Grand Theft Auto Civil Case Moves Forward 129
An Alabama court has refused a request by retailers and Take-Two Entertainment lawyers to throw out a 'Grand Theft Auto-style killing spree' civil case. From the Next Generation article: "Moore, who was 18 at the time of the 2003 slayings, is convicted of killing two Fayette county officers and a dispatcher, and claimed that Grand Theft Auto inspired him to do it. That defense was barred, and Moore was sentenced to death. Although that defense was thrown out, the multi-million dollar suit filed by relatives of the victims claim that Moore was in fact mimicking GTA, which attorneys claim Moore played 'obsessively'."
Hey relatives (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Comparisons.... (Score:3, Informative)
The question is this: How far along do you get before you lose? In all seriousness, the family does have a right to attempt this type of suit. It's a little dissapointing to see it didn't get thrown out at the earliest oppertunity due to it's obvious rediculousness, but that's the way the system works. It'll actualy be intended functionality of the legal system, unless they win. If they win, then there's definitly a wrench in the works there somewhere.
Re:I wonder why... (Score:3, Informative)
In other words, videogames TRAIN the players to become better and more effective criminals.
I don't really but this at all, the reason being that simulations only work for certain things. Gran Turismo didn't make this dude a better driver. [hedonistica.com] The most that this kid could have learned from a video game was the "concepts" of cover and target to target movement. These could be learned from watching TLC specials on Special Forces Training.
Hell, basic biology class teaches you that shooting someone in the head is better than shooting someone in the chest. Also, the targeting system on GTA kinda sucks. To say it makes you a better criminal through training is somewhat of a stretch. I played the hell out of Silent Scope, so much that my second gun was a long range rifle that I bought to practice with. I'll tell you what, I can't hit a damn thing from over 100 yards away in real life.
The idea that video games train people to do things better is kind of misleading. If we could learn how to pilot state of the art fighter planes by playing "Air Striker" or whatever, then the military is wasting a bunch of cash. Military application of video simulation is WAY beyond what a TV and console offer. They are truly immersive experiences which include real held weapons and free range of physical movement.
Two analog sticks, 10 buttons, and a 32 inch screen doesn't cut it.
Re:Just unbelievable. (Score:2, Informative)
What this *is* about is a seperate civil case based on the same facts. The lawyers for the victims are saying to Take-Two "Hey, you helped this happen; you should share the burden too." There are plenty of people who are going to argue both sides... whether playing GTA constantly gave the kid ideas, or made him more efficient, or had nothing to do with it. All that happened is a judge said that it's possible, and that a jury has to decide it.
Read TFA next time and save yourself from being overly disgusted with the world. There are some flaws in the legal system, but it's not *that* bad.