227: Want to say that I personally had no problem with the Australia thing. I feel that them not stocking the game is really no different than me (and others) using the GGBlocker to serve archived pages of Polygon, Kotaku, and others so that I can argue about their articles without contributing to ad revenue or page impressions. Moreover, they're a business who can sell or not sell whatever they want, even if it's a lame cop-out to avoid catching heat or pander to a certain demographic. I don't see that as censorship, really, even if it's a bit annoying.
RWarehall: Let me ask you this then...
Here's the title of the petition...
"Target: Withdraw Grand Theft Auto 5 – this sickening game encourages players to commit sexual violence and kill women"
First paragraph...
"It's a game that encourages players to murder women for entertainment. The incentive is to commit sexual violence against women, then abuse or kill them to proceed or get 'health' points – and now Target are stocking it and promoting it for your Xmas stocking."
Further on...
"This misogynistic GTA 5 literally makes a game of bashing, killing and horrific violence against women. It also links sexual arousal and violence."
And later...
"Games like this are grooming yet another generation of boys to tolerate violence against women. It is fuelling the epidemic of violence experienced by so many girls and women in Australia - and globally."
Do you think it was okay for them to misconstrue these "facts" about the game? Because to me, the biggest thing were these lies. Target and K-Mart were subjected to a great deal of media attention over this deceptive petition. The "choice" of freely carrying GTA V was taken away from them. It was remove it or continue to be barraged and harassed over carrying it. To me that is wrong!
I already proved that the 'hooker trick' is a thing by referencing GAMEFaqs a while ago
the petition DOES give the impression that 'The Hooker Trick' is more fundamental to the game and plot than the, almost 'Easter Egg' that it is but I can't help feel that it would have been better if Rockstar had quietly dropped it with the 4th one - the GTA series is a great series and it does it a great dis-service that so many 'civilians' know it 'as that game where you use and then kill prostitutes' - and I believe that they do, I've heard that from people in real life for years and I knew it would get the series in trouble eventually...
It's a pain when you're defending it and you have to start 'Well yeah, you CAN, but it's optional and a pain to pull off and, look, the game's not really ABOUT that...'
Also "Games like this are grooming yet another generation of boys to tolerate violence against women. It is fuelling the epidemic of violence experienced by so many girls and women in Australia - and globally"
That's the real impetus - 'Think of the children - won't someone think of the children?"
Not " GTA V needs to be removed from Targets and K-Marts in Australia because feminists might be "triggered" by it, as if now adults need to be protected for their sensibilities and as if these feminists were actually really going to buy GTA V anyway."
As you said before...