Leland Yee Issues Warning on GTA IV

What I wish people would stop doing is telling us how we should raise our kids. If they wish to inform the public about the rating system...then talk about that, for instance it should have been writen like this:

"Parents, I would like to take this time to inform you about the ESRB system we have in place for video games.
E-Everyone
T-Teen
M-Mature - 17 years and older
With certain M rated video games being released such as GTA VI, be be sure to make your self knowlegable about what your children are viewing and playing. This is simple to do, all games have a rating symble in the lower corner of the case and on the back lists reasons why the game has been given the rating. Reasons such as alcohal, sexual themes and violence. The Mature ratings are equivilant to a Restricted rated movie. It is a free country and as such we enjoy the liberty of free speech, it is up to you however to determine what is acceptable for your children view and interact with. Live responsibly. Thank you."

Now THAT is how the speech SHOULD have been delivered, but then that would be free of biasted opinions and over zealous incompitency. Effen politics...why is it that we keep electing dumb assess to govern us...

2nd who is mr clean?

"It is imperative that parents avoid purchasing this game for their children and always review the video games their children are playing."

We've been saying this for a long time now.

Unfortunately the rest of what he says is about as accurate as a Jack Thompson Manifesto.

Once JT it disbarred the new enemy of intelligent parenting will be Mr. Yee.

You have a history of misleading people to beleive stupid shit.

Please Mr. Yee, stop trying to currupt our children with your wussy crap and lies.

And the uber anti-video game politician finally rears his ugly head. I'm happy that Yee is taking over Thompson's self-appointed role of being the nemesis of video games, GryphonOsiris.

The ECA needs to note this guy as public enemy number one, plain and simple.

THANK YOU YEE!!!!

The man is a walking press release for violent games. Remember how his Manhunt 2 "warning" talked at length about its attractive price point?

"Unfortunately, the makers of Grand Theft Auto have a history of deceiving the ratings board and the public on the true content of their games."

I"m glad someone has the guts to step up and speak the truth about Rockstar. I hope he get's a medal. It takes a lot to pull shit out of your ass and put it on the news these days.

The first bit, was fine. The rest.... Oiiiiii.

Isn't this slander ? Saying someone is lying is considered slander in most cases.

@DarknessDeku:
My guess is that Mr. Clean = Eliot Spitzer

Then again ya never know, maybe he went toe to toe with a giant bald dude over the fresh pine scent.

While I appreciate Yee pointing out the fact that GTA is designed for adults, from the quote it seems to me he's almost trying to order parents not to buy it.

Parents should certainly review games to see if they're appropriate for children, but the idea that "GTA is inappropriate for all minors" is a sweeping generalization, and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Yee waves around his degree as a child psychologist almost as much as JT waves his (hopefully soon to be late) license to practice law as some kind of sign that he knows what the fuck he's talking about.

The outright LIE that Take Two tries to deceive the ESRB to garner lower ratings is outright libel. Not only is it untrue, but there isn't a single iota of content legitimately included in the game worthy of an AO rating (since Hot Coffe needed a hack in order to be unlocked, I wouldn't include it as legitimate content). Not only have they tried to obfuscate AO content, they also haven't ever tried for any rating lower than M. I fail to see how they could "have a history of deceiving the ratings board" when every GTA game ever made has been given the most mature possible rating that would still allow it to be stocked by retailers.

Btw, does anyone know if Take Two was reprimanded by the ESRB in any way for the Hot Coffee scandal?

Leland Yee should be sued for this slanderous shit. C'mon Rockstar, MAKE A POINT!

Ughhh. Rockstar did not decieve the ratings board.Hot Coffee was in the coding but not the actual game.

Retards.

I'm not really suprised at this news. With this game coming out, I was expecting to hear announcements from Yee (as well as Walsh) like I count on the sun rising in the east. I'd be surprised if I didn't hear anything from them.

And to those who say Yee is as bad as JT, I disagree. Yee may be obstinate and has demonstrated a penchant for being bull-headed
in his statements, but he doesn't even come close to JT in his reckless disregard for the truth. Yee on the other hand strikes me as being simply misinformed and out of touch, which is par for the course really with most politicos on this issue.

If Yee really does take JT's place as Gaming's Public Enemy No. 1, I for one will be glad; at least we can expect him to be civil and to have a reasonable dialogue with him. I'll gladly take Yee over JT any day.

Someone needs to cozy up to Lee and expose the truth about games to him. That is the only way he could truly open his eyes. Otherwise, It may be that he is truly corrupt and needs to be taken out of power.

@A-wel Cruiz

I agree with you half way, for you see we cannot be labeled racists for challenging JT but this Lee fellow...well...he is a minority so in his case legitimate criticism = unprovoked racial epitaph. **

::EDIT:: Yee fellow::EDIT::

POINT BY POINT BEAT DOWN!
1:Of course this game is not for kids, but you cannot and should not try to raise other people's kids. Dick.
2:Undoubtably glorifies violence? The game has plenty of violence, but to say it atempts to condone or encourage real life violence is undoubtably a stretch. A piece of entertainment can be about something without encouraging it. In fact, I don't recal playing any games that look at violence as a good thing or the only way to solve every problem. GTA portrays violence more as a nessasary thing, and it probably is the best way to fend of crazy ass drug lords and gangsters. I certainly wouldn't try offering them candy.
3:History of decieving the ratings board? That was ONE INCEDENT and it was not their fault. Hot Coffee was a *mod*. I'd also like to talk about Leland Yee's "history" of misrepresenting video games for political points.What about that?
4:Your lack of faith in humanity is disturbing. The day I start believing that a person is so weak willed that they can succome to the images in a game is the day I should save myself the senility and just die off.

CLOSING STATEMENT

Stop with the BLABLABLABLABLABLABLAH and think before you speak, you stereotypical bastard. SERIOUSLY.

GTA is extremely realistic?

Seriously?

Time for me to go shoot some pedestrians and steal a few cars with little to no consequences!

@Black Manta

I completely agree. Lee may have statement similar to Thompson, but he's nowhere near as dense as him. And he can have a civil conversation, the statement (even if it's part untrue) is a proof of this (just compare it with Jack's recent TV appearance).

Only thing is...no one (as far as I know) tried to contact him (at least on a civil manner).

Seems like he kept quiet for quite a long time, though.

The raving psychotic?

I know this has been said before, but dang! I read the first part and thought he was finally thinking. But then I read the other part and he makes it sound like it has a E for Everyone label.

"Don't be fooled by the 17+ rating, this game isn't meant for your children! It may SAY it has violence on the cover, but we strongly believe that it really has violent content in it. I am the box ghost, BEWARE!"

Er, how is content rating of STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT in any way deceiving, with or without Hot Coffee?

Lee is more intelligent and charismatic than Thompson, which makes him a more serious case to note. But it is twofold, since he is not as zealous about the topic, so he's not more "dangerous" than Thompson.

What we should be afraid of is if any public figure manages to attack video games without much basis of proof, but is very effective in getting his message across with a lot of charisma and eloquence.