Mathis says that he likes to play Grand Theft Auto IV with his kids but thought that the world needed something more gritty and gripping. Thus, he teamed up with Hollywood filmmaker Matty Rich to produce the new game. Rich heralds Mathis’ ” impeccable reputation” but fails to note where he found it.
Kids get to play the life of convicted felon La-Ron Washington, who has just been released from prison early due to overcrowding but has two strikes on his record. Fun.
Mathis explains that “The main difference between our game and Grand Theft Auto is that players will have to deal with the justice system and consequences for their actions . . . When you go to prison, you gain credibility when you come back on the streets. On the other hand, when you go to prison you can also be raped. So take your chances. We may see young people who make the wrong choice and go to prison and are assaulted repeatedly (in this game).”
Mathis views these games (long criticized for gruesome violence) as an important educational and socializing tool: “I see this game as a way for young players to be part of the glamorous thug life that is so popular in the hip-hop culture without them actually indulging in the life . . . Video games allow you to obtain the fulfillment of their fascination with that lifestyle without being in it. We’re not going to stop the violent genre of video games like Grand Theft Auto, so instead you try to engage it in a way that allows them to obtain the fulfillment they’re looking for but also give them the choice of going the mainstream successful life.”
Rich follows suit with the most transparent excuse: “Play with games, not with guns.” He forgot the original version, “play with games, pay us.”
The new game is called “Mathis “Detroit” Street Judge.” Next game theme: a fake judge and soulless Hollywood producer prowl the inner cities to take money from kids by coming up with different scams claiming that they are educating kids through violence.
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