Do these people have just too much time on their hands or are they just so naive as to blame video games for everything!?!?!?
O No! I know people that have played Hitman & Hitman 2, and have achieved the Silent Assassin status. They are certified killers! Lock them up now. O horror! Think of the children!!!
article from
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/com...55E661,00.html
Quote:
Anger at thrill-kill video violence
Liam Houlihan
19jul04
A COMPUTER game based on contract killings with lessons for aspiring hitmen has angered crime victims groups, who want it banned.
Video chain Blockbuster, which rents the new release game Hitman: Contracts, says it provides a "variety of ways to make the perfect hit".
"A new graphics engine showcases your 'work' in brutal detail and brings the dark and disturbing world of the Hitman to life," the Blockbuster website states.
But Crime Victims Support Association president Noel McNamara is disgusted by the latest thrill-kill game.
"This is just encouraging kids to grow up to sneak around and shoot people in the back of the head," Mr McNamara said.
"It just begs disbelief, especially here in the hitman and crime capital of the nation.
"It's absolutely disgusting to promote heinous crime and build up such an unhealthy fantasy.
"It should be kicked off the market. The Government should step in and do something."
The federal Office of Film and Literature Classification gave the game an MA15+ rating.
But the Herald Sun has learned that children as young as 11 are playing the game, which can also be a accessed on the internet.
Other promotions for Hitman boast that a "more gradual learning curve ensures that the game is accessible to all aspiring hitmen".
It comes with a ranking system from "Psycho to Mass Murderer to the ultimate accolade of Silent Assassin".
The State Opposition also called on the Bracks Government to act against the game.
"This is a matter where you would think the Premier would stand up and call for a voluntary ban," shadow attorney-general Andrew McIntosh said.
Mr McIntosh said he didn't believe in censorship, but the Government could put moral pressure on the distributors.
"It is up to large corporations like Blockbuster and anybody else who is hoping to distribute this game to show some sort of responsibility.
"If you glorify a highly illegal activity in an environment of 27 gangland killings, where do you draw the line?"
But Attorney-General Rob Hulls refused to buy into the debate.
"It is up to the Federal OFLC to make this determination," Mr Hulls' spokeswoman said.
The OFLC report on the game classified its impact as "strong" but found it did not exceed the "strong viewing and/or playing impact" needed to ban it.
"There are frequent blood sprays when players are hit, as well as post-action visuals of the victim in blood pools," the report noted.
On-screen assassins have an arsenal of deadly weapons at their fingertips, including sniper rifles with silencers and wire to garrotte victims.
Blockbuster did not return calls from the Herald Sun.
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