Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia reports that an association of taxi drivers has called for a ban on Grand Theft Auto.
We're working from an imprecise Google translation, but the basics of the story are that Josep Maria Goñi, secretary general of the Catalan Taxi Federation, has requested that the Spanish government pull GTA titles off the market.
Goñi makes it clear that the Taxi Federation's request is based on the Thailand murder case. The cabbie spokesman didn't stop at GTA, however, calling for a ban on all games with a high level of violence or which "celebrate" drug trafficking or prostitution.
GP: We've always found the GTA series to be fairly sympathetic to cabbies. After all, they get mega-tips if you warp to your destination. You can even play as a driver, racing fares around town to earn some in-game cash. And, as GameSpot points out:
There are no actual missions in GTAIV which require players to rob, stab, or kill a taxi driver...
Comments
Re: Spanish Cabbies Want GTA Banned in Wake of Thai Taxi Murder
Oh my goodness, when will it stop?
"As a [cabbie], I want GTA banned because there is violence towards [cabbies] in GTA!"
Basically put the appropriate catch words of the week in the brackets and you have this week's craze over violence in video games, next week it's [bicyclist]-[bicyclists] then maybe [Restraunt worker]-[Restraunts]. Also don't forget to mention the non-existant rape and torture. Uggh.
Re: Spanish Cabbies Want GTA Banned in Wake of Thai Taxi Murder
First it was cops, then it was prostitutes, now it's cabbies, perhaps drug dealers are next in line.
Re: Spanish Cabbies Want GTA Banned in Wake of Thai Taxi Murder
"The cabbie spokesman didn't stop at GTA, however, calling for a ban on all games with a high level of violence or which "celebrate" drug trafficking or prostitution."
So in other words this isn't about the cab murder or even about protecting cab drivers this about a personal hang-up of hers and she's just exploiting an tradgedy.
Does she remind anyone of a certain someone here in the U.S.?
Anyway she wants to ban games that celebrate prostitution? Wouldn't that be supressing an idea she doesn't like which is the epitomy of censorship? Isn't that kinda pathetic?
Re: Spanish Cabbies Want GTA Banned in Wake of Thai Taxi Murder
They should've gotten on board sooner; the entire "Kaufman Cabs" asset in Vice City is focused on battling rival cab companies for fares.
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The Mammon Industry
Fangamer
Re: Spanish Cabbies Want GTA Banned in Wake of Thai Taxi Murder
I am so tired of hearing about spanish people continually swinging thier arms in the news yelling me too! me too! talk about the pimple on the ass od society. I think I'm being a little unfair on my spanish brothers, put forth a solution thats not 11th century.
ANDA LE! Juan Sanchez! drive! I need to get to the sweat shop to make sure your kids are making my clothes right!
Re: Spanish Cabbies Want GTA Banned in Wake of Thai Taxi Murder
You are mixing stereotypes, smart guy. Spain has nothing to do with Latin America. Is like I were saying Canadians and americans are the same crowd.
If you are gonna say racist jokes at least get your facts right.
The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/
Re: Spanish Cabbies Want GTA Banned in Wake of Thai Taxi Murder
my disdain for spanish people is universal, kinda what capcom did in resident evil 4.
Re: Spanish Cabbies Want GTA Banned in Wake of Thai Taxi Murder
Glad you are not Capcom...
The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/
Re: Spanish Cabbies Want GTA Banned in Wake of Thai Taxi Murder
Whoa, just how powerful are cabbies?!
Re: Spanish Cabbies Want GTA Banned in Wake of Thai Taxi Murder
I think some part of myself where there was hope for humanity just died a little bit more.
Wish I had something clever to say but I'm left speachless.
Re: Spanish Cabbies Want GTA Banned in Wake of Thai Taxi Murder
You're really that suprised that evil censoring morons exist in other countries?
Re: Spanish Cabbies Want GTA Banned in Wake of Thai Taxi Murder
no it's just that misinformation and overdramatification are becoming tiring. it's like no word seem to be enough, no amount of intelligence seems to stop the tide of clueless morons.
Re: Spanish Cabbies Want GTA Banned in Wake of Thai Taxi Murder
The only reason I ever had to remove a taxi driver from his car/the world was if I didn't hold Y down long enough.... I would walk up to the street, go "Hey Taxi!" walk up and then.... Pull him out, beat him, then get in his car, All the while saying "No! I'm sorry! I didn't mean too!"...
Re: Spanish Cabbies Want GTA Banned in Wake of Thai Taxi Murder
As a gamer, I want Spannish cabbies banned... so we are even.
I still think this is an orchestrated event. Too much is being made out of one 19 year olds attempted robbery.
Re: Spanish Cabbies Want GTA Banned in Wake of Thai Taxi Murder
Too much is being made out of one 19 year old's claim that he played the game.
Since when does a routine crime in a foreign country raise the "terror threat" level in another? This is a level of paranoia escalated far more than Al Qaeda.
As far as I know, you only hijack cabbies to take their car. And in cases like Vice City and GTA4 that's no longer necessary because you can own a cab company with a free taxi cab at your disposal.
Re: Spanish Cabbies Want GTA Banned in Wake of Thai Taxi Murder
Not even his claim. From what I understand; it is the Thai government, police force, and his parents are stating that he played the game.
Re: Spanish Cabbies Want GTA Banned in Wake of Thai Taxi Murder
One news event that, IMHO wasn't even reported fairly, by a government owned newspaper, and everyone goes ape shit. Unbeliveable!
Re: Spanish Cabbies Want GTA Banned in Wake of Thai Taxi Murder
Look at us! Look at us!