Rockstar Games Producer: "Terrible Parents" Buy Our Games

After controversy over its line of mature video games like Grand Theft Auto, Manhunt, and the recently released Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar producer and in-game radio personality Lazlow Jones has a simple message for those who buy such video games for children:

"You're a terrible parent."

Yes, gaming has changed since the days of Pac-Man and the nostalgic childhood memories associated with them. Through storytelling and improved graphics, gaming has grown up in synch with the people who grew up with gaming. Rockstar and other game companies who produce more mature games label their games as mature thanks to the ESRB who rates them. Game retailers are trained not to sell mature games to minors no matter how persistent those young gamers are. So the ones who pretty much buy these mature games for minors are the minors' parents.

Then when parents see their children playing mature games, some logic train of theirs derails and they wind up blaming the game producers. It becomes a battle over free speech and protecting children and politicians lap it up to get in the limelight. It is a vicious cycle that usually fades out after the elections only to repeat itself once another controversial game shows up that some adult buys for his/her child.

Whether intentional or sarcastic, Lazlow makes a bold statement turning the tables back on the parents and advocacy groups. They were the ones who pushed for game ratings that game companies complied with, which resulted in the ESRB. But it seems that was not enough since the average parent buying a game does not pay attention to the ratings or just blindly buy the game to appease the child. Then advocacy groups aim to ban or remove objectionable content from the games like that old "Hot Coffee" mod, which was not even part of the official game of GTAIV. It seems for Lazlow enough was simply enough. Maybe it will be more material for the in-game talk radio segments he voices for the next GTA entry.

After much pussyfooting around with political correctness and public relations spin doctoring, it is rather refreshing to see a company no longer cajoling to the various special interest groups who oppose its product. Who knows, maybe bluntly stating to the general public to take some bloody responsibility and accountability when deciding to purchase something for themselves or their children will actually change things for the better. Maybe it is a matter of time before Ronald McDonald follows suit.