Ben-DutkaNow, two major retail chains in Australia have dropped Grand Theft Auto V .
According to a Kotaku report , Kmart has opted to remove the game from their shelves "immediately."
This isn't long after Target decided to do the same thing, in the wake of complaints that GTAV promotes violence against women. Here's part of Kmart's statement:
"Following a significant review of all content in Grand Theft Auto games Kmart has taken the decision to remove this product immediately. Kmart apologizes for not being closer to the content of this game."
A couple days agao, Target General Manager of Corporate Affairs Jim Cooper said that after "speaking to many customers over recent days about the game," there was a noted "level of concern." He added that the decision to stop carrying GTAV "is in line with the majority view of our customers." Perhaps this isn't too surprising, as Australia has often battled the video game market in the past.
Historically, games like GTA and Mortal Kombat have been banned from many stores in the region. As for what Take-Two thinks about this, here's what CEO Strauss Zelnick had to say about Target's decision:
"We are disappointed that an Australian retailer has chosen no longer to sell Grand Theft Auto 5 – a title that has won extraordinary critical acclaim and has been enjoyed by tens of millions of consumers around the world. Grand Theft Auto 5 explores mature themes and content similar to those found in many other popular and groundbreaking entertainment properties. Interactive entertainment is today's most compelling art form and shares the same creative freedom as books, television, and movies. I stand behind our products, the people who create them, and the consumers who play them."
Related Game(s): Grand Theft Auto V
Wonder if that viral prostitute video helped this happen.
I hope they don't sell newspapers at those stores – it's full of violence.
Not really the same thing at all, but I see your point.
Absolutely disgraceful, I am Australian and I thought this was behind us with the new R 18+ rating system.
My girlfriend who works in the audio/visual department at Target was yelled at by a customer who said they should stock it, and even though she has no authority at all, I agree
Looking at the petition created, calling for a GTAV ban, I see such ill-informed descriptions of the game, most likely from people who have never even played it. With such strong language, it’s easy to see how they can get heaps of non-gamer signatures to petition against something they don’t even understand.
This is the opening phrase in the petition:
'It's a game that encourages players to murder women for entertainment. The incentive is to commit sexual violence against women, then abuse or kill them to proceed or get 'health' points – and now Target are stocking it and promoting it for your Xmas stocking.'
^ Look at that, no comment necessary.
End Rant
PS here is the link to the petition so you guys can have a laugh at all the blatantly false information presented.
https://www.change.org/p/target-withdraw-grand-theft-auto-5-this-sickening-game-encourages-players-to-commit-sexual-violence-and-kill-women
It's not really incorrect, though. Just misleading. It makes it sound like that's the point of the game.
But you do get small rewards for those acts. :p
well thats after the warehouse in nz did the same thing i suppose the aussies thought they would follow suit, i'm not really sure exactly whats going on but i guess we'll see where this goes
happy gaming