posted 10-23-2003 03:04 PM            

Grand Theft Auto creators sued for millions in murder case
October 23, 2003 - 9:19AM

Makers of the violent video game Grand Theft Auto III are being sued for $US246 million ($A352.2 million) by families of two people shot by teenagers allegedly inspired by the game.

Aaron Hamel, 45, was killed and Kimberly Bede, 19, seriously wounded when stepbrothers William Buckner and Joshua Buckner fired at their cars as the victims drove through the Great Smoky Mountains in June.

The boys told investigators they decided to go on the shooting spree after playing the video game Grand Theft Auto III.

The game is the third in a series of popular games in which players can commit crimes, and has been sharply criticised by opponents of media violence.

Most scientific studies have failed to show clear links between games and violence, and backers of Grand Theft Auto III say the game is far less violent and gory than most movies.

The boys have been sentenced to indefinite terms in custody after pleading guilty, and the families of their victims are now demanding $US246 million ($A352.18 million) from Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc, Take-Two Interactive Software and Rockstar Games, which created and marketed the game, and retailer Wal-Mart.

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Jack Thompson, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, alleged in the lawsuit that the game "inspires and trains players to shoot at vehicles and persons".

"These kids simply decided to take the thrill of that game out to Interstate 40 and started pointing at cars," Thompson said.

Thompson said that since filing the suit he has been contacted by other victims of violent crimes interested in taking legal action over the game.

"We want to tell the video-game industry that if they're going to continue to market adult-rated games to children with these horrific consequences, then we're going to take their blood money," Thompson said in a statement.

"In the past few days I have been contacted by dozens of other people, and there may be hundreds more cases.

"This will send a message that they have to stop this practise, or there will be other suits on behalf of other people killed by these games."

Douglas Lowenstein, president of industry group Entertainment Software Association, called the shootings "an unspeakable tragedy" but said blaming a game played by millions for the boys' actions was "misguided and counterproductive".

"There is no credible evidence that violent games lead to violent behaviour," he said in a statement.

"While video games may provide a simple excuse for the teenagers involved in this incident, responsibility for violent acts belongs to those who commit them."