Los Angeles (CA) - Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has issued a statement calling for the newly released Grand Theft Auto IV to be pulled from store shelves and assigned an "Adults Only" rating from the Entertainment Software Ratings Board.

The activist group takes particular offense to the fact that it is possible for players to allow in-game characters to drink and drive.

"Drunk driving is not a game, and it is not a joke.  Drunk driving is a choice, a violent crime and it is also 100 percent preventable," said MADD in the statement.

By calling for an "AO" rating, MADD is essentially asking for the game to be taken out of the marketplace.  Almost every major retailer have policies that prevent them from selling AO games, and Sony will not approve PS3 games with the restrictive rating.

Barring intervention from the ESRB, though, MADD has also called on publisher Rockstar Games to stop distributing the game "out of respect for the millions of victims/survivors of drunk driving."

"We have a great deal of respect for MADD's mission, but we believe the mature audience for 'Grand Theft Auto IV' is more than sophisticated enough to understand the game's content," Rockstar Games told the AP yesterday.

It's hardly a new controversy for Rockstar.  Every time a new Grand Theft Auto game comes out there is some group protesting it.  The publisher has also faced allegations of being responsible for GTA-inspired shootings.  In spite of all that, or perhaps because of it, GTA has become veritable gold for Rockstar.

Mature means Mature

May 01, 2008 10:55     

Hey MADD, mature means mature, not maybe its mature, maybe its a little Disney...it's mature...black and white...period. If you can see someone drink and drive in a car in a R-rated movie (too many to list) you can see it in a mature video game.
Da Man report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +9

Pffft

May 01, 2008 11:04     

They might as well be "Mothers against fun". I mean seriously...
Dude... report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

taxi

May 01, 2008 11:28     

You don't have to drive drunk, you also have the option to call a taxi. Also like Da Man said, the game is rated MATURE. Why don't these groups go prostest something else. Let us adults have our fun with our adult rated games.
A.Lester report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +3

more and more this things

May 01, 2008 11:32     

This really pis me of like this alot of us talke about crimes in games I don't have nothing against it becouse I say that if you play it you won't do it in real life. But this pis me off I would ask these people only 1 question and that would be how many times did there children had nightmare becouse of a horror movie. If they had then that it means that they are watching movies witch are not for them but in video games all just want to point at finger but never at them self. Read this if you don't want your kid playing that just don't buy them, if he can buy himself then let him becouse he is M rated age.

Vito report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -6

Gamers against Irresponsible Parents

May 01, 2008 11:41     

As stated by the previous commentor, a Mature rated game, means that its for mature individuals. The issue here, is not that GTA promotes drunk driving, in fact, had any of the MADD members attempted to play GTAIV while intoxicated, they would quickly realize how intensely difficult it is to get anything accomplished while in that state. Once again, MADD takes a page out of Jack Thompson's book, by criticizing a game as a glorification of illegal activities, without actually researching the topic, and getting a hands-on feel for themselves. They merely see something in the paper, or a games review online, form a biased opinion of their own, and then accuse X party of glorifying gang violence, or drug abuse, or prositution. MADD only hurts their organization by showing how ignorant they are. Morne

Mornelithe report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +9

Don't buy it for your 12 year old!

May 01, 2008 11:56     

I hear all these mothers get so mad over these games, but yet I see these same mothers with their 12 year olds in the story buying GTA4 and lying to the clerk saying it's not for little Joey. Here's a simple solution parents, SAY NO! Nuff said.
Action Jackson report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

Just for that I'm going to go have a beer.

May 01, 2008 11:59     

And then i'm going to ride my bicycle to work. I"m so badass. take that madd!
wmcgritt report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +5

fallow up PS3 vs 360

May 01, 2008 12:06     

Yesterday I said I would do a side by side comparison of the PS3 version which I own with the 360 version which my friend owns. Here are the results. All in all there isn't much difference between the two, however the 360 version has a few Pluses. First the 360 version does not require you to install 3.3 GB worth of data to the HD (which is probably emulating 360 commands if I had to take a wild guess as to why PS3 does and 360 doesn't). Second the load times are slightly quicker for the 360 probably do to what I mentions about emulation. Finally the graphic look a little smoother on the 360 (maybe do to the 630p on PS3 vers 720p on 360?? but both are scaling to 1080p according to my TV which PS3 games don't normally do so I'm not sure on this one). The control skim is the same for both so there is no /- to the controls. All in all the 360's is slightly better but not enough that I would take back my PS3 version to get the 360 version. As for lock ups I haven't any issues with the PS3 or 360 version.

Action Jackson report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

MILFADD

May 01, 2008 12:10     

I think that Rockstar should run a bunch of ads promoting MADD's mission, with uberhot moms, as an olive branch.
The Gorilla report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +3

Hmmm...

May 01, 2008 12:19     

Ok let me get this straight. MADD wants to label it "AO" because you have the OPTION of driving drunk. Yet, blowing somebody's head off as part of a mission is cool. Yup. That makes sense.
mako1200 report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +8

Ridiculous

May 01, 2008 15:21     

If you don't like a game, or anything for that matter, at least come up with something that is really an issue, not something stupid like this. Adults, which the game is intended for, having been driving drunk long before GTAIV come out, so it's safe to say this game has nothing to do with it.
Overkill report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

@ WMC

May 01, 2008 15:29     

you know down here in Miami riding a bike/skateboard anything while intoxicated is illegal. thats why I pour my absolute in a zepherhills bottle while crusing the beach ... take that mad
09 F9 report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +5

Yep, just like all the suburban kids we have out th...

May 02, 2008 02:30     

Yep, just like all the suburban kids we have out there running around and beating hookers to death with baseball bats because of GTA, we will now have millions more drunk drivers on the roads. Where do these people get this logic?
loosely_coupled report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Rockstar must be loving it.

May 02, 2008 02:30     

Keep pouring on the outrage, all these free column inches in the papers and internet news sites = free marketing. You honestly couldn't write comedy like this. I bet R* are laughing all the way to the bank..... I honestly hadn't thought about getting drunk and driving in game, but as soon as i'm in from work, I will be on to it. Doesn't mean I would do it IRL though. It's only a game. Middle America needs to get a hobby IMO.

spammage report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Grab a beer and support DAMM!!!

May 02, 2008 08:04     

Support DAMM (Drunks Against Mad Mothers) and grab a beer!
Hexadecimal report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

@Action Jackson - fallow up....

May 02, 2008 08:53     

First, please spell correctly. Second, no one asked for your 'review'. But then again I'm not surprised that you'd take a swipe at Sony at any chance you get since you can no longer preach about how HD DVD will win, LOL!
liquefire report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

Ok, Mudd/have it your way...

May 02, 2008 10:13     

Although this version of GTA is less violent than its predecessors, it's funner to drive wasted - (V I R T U A L L Y) not real life. But hey, lets toast to your admirance to world domination of sober A-holes. "Liquer, Liquer, it makes your liver Quiver, until your up all night, Pissin like the Mississippi river"
Mr. Paco report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Change the game?

May 02, 2008 14:39     

They should change the game so that any one that drinks (in the game) has less control of the vehicle and is more likely to crash. This would show that drinking and driving is not a good idea (even if you are breaking the law by stealing cars).
TomLeeM/BigWarpGuy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

DAMM Supports GTA 4

May 04, 2008 11:14     

DAMM (Drunks Against Mad Mothers) supports GTA 4. GO DAMM!
Big Dong report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

@liquefire

May 04, 2008 21:18     

First I never said HD-DVD would win. I said I thought xmas sale could determine the winner and I thought HD-DVD might have a slight edge because of price. And as I said in those same posts I owned both BD and HD-DVD so I didn't care which side won. I didn't think the movie houses were going to switch so quickly. I was thinking of a consumer driven battle since the movie studios where split roughly 50/50 at the time. Either way I don't care. I have a BD player in the form of that "swiped at" Sony PS3. Oh and did I mention I own a Sony 52" TV, and how about my Sony camcorder. Yep I really hate Sony. 2nd if you can prove anything I said in my review wrong please feel free to post it. Thanks.

Action Jackson report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

GTA IV as a tool

May 05, 2008 11:01     

I think it's really ashame that MADD is speaking out against the game because it portrays drunk driving. They could really use the game at events to demonstrate the effect of drunk driving. Let's face it. This is one of the most successful game franchises of all time, and their target demographic plays this game. 1st, IMO it portrays drunk driving a helluva lot better than those silly goggles. (and if you get motion sick, will probably make you a little sick). 2nd, your friends and even your own character say several times "It's probably not a good idea for me to drive." The game even prompts you the first time to call a cab and how to do it. 3rd, you can't go a block without the cops chasing you. If you get caught, it actually goes on your record in the police computers (which you can check when you're in a police car). Mothers Against Drunk Driving...Nope...Morons Against Drunk Driving.

Devryn report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +5

Thats Plain Stupid

May 06, 2008 03:09     

well they say theyre the MAD(D) right?
Grayfoxxx report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

oh, yeah

May 06, 2008 04:20     

So, my dear son, basically, it's ok, if you'll kill a few people in the game with a weapon of your choice. But if you'll drink and drive, you'll go to HELL (or whatever)!
Viruk report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Update : Actualy Drunk Gameplay

May 06, 2008 10:39     

Just another comment from my initial rant against MADD. My same comment as I said to people who complain against "violent video games" Did U ever play the game? I've been playing GTA and any time you get drunk you can barely walk to the car, never mind drive. And once you hop in the car you can barely steer and drive anywhere plus the cops are all over you. I would that an accurate depiction of drinking and driving plus taking it to the extreme..good job Rockstar!

Da Man report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +2

taxi

Sep 09, 2008 00:17     

Drunk and drive is injurious to our health and other health.So everyone should avoid drunk drive or prefer the taxi. ============================================= john california dui
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Yes band this kind of games, it is not good for the...

Sep 09, 2008 22:41     

Yes band this kind of games, it is not good for the childrens. ================ james california dui
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MADD Mad At 'GTA IV'

Sep 12, 2008 22:17     

Mothers Against Drunk Driving are also against Grand Theft Auto IV. MADD takes issue with "a game module where players have to drive drunk" because "drunk driving is a choice, a violent crime...not a game". We're not sure what a game "module" is, but we've played the first few hours of GTA IV, and there's no missions that depends on drunk driving. The times when we have driven drunk (in-game, of course) have resulted in car crashes, police involvement and our date being really angry at us. Just like real life! It's not fair to say that the game glamorizes driving intoxicated, although it is pretty funny. ------------------------------------- Jonty.rodes california dui

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