One of the best-selling video games of all time, Grand Theft Auto V, is back in the news and fans are not happy. In a bill submitted to the Illinois General Assembly, Republican Politician, Marcus Evans Jr. has proposed an amendment to the state’s violent video games law dating back to 2012, which would result in effect ban some of the world’s most popular games, quite notably the above-mentioned title by Rockstar Games. One reasoning for this might be the increase in car jackings in some US states and to tackle this, activist Early Walker helped implement ‘Operation Safe Pump’ that posts security guards at several gas stations in the city as a preventive action. Walker believes, that video games have a role to play in the rise of crime in Chicago. Grand Theft Auto V was cited as an example by Walker who cited the striking similarities between the game and some real-life car jackings.
The changes proposed by the bill
The bill introduced by Republican Evans, HB3531, aims to ban the same games featuring psychological harm and carjackings to minors and adults. The bill, in addition to effectively banning some genre of games altogether, would also change what defines a violent video game” to specifically “control a character within the video game that shows the human violence where player kills or causes serious physical damage.
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Why the game is such a favourite
This is not the first time that Rockstar games’ bestseller title is in the news for the content within the game, and we certainly do not think it will be the last. Released in 2013, the game features 3 protagonists, a retired bank robber, a street gangster and a drug dealer-arms smuggler third character. The trio must commit heists while under pressure from a corrupt government agency and powerful criminals. It is a third-person perspective game based in ‘Los Santos’ based in Los Angeles. It became the fastest-selling entertainment product in history, grossing $800 million in its first day of sales alone and since has grossed over $6 Billion.
