New Zealand's Office of Film and Literature had to reiterate this week that store clerks can't sell Grand Theft Auto IV to parents purchasing it for their children. The New Zealand Herald reports the office had to repeat itself after receiving calls from clerks who didn't know what to do when a parent "demanded" to buy GTA IV with their 14-year-old in tow.
GTA IV is rated R18 by the New Zealand government and it's illegal to make it available to anyone under that age. In New Zealand, even if it's their own kid, the adult could be jailed for 90 days or pay $10,000 fine; however, the law has never been enforced.
[Via GamePolitics]
Reader Comments (62)
Posted: May 5th 2008 12:33PM (Unverified) said
At first, I looked at the US Law to be completely idiotic (same goes for the US politicians). Then I looked at Australia and just fainted. Imbeciles the lot of em.
I remember playing GTA III when I was 12 years old (or around that) under my parents supervision, and I turned out OK. I knew that it was a bloody game, just like I knew that a TV Movie was simply a movie.
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I remember playing GTA III when I was 12 years old (or around that) under my parents supervision, and I turned out OK. I knew that it was a bloody game, just like I knew that a TV Movie was simply a movie.
Posted: May 5th 2008 3:57PM (Unverified) said
@dale
THAT explains it! *mumble* Stupid women prime ministers always ruining everything *mumble*
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THAT explains it! *mumble* Stupid women prime ministers always ruining everything *mumble*
Posted: May 5th 2008 6:49PM (Unverified) said
Helen clark is barely a women you should, her she is the ugliest Prime minister we have ever had, and I thought robert muldoon was ugly.
Oh yeah and I played GTA I II and III, and I completely understand that it was and is a video game, and if a parent wants their kids to play a violent video game, we shouldn't be able to stop them.
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Oh yeah and I played GTA I II and III, and I completely understand that it was and is a video game, and if a parent wants their kids to play a violent video game, we shouldn't be able to stop them.
Posted: May 5th 2008 9:22PM (Unverified) said
Yeah, @ Mromson
New Zealand is most definitely not Australia if thats what your implying. Have a look at Map - you'll see that they are separate countries. That's like saying the United States and Canada are the same country - people would be a little annoyed about that, don't you think?
A simple mistake I'm sure.
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New Zealand is most definitely not Australia if thats what your implying. Have a look at Map - you'll see that they are separate countries. That's like saying the United States and Canada are the same country - people would be a little annoyed about that, don't you think?
A simple mistake I'm sure.
Posted: May 5th 2008 11:40AM Jerk Face said
Yikes. That's a little stiff. I am all for parent education, but this may be a little too far. GTA IV really shouldn't be played by anyone but adults; I fully believe that. Way to impressionable at that time, and the things you can do in that game - while fun for adults - are not cool for kids. But jail time? I don't know.
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Posted: May 5th 2008 11:58AM Jerk Face said
Exactly, copa. While I think some kind of penalty is okay, jail time can only hurt the kid worse.
Regardless, I think it really should be up to the parents. Just because I would never let my kids play a game like GTA at 14 years old doesn't mean that another parent might think its okay. Parent education is what is important - that way at least the parents know what they are buying their kids. And if they know what it is and if they are okay with it, then bully for them.
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Regardless, I think it really should be up to the parents. Just because I would never let my kids play a game like GTA at 14 years old doesn't mean that another parent might think its okay. Parent education is what is important - that way at least the parents know what they are buying their kids. And if they know what it is and if they are okay with it, then bully for them.
Posted: May 5th 2008 12:20PM Chrysee said
It all depends on the individual child and parents (should) know best if their 14 year old is mature enough to handle it. Some 14 year olds definitely should not be playing M-rated games, some would be fine. I probably would have been fine playing GTA at 14 and my parents would have let me.. but I don't think I would have been that interested. I think New Zealand has the right idea, but it's maybe a little too stiff.
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Posted: May 5th 2008 11:49AM (Unverified) said
That's odd to me. Kiwis are so laid back compared to everyone else. Even the Aussies.
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Posted: May 5th 2008 12:26PM (Unverified) said
Never compare Kiwis and Aussies! Kiwis will kick your ass
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Posted: May 5th 2008 11:52AM (Unverified) said
if someone wants to let thier 14 year old play GTA, then let them play. It's not the governments choice to decide.
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Posted: May 5th 2008 1:47PM aristokrat said
One law that could change it is charging and punishing parents for any laws their kid breaks after the first offense (until 18 or they disown the kid). There are so many juvenile repeat offenders, which is truly sad, but if both the kid and parent got 3 months in juve/jail, you better believe the parents would start whipping their kids into shape or legally declaring them wards of the state (of course that would mean a better foster/emancipated child program, but that's where all the hardcore complainers come in: they could be given something to do).
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Posted: May 6th 2008 5:04PM (Unverified) said
Well the law is ridiculous, just because it's law doesn't make it right. I dont need laws to tell me how to raise my children.
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Posted: May 5th 2008 11:52AM (Unverified) said
GOOD!!!
Wish that was true here in the states too. I'm sick of parents letting their kids get their hands on adult material only to have it criticized, banned or severely censored because of harm to children.
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Wish that was true here in the states too. I'm sick of parents letting their kids get their hands on adult material only to have it criticized, banned or severely censored because of harm to children.
Posted: May 5th 2008 3:19PM (Unverified) said
i know lest just keep all the kids underground in a facility and let them out when they are 18...should solve the problem
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Posted: May 5th 2008 4:16PM WiiFTW said
FYI, games being criticized is solely because of incompetent parental units. I'm fine when I play m-rated games, and I have for a number of years now. I keep my grades up and take honors classes and stuff. I'm fine because I have legitimate, useful parents. When you have impressionable kids (I was too old to really be impressionable when I played video games) with parents who don't care, that's where you get the complaining.
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Posted: May 5th 2008 12:30PM (Unverified) said
What about people buying booze for kids? Surely there should be legal penalties for that?
I say more laws against bad parenting. Perhaps then XBL will be less full of little twits.
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I say more laws against bad parenting. Perhaps then XBL will be less full of little twits.
Posted: May 5th 2008 12:33PM vidguy said
Alcohol has been scientifically proven to have adverse effects on motor skills and decision making and is therefore dangerous to children, adults, and society as a whole.
GTA, and video games in general, has no such adverse effect. Until it is scientifically proven, there's no reason the government should be regulating the medium's sale.
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GTA, and video games in general, has no such adverse effect. Until it is scientifically proven, there's no reason the government should be regulating the medium's sale.
Posted: May 5th 2008 1:51PM aristokrat said
Alcohol has also been proven to cause serious neurological development problems (as your brain isn't done developing until your early 20's), which is why it is illegal for kids to have it.
They don't understand the damage they would be doing and by doing the damage they will never be able to understand the damage they did. Ha!
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They don't understand the damage they would be doing and by doing the damage they will never be able to understand the damage they did. Ha!
Posted: May 5th 2008 12:20PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
Well its funny, more under 18s have GTA4 over here then over 18s :S
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Posted: May 5th 2008 12:34PM (Unverified) said
The law.
If the law says it's illegal for you to play it, then it's illegal. What your mother says makes no difference.
Of course it's not illegal in the US, so parents aren't breaking the law. Yet.
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If the law says it's illegal for you to play it, then it's illegal. What your mother says makes no difference.
Of course it's not illegal in the US, so parents aren't breaking the law. Yet.
Posted: May 5th 2008 1:02PM GenBanks said
Hey you don't help your case by using expletives.
I agree though, the law is indirectly made by citizens, so you can't just proclaim 'the law says so' as though that's final. A parent has every right to allow their kid to play a game like GTA. I'm 19 now, but when I was about 12 I remember played GTA 3. Do I swear? Very rarely. Am I violent? No.
If I was the type of kid that repeated everything I saw on TV and in videogames, my parents would have been aware that I was that kind of a kid, and would probably have been unlikely to allow me to play/watch those kind of things.
Come to think of it, when I was about 8 my parents didn't allow me to read Dragon Ball Z comics because they thought it was too violent. So clearly there was some element of judgement going on on their part. That's how it should be. Governments shouldn't be planning the parenthood of children to such a strong extent.
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I agree though, the law is indirectly made by citizens, so you can't just proclaim 'the law says so' as though that's final. A parent has every right to allow their kid to play a game like GTA. I'm 19 now, but when I was about 12 I remember played GTA 3. Do I swear? Very rarely. Am I violent? No.
If I was the type of kid that repeated everything I saw on TV and in videogames, my parents would have been aware that I was that kind of a kid, and would probably have been unlikely to allow me to play/watch those kind of things.
Come to think of it, when I was about 8 my parents didn't allow me to read Dragon Ball Z comics because they thought it was too violent. So clearly there was some element of judgement going on on their part. That's how it should be. Governments shouldn't be planning the parenthood of children to such a strong extent.
Posted: May 5th 2008 2:05PM Dale P said
Although there are many, many examples of the contrary, it is generally the case that a law is designed for the greater good of the people. It is believed that allowing minors access to material that promotes violence, sexuality and substance use is not for the greater good of the people.
While I do think this law goes too far, it is likely to make parents pay closer attention to the materials they purchase for their children. Less kids being exposed to these titles should in turn lead to less crimes being blamed on them and thus more relaxed censorship so the people who are old enough for them can enjoy them.
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While I do think this law goes too far, it is likely to make parents pay closer attention to the materials they purchase for their children. Less kids being exposed to these titles should in turn lead to less crimes being blamed on them and thus more relaxed censorship so the people who are old enough for them can enjoy them.
Posted: May 5th 2008 12:35PM (Unverified) said
Dang gubberment, tells me I cant's feed my baby moonshine an all!
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Posted: May 5th 2008 12:40PM vidguy said
Wow, Jon, so are you going to compare video games to alcohol in reply to everyone's comment? It's not exactly a good argument you know.
If there is ever evidence that video games harm society or cause any ill effects, I will be all for regulating their sale. Until then, it's the same as the government telling you that you can't read 1984, can't kiss your girlfriend in public, and can't burn the state flag in protest. It's oppression and you are just a sheep for accepting it.
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If there is ever evidence that video games harm society or cause any ill effects, I will be all for regulating their sale. Until then, it's the same as the government telling you that you can't read 1984, can't kiss your girlfriend in public, and can't burn the state flag in protest. It's oppression and you are just a sheep for accepting it.
Posted: May 5th 2008 12:50PM (Unverified) said
I respect NZ's right to decide that certain video games are adult in nature and aren't suitable for children. Just as movies are restricted in many places.
I resent the idiotic "they can't tell me what I do with mah kids" that gets trotted out, because the government can and does, alcohol being a case in point, also education. The fact is that rules restricting movies and video games get stopped due to first admendment concerns not due to any "parent's rights".
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I resent the idiotic "they can't tell me what I do with mah kids" that gets trotted out, because the government can and does, alcohol being a case in point, also education. The fact is that rules restricting movies and video games get stopped due to first admendment concerns not due to any "parent's rights".
Posted: May 5th 2008 1:05PM vidguy said
In the US, the state can only tell you how to parent in two situations: parens patriae, in which the parents are considered neglectful or ill fit so that government has to take over for the child's safety, or when there is a legal interest, such as when alcohol or drugs cause adverse effects to society. While there are no "parent's rights", there is the belief that all adults should be free from government interference unless there is a significant interest otherwise.
While it is legit for games to be restricted from being sold to minors, any adult should be able to purchase any legal material for any purpose.
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While it is legit for games to be restricted from being sold to minors, any adult should be able to purchase any legal material for any purpose.
Posted: May 5th 2008 1:14PM GenBanks said
JonFitt
Actually, alcohol is not a case in point. Parents can exercise judgement over whether their kids drink alcohol, especially at home (whether they can have wine/beer with dinner, whether they can have champagne at new year, something stronger with christmas dinner or whatever).
In terms of education, parents also have a huge amount of freedom for that, from home schooling, to public schools, to private schools, to military schools etc. Parents can mould their kids through what they do about their education. Not to mention extra-curricular stuff. Sure the gov't says they all have to go to school, but that doesn't have any bearing on the argument for parents to be able to choose what kind of games they buy their kids.
The point is: we're not beeing short-sighted by arguing for parent's rights. It is far more widespread than you assert. And I find it amusing that you characterize us all as red-necks for making this argument ("can't tell me what I do with mah kids") because that is very far from the truth. In fact, I live in London which makes it especially amusing that you pull that one out.
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Actually, alcohol is not a case in point. Parents can exercise judgement over whether their kids drink alcohol, especially at home (whether they can have wine/beer with dinner, whether they can have champagne at new year, something stronger with christmas dinner or whatever).
In terms of education, parents also have a huge amount of freedom for that, from home schooling, to public schools, to private schools, to military schools etc. Parents can mould their kids through what they do about their education. Not to mention extra-curricular stuff. Sure the gov't says they all have to go to school, but that doesn't have any bearing on the argument for parents to be able to choose what kind of games they buy their kids.
The point is: we're not beeing short-sighted by arguing for parent's rights. It is far more widespread than you assert. And I find it amusing that you characterize us all as red-necks for making this argument ("can't tell me what I do with mah kids") because that is very far from the truth. In fact, I live in London which makes it especially amusing that you pull that one out.
Posted: May 5th 2008 2:48PM (Unverified) said
Living in the UK you're more likely to be subject to an equivalent law sometime soon. There is already the £5,000 & up to 6 months imprisonment for the "supplier" of age restricted content, and it's not a huge leap to imagine that the government who fines parents for their child's anti-social behaviour (essentially fining them for bad parenting) would consider fining parents who ignore ratings.
Especially in light of the current reports indicating that a large percentage of parents know what the ratings mean and ignore them.
The sooner adult games are kept out of children's hands the better. Then I can enjoy mature content without having it plastered all over the news as the great corrupter of society.
But while parents continue to ignore the ratings perpetuate the idea that games like GTA4 are made for children. They are not.
Maybe your son or daughter is 16 and is fine with slapping ho's all day and night, but maybe that's just tough. Maybe they will just have to wait until they're older so that society is free to express adult themes through video games without worrying that the people watching it may not have the mental capacity to deal with it.
Then they can run over cops and rob liquor stores in college. All virtually I hope.
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Especially in light of the current reports indicating that a large percentage of parents know what the ratings mean and ignore them.
The sooner adult games are kept out of children's hands the better. Then I can enjoy mature content without having it plastered all over the news as the great corrupter of society.
But while parents continue to ignore the ratings perpetuate the idea that games like GTA4 are made for children. They are not.
Maybe your son or daughter is 16 and is fine with slapping ho's all day and night, but maybe that's just tough. Maybe they will just have to wait until they're older so that society is free to express adult themes through video games without worrying that the people watching it may not have the mental capacity to deal with it.
Then they can run over cops and rob liquor stores in college. All virtually I hope.
Posted: May 5th 2008 12:44PM Kevlaria said
Strange that doesn't actually say the parent was buying it for the kid, just that the kid was there. I always have my kids with me when I am out buying stuff, OMG, even when I am buying alcohol for my wife and I. I MUST be buying it for the kids since they are with me. And I do take my kids with me when I am buying adult rated games. I have this cool thing I do and I will tell you about the revolutionary method I use for free. It is called talking...I use "words" to explain to my children the difference between the games I buy for them and the game I buy for Daddy. By using this method and also NOT letting them play Daddy's game I ensure that they understand what is good for them and not good for them as children. I call this entire package, " parenting". Its fun when you try. Learn more about parenting in your local libary. GO JOE!!
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Posted: May 5th 2008 12:47PM (Unverified) said
Personally, I don't think this game has any business being in the hands of minors; but that's up to the parent. Not me, and certainly not Big Brother. Go cram it up where the sun don't shine, friggn tyrannical !#%(^!^!&^$!(*
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Posted: May 5th 2008 1:04PM ThornedVenom said
I am for the fact that stores can't sell R18 games directly to minors, but I'm also for informing parents about the game's actual content who're willing to buy it for their children.
Why? Because ultimately, I think that it runs down to the parent's decision for raising children: if they think their child is mature enough for such games, then let it be. However, I'm against parents who're just off to buy that game for their children just because their 14-year-old said so, without fully knowing the game's content.
We should enforce awareness instead of encouraging emprisonment, and ultimately, the decision for letting minors play GTA should belong to the parents.
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Why? Because ultimately, I think that it runs down to the parent's decision for raising children: if they think their child is mature enough for such games, then let it be. However, I'm against parents who're just off to buy that game for their children just because their 14-year-old said so, without fully knowing the game's content.
We should enforce awareness instead of encouraging emprisonment, and ultimately, the decision for letting minors play GTA should belong to the parents.
Posted: May 5th 2008 1:52PM madphilb said
Maybe now some people will start to understand why retailers (such as GameStop) spend so much time IDing for and giving the "GTA IV is evil" speeches at purchase. This came up several times as posts on GameFAQs, the self-policing of the industry is what's being done so legislators don't try to cram a law like this down our throats.
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