::A Geek in Korea::

Basically everyone and their mother knows about the launch of Grand Theft Auto 4 by Rockstar. It’s been getting rave reviews, and the message boards are all a buzz about how awesome it is. I’m a casual fan from the first game in the series, but I haven’t played most of the recent installments. I enjoy the games, but I find them violent, but really pretty fun in a juvenille sort of way. The way Rockstar manipulates the press to get free exposure is shameless, and they push the borders of taste simply because they know it will get the most free advertising possible.

Since I don’t own an Xbox 360 (30% RRoD failure rate? Intolerable.), or a Playstation3 (Way too expensive), I won’t be able to play the game without visiting a game room. Of course, the problem is that South Korea has banned the last few versions of Grand Theft Auto, and other Rockstar games, from import.

There are some games in the past that used conflicts on the Korean pennisula as parts of the plot that got banned for cultural insensitivity, and potential bad relations with North Korea. These have been lifted recently. However, the Rockstar bans are due to violence and cruelty.

It’s hard for me to accept censorship in any form. I passionately believe that people have the right to produce art to express themselves, and that it is only in the most extreme cases where the government should place any limits on those rights (Yelling “Fire” in a crowded area, etc). To me, a video game like Grand Theft Auto doesn’t pass the test to qualify for banning. It has enough merits as a game that it should be allowed.

The Manhunt ban I’m more apathetic about. The recent second game in the series got an Adults Only rating, then was pared down for release on consoles. I haven’t personally played it, but that game seems more about shock value than actual game play. The reviews pegged it as a mediocre to poor game, with lots of over the top violence that was designed to stoke controversy and sell games. How much game does there need to before I need to defend it? I’m not sure, but Manhunt was panned by everyone. Make a better game, then I’ll care.

If ratings were enforced for games like they are for movies, Grand Theft Auto would be a “Hard R”, while Manhunt would be a NC-17. If people actually followed the reviews and content warnings, no children should be exposed to content unsuitable for them. I don’t think letting children watch violent, gory movies is okay, so I also don’t think they should play very violent games. Should young children play Grand Theft Auto? Absolutely not. Should parents be allowed to? Sure.

Banning content and removing choice for adults is bad. If I want to see something with violence and sex, I can, but I can also choose to walk out and tell people NOT to see that piece of entertainment. I’m not going to protest the theater for showing the film, even if it wasn’t my sort of movie. I don’t think anyone is getting hurt by the release of a video game, so I think if people want to play it, they should. GTA4 might not be for everyone, but why is that the government’s decision?

Since my game room can’t import the game en masse if the ban stays in effect, the likelihood I can play it is very slim. The multiplayer aspects of the game look like a lot of fun, so it’s a shame I wouldn’t get to play it with friends.