controversies surrounding grand theft auto open world action adventure video game developed published games release april playstation xbox generated controversy game depiction violence received mass commentary journalists government officials occasionally referred murder ability drive influence alcohol game received criticism resulting request change game rating similarly gameplay features censored australian new_zealand versions game subsequently removed crimes committed following game release murder sexual violence attributed perpetrators experience game generating controversy attorney known campaigns series heavily criticised prior release filing lawsuits parent company threatening ban distribution game gameplay features removed game generated controversy lawsuits city officials organisations gameplay features depiction violence widely criticised depiction violence murder program conservative american talk radio host grand theft auto example wider claims use violent video games military repeating claims col military uses shooting games soldiers killing spoke labelled game murder national grass roots director added game adult product claiming research displays potential effect violent media children thompson reiterated game rated united_states referring australian release example number reported crimes perpetrators cited primary influence june teenagers arrested participating crime new_york teenagers man knocking teeth attempted car smashed passing van bat according teenagers claimed inspired august reported year old student arrested thailand murder taxi driver attempting vehicle police captain stated student wanted find easy real life rob taxi game subsequently banned thailand result august reported year old woman killed slaughter louisiana year old boy grabbed shot head playing drunk driving option lets players resulting gameplay vision players option enter cars drive influence alcohol gameplay feature received criticism particularly nonprofit organisation referred action choice violent crime percent result requested change rating game mature adults effectively removing game retail stock asked games consider halting game distribution sense social responsibility respect victims driving influence later issued statement associated_press great deal respect mission believe mature audience sophisticated understand game content sexual nudity allegations june british newspaper sun reported presence game internet resource titled reference fake commercials featured vice city stories game resource warns caught viewing website investigated followed statement similar quote found results player pursued game teams november year old jailed performing sex attacks women night court hearings told spent considerable hours playing judge said experience game helped circumstances case lost damned episodic expansion features displaying frontal male nudity result parents group condemned expansion issuing public warning nudity organisation claimed inclusion nudity resulted game status controversial predecessors vice president stated game depiction sexual content intended humorous hoping fans recognise humour censored release despite confirmation february australian version edited later revealed features censored game assigned rating december stated special version game produced comply australian classification system features censored australian versions include inability select service hiring prostitute restriction animation camera angles lack blood pools bloody replacement bullet wounds blood patches slight game release version game awarded australia following release distributed patch australian release consoles april announced new_zealand release game identical censored australian release time scales logistical reasons chief censor stated tell version game submitted version submitted classification version intended market new_zealand game year old student unhappy new_zealand received edited version game result australian censorship laws version subsequently given rating cleared sale new_zealand political response florida lawyer previously campaigned games stated measures prevent sale minors march parent company interactive filed lawsuit thompson attempt restrict attempts declare games games declared effectively banned sale believed violation amendment rights thompson responded filing accusing violating federal statues committing justice parties civil rights parties reached settlement april agreeing drop respective lawsuits terms settlement thompson barred ban sale distribution games restricted communicating attorneys future matter able maintain outspoken stance titles act counsel lawsuits parties agreed drop contempt court lawsuit thompson alleged improper conduct court hearings game bully thompson filed document federal court florida september claiming assassination target mission grand theft auto lawyer character based player enters office weapon lawyer guns don kill people video games phrase attributed thompson thompson threatened necessary proper means stop release game similarities removed similarities removed thompson follow april metro reported thompson written letter mother director letter strongly criticised game upbringing thompson labelled murder follows pornography violence son sic kind stuff mother ashamed son putting hands mothers children maybe taken handsome son spared rod child explain brought way presently acts shame day year weeks son porn violence mothers boys sure proud thompson subsequently claimed sent letter lawyer opposed mother formulated parody intended induce feelings shame following release game trailer new_york_city officials appalled choice city inspiration setting game stating game like represent city crime levels accurately spokesperson mayor said support video game earn points injuring kill police officers points awarded game murder police officers discouraged player game suggests players police officers killed order advance game main story difficulty response executive director accused new_york_city officials double standards criticising video games city avoiding argument terms forms entertainment books films television shows legal action interactive filed lawsuit response removing advertisements promoting game property contract requires advertisements remain june response representative attributed removal advertisements controversy surrounding advertisement campaign san
Controversies surrounding Grand Theft Auto IV