy of violent games, mainly due to the success of the games. The problema lot of lawmakers have the games is that they seem to get more violent as they go along due to the developers' need to make the games more realistic. 25 to Life features gun battles between police and criminal gangs, in which human shields are used.

The controversy seems very similar to past controversy over violent movies and will likely have a similar outcome.

Source:
Rueters

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63 user comments

121.6.2005 22:17
Alien13
Inactive

Sounds like a cool game:)

221.6.2005 22:47

These guys are right. I remember one day in the late 70s (yes I'm old). We had this Pong machine and played it all the time. Well one day I was walking through downtown Atlanta. I saw these two building across from each other. The bird went flying from one building to the other. I didn't want the bird to get away so I ran to the building it was headed for and tried to pick it up (kind of like in pong). I messed up my back and had to stay in the hospital for days. So you see I got hurt because I was addicted to pong. The bird flew over the building and the other building got a point. They never say anything about Unreal tournament. Only when cops are involved. There is only one difference from killing someone in UT and killing a cop in a game. The cop looks like a cop and the UT person looks like whatever they chose. Its just a freaking game. I don't think Car jacking rates went off the charts when GTA came out. So I really doubt cop killing rates are going to change much due to this game. -Del

321.6.2005 22:51
Alien13
Inactive

Yeah. I mean you dont walk down the street and see people with keyblades from Kingdom Hearts.

421.6.2005 23:04

Quote:
Yeah. I mean you dont walk down the street and see people with keyblades from Kingdom Hearts.
then you havent walked the mean streets of snellville,ga

521.6.2005 23:08
Alien13
Inactive

Nope, i could if its in Australia tho.

621.6.2005 23:26

Snellville isn't that far from me. I will check it out. -Del

722.6.2005 00:03

dont mean to attempt and hi jack this thread, but what part of atl u from?

822.6.2005 01:35

I did a study on this subject,.,. sure it was notihng big,, but i surveyed every kid at school, I saw what their ages were, how many video games they play, and what ones, and alll that good stuff, and the results were kids who didnt own video game consoles ended up getting in more fights in school, and ended up getting worse grades, compaired to kids who did play video game And 45% of the kids who wear glasses, owned videogame consoles, 55% dont own consoles, or play video games. My only conclusion could of been that kids who play video game, dont need to let out anger in reality,, because they can do it in the game,, where as the kids who dont have video games,, have no way of letting out anger.. It makes sense to, think about, it, im really pissed off, il go online with call of duty, and take out some krauts, but with no video games,, what could i do??

922.6.2005 02:05
Other1
Inactive

I dont know why this would come as a suprise to anyone. More & more often the "Big Government" is to slowly putting its fingers into everyones personal life affairs. The way I see it, if I ( a 32yo ) want to play a violent video game in the comfort of my own home, thats exactly what I am going to do,,,period! Lawmakers seem to avoid real issues that need to be addressed, just to make a PR circus more often than not. Get used to it, they wont stop at what games they say we can play.

1022.6.2005 02:34

I feel your parents, and how they raise you, have more influence over a child, than a video game. I've played violent video games for the better part of my life. I've never felt the need to act out what I've done in video games. WHen are people going to realize that it's just entertainment? I'm sure the rating on the game will be Mature. Most retailers wont even sell those games to minors. If parents feel that the game is inappropriate, don't buy it for little johnny. Buy him a book and let him read.

1122.6.2005 02:50

nrk4594 is right its the upbringing that matters, not the games you play im at University studying games development and its really unfair that games get critisised like this and yet films get away with alot more if people stuck to the age restrictions on games then this would be less of an issue, but you can get games from anywhere now, even piracy off the net

1222.6.2005 02:50

nrk4594 is right its the upbringing that matters, not the games you play im at University studying games development and its really unfair that games get critisised like this and yet films get away with alot more if people stuck to the age restrictions on games then this would be less of an issue, but you can get games from anywhere now, even piracy off the net

1322.6.2005 02:57

Anyone have a release date. I might actually have to cop this game if it is any good.

1422.6.2005 03:20

Quote:
The Senator wants this "cop killer" game boycotted by retailers and even calls on Microsoft and Sony to end their licensing agreements with Eidos
what a disgrace trying to get Eidos out of business really!

1522.6.2005 04:50
chesty
Inactive

Just like life in the united states ............... A person can go down to their local walmart and they can't buy a violent video game like '25 to life ' and profane rap cds but they will shamelessly sell profane and vile dvds like 'good fellas ' or 'scarface'. What role models. legends in their own minds al pacino and robert deniro. People like chuck schumer are a bunch of democrapic corrupt scum who shamelessly takes kickbacks and bribes from the MPAA and foists dastardly things like the DMCA on the unsuspecting U.S. public. What a world !!

1622.6.2005 07:07
acidmitch
Inactive

ya the game looks cool i have idea if you dont want kids to kill people then dont sell then guns oh wait they dont, and scarface is a great movie sure thers a little killing and a small amount of drugs but common in todays world where is there not a litle drugs

1722.6.2005 07:12
skidme
Inactive

Don't worry, when the game comes out, we'll prolly see Charles Schumer playing it.

1822.6.2005 07:15
acidmitch
Inactive

lmao ya i cant picture that thell just find another game to bitch about i say let the baby have its bottle

1922.6.2005 07:21

Quote:
ya the game looks cool i have idea if you dont want kids to kill people then dont sell then guns oh wait they dont, and scarface is a great movie sure thers a little killing and a small amount of drugs but common in todays world where is there not a litle drugs
maybe thats the guys point, there shouldnt be! but its not right to blame it on computer games
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 22 Jun 2005 @ 7:21

2022.6.2005 07:26
acidmitch
Inactive

thats true video games like that dont make us want to "kil" if any game did it be tetrus for being so god dam frusterating lol

2122.6.2005 09:23

Hello everyone, I am not a game person at all, but here's my comments. I am now 37, a few years back, DOOM was the most popular game out there. I did play a little bit of doom. I also enjoy watching violent movies, cops and robbers, war, shooting movies. Never for 1 second, it made me feel like robbing a store, or shooting someone, I would not hurt a fly. Unless I can get true proof from professionals that violent games and violent TV shows can/will changes someone's character, I'm still not conviced banning those will help. I do not want to be racist, but there's countries where they do not have video games and TV, and damn, you see 8 year old kids shooting people in the streets with AK-47. It's a sociaty problem NOT a video game one. My 2 cents...

2222.6.2005 09:46

I think that people that ban video games ecause of cotent are idiots. Obviously its going to have a mature rating, so why not have it for sale? kids cant buy it and what kind of idot goes on a kill the cops rampage?

2322.6.2005 10:00

This is stupid. Not because of what they're saying. But because: 1. This game doesn't even look that good. In fact I'm sure it will be mediocre. 2. This game isn't a big hit, why target this? Why the hell not target San Andreas or any of the upcoming releases? 3. When are people going to learn that humans will only become more and more violent, and that there is no way a group of people can stop an evolution. The only way to stop an evolution is outright eradication or a revolution. 4. Je suis un pomme.

2422.6.2005 10:12

The trouble I see with violent media & by defalt, our society (games, movies, TV, comic books, guns, and, um... war, etc...) is it all desensitizes people to it. If you grow up with it all around you much of the time it just becomes normal. This is not to say over the top exposure to violence will provoke violent behaviour in the vast majority of people, but I believe it may push a few over the edge. They may have already been sociopaths to begin with, then "a bit of the old ultraviolence" (trivia question, what violent movie is that quote from?) gives them that final shove off the cliff. Sure, it may only be one in a million people, but how many mass murders, serial rapists, and unibombers do we need? That all being said, it's not about one game, it's our culture.

2522.6.2005 10:37

I am not really in ATL. I am next to Gainesville. But that is still close to Snellville. Stone MTN only takes me about 45 minutes on a good day. So there you have it. -Del

2622.6.2005 12:17

"Little Johnny should be learning how to read, not how to kill cops." Don't you mean "Little JAMAL" Mr Schumer? We all know that's who you're REALLY worried about on the streets of NY!

2722.6.2005 13:29
ripfuel
Inactive

I think that these games are awesome, they provide a place for kids and adults alike to vent thier day to day steam, and it is not the game that kills people, it is mad people. There is a time to kill no doubt but playing the games and then loading up the .40CAL is not happening! The damn lawmakers need to focus on more serious real life situation not entertainment!

2822.6.2005 14:01

Sen. Charles Schumer needs to slow his roll. I'm a grown ass man and I don't appreciate people like him trying to ban games that I enjoy playing. Do I think children should play games like this? No, but that's up to parents not Sen. Charles Schumer.

2922.6.2005 14:15
Doggy_Bot
Inactive

Well most of you anyway have heard about my former thread called To Many Violent Video Games For Xbox!!!, I think the U.S. Senator has a very resonable point... See, I know almost all of you like buying Mature rated games and Adult/Only ones too, but for the children sake...Why? Pretend there is another one of those situations where this 13/14 year old kid goes to school and ohh then the class bully walks up and says whats in your BAG!!! Wops, there pops a beautiful AK-47 that has just basicly killed 1/5 of the school... Then one of his best friends (who knows him very well told him it was in a Video Game...). Well, well, well, Gamers of GTA and games such as get in an uproar!!! Because they think to them selves if it is proven that it is because of a violent video game, the game companies will (maybe, remember that I said that) be outlawed.. And there goes all M and Ao rated video games... So the courts would have to say !NO!, because if they said that it was because of violent video games, gamers would go nuts...the same thing with stabbings, rappings, and and some gang related crimes...The world DOES NOT need this at all! Also, there is 2 types of gamers (and before I start, this is very important to think about and understand), people that can understand that a video game is just a video game... And people (this is important) that don't understand that a video game is just a video game... And contribute to these serious and sometimes murderous crimes!!! And before I go...@ ripfuel

Quote:
I think that these games are awesome, they provide a place for kids and adults alike to vent thier day to day steam, and it is not the game that kills people, it is mad people.
This is a very strong word but I hate people like you, because you make the stupidiest ways to resolve situations like you've just come home from school and you really P***** OFF cause you just got a F on an Exam... It would be much better to talk to someone and see if they can get a tutor or you can study harder... Know blow off heads in GTA: San Andreas... Well thats all folks...;)

3022.6.2005 14:42

I play games because they let me do stuff I can't in real life, like skate, lol. What's the point of games if they are all just like life?

3122.6.2005 16:31

It's quite the fashion these days to deny the concept of personal resposibility.

3222.6.2005 16:50

Personal what???? It's more fun to blame others. The devil made me do it. I'm innocent. -Del

3322.6.2005 16:51

ok, this is B.S. I believe that parents have control over what there kids play. This game is rated "M" or "Mature" so, you have to be 17 or older in order to buy or rent it. I know kids can play it elsewhere (friends etc.) but, why should they boycott a game when its target audience is old enough to understand not to mimic the game? Also, speaking 25-to-Life, does that ring a bell? That is RF's (Rockford Fosgate) slogan for this year as it is there 25th anniversary as a company :) Peace, Pop Smith

3422.6.2005 17:26
skidme
Inactive

I'm pretty sure that banning 25 to Life would be unconstituitonal as pertaining to the company who makes it. Isn't it their right to produce a product that they want to sell? I mean they might as well ban computers becuase a child can use one to access pron right? Jeezus. Damn politicians don't even know the law.

3522.6.2005 21:21

ok ok... i am a gamestop manager and not single day goes by that i don't sell at least one copy of the grand theft auto series. the kid walks up to the counter... i tell him hes not old enough to buy the game. he runs and gets mommy/daddy. I say... Do you care that this game is mature? they shrug there shoulders and say well he has the other ones. They shouldn't blame this crap on the developers... they are just giving us stuff we want... mature games don't have 17+ for no reason. Today the new conker game came out... it has this huge warning label printed on the game itself... This game is not intended to be played by anyone under the age of 17.....and still parents didn't even give a crap what there kids were playing!! Don't blame the creators blame the parents who let there 10 yr old kids play games like gta and 25 to life.

3622.6.2005 21:26

Doggy Bot... get out of here. Everybody blasted you in your xbox violent games post. So playstation 2 doesn't have any violent video games. Get a life man. Who got grand theft auto first bro? M rated games wouldn't even be in the hands of the children if their parents didn't buy them!! I sure as hell don't sell M rated games to minors!!

3722.6.2005 21:51

Exactly. Don't blame video games for crazy people. People were going nuts and killing people before the wheel was invented. Let alone GTA. If it isn't video games they're blaming music. If it isn't music it's TV. If it isn't TV it's the movies. Can't blame the movies? Well, hell, it must be the Devil then! By golly, that explains everything! Because it couldn't POSSIBLY be that the individual was disturbed to begin with! Now could it?

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 22 Jun 2005 @ 11:37

3822.6.2005 23:51

There is just so many excuses these days. I feel that i have a right to play a mature game if i feel like it. After all it is aimed at adults not damn children!! Doggy would you just like a bunch of scooby-doo and disney games on the market? Cause that just sounds like loads and loads of fun. sarcasm :)

3923.6.2005 05:46

Quote:
Little Johnny should be learning how to read, not how to kill cops
Quote:
In the game you can either choose the side of gangs or the side of the law.
Hey hey, what if little Johnny decides to become a cop?

4023.6.2005 05:51

Yeah they don't seem to care about killing gang members. Just their precious pretty boy cops. So you can kill your friend, brother, mother, neighbors, teachers and mall rats. Whatever you do don't kill a cop. Aren't they people too or did I miss something? -Del No I am not an anti cop person. I said what I said to make a point.

4123.6.2005 07:20

Hello everyone, i used to live in Detroit where two policeman killed a blackman with a flashlight because he wouldn`t open his hand. they beat him across his head because they thought he had some crack cocaine Police kill people every day in the innercities, and poor neiborhoods. Yet you have people that make so much fuss over a video game. Now i live in Flordia where the police taser young black kids, and handcuff 8 year old little girls in school. If i had the game i would shoot cops in the game 24/7, after all the sh@# i`ve seen cops do and get away with. Pease don`t get me wrong i don`t dislike cops, but they do get away with murder.

4223.6.2005 07:25

oh and by the way from the trailer and screen shots this game looks crap anyway! Eidos will be so happy with all the publicity on what looks like a crap game with no plot

4323.6.2005 10:31

I wonder if Schumer owns stock in the company? He sure seems to be handing out free publicity of the kind that sells games.

4423.6.2005 14:31
Doggy_Bot
Inactive

Quote:
Doggy Bot... get out of here. Everybody blasted you in your xbox violent games post.
@ mikeyk 1. Ok, well maybe everybody has there own goddamn opinion... don't tell me to get out of here...
Quote:
Doggy would you just like a bunch of scooby-doo and disney games on the market? Cause that just sounds like loads and loads of fun. sarcasm :)
2. I concider you leaving AfterDawn.com Forums cause you are trouble... And take your c***** sarcasm out with you...

4523.6.2005 19:59

Violen games dont make people want to kill people. Only the person himself wants to do it can only make himself do it. For example if you are an ethical person who do not want to harm people. After playing "25 to life" or "GTA San Andreas" you are not going to be influenced by the game by going out and kill people. This is completely balony. Well unless you are a bad person who wants to harm other person for your own profit, then yes the game will reinforce your idea more. It will definitely makes you feel like you are not doing anything wrong. What the senator is afraid is only true in half. Little jOhny might have bad influence on him. But when he grows up, he will be whatever he was born to be, not to be whatever the society wants him to be. If he was born to be a good person, playing 25 to life aint gonna make him a killer. This is so overrated.

4624.6.2005 11:24

Violent media does desensitize people. Until they see it in real life. I'm an extremely violent person, but there is a HUGE difference between seeing somebody beaten on TV, and seeing someone beaten IRL. Those who have seen it in real life will know what I'm talking about, there's this feeling in my gut that I don't feel when I'm watching TV. So, yes it does desensitize people, but only what they think about violence. When they experience it, it's a whole different story.

4724.6.2005 11:56
Doggy_Bot
Inactive

I'll believe that...

4824.6.2005 13:00

I think i will stay doggy. Yea im def gonna stay... :)

4924.6.2005 13:04

NO M rated games no R rated movies and no violent books. That sounds good to you doesn't it doggy? And don't forget the violent music!!!

5025.6.2005 20:35
dijon316
Inactive

This all comes down to escalation of excitement. What used to thrill before, does not thrill anymore. It is like taking drugs. You start off on something mild which gives you a buzz. After awhile, you no longer get the buzz that you did in the past, so you look for something stronger. At the end, you feel empty. It never completely satifies because it was not supposed to. It is just a temporary thrill. There is good news to this though. Something that can fill you that was meant to fill you and that is a relationship with Jesus Christ. Only by trusting Him can you be truly filled. You may be thinking that I am some kind of nut case, but I have experienced the emptiness after the high intensity games. At first, I am excited to get my hands on the game. After playing it, I lose interest only to feel empty afterwards. You see, Jesus is still working on me. He is showing me that there are more important things in life than games. The satisfaction I get from completing a game pales in comparison to what is to come. So what will be the outcome of gaming. I believe more realism. More violence. All to stimulate the senses. All to keep you away from a relationship with Jesus. If you do not already have a relationship with Jesus, please for your sake search him out via the Bible. Start by reading the book of John and you will not be disappointed. I leave you with a verse from the NIV version of the Bible: "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever". - 1 Corinthians 9:25. Work for the everlasting crown. You can't go wrong!

5126.6.2005 10:16

ok i wanna know why they just pick on some video games and not others that are just as bad if not worse for instance the war video games .now thats something that you would figure would strike up alot of controversy but oddly enough slipped through the cracks especially the game where ya gotta kill the veit kong ummmm i wonder why there was no controversy over that i think if i were veitmenese i would of been one pissed motha hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? so its ok to teach our kids ta kill someone if there from another country but not ok to kill our own lmfao fu@$in government

5226.6.2005 11:51

I want to know how come you don't know how to put fullstops.

5326.6.2005 13:08

That has go to be the longest sentence I have seen on this forum. -Del

5426.6.2005 18:24

"Little Johnny should be learning how to read, not how to kill cops". Hang on. Little Johnny isn't playing these games - they have age restrictions on them. If the liberals want to get on the stand and shout to the skies..then why aren't they moaning about the propaganda being taught to little Johnny whilst he is at school? When he switches on a television set? Such state-sponsored, self-loathing is just as damaging and has far-reaching consequences for American children. Ping. A pin drops..

5526.6.2005 19:19

i was going for the record of longest sentence on afterdawn so how'd i do do i win anything lol "I want to know how come you don't know how to put fullstops" whats a "fullstop" is that twice more then a half stop

5627.6.2005 07:30
runner121
Inactive

It's a shame that 25 to Life should get the death sentence before we get a chance to play this.I mean this looks like one of the best to come along in a while.

5727.6.2005 22:58

Mr Cynical here... This is a win-win case for the developers and the Sentator. Mucho publicity for the developers and the Senator improves his status. I wonder who suggested to the Senator that he should promote...er..I mean target this video game?

5828.6.2005 22:15

i don't understand why this is such a "shock" to the media and public. Haven't violent video games been comming out for years and years...things such as counterstrike, tom clancy games and the gta series. Whether it be killing a terrorist or killing a cop...isn't it all just killing??? so why doesn't nacy grace say anything about a terrorist killing a counter-terrorist in cs?

5928.6.2005 22:20

I remember this arcade game from long ago called NARC. You where a police guy going around killing drug thugs. So what is the difference here? Now you can be the tugs killing cops and it is unacceptable. That NARC game had great graphics in its day. I still say it is just a games and will not promote anymore violence than Saturday morning cartoons. -Del

6030.6.2005 16:26
Sledge13
Inactive

"Disrespect for the law", huh. I thought the legislature and judiciary had the corners on that one. Gee, next they'll be bitchin about graft and corruption cuz they got the corner on that too. I think a game on killin off all the frigging corrupt politicians and judges is about due to help refine the skills of the next generation for when they finally had enough.

6130.6.2005 16:31
Sledge13
Inactive

I think their just pissed that even a game questions, challenges and supports disrespect and opposition for authority. Oh no! If they get the idea they can kill cops, who's next, us?

6210.7.2005 03:45
WrapperC
Inactive

This is typical liberal garbage from a U.S. Senator from a state, NY, stupid enough to elect Hillary Rotten Clinton, having never lived there (no knowledge of the problems of the state) and never hold political position, well elected office anyway, some positions I'm sure were held. Schumer is of the opinion that the masses are easily duped and cannot take care of themselves, it is never the criminals fault, it is his influences. IN Washington D.C., it has been said that the most dangerous place in the world is to be standing in between Sen. Chuck Schumer and a T.V. camera. He believes poverty causes crime. During the poorest time in the U.S.A., the great depression, the crime rate was the lowest in the nation's history. Games and T.V. do not breed crime and violence, it is the breakdown of the U.S. family. Exposure to this game will not cause someone to pick up a gun and kill a cop, but a Rolls Royce and good looking women paid for with drug money is another issue.

6313.8.2005 07:15
runner121
Inactive

Cant they think of anything better to do than pick on our games?

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