ESRB reminds parents GTA IV isn't for children

[wraggster]

The ESRB and National Institute on Media and the Family would like to remind (naïve) parents that Grand Theft Auto IV is not appropriate for children. In a joint statement by the two organizations, the groups point out GTA IV has been rated Mature for: Intense Violence, Blood, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Partial Nudity and Use of Drugs and Alcohol. What 12-year-old wouldn't beg to play that? It sounds awesome!

The two organizations "encourage parents to be informed and exercise their discretion when considering the purchase of all M-rated games." The ESRB reminds that the average age of a gamer is now over 30 and that some titles are "clearly not intended" for kids. And GTA IV is clearly one of those games

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/es...-for-children/

[WhizzBang]

I disagree. I think GTA is entirely intended for young men aged 12-25 as it is a fantasy crime world. It is strange that there is an attitude in video games that the more offensive and gory you are, the more adult you are.
In real life we see these traits as being adolescent and that is why Wii Sports will always appeal to adults far more than any GTA murder sand box.