A CONTROVERSIAL video game sold out in some Wanganui stores is so violent it is seen as child abuse and should be banned, local anti-violence advocates say.
The PC, Xbox and Playstation 2 game Grand Theft Auto ? San Andreas is selling out throughout Wanganui, upsetting anti-violence advocates, including the Whanganui Living Without Violence Trust, police and the Wanganui Family Counselling Service.
The game allows players to shoot police and civilians, set them on fire, rape women, beat them with baseball bats and throw grenades at them.
Players can also use the services of prostitutes, then kill them to get their money back. The Warehouse, Wanganui, said both Xbox and Playstation 2 versions of the game had sold out at its branch.
Dick Smith Electronics said it had sold out of the game "a few times" since it was released about six months ago.
Though the game had an R18 rating, local Dick Smith manager Steve Hencke said children were getting their parents to buy the game for them.
"We have a strict policy against selling games to anyone under 18.
"Almost all of the time they come back with their parents to buy the game."
The game was particularly popular with the under-18 market, he said.
Mr Hencke believed the game was no more violent than two previous games in the series. But he worried about the theme of the latest game ? San Andreas.
"The first two games were violent ? no doubt about it. "This is no more violent than the previous two, but I guess the gangster element is a worry.
"It can be a bit dangerous, especially in a place like Wanganui."
Parents buying the game for their children were always advised about its content, but only "one or two" parents had not bought the game after being warned.
"I say to them: are you aware of this game's explicit content?
"It's about walking around killing people and committing crimes.
"Ninety-nine percent of the time parents are okay with that," he said.
Whanganui Living Without Violence Trust manager Chrissy said she was horrified by the situation.
The game was destructive to children and should be banned. "I've heard all about the killing and pack raping in the game.
"We already have problems with family violence now.
"Do we really want any more?"
It was shocking to hear parents were buying the game for their young children, she said.
"What parent in their right mind would buy that game for their child?
"What does that say about the parent?"
Parents were not thinking about the long-term implications the game would have on impressionable youths.
There was also a worry that the game glamorised violence, rape and gang life.
"Would they accept that kind of behaviour in their own family?
"This game is child abuse, and if parents are allowing their child to view this, it is a form of child abuse," she said.
"Parents need to dig inside their conscience and know that violence creates violence, and it's just not worth it."
Police Senior Sergeant Colin Irvine said young children and teenagers often had difficulty distinguishing between fantasy and reality.
The fact that police were targeted in the game was unfortunate, he said.
"Police are human beings too.
"It's the killing of human beings that's the problem; it's a sick message," he said.
"Parents shouldn't buy games that depict graphic violence and sex.
"They should exercise common sense and discretion."
Wanganui Family Counselling Service manager Cheryl Edwards said New Zealand had a problem with violence and parents needed to be informed of the dangerous impact of the game.
"I think parents need to be aware that [buying the game] they are giving messages that are condoning violent behaviour.
"The more children are exposed to violence, the more it is normalised," she said.
Games like Grand Theft Auto often had a negative impact on children's perceptions and behaviour.
Government intervention was needed to stop children being exposed to the game.
"I would support a ban," she said.
Call to ban violent video game
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