Like We Need More Crazies

First, we had the zealous lawyer from Florida who actually thinks that game consoles brainwash children into being assassins.

Then, we have a grandmother who is simply astonished that Rockstar tricked her into buying Grand Theft Auto for her fourteen year old child.

Now, we've got these jackasses:

Ronald Moten and his Peaceoholics Youth Council are taking their views to the front door of Rock Star Games in New York City. They say violent videogames like Grand Theft Auto are played out on the city's streets.


Peaceoholics List of Demands for Rock Star Games

- Not to release Bully under any circumstances
- Volunteer to sell its violent and sexually explicit games in adult video stores only.
- Let parents return Grand Theft Auto for a full refund until they do a national awareness campaign to educate parents of content and possible effects.
- Create a fund for victims of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and car-jackings, etc.
- Make a national apology for misleading and lying to children, parents, and legislators about their intentions and causing insurance premiums to sky rocket.
- Give a written response within five business days of receipt of these demands.

-- Area Kids Protest 'Bully' (thanks kotaku)

I never thought that the anti-game movement would simply self-implode on it's own, but it's seriously looking like it might. One can only garner attention by banging the crazy drum for so long before the neighbors begin to complain.

Let's look at the hippie demands one by one. Yeah, I know these are just kids ... but trust me, it will be fun anyway.

Not to release Bully under any circumstances
Yeah, right. Good luck. I've been saying that Rockstar was going to lose big on Hot Coffee. And I still think I'm right about that. But Bully? Bully is going to sell like goddamn hotcakes. Sweet, juicy, schoolyard hotcakes. And why shouldn't it? What possible right do these people have to say to a game studio, "you can't make that". What right would anyone have to say that?

Volunteer to sell its violent and sexually explicit games in adult video stores only
For one thing, has there been even a breath of indication that Bully has any sexual content in it? More importantly, GTA ... even modded ... was no more explicit than about 99% of R movies. So, there goes Blockbuster. Yeah, with their edits.

I got a better idea. Why don't the Peaceoholics go live in a commune and leave my game stores alone?

Let parents return Grand Theft Auto for a full refund until they do a national awareness campaign to educate parents of content and possible effects.
Last commercial I saw for San Andreas was CJ shooting the hell out of everything, major explosions, gangsters talking in back rooms, and a lot of running to Guns N Roses. If a multimillion dollar ad campaign of that nature isn't enough for these parents who buy their kids games like that, I don't think an awareness campaign is in order. Perhaps some kind of brain transplant might work.

Create a fund for victims of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and car-jackings, etc.
Etc? Etc?? How about this instead. Create a fund for victims of stupid demands. Like me. Now Rockstar is responsible for all urban crime? They're responsible for your parents, for the criminals on the street and joy riders. Apparently Rockstar is now bigger than Jesus. That's right, Rockstar is your god. Dance, puppets, dance.

Make a national apology for misleading and lying to children, parents, and legislators about their intentions and causing insurance premiums to sky rocket.
Insurance premiums? Oh right, Rockstar is god and responsible for all car thefts too. Forgot. A national apology? How would that go, anyway? "We're sorry you thought our game about gang violence was appropriate for your fourteen year old son. Next time, don't be an idiot."

Give a written response within five business days of receipt of these demands.
Here is a rough draft. Bite us. Take some responsibility for your own neighborhoods and tell your parents to do the same. Learn to read the back of a box before taking it to the counter. Figure out that just because little Jimmy wants it, doesn't mean he should get it. Monitor what your kids do on the internet. Stop buying them gear which can strip code away.

In short. Don't be an idiot and leave the rest of us alone.

Damn, the crazies are increasing in number. The rational folk on that side of the debate aren't being heard and don't seem interested in talking to us. Sometimes it seems like they're just content having a seat at the table.

Right now, if I was Rockstar - I'd think about releasing the raunchiest sex game known to mankind and sell it off their website. They'd make a damn fortune. Only problem would be listening to these ninnies.