GTA 4 Pulled in Thailand after Teen Player Robs, Murders Cabbie

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A Thai video game distributor has pulled Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3, 360) from retailer shelves after an 18-year-old high school student confessed to killing a taxi driver while recreating a scene from Rockstar's open-world action title.

According to Reuters, the teenager told Thai police that "he wanted to find out if it was as easy in real life to rob a taxi as it was in a game."

The youth faces death by lethal injection if found guilty of robbing and killing the 54-year-old taxi driver, pending further investigations and a trial.

"We are sending out requests today to outlets and shops to pull the games off their shelves and we will replace them with other games," said New Era Interactive Media marketing director Sakchai Chotikachinda. "We are also urging video game arcades to pull the games from service."

The murder has sparked action by Thailand's culture ministry, which has made calls for tougher video game regulation such as a rating system and a restriction on hours that youths can play games in public arcades.

"This time-bomb has already exploded and the situation could get worse," said Thailand's cultural surveillance center director Ladda Thangsupachai. "Today it is a cab driver, but tomorrow it could be a video game shop owner."

Grand Theft Auto IV has seen a great deal of controversy since its release this past April, proving a viable target for organizations such as the Parents Television Council and Mothers Against Drunk Driving

From The Chatty
  • reply
    August 4, 2008 12:12 PM

    LOLZ of course this is the first time a cabbie in Thailand has been robber and murdered.

    • reply
      August 4, 2008 12:19 PM

      To add to my previous thoughts - why can't the appropriate law enforcement response to this teens question of "is it as easy in real life to rob a taxi as it was in a game?" to be "Yes it is." and then put him down like the damaged animal he obviously is - this person will never become anything of value to the society and country of Thailand or even to himself - do us all a favor.

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