You can’t stop him from playing the game, but that doesn’t mean you should necessarily allow him to own it.
I think you should try to get a chance to play the game yourself. If you decide that it offends your standards of morality–if it makes you feel dirty or debased to play it–then don’t allow it in your house.
At fifteen, your son is probably mature enough not to be frightened by the game (and if he is, he will just stop playing it). So this isn’t about what’s appropriate for him; it’s about what’s acceptable to you. If you set a standard and live up to it, a teenager will respect you and your values.
The game is all about criminal activity, including theft and murder. Your son is trying his hardest to convince you otherwise(I admire his creativity), but the game is probably not what you want him playing.
From the impression I get in your OP, it’s a definite, “no” for him.
[QUOTE=WF Tomba]
I think you should try to get a chance to play the game yourself.
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Exactly. It’s not that hard to get a rental copy. Just take into account that this game starts kind of slowly. If you don’t like what is going on in the beginning it gets worse (or better depending on your POV).
[QUOTE=Sitnam]
On a side note: I think it’s incredibly strange that the game is surely not meant for young children, but much of the dialouge, in game jokes and not so witty double entendres are really marketed for mid teens. Either thats thier real target market no matter what they say, or they think anyone playing this has the mind of a mid teen.
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Of course it is. Games rated “Mature” are never actually mature.
[QUOTE=Zsofia]
There was an interesting article in Slate on the queasy morality of GTA 4. I can’t find it right this second, though - it’s only turning up another article (which was also interesting - about crime and community). I’ll link if I can find it.
[/QUOTE]
Is this the one you were looking for?
Yes, that’s it. Thanks! I’ve only been playing for a little bit, but I’ve already gotten very attached to the protagonist - I don’t want to let him down. Dude just wants a new life in America, like everybody else. People keep having the most depressing conversations with me in the car and I just want everybody to be happy and feel better and move out of their shitty apartments into that deluxe apartment in the sky. <sniff>